Need Advice! Which Computer Should I Buy?! Mac or PC?

  • Thread starter Thread starter hybridsound
  • Start date Start date
hybridsound

hybridsound

New member
Okay...

I have a few questions.

First of all, let me tell you about my situation.

My fiancee and I are sharing a computer. She does a lot of writing and I do a lot of recording. She wants to get a lap top so I could have the computer for myself. The problem with that is: I don't want this computer. Its okay but I don't think I'm getting the optimal performance I could be getting. I told her that I want to get a new computer of my own so I can have it dedicated to my music and recording.

The computer is a HP Pavilion with an Intel Celeron processor. It has a 20 GBHD and I'm positive it doesn't have more than 64 bits of random access memory. It was baught in 2000 and I feel its getting a little too old. You can see why I want a new one.

I heard a lot of people talk about how Macs' are really great for recording but I've also heard that they are prone to crashing. I have had no problem with PC's but the problem with them is that they usually use up a lot of space with all of the other crap programs that comes with it.

Anyway...

Please help. Any info would help a whole lot.

Thanks.
 
every PC or Mac can crash....I'm at work and i deal with a dell optiplex SX260 and a Mac G4 right beside it...its a hell of alot of fun but I've cussed out both. as for all the other programs and crap on the pc.....theres a remedy...BUILD ONE! it'll cost more but if something goes wrong....you'll be able to fix it vs. having to take it into a shop or have it shipped off.
 
Thanks for the reply, distortedrumble.

I have been thinking about building one but the problem I have with that is that I don't know where to go. Do you have the web address or a phone number of some place I can find more info?
 
IBM vs Apple

If you love Digidesign or Bomb Factory than the software dictates the hardware. Actually, Digi works with IBM because it has to, but I think it kinda prefers Apple.

Note that I may use IBM in place of 'PC' and Apple in place of 'Mac'.

If you prefer other software that does not support Mac, than that kinda of points the way also. You may want to look at what local schools use. If you intend to go there than you may want to duplicate their hardware.

If you are going to build a PC than you are building a IBM compat (thus the nomenclature).

I am told (though as I don't need them I could not tell you where to find them) that there are sites that will step you through the process of building a PC. For parts look to NewEgg or Multiwave.

Luck.
 
Digi is cool with XP

A few years ago Digi preferred mac, but now as Apple is pushing Logic, digi has gone head first in to Windows XP. Alot of engineers are saying these days "I would have never thought it but I am now running XP and I dig it"

That being said - I like and use both platforms.
 
hybridsound said:
.I heard a lot of people talk about how Macs' are really great for recording but I've also heard that they are prone to crashing.
Click to expand...

The rumor that I always hear is just the opposite--Macs are more reliable, less prone to crashing. Personally, I don't think there is an answer to that question and there never will be! Both machines will crash at some point and the key is knowing what to do when it happens. It comes down to troubleshooting and the best way for the average person to troubleshoot is to pick one machine and stay with it. I would argue that since you allready use a PC, stick with it. In the end both Macs and PC's are capable of recording and the days of Apples' dominance in the creative arena (digital recording, photography, video, etc.) are probably long over. Although as a 20 year Mac user, I'de like to believe that only artists and professionals use Mac! (Ha!)
 
Okay...

Now I'm even more confused than before! Fisrt you say to build your own. Then you say that both PC and Mac are good. Then you say that Mac is more reliable. Then you say that they both crash just as often!

What in the hell?!

I just wanted to know what kind of computer was preferred by YOU! I don't care about anything other than what works. If I have to change from one computer to another, that's fine. I catch on to things like that really quickly. I want something that runs fast, has a lot of storage and can get the job done better than my PC.

Wait a sec... Here's a list of what I need:

Intel Pentium 3 or higher
256 random access memory or better
80 - 120 GB hard drive + 40 GB slave
CD/DVD rom
CD burner
4 USB ports
Sound card with:
2 S/PDIF inputs
1 MIDI input
1 MIDI out/thru
4 1/4 inputs
2 1/8 inputs
4 RCA inputs
2 RCA outputs
2 1/8 outputs

I already have the software I like so I don't need anything new.

Damn...

Maybe I should just buy my own.
 
I can't say much about Macs, but if you decide to build a pC, here are the specs of the one I just built for recording and it rocks.

Asus P4P800 mobo
P4 2.8c
1GB Hynix PC3200 ram
2X120GB Seagate barracuda SATA HDs
ATI Radeon 9600 128MB 8x AGP video
DVD burner
17" LCD monitor

I use a delta 44 sound card, but from you're requirements you'd be better off with the 1010LT. From memory It gives you 2 XLR ins (with pres), 6 RCA ins and a couple of s/pdif ins, and 10 outputs as well. Not sure about midi though
 
LOL ok step back from soaking in all this look at the shit floating

no computer whether its pc or mac is crash proof.

the going consensus is that macs are more reliable.

there are websites that show you how to build your own computer. just do a google search for "how to build a computer"

Or i could explain to you how to build one and what you'll need.

but then again so can 5 million other americans lol.

buying a premanufactured computer from dell or gateway will come with a whole bunch of shit and they dont give you an actual copy of windows. they give you repair disks.

the Delta 1010lt has 8 analog I/O 1 midi I/O and 1 spidif I/O

6 of the analog inputs are rca inputs but dont be discouraged by that. there are cables that are 1/4 to rca

oh yeah and if you decide to go with the mac. the delta 1010lt is OSX ready so it doesnt matter if you get a PC or Mac, the delta1010lt will make ya happy....just dont tell your bride to be. :)
 
Don't believe the hype from the uninformed masses. Windows XP SP1 is rock solid and you'll have many more options with a PC.

