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#1
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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new PowerMac or iMac?
Any opinions on which to get to run ProTools, Finale, Sibelius, Mach5
etc? Is there a noticeable difference in power between PowerMac and iMac? Worth a grand more? Noticeable difference between i3, i5 and i7 processors? Any reason to NOT get the iMac? Opinions greatly appreciated. |
#2
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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new PowerMac or iMac?
On Aug 17, 9:32*pm, mark steven brooks
wrote: Any opinions on which to get to run ProTools, Finale, Sibelius, Mach5 etc? * Is there a noticeable difference in power between PowerMac and iMac? *Worth a grand more? *Noticeable difference between i3, i5 and i7 processors? *Any reason to NOT get the iMac? *Opinions greatly appreciated. Oh... plenty of reason not to get an iMac. Depends on what you want to use it for, though. An iMac has about the same upgradability as a laptop. You can replace the hard drive and RAM, and maybe the CPU. Probably not the DVD drive on an iMac. A PowerMac is basically a PC, with Mac-specific stuff. It has PCI Express, full-size RAM (oh, you didn't know iMac's took laptop ram?), probably PCI slots, and certainly upgradable CD drives and CPU. It's also more expensive, but generally more powerful. There IS a noticeable difference between Core i3, i5 and i7 CPUs. But it really depends on what you're doing. If it can be handled by a decent laptop, an iMac will work, with whatever CPU they have there now. If you need a workstation/server class computer, go for the PowerMac with an i7 - or two. At the local Guitar Center, they have some Macs in pro audio, and they're ALL either MacBook Pros or iMacs. You probably don't need a PowerMac. Oh... it's actually a Mac Pro now. PowerMacs were G4s and G5s. Whoops. |
#3
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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new PowerMac or iMac?
gjsmo wrote:
On Aug 17, 9:32 pm, mark steven brooks wrote: Any opinions on which to get to run ProTools, Finale, Sibelius, Mach5 etc? Is there a noticeable difference in power between PowerMac and iMac? Worth a grand more? Noticeable difference between i3, i5 and i7 processors? Any reason to NOT get the iMac? Opinions greatly appreciated. Oh... plenty of reason not to get an iMac. Depends on what you want to use it for, though. An iMac has about the same upgradability as a laptop. You can replace the hard drive and RAM, and maybe the CPU. Probably not the DVD drive on an iMac. A PowerMac is basically a PC, with Mac-specific stuff. It has PCI Express, full-size RAM (oh, you didn't know iMac's took laptop ram?), probably PCI slots, and certainly upgradable CD drives and CPU. It's also more expensive, but generally more powerful. There IS a noticeable difference between Core i3, i5 and i7 CPUs. But it really depends on what you're doing. If it can be handled by a decent laptop, an iMac will work, with whatever CPU they have there now. If you need a workstation/server class computer, go for the PowerMac with an i7 - or two. At the local Guitar Center, they have some Macs in pro audio, and they're ALL either MacBook Pros or iMacs. You probably don't need a PowerMac. Oh... it's actually a Mac Pro now. PowerMacs were G4s and G5s. Whoops. Yes, I meant Mac Pro. Thanks. |
#4
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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new PowerMac or iMac?
On Aug 17, 9:32*pm, mark steven brooks
wrote: Any opinions on which to get to run ProTools, Finale, Sibelius, Mach5 etc? * Is there a noticeable difference in power between PowerMac and iMac? *Worth a grand more? *Noticeable difference between i3, i5 and i7 processors? *Any reason to NOT get the iMac? *Opinions greatly appreciated. Set up a workstation running Cubase 5 on a brand new iMac, 3.05 Ghz Snow Leopard 21.5 in 4G ram - $1195. The thing is wicked fast, where a few instances of Guitar Rig on top of basic NI instruments would choke the 1.5 Dual Intel minimac, this thing didn't blink with over 13 instances, the processor ran at around a cool 25%. And the new pocket SATA usb drives give you 750 gigs @ 7200 speed too. So far, no problems, as stable as the mini mac running 10.4 was (which is also now at 10.5 and also upgraded to Cubase 5.) Still on NI Komplete 4 though. Will |
#5
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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new PowerMac or iMac?
