Cubase 5: Why I switched (headquest)

[koolkeys]

But did you not read? Headquest's students also use other software for homework and grades from the school that is PC only. So recommending a Mac isn't the best idea.

They aren't even a "luxury" anyways. They are just another system. The only reason price was brought up was because of the statement about the cheapest Mac, even though the cheapest PC is much less. I don't think anyone has an "anti-expensive" motivation here. They were only stating facts, not putting down the system.

It's not as big of an issue as you're making it to be. It's just that the students of headquest already need a PC for other school related things(which is common), so a Mac WOULD be an unneeded purchase.

Brent

[headquest]

It's not a PC vs Mac thing at all, and which (if either) is better is totally irrelevant. Nor is it exactly a cost thing. Its just the simple fact that probably ALL my students own a PC and probably NONE of them own a Mac, so at this point in THEIR journey it is motivational for them to see what is possible on a PC.

In order to put this part of the discussion to bed, I should clarify that I teach MUSIC technology, as opposed to music TECHNOLOGY. In other words, I am using technology to support musical learning (e.g. using software within composition, and for example making recordings of piano players so they can evaluate their progress/performance) and not (for the most part) providing detailed audio engineering courses.

[susiwong]

The expression map thing is really great news for all serious sample users, it's basically a very quick and extremely intuitive way to switch articulations.
It's an open standard, can be used with any sample library. Hope it will be taken up by lots of other devs, little work for them and big help for the user.
First you'll need to have an expression map for your library (not unlike a drummap in principle), either define one yourself or use a pre-made one.
Then all you have to do is load the suitable map and draw horizontal bars in a certain area at the bottom of your editor window. Those bars define which articulation will be played at what time.
Completely easy and transparent, though there still are a few smaller bugs and making the maps could be more intuitive.
Try it, there are quite some ready-made instruments included both for Halion 1 and the 3 month demo of Halion Symphonic 16bit that you can purchase for 99 € I think, another great value imho.
Ymmv,
susiwong

[Ubiety]

That an irrational impression given that the least expensive Mac mini is $599.00. But even so, having that impression yourself is not anything that you would have been obliged to pass on to your students. You simply could have informed them of the available choices that you're aware of -- minus your fears and biases.

Not really at all. I teach school age kids dependant on home computers. They also need various stuff that is Windows only in order to integrate their homework and classroom work. So buying a Mac would definitely be a music-only purchase, not a lifestyle decision. And for a 15-year old, that's basically not going to happen.

I'm sure Logic is great and all - ditto Mac computers - just not something my students have or - let's be honest here - need.

You know your students better than I do, but having a Mac doesn't promote the idea that making music with a computer is an exclusive endeavor. That idea is your own. And the point is that you aren't obliged to impress that idea upon your students if you decided that a Mac was good for you. You could advise them to use a Windows or Linux machine, or whatever.

If their needs extend to needing many Windows exclusive apps, so be it, but what you use to make music with wouldn't necessarily convey any sort of exclusivity about making music on a computer that you didn't convey yourself.

It's ironic that you have the impression that Macs send the message that making music on a computer is an exclusive endeavor, and then in the same breath you talk about the kids needing Windows machines because of apps which are exclusive to Windows. Cubase 5 does run on a Mac also you know; so you could have still used a Mac and advised your students to use Windows PCs, if they were interested enough to want to use Cubase 5 because that's what you use. Not to mention, there wouldn't have been anything wrong with them wanting a Mac for the same reason. But all of this "exclusive message sending" is your imagination.

[Ubiety]

It's not as big of an issue as you're making it to be. It's just that the students of headquest already need a PC for other school related things(which is common), so a Mac WOULD be an unneeded purchase.

It wouldn't be unneeded if a student decided that's what he/she needed. If a student decided on Logic, what would be the harm in investing the system that supported the software?

The point about Macs sending the message that making music on a computer is exclusive to those who own Macs is completely bogus. Headquest could easily inform the students that making music on Windows machine is also possible. There are certainly enough cross-platform DAWs for the issue of making music on computers to be a non-issue in terms of "exclusivity". And besides, he chose Cubase 5. If he ran that on a Mac, how would that send a message of exclusivity? And if he chose Logic, how would that send the message of exclusivity that making music on a computer requires a Mac?

[neverfall]

But did you not read? Headquest's students also use other software for homework and grades from the school that is PC only. So recommending a Mac isn't the best idea.

They aren't even a "luxury" anyways. They are just another system. The only reason price was brought up was because of the statement about the cheapest Mac, even though the cheapest PC is much less. I don't think anyone has an "anti-expensive" motivation here. They were only stating facts, not putting down the system.

