How much RAM for Rock music?

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fattmudge

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I'm getting a new imac with a 2.0 ghz dual core processor and 1GB of RAM. I am recording mostly rock music with not really any virtual instrument or sampling needs at all. I was wondering if I could get by with just the 1 gig of RAM. I hear a lot of mixed views about how much RAM you need, but where I don't need it for VST's or whatever, I would imagine the 1 gig would be good enough...am I right?

Thanks for any input.
 
I'd say 1gb would probably be enough, but if you can afford it, I'd suggest getting 2gb to make sure.
 
Depends on the DAW you're gonna use. Depends on whether you're gonna have other apps running in the background. Depends on whether you're gonna use convolution reverb and what convolution reverb plugin you're gonna use... actually any time based plugin will require some RAM that includes reverbs, delays, flangers, chorus, etc.

I'd say 1GB should be enough, unless it's not.

For a long time I was getting my with 768MB.
 
I had some issues due to not enough ram with 1gb. Went to 2 gb, and all is good. I don't run any vst's, but do use things like drumagog.
 
1 GB should be fine. I haven't had any problems using 1 GB on a G4 PowerBook with Logic. Not using any VST instruments or modeling, etc. Just recording straight audio WAVs and using EQ, Reverb, Delay, Compression and Limiting plug-ins. 32 tracks no problem onto a FireWire hard drive

with the newer Intel-based Macs, you don't need special "Apple-certified RAM" anymore. you should easily be able to add another GB for ~$40 if you feel like you need it.
 
I'm sure he resolved the conflict already but yeah, with a newer mac you can EASILY add 2 1 gig cards for $40-$60.
www.ramseeker.com is a great site for ram.
 
Cool...Yeah, I guess just start with 1 gig and go from there...It's good to know that RAM upgrades aren't all that expensive though, in case I find I do need more.

Thanks for the advice guys.
 
The more the better.
I recently upgraded to 1 Gb. And now I'm doing symphonic black metal. Loooooots of compressors, eqs and limiters.
My pc won't nearly take all the plugins I use, so I freeze the tracks (in sonar) once I have a decent sound.
 
I've gotten by with 256, and I get by now with 512 (on an aging 1.4Ghz CPU). If I've got a big project running, I will sometimes have to freeze some tracks with lots of processing in software to keep the performance up, so I definitely do notice it getting toward it's potential, but it can be worked around for now (for me anyway), and that's with a lot less ram than you'll end up having no matter what you do. That said, if you can afford to go for 2 gig, it can only help performance for number of tasks.
 
You are doing yourself a huge disservice by running a brand new iMac probably running Lepoard with only 1Gb or RAM.

RAM is cheap - get more.

And DON'T buy it from Apple - they charge way too much.
 
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