Hi all:
I'm on the fence about which brand of computer I should step into.
I'd like to be sequencing and recording audio with TRACTION 2.
Any unbiased suggestions?
JET...
PC vs MAC
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will.record.for.food will.record.for.food https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=47978
- KVRist
- 222 posts since 14 Nov, 2004 from TX
...and it begins
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- KVRAF
- 9096 posts since 5 Feb, 2004
Tracktion appears to be more efficient on PCs. Until you get a virus that is.
If you have requests for Korg VST features or changes, they are listening at https://support.korguser.net/hc/en-us/requests/new
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- KVRAF
- 2454 posts since 5 Oct, 2003
it depends
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- KVRist
- 268 posts since 11 Nov, 2003 from kentucky
I use a mac.
Most forum posters use a pc.
Both platforms perform well on a daily basis. Do some research online. Also consider 3rd party peripherals and plugs which aren't always available cross platform.
If, after this, you're leaning towards a mac, I recommend shopping low end.
I bought a mac mini and it makes a very groovy desktop audio box - small form factor and very quiet. The mini now comes standard with 512ram so it really is very usable out of the box. Go for the entry level machine and use youre existing peripherals and you're only out 500.00. The 1.25 G4 isn't exactly a screamer by G5/Pentium 4 standards and clock speeds but it does provide a lot of bang for the buck. Tiger and the iLife software ship with all macs.
You'll also be glad you minimized your initial investment when Apple brings out the new Intel machines next spring.
Most forum posters use a pc.
Both platforms perform well on a daily basis. Do some research online. Also consider 3rd party peripherals and plugs which aren't always available cross platform.
If, after this, you're leaning towards a mac, I recommend shopping low end.
I bought a mac mini and it makes a very groovy desktop audio box - small form factor and very quiet. The mini now comes standard with 512ram so it really is very usable out of the box. Go for the entry level machine and use youre existing peripherals and you're only out 500.00. The 1.25 G4 isn't exactly a screamer by G5/Pentium 4 standards and clock speeds but it does provide a lot of bang for the buck. Tiger and the iLife software ship with all macs.
You'll also be glad you minimized your initial investment when Apple brings out the new Intel machines next spring.
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- KVRist
- 268 posts since 11 Nov, 2003 from kentucky
That's absolutely right. In which case, budget for a 7200 rpm external firewire drive. That's my next purchase.
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- KVRist
- 268 posts since 11 Nov, 2003 from kentucky
Another note: the mini obviously doesn't have pci and is only limited to one firewire port so you would need a hub to use an external drive and firewire audio interface.
My m-audio firewire audiophile has a second firewire port for daisy chaining devices. I'll get to find out if that works pretty soon. I suspect that I'll still need an external hub.
My m-audio firewire audiophile has a second firewire port for daisy chaining devices. I'll get to find out if that works pretty soon. I suspect that I'll still need an external hub.
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- KVRAF
- 9096 posts since 5 Feb, 2004
Honestly, the only good reason I can see getting a Mac for audio is if you want to run Logic. Otherwise nearly every other consideration is in Windows' favor. You could get a Windows box for the same price that has a 7200 internal drive already, easy to upgrade RAM (and faster too), you can use an internal soundcard, add drives. If you are running Tracktion you won't notice any difference anyway.
I love Macs, for my personal computer I wouldn't want anything else. But the end result is you will pay twice the price generally with a Mac for the same performance. A Mini is really limited and though it seems cheap at first, you start adding everything to make it usable and you've spent a grand at least.
I love Macs, for my personal computer I wouldn't want anything else. But the end result is you will pay twice the price generally with a Mac for the same performance. A Mini is really limited and though it seems cheap at first, you start adding everything to make it usable and you've spent a grand at least.
If you have requests for Korg VST features or changes, they are listening at https://support.korguser.net/hc/en-us/requests/new
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- KVRist
- 268 posts since 11 Nov, 2003 from kentucky
I agree that the performance per dollar is better on the pc side.
What I see repeatedly is that it's not merely a matter of performance or cost. The general user experience can be a strong factor with OSX.
As for the mini recommendation, I stand by it. It really doesn't have to cost more than it does unless you don't already have peripherals from an existing system. Factoring in the cost of additional hardware like a good external drive isn't necessarily fair since many people do that anyway for additional storage and better performance.
Think of the entry level mini as Tiger (129.00) and iLife (79.00) with a 290.00 quiet deskbox. It's a transitional / second computer, not a substitute for a maxed out tower. I'd wait another year for that or buy a pc now.
It's obvious that my audio processing demands aren't as great as some so I'm happy to compromise specs for a more pleasant user experience. I've used pcs and macs side by side since 1995.