Macs are overpriced and overrated - especially if you're going to build one.
 
Go with a PC. With all due respect to distortedrumble's opinion of Dell, I went to the Dell outlet and bought a refubished one about a year and a half ago with no problems. My Delta 66 keeps humming along nicely. It even came with Windows XP Home Edition.

They probably have a P4 3.0 computer in stock that you can get real cheap. Cheap enough to buy the Delta 1010lt if that's what you want.

But keep the old computer to do all the stupid other things like the internet and so forth. Just use the new machine as a dedicated recording interface.
 
I built my own PC. It has only crashed 2 times in the 8 months I have had it. Its much more stable than any of the computers I have used that were built by dell or compaq. It seems to me that the always skimp on everything. Better to learn how to build your own. Plus its fun. :)
 
What do you want to record? How many people might be involved? How many tracks at one time?

I favor the PC approach, and I use Dells without issue.

Ed
 
For me what it all comes down to is money. I use PC, build my own, and use
Cakewalk Sonar. My friend is way into MAC and keeps trying to get me into them, but looking at the prices... for the price of one of their LCD monitors I could buy a PC with the monitor, not to mention if you want to... say upgrade the CPU the Motherboard or anything else. If Macs were cheaper I would be using LOGIC and a mac.
 
Macs are a little expensive, but I have to say, my Powerbook is a beast. The last pro tools session I had going was full 28 tracks (I have an Mbox) and 16 RTAS's going. That's not bad for a laptop that's already a year old.

I can't even imagine what having the G5 with the next step up from Mbox (digi001?) would be like. Insane.

That said, Pro Tools runs just dandy on PC now, though didn't it used to be Mac only? And I haven't heard anything about Apple pushing Logic. If anything they're pushing Garageband... but when I was looking into the Mbox, all their first recommended set ups were Macs.

I won't like, I love my Mac and prefer it to my PC because OSX blows XP away. But I still like my PC (I'm a gamer :p ) and you'll be able to run it on either one. It's really whatever you prefer and what you're comfortable with. If you're using ProTools, it may run more comfortably on a Mac, but it will run just dandy on a PC too.
 
Well...

I'm the only one who will use it. I am now a one man band. I have recorded several songs by myself and I dig working at my own pace. I have a sample of my work at www.geocities.com/misanthropy26/extras.html

I use Cool Edit Pro 2.0. Its a pretty solid program that works far better than the other program I used before (nTrack).

Anyway... If you listen to the song I was just talking about, maybe you can get an idea of what I'm going to do with the computer.

Keep in mind that every part of the song was performed by me and me alone.

I used no professional equipment whatsoever! I used Radio Shack mikes and I ran everything through the line-in jack on the sound card that came with this computer. I guess I just did everything wrong in the proverbial "book".

But, hey... You be the judge. I thought it came out quite good for what I was using!

Anyway... Thanks.
 
If I can add my two cents,

I dig the look (and idea) of a Mac for recording, but I've never been able to figure out how to use one. I'm a PC guy for sure. I've found that you can usually configure an "equivalent" power PC for about 1/2 to 1/3 the price of a Mac, which I attribute to competition (Apple has a monopoly on ALL Mac components; there are usually half a dozen manufacturers for any PC component).

As far as stability, that's my game (I'm a computer technician). I can tell you for a FACT that Windows 95 / 98 / Me all SUCK for reliability. They crash constantly. Windows XP, on the other hand, just plain ROCKS. I've only had one or two crashes with XP in the last 2 years, and that was due to hardware issues. One thing with XP, though, is it is a resource hog. You'll want AT LEAST 512MB of RAM for recording on it. 256 will load up XP, background programs, whatever recording program you have, and that's about it.

I think that, with Windows XP taking the place of older operating systems, more studios (especially smaller ones) will move towards PC's with no real difference in performance, but big budget savings.
 
If you decide to build your own, a good place to start looking at stuff and pricing is neocomputers.com. I recomend building one, because you dont end up paying for a whole bunch of crap youre not going to use, only high quality stuff you want. You'll also learn stuff, and building computers makes you stronger. Do it.
 
well i use both macs and pcs at work... mac is for graphic artistry mainly and the pc is for typing up stories (I'm an editor assitant). getting to know a mac isnt too hard...you'll get used to it.....I'd take one if it was given to me...cant see me putting in the cash to get one though
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top