On Aug 23, 3:12*am, WillStG wrote:
On Aug 17, 9:32*pm, mark steven brooks wrote: Any opinions on which to get to run ProTools, Finale, Sibelius, Mach5 etc? * Is there a noticeable difference in power between PowerMac and iMac? *Worth a grand more? *Noticeable difference between i3, i5 and i7 processors? *Any reason to NOT get the iMac? *Opinions greatly appreciated. * *Set up a workstation running Cubase 5 on a brand new iMac, 3.05 Ghz Snow Leopard 21.5 in 4G ram - $1195. *The thing is wicked fast, where a few instances of Guitar Rig on top of basic NI instruments would choke the 1.5 Dual Intel minimac, this thing didn't blink with over 13 instances, the processor ran at around a cool 25%. *And the new pocket SATA usb drives give you 750 gigs @ 7200 speed too. * * So far, no problems, as stable as the mini mac running 10.4 was (which is also now at 10.5 and also upgraded to Cubase 5.) *Still on NI Komplete 4 though. Will Of course the Mac mini would gag. It's barely got room for a CD drive, let alone a fast CPU. The new one might work better, since the CPU is faster now. But an iMac is still probably the best bet. |
#6
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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new PowerMac or iMac?
On Aug 23, 7:07*pm, gjsmo wrote:
On Aug 23, 3:12*am, WillStG wrote: On Aug 17, 9:32*pm, mark steven brooks wrote: Any opinions on which to get to run ProTools, Finale, Sibelius, Mach5 etc? * Is there a noticeable difference in power between PowerMac and iMac? *Worth a grand more? *Noticeable difference between i3, i5 and i7 processors? *Any reason to NOT get the iMac? *Opinions greatly appreciated. * *Set up a workstation running Cubase 5 on a brand new iMac, 3.05 Ghz Snow Leopard 21.5 in 4G ram - $1195. *The thing is wicked fast, where a few instances of Guitar Rig on top of basic NI instruments would choke the 1.5 Dual Intel minimac, this thing didn't blink with over 13 instances, the processor ran at around a cool 25%. *And the new pocket SATA usb drives give you 750 gigs @ 7200 speed too. * * So far, no problems, as stable as the mini mac running 10.4 was (which is also now at 10.5 and also upgraded to Cubase 5.) *Still on NI Komplete 4 though. Will Of course the Mac mini would gag. It's barely got room for a CD drive, let alone a fast CPU. The new one might work better, since the CPU is faster now. But an iMac is still probably the best bet. Well I guess I should have qualified, the dual intel mini mac did plenty of audio tracks in a singer songwriter creative preproduction situation, and a decent number of VST's if you freeze instrument tracks. A lot of good songwriting output with lots of overdub tracks over the last year from that setup - but of course it had processor limitations, so we used ext. effects (lexicon, Metric Halo, etc.). But the new iMac upgrade @ 3Ghz is wicked powerful by comparison and has a lot of processor headroom, and the all in one design is ergonomic and convenient for building workstations. 3Ghz w/ 4 gigRam for $1195, with a 21.5" monitor and wireless keys/mouse is pretty decent - but tell me a better deal and I'll listen. I mean I wouldn't build a large commercial facility exclusively around one, but as part of a production chain that ends up doing drum overdubs and mixing on a Neve console, it has enough power for some fairly serious work I think. At least, enough to make me want to spend my money on one, but if you have a better idea for a system that is easy for casual users to understand.... |
#7
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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new PowerMac or iMac?
