MacBook for recording?

Codyyy · 11-13-2007, 06:11 PM

I may soon be getting a laptop and I'm told that Macs are good for this kind of application. I'm looking at the MacBook laptops (Core 2 Duo, 1GB RAM, 2.2 Ghz, 120GB HD) and I'm wondering if they are any good/worth the money.

If you have a better suggestion, I'd love to hear it (for the price).

Oh, and something like Garageband will be fine for me, I don't need anything more than a simple recording app. I just want to make sure that latency won't be a a problem. Specifically, I have a PreSonus FireBox that runs by FireWire - should this be A.O.K with the Mac?

zimbloth · 11-13-2007, 06:28 PM

Just a myth. That was true in 1995, not today. PCs work just as well, and are usually exponentially faster than similarly priced Apples. I will tell you 1GB of ram won't cut it anymore. The new minimum is 2GB.

Jason · 11-13-2007, 06:30 PM

True. I wouldn't say not to get a apple..but I woould just say don't think you HAVE to get a apple.

darren · 11-13-2007, 06:33 PM

GarageBand is a blast, and should do very well for you if your needs are limited. And there's a smooth upgrade path to Logic.

MacBooks are very capable machines. I'd probably go with a fast external drive... i'm not sure if the MacBook has two separate USB buses, or if it has two ports on a single bus. Either way, you might want to get a FireWire hard drive and a USB audio interface, or vice-versa.

You'll probably want to go with 2GB of RAM (aftermarket) if you can swing it. 1 GB is bare minimum for OS X and apps these days.

Codyyy · 11-13-2007, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zimbloth

I will tell you 1GB of ram won't cut it anymore. The new minimum is 2GB.

For what? The computer I am using right now has 512mb and I haven't had any problems running Cubase, Reason, Fruity Loops.... hell all at the same time. Those would be the heaviest apps I would be running, so I guess

zimbloth · 11-13-2007, 06:45 PM

I don't know what to tell you. Most of the programs recommend a minimum of 1GB nowadays. Hell, some operating systems don't even operate properly with 512, I guess you got lucky.

Back when I had 1gb of ram, I could do most things farely well, but CPU usage was high and I'd get the occasional drop out. Perhaps I was using much more intensive audio stuff than you usually do. Just trust me, 2GB of ram is the way to go nowadays. I have 4GB actually (that might be a little bit of overkill, but it's cool).

s7eve · 11-13-2007, 08:16 PM

I agree with Nick.

If you get a new Laptop your most likely going to be running Leopard or Vista unless you specifically look for XP.

Performance will be reasonable with 1GB but not optimal, I have a MBP with 1GB running Tiger and it's not enough especially for multitasking or even just having lots of tabs open in Safari.

The spinning wheel of death is something I have to live with until I get another GB.

I usually have iChat, mail and Safari with 10+ tabs open but before I open Garageband I close everything else, if I open another app while I'm using Garageband with monitoring on, I usually have latency problems that can only be fixed by restarting Garageband.

technomancer · 11-13-2007, 09:07 PM

A macbook should work great for your needs, though I'll agree with Nick that you'll want 2GB of RAM

Also buy the RAM after market, as Apples markup on it are insance

As for price vs. performance on laptops I only pulled the Macbook and Dell with same screen size, but I think it sums it up:

The Apple Store (U.S.) - MacBook
Dell XPS M1330 Product Details

F1Filter · 11-13-2007, 10:54 PM

Only caveat I'm going to throw out is to be wary of the firewire chipsets on the Dell. If you're thinking about going the firewire interface route for your audio I/O (highly recommended over USB). Then you're looking at a laptop with a Texas Instruments firewire chipset in there. Which isn't in most Dell's these days.

The MacBooks are TI equipped, some Sony Viaos I've used in the past are also.

I'd actually recommend looking at DAW-specific vendors if you want a Windows based lappy. ADK is one that I've been recommending to my clients, PCAudio Labs is also recommended.

If you're already pretty much set on getting a MacBook and using Garageband. That's not a bad way to go if you're just starting out. One of the biggest benefits is that you'll always be able to upgrade to Logic if you outgrow Garageband. You'll also be able to import your GB projects into it, along with your loop libraries also.

+1 on everyone's recommendations of getting at least 2 GB. Samplers and virtual softsynths tend to gobble up ram pretty quickly.

Durero · 11-13-2007, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zimbloth

PCs are usually exponentially faster than similarly priced Apples.

Nick please don't take this as an attack or attempt to start yet another useless pc/mac flamewar because I absolutely agree with you that either will do and there is very capable hardware & software for both platforms, but the part I quoted here is also a myth that might have been true in 1995 but certainly is no longer.

