Mac or PC for Music Recording?
The nice thing about a Mac is that it comes ready to record: right out of the box.
Windows PC Advantages
- You could get a fully-loaded recording PC for the comparable cost of an entry-level Mac.
- Specialty PC's makers can use the proper chipsets which support the best audio recording interfaces.
- Having a PC that is designed for recording can get you a pristine sound without pops, clicks and other interference.
See our Recommended Rain Desktop Pro Audio PC & Laptop Recording Computers from $1199.
A Quad Core PC based Recording Computer runs about $1499
(The Quad Core Mac Pro starts at $2499) See:
Which Recording Programs are Supported by your Computer?
The Apple Logic PRO program for Macintosh starts at close to $500. Although loaded with serious value and professional features: It has been said to be very intimidating for a beginner.
Mac's come with an excellent free recording application called "Garage Band". It's possible to get started with almost no learning curve: however it does have limits and can become very expensive with all of the upgrades many users will want to add.
If you decide to go the Macintosh route check out the to get world class sound right away with the minimum fuss!
An affordable way to go Mac is to start with a for $599. You won't be able to add any PCI cards to it and some Firewire interfaces may not work correctly with it. However you WILL get a straight-forward route to recording world-class music if you combine it with the . Other than getting a quality condenser microphone such as the & headphones or monitors: there is nothing more to purchase!
(You may want to invest in a quality keyboard controller to play the virtual instruments that come with the recording program. A good choice is the . You will also need to purchase a separate computer screen to go with the Mac Mini.)
Our Recommended Cakewalk Sonar works on the PC.
You can get started in Cakewalk Sonar for about $100. This gets you a robust recording platform suitable for most recording projects: and also perfect for learning on. As you get hungry for more features: you can upgrade to more deluxe versions. It was developed in cooperation with Microsoft & Intel to work perfectly on the PC platform. Even some veteran users of top-dog Protools HD have said they prefer Cakewalk Sonar.
Built-in features make it very friendly for loop style music composition. Build your own loops using rhythm step editing and playing each part with one finger if you like! A refreshing advantage for those who love programs like Fruity Loops or have had to buy extra loops for Sony Acid. Cut a simple guitar or bass riff and build a loop out of it. Add a lush keyboard fill or a hot little vocal loop that YOU record on your own.
Another Great Option which works on both Mac and PC is called Ableton Live: a unique recording platform that allows you to get creative on the fly. It also has an affordable, high-quality entry-level option for beginners.
System Issues to Consider
Watch out for Incompatible Audio Chip-sets
Many manufacturers (including Apple) have switched to cheaper Firewire controller chips, rather than the original ones developed by Texas Instruments. As a result: many important audio interfaces quit working properly with these computers. It can be very discouraging to get an expensive computer or audio interface: only to discover that they don't work together.
The Rain recording computers we recommend come with the right kind of Firewire connectors built in to the desk top models. However with Laptops you must add an optional PCI express card with an integrated Texas Instruments Firewire Chipset.
Latency
Why should you care about Firewire? Due to a problem called "latency". Once a signal has been processed by your computer it might come back to your ear a fraction of a second later: so you are unable to monitor your performance using your reverb plugin for example. Either you have to go through an outboard reverb or hear an uninspiring headphone mix.
All though certain USB-based products such as our recommended Line 6 interfaces for guitarists have superb latency management features: the ideal situation for long-term growth is to be able to purchase the better quality Firewire-enabled recording interfaces.
To understand which Firewire interfaces offer the most professional results at the lowest cost: check out our article called "Making Sense of Digital Technology".
Bad System Updates
Macs & Vista PCs have been plagued with issues where system performance becomes very slow after downloading official updates. The only way to get the speed back to normal is to pull out the factory restore disks and set the system back to new. You can always consider turning off the official updates in order to avoid performance degradation.
Contrary to popular notion: Mac's do get viruses and suffer from update issues just like Windows computers.
Viruses
Any device with a web browser (including your smart phone) uses something called Microsoft Active X – which basically sets you up to get Trojan viruses. These nasty little vermin are designed to spy on whatever you type: in order to get personal data such as credit card info or social security numbers.
This process is called key-stroke logging.
How do they get Away with this???
Illegal operations tap into system features designed to support legitimate advertisers.
Most websites install cookies on your computer to track what you type and click on. This helps marketers determine what you are into so they can place targeted ads on the pages you visit.
The controls are usually loaded into your computer via the banner ads that come up on the page. Since they come from a third party: the website has no way of knowing whether the banners on their site are legitimate or not!
Prevention Options
Nothing is 100% fool-proof. However one excellent program that protects PCs, Macs, and even smart phones is called Avast.
Avast typically warns you when you enter an infected website and scans everything as it happens. With most security programs you only get scanned occasionally.
For recording purposes you want a fast computer. Other programs typically slow you way down. Avast is transparent: meaning that it never interferes with what you want to do.
HINTS:
TO IMPROVE YOUR PERFORMANCE NOW SIMPLY CLEAR YOUR BROWSING HISTORY & COOKIES! – They slow down your computer and allow advertisers to spy on you!
HERE'S HOW: – Just click the "tools" menu and select "internet options" or "clear private data". -
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