On Aug 23, 2:12*am, WillStG wrote:
On Aug 17, 9:32*pm, mark steven brooks wrote: Any opinions on which to get to run ProTools, Finale, Sibelius, Mach5 etc? * Is there a noticeable difference in power between PowerMac and iMac? *Worth a grand more? *Noticeable difference between i3, i5 and i7 processors? *Any reason to NOT get the iMac? *Opinions greatly appreciated. * *Set up a workstation running Cubase 5 on a brand new iMac, 3.05 Ghz Snow Leopard 21.5 in 4G ram - $1195. *The thing is wicked fast, where a few instances of Guitar Rig on top of basic NI instruments would choke the 1.5 Dual Intel minimac, this thing didn't blink with over 13 instances, the processor ran at around a cool 25%. *And the new pocket SATA usb drives give you 750 gigs @ 7200 speed too. * * So far, no problems, as stable as the mini mac running 10.4 was (which is also now at 10.5 and also upgraded to Cubase 5.) *Still on NI Komplete 4 though. Will Be sure to upgrade our cubase 5 to 5.5.1 It just came out |
#8
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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new PowerMac or iMac?
On Aug 23, 9:54*pm, WillStG wrote:
On Aug 23, 7:07*pm, gjsmo wrote: On Aug 23, 3:12*am, WillStG wrote: On Aug 17, 9:32*pm, mark steven brooks wrote: Any opinions on which to get to run ProTools, Finale, Sibelius, Mach5 etc? * Is there a noticeable difference in power between PowerMac and iMac? *Worth a grand more? *Noticeable difference between i3, i5 and i7 processors? *Any reason to NOT get the iMac? *Opinions greatly appreciated. * *Set up a workstation running Cubase 5 on a brand new iMac, 3.05 Ghz Snow Leopard 21.5 in 4G ram - $1195. *The thing is wicked fast, where a few instances of Guitar Rig on top of basic NI instruments would choke the 1.5 Dual Intel minimac, this thing didn't blink with over 13 instances, the processor ran at around a cool 25%. *And the new pocket SATA usb drives give you 750 gigs @ 7200 speed too. * * So far, no problems, as stable as the mini mac running 10.4 was (which is also now at 10.5 and also upgraded to Cubase 5.) *Still on NI Komplete 4 though. Will Of course the Mac mini would gag. It's barely got room for a CD drive, let alone a fast CPU. The new one might work better, since the CPU is faster now. But an iMac is still probably the best bet. * * *Well I guess I should have qualified, the dual intel mini mac did plenty of audio tracks in a singer songwriter creative preproduction situation, and a decent number of VST's if you freeze instrument tracks. *A lot of good songwriting output with lots of overdub tracks over the last year from that setup - but of course it had processor limitations, so we used ext. effects (lexicon, Metric Halo, etc.). But the new iMac upgrade @ 3Ghz is wicked powerful by comparison and has a lot of processor headroom, *and the all in one design is ergonomic and convenient for building workstations. *3Ghz w/ 4 gigRam for $1195, with a 21.5" monitor and wireless keys/mouse is pretty decent - but tell me a better deal and I'll listen. I mean I wouldn't build a large commercial facility exclusively around one, but as part of a production chain that ends up doing drum overdubs and mixing on a Neve console, it has enough power for some fairly serious work I think. *At least, enough to make me want to spend my money on one, but if you have a better idea for a system that is easy for casual users to understand.... Well, since you asked... Would you care to build a system? It would be a PC, of course, but you can sometimes get Mac OS X to run on a PC (don't rely on it though). I just built a $1500 computer, it's got a 3.2GHz Phenom II X4 (overclocked to 3.7GHz), 4 gigs of ram, 2 1TB hard drives, 2 DVD burners, an ATI Radeon 5830 with 1GB of VRAM... really nice, actually. That price includes a $150 case and about $130 for keyboard and mouse. I used a 21" Apple Studio CRT I had lying around, works great (1600x1200 resolution, best color ever). This system might be overkill for you, and probably is for me. But think about it. It's cheaper than an entry-level Mac Pro or similar iMac, more upgradeable than an iMac, and more customizable than anything Apple sells. Just pair stuff together that fits, and it works. I love Macs, but they're too expensive for me right now. So I have a PC, which I'm going to run OSx86 on. You could also look at Linux, if you're into free stuff. 64 Studio has plenty of free programs, and I know it comes with some kind of DAW. I could even throw together an audio-specific workstation if I had an hour... |
#9
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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new PowerMac or iMac?
I should mention that a quad-core CPU REALLY will improve anything
multi-threaded by a lot (vs. dual core). I would find it hard to believe that a DAW could be not multi-threaded. |
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