Firewire / USB

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maestrotee

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I am getting a tax return back and my wife just suggested that I use it to buy my digital workstation (I had to pinch myself, and determined that I was not dreaming:laughings:). The catch is, of course, that she has use of some of the money as well. However, I will have about 2,000 to spend. Here are my ideas and what I am going to be recording. Short background, I have been recording for years on Fostex MR-8 with drums, guitar, bass, keys, blah, blah. I have been dumping it onto my crappy laptop with Sony Acid Home Studio. I want to record some digital music, with a little analog audio here and there. This is my idea.

I want to go Mac and the only decision I am struggling with is whether to go with USB or Firewire. I was thinking about the Tascam US144 for my interface and it boasts no latency with USB (and I don't mind recording one or two tracks at a time, that's all I have been doing anyway). The Mac with Firewire is 300 more dollars and I am not sure about its necessity. The extra cost would prohibit some of the other start up gear that I would like to get at the same time. I am thinking of Reason and an Oxygen midi controller. I have all the mics and such.

Any help is appreciated. I have gotten great advice from this board. Thanks in advance!
 
After I posted this, at the bottom of the screen, there were suggestions for other 'related' topics. Sorry after the fact :rolleyes:. Looks like there is a lot of info here on that decision. Thanks anyway. Your input is still appreciated ... :)
 
The debate will rage "USB vs Firewire"

Personalally, I don't think guys like us (hope you don't mind me lumping us together) will ever know the difference. Pick the interface that has all the other stuff you want and don't worry if its usb or firewire.
 
Spend the extra money for a machine that has FireWire ports. Even if you decide not to use it for the interface, you'll thank me the first time you try to use an external hard drive. It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
 
That's pretty much what I decided with the Firewire. I am leaning toward a PreSonus Inspire 1394 for pure functionality and price if I go with a Firewire interface. I know it is only 2 channel (as I said before), and all the controls are software based, so one needs to toggle between screens to mix the levels, but later I could always get another and daisy chain them. All in all, I am very excited about getting it all together.

I'm pretty stuck on the MackBook Pro 13" from Sweetwater. Right now, I will be happy with the smaller screen size. I can't afford to spend $500 for an inch or two. I do have an LCD 32" HDTV, and, from what I undestand, with the MiniDisplay port to HDMI, I could run it as a second monitor, if I need to, or just end up getting a bigger monitor.

I was doing some pricing (and some addition on the calculator :() and I might have to wait on the software. On a plus note, I could start to play around with Garageband, and the PreSonus comes with Studio One Artist audio recording and production software, which, good or bad, it will be something to use to get me started, at least I'll have options. As far as the Tascam US-144, the reviews I have been reading today are horrible! Too bad, cause Cubase LE would be a nice bundled software bonus, and comes with the Tascam. The reviews for the PreSonus are pretty consistently positive, great sound, gets a little choppy when the levels are in the red ... duh. (Truth be told regarding the funds, I'm gonna try to squeeze an X-box into this deal.:D)

I am also planning on getting a midi controller, preferrably with weighted keys since I play and I like the feel, something like the M-Audio Keystation 61es. After which my old Yamaha will go on e-bay with a host of other gear such as the Fostex MR-8 in a fire sale, as well as 2 older laptops.

So far, does this sound like a fairly decent way to go, leaving things pretty open to software upgrading and much fun to come? Thanks!
 
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I tried the demo of Studio one and I really liked it. I would change except I spent so much time and effort with Sonar, I am obliged to stay with it.

If you look for a controller, a lot come with light DAWS as well. I like the Roland PCR keyboards and they will come with Sonar Le.
 
maestrotee said:
I'm pretty stuck on the MackBook Pro 13" from Sweetwater. Right now, I will be happy with the smaller screen size. I can't afford to spend $500 for an inch or two. I do have an LCD 32" HDTV, and, from what I undestand, with the MiniDisplay port to HDMI, I could run it as a second monitor, if I need to, or just end up getting a bigger monitor.
Click to expand...

32" HDTV's are usually only 720p which means max resolution is 1280x720 - that's less real-estate than the LCD on the 13" MacBook (1280x800).

I honestly would either go for the 15" MBP or spend another $200-$300 on a 22-24" computer monitor which will be capable of 1680x1050 at minimum.

DAW apps are screen hogs so you want as high of a resolution monitor you can afford.
 
Taking some good counsel from the previous posts here. Thanks a bunch. Okay, I am sure about Firewire and I think I have found a great resource to get a 15" MBP, refurbed. Here is the site, anyone know anything about them? I have the option of a 3-year warranty for $150 which I will for sure be getting. Hell, I don't even think the applecare program they sell with the new computers are as complete, and that costs $250! Warranty will be imperative with a refurb. Anyway, here's the link if anybody is curious ... getting excited!

http://www.gainsaver.com/Catalog/De...LL/A&medium=gbase&term=103&version=103#config

Does this system look pretty good, upgrading to 2gb memory, new battery?
 