View Poll Results: What laptop for home recording?
Apple MacBook	12	85.71%
Other (specify in thread)	2	14.29%
Voters: 14. You may not vote on this poll

11-13-2007, 06:11 PM	#1
Codyyy The Flip-Flopper Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,733 Real Name: Cody Main Seven: Loomis TOM Rig: Carvin V3 - Avatar Thanked: 61 $Codyyy is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Codyyy is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Codyyy is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Codyyy is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Codyyy is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Codyyy is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Codyyy is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$	MacBook for recording? I may soon be getting a laptop and I'm told that Macs are good for this kind of application. I'm looking at the MacBook laptops (Core 2 Duo, 1GB RAM, 2.2 Ghz, 120GB HD) and I'm wondering if they are any good/worth the money. If you have a better suggestion, I'd love to hear it (for the price). Oh, and something like Garageband will be fine for me, I don't need anything more than a simple recording app. I just want to make sure that latency won't be a a problem. Specifically, I have a PreSonus FireBox that runs by FireWire - should this be A.O.K with the Mac? Schecter Loomis-7 TOM

11-13-2007, 06:30 PM	#3
Jason Sign Your Neg Rep Posts! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South of the rats mouth.. Posts: 9,400 Real Name: Jason Main Seven: Esp/Ltd H207 :D Rig: Nadda Supreme Thanked: 80	True. I wouldn't say not to get a apple..but I woould just say don't think you HAVE to get a apple. "I wish TV had a knob so you could turn up the intelligence. The one marked Brightness doesn't work." Gallagher

11-13-2007, 09:07 PM	#8
technomancer Gearus Pimptasticus Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 9,114 Real Name: Steve Main Seven: KxK Sii-7 Rig: Fargen -> Orange Thanked: 53	A macbook should work great for your needs, though I'll agree with Nick that you'll want 2GB of RAM Also buy the RAM after market, as Apples markup on it are insance As for price vs. performance on laptops I only pulled the Macbook and Dell with same screen size, but I think it sums it up: The Apple Store (U.S.) - MacBook Dell XPS M1330 Product Details Incoming Pimptastic KxK Singlecut of Doom Orange 2x12 - Damn am I colorful

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11-13-2007, 06:28 PM	#2
zimbloth Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 11,533 Real Name: Nick Main Seven: Rico Jr Customs Main ERG: Ibanez 8 Rig: VHT Pittbull UL Thanked: 72	Just a myth. That was true in 1995, not today. PCs work just as well, and are usually exponentially faster than similarly priced Apples. I will tell you 1GB of ram won't cut it anymore. The new minimum is 2GB.

11-13-2007, 06:33 PM	#4
darren Mr. Negative Pants™ Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Greater Toronto Area, Canada Posts: 8,108 Main Seven: modded Dean EVO Special 7 Main ERG: Agile Intrepid Standard Rig: Mesa F-30 -> Thiele Thanked: 42	GarageBand is a blast, and should do very well for you if your needs are limited. And there's a smooth upgrade path to Logic. MacBooks are very capable machines. I'd probably go with a fast external drive... i'm not sure if the MacBook has two separate USB buses, or if it has two ports on a single bus. Either way, you might want to get a FireWire hard drive and a USB audio interface, or vice-versa. You'll probably want to go with 2GB of RAM (aftermarket) if you can swing it. 1 GB is bare minimum for OS X and apps these days.

11-13-2007, 06:45 PM	#6
zimbloth Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 11,533 Real Name: Nick Main Seven: Rico Jr Customs Main ERG: Ibanez 8 Rig: VHT Pittbull UL Thanked: 72	I don't know what to tell you. Most of the programs recommend a minimum of 1GB nowadays. Hell, some operating systems don't even operate properly with 512, I guess you got lucky. Back when I had 1gb of ram, I could do most things farely well, but CPU usage was high and I'd get the occasional drop out. Perhaps I was using much more intensive audio stuff than you usually do. Just trust me, 2GB of ram is the way to go nowadays. I have 4GB actually (that might be a little bit of overkill, but it's cool).

11-13-2007, 08:16 PM	#7
s7eve Slowly recovering. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Agnes Water, Qld, Australia Posts: 4,041 Real Name: Firedragon Main Seven: RG2027X Main ERG: RG7EXFX2 Rig: ENGL E530 > Randall Thanked: 41	I agree with Nick. If you get a new Laptop your most likely going to be running Leopard or Vista unless you specifically look for XP. Performance will be reasonable with 1GB but not optimal, I have a MBP with 1GB running Tiger and it's not enough especially for multitasking or even just having lots of tabs open in Safari. The spinning wheel of death is something I have to live with until I get another GB. I usually have iChat, mail and Safari with 10+ tabs open but before I open Garageband I close everything else, if I open another app while I'm using Garageband with monitoring on, I usually have latency problems that can only be fixed by restarting Garageband.

11-13-2007, 10:54 PM	#9
F1Filter Bringing Sexy Back Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA & Queens, NY Posts: 552 Main Seven: Jackson CS Soloist 7 Rig: Bunch of VST plugins Thanked: 22 $F1Filter is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $F1Filter is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $F1Filter is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $F1Filter is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $F1Filter is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $F1Filter is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $F1Filter is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$	Only caveat I'm going to throw out is to be wary of the firewire chipsets on the Dell. If you're thinking about going the firewire interface route for your audio I/O (highly recommended over USB). Then you're looking at a laptop with a Texas Instruments firewire chipset in there. Which isn't in most Dell's these days. The MacBooks are TI equipped, some Sony Viaos I've used in the past are also. I'd actually recommend looking at DAW-specific vendors if you want a Windows based lappy. ADK is one that I've been recommending to my clients, PCAudio Labs is also recommended. If you're already pretty much set on getting a MacBook and using Garageband. That's not a bad way to go if you're just starting out. One of the biggest benefits is that you'll always be able to upgrade to Logic if you outgrow Garageband. You'll also be able to import your GB projects into it, along with your loop libraries also. +1 on everyone's recommendations of getting at least 2 GB. Samplers and virtual softsynths tend to gobble up ram pretty quickly.


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MacBook for recording?