Mac mini, or hold out for an iMac?

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Would a max'd out Mac mini do good, as part of a home recording studio, or should I hold out for at least a 20" iMac? My plan is to use an 8-track digital hard disk recorder, to actually record instrument tracks, then send those tracks to a computer, for further software based tweaking, before ultimately commiting to disc. That I'll have a Mac in the mix, along with planning to use Logic Pro (and Garage Band + plug-ins) on it, is why I'm only going with 8-tracks for a stand alone digital recorder.

Currently, my planned home recording studio will/might consist of: Alesis MultiMix 8 FireWire 8-channel analog mixer; TASCAM DP-01FX/CD All-In-One Recording Package (Musician's Friend); Line6 PODXT Live; Line6 Bass PODXT Live; M-Audio FireWire Solo Mobile Audio Interface; M-Audio iControl Garage Band MIDI Controller; Kurzweil SP-88 Stage Piano; Mac mini or iMac w/Logic Pro & Garage Band. I may also use Native Instruments' Elektrik Piano and B4 software, depending on the actual sounds I get from the Kurzweil SP-88, and in the future, once I've got enough experience with recording and mixing, I may add a 2-track mastering digital recorder to the studio.

Am I on the right track, with my current home recording studio plans, or are there some things above that I might consider something else for, especially if it's cheaper but better? My biggest question, though, is whether I'd get away with using a Mac mini, or should I hold out for an iMac...and I'm talking about intel Core Duo models, in this instance?

Matt in Indiana
 
Don't hold out for anything. Get a rig together and start reecording. The computer will start getting obsolete by the time you learn how to use it anyway - so don't waste time waiting for the next great thing.

You have too many "mays" and "mights" in the list - all good ideas, but all irrelevant. What counts is what you are doing NOW. So start building a rig, begin with the most versatile and best bang for the buck stuff, start small and go from there.

If you haven't done this before, consider one of the BOSS standalone units to get started and then use whatever computer you have access to until you get your feet under you. Do a google search for Reaper multitrack software - it's inexpensive and extremely resource efficient. Or look at n-track, on this forum and at www.fasoft.com . Both are extremely powerful and will get you a long way before you spend big money.

Forget about 2" tape BTW; if you have $200 kicking around for a five minute reel of tape, you have plenty enough scratch to get started without it. Now is not the time to consider dropping five thousand bucks on something cool but impractical.
 
I forgot to mention that I also have a Crate CPB150 Power Block Stereo Guitar Amp that I can use as a DI. Also, within the next month, or two, I will actually start collecting the various "bits and pieces" that I've already mentioned, in my original post, while resisting the temptation to add a bunch more guitars to my collection. Really, if anybody has any better suggestions, other than what I've listed, please let me know! I'm at the point, right now, that if I have to put off a guitar purchase, in favor of a piece of recording equipment, I'll go for the recording equipment. There's really only two more guitars I'll definitely add to my collection, within the next two months, and only because they'll be ones that I create my soundscapes with. Otherwise, I'm sufficiently geared up, guitar and bass wise, to be creating my desired sounds. Now, it's just a matter of being able to actually start recording my original music.

Matt in Indiana
 
Get the mac mini and start recording. Treeline said it best.
 
macmoondoggie said:
Get the mac mini and start recording. Treeline said it best.
Click to expand...
Once I get started collecting recording gear, I'll definitely have to set aside some time to read the manuals. With the exception of setting up the computer, I'll be venturing into personally uncharted territory. Along the way, I could always hope that Crate comes up with a bass version of their PowerBlock, although I'm sure that the Line6 PODXT Live and Bass PODXT Live will work well for my DI needs.

Thanks for the help on this, and know that my equipment list, in my initial query, is not yet set in stone. While the bulk of it is in my Musician's Friend Wish List, that doesn't rule out checking out a couple of local sources, for what equipment offerings they might have. At least I might be able to either test drive, or see a demonstration, rather than relying on consumer product reviews.

By this time next year, I plan to have a couple of full album CDs under my belt.

Matt in Indiana
 
get something used, so if you do sell it later, you won't lose as much money.
 
Unless you need a better graphics card (nVidia versus integrated), there is no real reason to go with the iMac over the Mini.
 
If this were a poll, I'd vote to 'wait for the iMac' - which is exactly what I'm doing. The good news is that the wait is over and I should be getting a duo core 20" in a couple of weeks. Good things are worth waiting for. :)
 
Go with the 1.83 gig Mac Mini if you already have the monitor and other hardware. Get a second hard drive for audio and data if your main goes down. And upgrade the memory to at least 1 gig. You'll be ready to go.
 
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