I would *not* recommend that machine. That's an original Core Duo. It's a 4-year-old machine. Besides not being able to run any of the new 64-bit software, it was the very first generation of Intel-based Mac hardware on the market, and—no disrespect intended to the folks who designed that hardware—they hadn't quite worked out all the kinks yet.

You don't have to get a new one, but if you get a used or refurbished one, make sure you get something with a Core 2 Duo processor. Actually, I'd go a little further than that and recommend that you also avoid any models old enough to be impacted by the NVIDIA GPU recall. So basically I'd recommend either the late 2008 models or the late 2009 models.
 
Excellent! Thanks for answering the question I was about to ask. I wasn't sure what the difference between Core Duo and Core 2 Duo was. You convinced me. Next question, what will be the difference between 2.16GHz, 2.2GHz and 2.5GHz processors, such as these?

2006:
http://www.gainsaver.com/Catalog/Detail.aspx?&CCode=1015^Apple&CCode=2139^Macbook+Pro&PageIndex=0&PageMax=40&cICode=111546

2007:
http://www.gainsaver.com/Catalog/Detail.aspx?&CCode=1015^Apple&CCode=2139^Macbook+Pro&PageIndex=0&PageMax=40&cICode=117274

2008:
http://www.gainsaver.com/Catalog/Detail.aspx?&CCode=1015^Apple&CCode=2139^Macbook+Pro&PageIndex=0&PageMax=40&cICode=120630

I shouldn't be running too many apps at once, Reason, Studio One, audio interface, etc. I called the number to get the specs and they are the NVIDIA 8600 cards, although they are covered under the 3-year hardware warranty, so I might have to settle for that and keep my fingers crossed, hoping I won't go bankrupt with the postage costs, although that is all I would be responsible for. I haven't read that many of these specific machines from Gainsaver are returned for video probs. Just a little peace of mind knowing I'm covered.

This has been a GREAT help! Thanks, Home Rec for shopping with me. :D I know I would have been sorely disappointed with a purchase without all this priceless info!
 
I wouldn't worry too much about CPU speed, as fast as these chips are.

Just be sure to have an external display so you can use it to back stuff up if the NVIDIA chip ever bites it. (The external display gets driven by the Intel chipset if the NVIDIA chip dies, but the internal display isn't.)
 
dgatwood, you are very kind for the advice. I wish I could buy you a beer :cool:. The external display is a great idea. Maybe a dumb question, but does it have to be Mac? We have a big ass flat panel that we use for our new hot rod PC desktop (my wife loves it and she is addicted to WoW, resolution is amazing). I've got a couple other displays in the basement collecting dust if I need one in a pinch. Do the MiniDisplay ports support any ole monitor or exclusive to Macs? If so, I'm sure I would need an adapter, yes?

I'm checking my bank account daily. I don't know how much longer I can hold out! This has been an extremely long week so far. Like counting down til Christmas!!! :D
 
Thanks for the input I've gotten here. As I posted in another thread, these are humble beginnings, I know. I'm just a little overwhelmed at all the possibilities but I posted some pics of a seriously fun and addicting hobby. Only beginning learning all the software like Reason, Studio Artist, Audacity (which I know a little bit already), and the Oxygen 61 midi controller. Then there's the Presonus firewire interface to finally lay down some beautiful analog instruments, like my Norma hollow body electric through that little Crate tube amp, and my Moog. Speaking of Crate amps, for such a little box, and the JBL, that 5-watts of all-tube sound is still pretty tasty on a recording.

Anyway, I posted some pics if anyone is interested. Thanks again for all the input!

http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j101/maestrotee/Studio/
 
The monitor doesn't have to be Mac. Apple only makes a couple anyway, and they're all very expensive. A monitor is a monitor, so don't worry about the brand. You will need an adapter, however. They used to come with the computers, but these days they don't. If you buy an older one like mine, though, it will have a nice full-size DVI connector, then you don't have to worry about it. dgatwood is right about the Nvidia chips, however not all of the older models have those. Mine, for instance, has an ATI card, and that's from... probably 2007. Actually, I'm selling it if you want it, but I wasn't planning on selling it quite as cheap as Gainsaver is...

You could always spend the leftover money on some extra RAM to speed up the computer. Don't buy it from Apple though. They rip you off big time.
 
Thanks, but, as I just posted above you, I already got mine. There's a link for a 'peek' into my places of hobby. The upstairs room, carpet, nice walls, is where I keep the DAW. The basement pics are where I keep the drums and cheap PA for making noise if I feel inclined. Nothing special, really, but having a lot of fun figuring it all out. I have a 3-year warranty with the mac. Intel 2.2ghz core 2 duo, 4g ram, 160g hard drive, firewire 400 and 800, 2 usb. I am loving it! The first night I had it all set up, I began coming up with one idea or another, faster than I could record them all, because the sounds I was hearing were so beautiful. Definitely have a lot to learn!!! Just beginning to learn Reason of all things! I played around with Rebirth a little back in the day, but, you get the picture.

Thanks again. I will be on this board quite a bit I suppose. Who needs tech support when you got homerecording.com? :cool:
 
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