Which brings me back to cost vs. value. I'm also a visual artist with a tight technology budget so my machines have to last a long time with little or no maintenance. We still have macs running here at the house from 1996 (all but one purchased used/refurbished). That's not unusual and accounts for at least some of the loyalty apple's customers have for the brand.
Good luck to you.
What I see repeatedly is that it's not merely a matter of performance or cost. The general user experience can be a strong factor with OSX.
As for the mini recommendation, I stand by it. It really doesn't have to cost more than it does unless you don't already have peripherals from an existing system. Factoring in the cost of additional hardware like a good external drive isn't necessarily fair since many people do that anyway for additional storage and better performance.
Think of the entry level mini as Tiger (129.00) and iLife (79.00) with a 290.00 quiet deskbox. It's a transitional / second computer, not a substitute for a maxed out tower. I'd wait another year for that or buy a pc now.
It's obvious that my audio processing demands aren't as great as some so I'm happy to compromise specs for a more pleasant user experience. I've used pcs and macs side by side since 1995.
Which brings me back to cost vs. value. I'm also a visual artist with a tight technology budget so my machines have to last a long time with little or no maintenance. We still have macs running here at the house from 1996 (all but one purchased used/refurbished). That's not unusual and accounts for at least some of the loyalty apple's customers have for the brand.
Good luck to you.
Last edited by james on Wed Aug 17, 2005 4:33 am, edited 2 times in total.
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- KVRAF
- 9096 posts since 5 Feb, 2004
I personally would love a Mini to sit on top of my PC, but as far as advising someone that doesn't already have a preference and wants to use it specifically for Tracktion, I don't think it's a good deal. Breaking it out into Tiger and iLife could be done with Windows and some OC bundled assp, and then add a mouse, keyboard, monitor, and whatever other POS stuff you get with the cheapest Dells 
If you have requests for Korg VST features or changes, they are listening at https://support.korguser.net/hc/en-us/requests/new
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- KVRist
- 268 posts since 11 Nov, 2003 from kentucky
You're right Braj.
Still, please don't get the impression that I'm advocating something I haven't tested. I use my mini every day for audio and it really does work great. I typically run Tracktion with Ableton Live Lite rewired for a total of about 16 tracks.
Then again, I migrated from a very lowly G3 266 wallstreet so I know a little about how to get the most performance from a low end system. I'm also not running a studio with clients walking in the door.
If someone is testing the water and wants a cheap intro mac, the mini is it. If you like the experience, step up the budget, buy a pc or wait.
This would be so much easier if apple would just liscense the os for pcs. A well connected friend tells me that is still 2 to 3 years away.... sigh. Meanwhile, with the intel transition, we all know that someone is going to hack osx for pc next year. Apple knows this too so why are they waiting? Hardware sales. I wish they'd just get over it. Everyone I know would at least try osx on their pc if they could.
james
NOTE!!!
I didn't write or post the following but it showed up in this post? I don't know how this happened. Obviously another valid opinion so I left it.
I mean, sure you might get along with live rewired on your mac... but if you had a Pentium-M or some AMD chip chugging along in live, the difference in performance will literally blow you away. That will make your experience using the software a lot nicer, as you simply won't hit a wall nearly as fast.
then again, if you are just multitracking and don't need alot of processor, then I guess it doesn't matter much.
Still, please don't get the impression that I'm advocating something I haven't tested. I use my mini every day for audio and it really does work great. I typically run Tracktion with Ableton Live Lite rewired for a total of about 16 tracks.
Then again, I migrated from a very lowly G3 266 wallstreet so I know a little about how to get the most performance from a low end system. I'm also not running a studio with clients walking in the door.
If someone is testing the water and wants a cheap intro mac, the mini is it. If you like the experience, step up the budget, buy a pc or wait.
This would be so much easier if apple would just liscense the os for pcs. A well connected friend tells me that is still 2 to 3 years away.... sigh. Meanwhile, with the intel transition, we all know that someone is going to hack osx for pc next year. Apple knows this too so why are they waiting? Hardware sales. I wish they'd just get over it. Everyone I know would at least try osx on their pc if they could.
james
NOTE!!!
I didn't write or post the following but it showed up in this post? I don't know how this happened. Obviously another valid opinion so I left it.
I mean, sure you might get along with live rewired on your mac... but if you had a Pentium-M or some AMD chip chugging along in live, the difference in performance will literally blow you away. That will make your experience using the software a lot nicer, as you simply won't hit a wall nearly as fast.
then again, if you are just multitracking and don't need alot of processor, then I guess it doesn't matter much.
Last edited by james on Wed Aug 17, 2005 12:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRian
- 1166 posts since 16 Aug, 2004
Macs run Tiger better, and PCs run windows better!