It's not as big of an issue as you're making it to be. It's just that the students of headquest already need a PC for other school related things(which is common), so a Mac WOULD be an unneeded purchase.

Brent

WTF? Lol! Try reading AGAIN what you just wrote...and then try applying the definiton of "luxury" to music production tools.

In case you need help...


NOUN:
pl. lux·u·ries

1. Something inessential but conducive to pleasure and comfort.
2. Something expensive or hard to obtain.
3. Sumptuous living or surroundings: lives in luxury.

ADJECTIVE:

Providing luxury: a luxury car.


So basically what you're arguing is...Headquest believes it's not a good idea to recommend a MAC to his students because they have other schoolwork that needs to be completed on PC ONLY software.

THEREFORE...if they were to go out and purchase a MAC they'd still NEED...NEED...





NEED...


A PC. Riiiiight?


So buying a MAC for music production...as you already stated would be an UNNECESSARY PURCHASE for Headquest's students...would be considered a LUXURY would it not? A luxury isn't something you NEED...it's pretty much...

1. Something inessential but conducive to pleasure and comfort.


Don't bullshit. Please...just don't bullshit. It's Friday and I'd rather continue yet again another meaningless Mac v. PC debate. If Macs were "just another system" then why wouldn't Headquest just tell his students they COULD purchase a MAC if they'd like, but they'd have to run Bootcamp in order to complete their schoolwork?


No...ahem...please don't bullshit.

I THOROUGHLY read through Headquest's post. I don't see a reason to argue...just a reason to share another viewpoint. Now let's all be nice and dish away with any presumptions that I'm a Mac Fanboy or that Headquest is anti-Apple. Simply put I don't know the financial situations of his students and their families, but let's make one thing clear...


Headquest stated that he didn't want his students believing that music creators NEEDED a MAC to produce music. I agree 110% with this. I don't even tell students they NEED a Mac. I wouldn't tell them because I know FOR A FACT just as YOU AND HEADQUEST are aware of that Macs are f**king expensive. There are far too many idiots running around telling students how badly they NEED PRO TOOLS LE (and Digi's "luxurious music production toolkit" ) or a MAC...or a HARDWARE WORKSTATION to create music when it's simply not the truth. Now maybe WE KNOW BETTER...but many of these students DON'T. I do tell these students they should spend as much time in our facilities as possible LEARNING their way around OSX and Pro Tools because Macs and PT are the industry standards.


Maybe Macs are just another machine to you...but tell that to pretty much every studio...and at least 6 college campuses I've visited who were solely Mac based. That's like saying Avid is just another video editor.


It's not the machine. It's the connotations that goes along with these tools that truly makes a point.

[hibidy]

mac? Pc? Mulder.......?

quit with this crap already.......JFCANFHBHS! He already said he wasn't bashing mac....shesh!!!!!

@headquest : welcome

[susiwong]

Come on folks, what's that Mac stuff got to do with headquest's thread ?
Ok, I've been guilty of some hijacking myself in the past, no doubt, but this thread started out quite interesting after all, and he wasn't even bashing Macs.
If you need some of that, just PM me and we'll make kvr a battlefield tomorrow night.
Cheers,
susiwong

[hibidy]

Yeah!!!!!

[Hink]

Yeah!!!!!

Topic: Cubase 5: Why I switched (headquest)

well when I'm on a quest for head, that's pretty much the mother load (that one line is like a quadruple entendre)

[susiwong]

Topic: Cubase 5: Why I switched (headquest)

well when I'm on a quest for head, that's pretty much the mother load (that one line is like a quadruple entendre)

Thanks for leading us back on topic, Hink !
Cheers,
susiwong

[druid]

THEREFORE...if they were to go out and purchase a MAN they'd still NEED...NEED...

.. whips and chains? Strap ons?

Purchasing a man... That's made my day!

[hibidy]

Topic: Cubase 5: Why I switched (headquest)

well when I'm on a quest for head, that's pretty much the mother load (that one line is like a quadruple entendre)

Thanks for leading us back on topic, Hink !
Cheers,
susiwong

[neverfall]

THEREFORE...if they were to go out and purchase a MAN they'd still NEED...NEED...

.. whips and chains? Strap ons?

Purchasing a man... That's made my day!

Thanks for the queer eye. Fixed.

[koolkeys]

neverfall, you didn't understand what I said about "luxury". Somebody ELSE said that Macs were a luxury. I was only saying that they weren't any more of a luxury than anything else. I said they were just another system, as in, the same. There was no need for long definitions and explanations as I never said what you are thinking I did.

Brent