Looking to buy a new PC/ iMac.. help needed!

[mark2112]

Hi,

i am looking to buy a new pc or possibly an iMac.

I currently use Acid Pro 4 on a very old pc, which i use to record guitar tracks over the top of midi drums. The guitar is plugged into a Line 6 Pod 2 and then straight into the PC tower and I don't have any latency issues from this.

However, with the intention of upgrading my basic set-up, I have just bought a copy of Acid Pro 7 after being impressed by a friend's version, particularly the kitcore drum program that comes with it and can turn midi drums into a very authentic sounding kit. My current PC is too old to run Acid Pro 7, so I am looking to buy a new PC.

For around £600 i can get a decent PC that will run Acid Pro 7 (custom built and tailored to my recording needs), but this seems to me to be quite a lot of money, as I am thinking that for an extra £300 i can get an iMac. (possibly not tailored to my recording needs?) One drawback is that Acid Pro is windows only.

So the question is: should i buy an iMac and get used to recording with that using a different DAW or buy the £600 PC and use Acid Pro?

I have also just purchased a Line 6 UX2 with the intention of using that with whichever DAW I eventually use.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Steenamaroo]

Given that you're planning to upgrade acid pro, and you're already familiar with it, I'd just go PC.

The mac thing really is preference; If you're happy where you are, stay there.

Just to add credibility to the opinion, I'm totally a mac guy.

 

[mark2112]

I honestly think i would prefer to get a mac, but its a big step obviously and im not used to any of the DAW's that are used on a mac.

New Apple iMac 21.5 inch All-In-One Desktop PC (Intel Core i5 2.5GHz Quad-Core Processor, 2X2GB RAM, 500GB HDD, AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 512MB graphics) (Launched May 2011) for £919.99 on amazon.

is this one going to be already set up to a decent standard for recording with an interface in front of it?

 

[Steenamaroo]

Right, you've already made your mind up then?



Yes, that imac will be pretty impressive, and is certainly an appropriate machine for recording.

If you already have a reasonable screen, you might look at the mac mini server instead.
They're a good bit cheaper, and every bit as capable.

 

[wheelema]

Well, I'm a SERIOUS IBM compatible bigot (pro tip: anybody who refers to a PC as an 'IBM compatible PC' is decrepit). In the Mac universe there are only a limited number of configurations but when you roll-your-own PC there's just a near infinite degree of granularity and you get SO MUCH MORE bang for the buck. On the flip side the shear amount of choice can be daunting.