Best software and peripherals for Intel Macs?

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gitfidler

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I used PC's many many years, had Sonar3 and Aardvark Direct Pro peripherals, but just invested in an Intel Duo 2 Core iMac with a 250GB harddrive.

Looking a bit online...and see this software called M-Audio Protools and the M-Audio 410 Interface.

After forkin' out $2200 for my current new system, I'm not going to jump too quickly dishin' out about $600 for something new. So, I'm in that learning curve mode right now. I have three self-produced CD's...and I've enjoyed that intuitive feel of a software that has become familiar. A bit bummed Sonar doesn't make Mac based software...

Recommendations, thoughts???

thanks...

Gitfidler...
 
Macs actually come standard with decent sounding, 24bit audio interfaces with low latency - if you're not looking for more than 2 inputs, it should hold you over for a while.

You will already have Garage Band which comes with iLife. It is highly underrated - truly powerful and fun app. It even supports AU plugins.

Beyond that, you have Apple Logic Express ($299) and Ableton Live 6. Steinberg's Cubase 4 is finally UB, but only replaces Cubase 3 SX and SL. They have yet to release a UB compatible upgrade to SE.
 
brzilian said:
Macs actually come standard with decent sounding, 24bit audio interfaces with low latency - if you're not looking for more than 2 inputs, it should hold you over for a while.

You will already have Garage Band which comes with iLife. It is highly underrated - truly powerful and fun app. It even supports AU plugins.

Beyond that, you have Apple Logic Express ($299) and Ableton Live 6. Steinberg's Cubase 4 is finally UB, but only replaces Cubase 3 SX and SL. They have yet to release a UB compatible upgrade to SE.
Click to expand...

I agree..those are fun things to play with, if I want royalty free stuff say to put some accompanying sound to video...but, using Garage Band and what comes standard to do standard industry studio recording of my instruments and vocals leading to high end CDs? Not sure I follow there...

I'l check out the Cubase and Express...
appreciated...

Gitfidler
 
foreverain4 said:
digidesign mbox 2 mini. $300. comes with protools le 7 and many usable plugins.
Click to expand...

thanks Lynn...will check that out as well...
 
gitfidler said:
I agree..those are fun things to play with, if I want royalty free stuff say to put some accompanying sound to video...but, using Garage Band and what comes standard to do standard industry studio recording of my instruments and vocals leading to high end CDs? Not sure I follow there...
Click to expand...

Garage Band is fully capable of recording and mixing down 8 simultaneous tracks of audio with per channel FX, automation, etc. In that respect, it is just as good as any other DAW on the market. It even has a rudimentary audio quantize function which other so called "prosumer" apps lack. Since it supports AU, it will work with any plug-in Logic can use.

In that respect, I consider it quite capable of standard industry studio recording.

Like I said before, it is highly underrated since everybody thinks of it as a toy rather than a serious app simply because it is bundled with iLife and OS X.

Heck, iLife's iMovie HD supported HDV a year before product from Pinnacle and Adobe caught up...
 
Interesting...
I'll have to read and find what kind of plug-in peripheral for instruments is best to experiment with Garageband...

considering that most programs like Sonar...Cubase and such are roughly $300 programs, then another $300 for a firewire peripheral, its no wonder that skepticism exists as concerns a packaged/bundled stock software.

I have to admit...having used Sonar with its many tracks and features, developing a bit of intuitiveness to using it, that I'll be curious to try Garageband and also yet reserved, skeptical.

I did a one hour dvd on painting (as my vocation is as an artist) that I market having used iMovie...but then a second movie I built on Final Cut Express. The difference between iMovie and Final Cut Express IMHO...is like going from a photo enhancement software to all that Adobe Photoshop or Indesign offers.

Yes...while a good movie can be made I suppose with iMovie, I'll be using FCE from now on...
...and still, I wonder what might be better with the newer Full Cut Studio.

But...still, it is eye opening that you say such capabilities can be had with Garageband, and since the price is right (I already have Garageband... :) ) I'll be exploring it. Thanks for the further explanation and patience!

Gitfidler
 
Mastering software?

Oh...another question if I may...

I've been using Izotope Ozone for mastering software with PC's...

I'll have to check and see if they have a Mac version, pehaps I can upgrade or get some discount, but...what have folks here used to master their produced works in the line of Macs???
 
My advice:

MOTU Digital Performer
MOTU 8Pre
 
gitfidler said:
Oh...another question if I may...

I've been using Izotope Ozone for mastering software with PC's...

I'll have to check and see if they have a Mac version, pehaps I can upgrade or get some discount, but...what have folks here used to master their produced works in the line of Macs???
Click to expand...

They do have a mac(audio units) version of Ozone 3. I use it in every mix within Logic Pro. I also use the bundled "mastering" plug ins that come with Logic.
 
excellent...

and I just received a word from Izotope that since I have purchased the Ozone 3 software for my PC not too long ago, I can download free of charge a version to my iMac!!! Life is good... :D
 
gitfidler said:
Oh...another question if I may...

I've been using Izotope Ozone for mastering software with PC's...

I'll have to check and see if they have a Mac version, pehaps I can upgrade or get some discount, but...what have folks here used to master their produced works in the line of Macs???
Click to expand...
I use Ozone for Mac.
 
I use Digital Performer on my macbook pro and Cubase SX3 on my PC. I like the feel of cubase better, probably cause thats what I started on, (Cubase LE). For me Digital Performer has been a rough transition, I'm still pretty new with it, but so far I prefer it for tracking, but I like Cubase more for mixing, just seems easier and more natural for me.
 
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