Looking For A Start In Music, Just ordered a new iMac G5 Options

[enygma]

Hi, I am kinda new to what is available in the world of the Mac. I have ordered a new iMac G5 computer with 512MB of RAM and started looking at Garage Band. I wanted to talk to my uncle regarding things having to do with music as he used a Mac to create the songs for all his albums using Digital Performer (not sure of the version). However, I am looking at Garage Band and Logic as possible options, but I am not sure where to start, or what equipment I would need, or how it all works. I used to do music tracking on my old 486 PC in DOS with Impulse Tracker 2.14, and I am wanting to get back into music.

What do I need to know to head in the right direction? What do I need to use? What is the differences between programs like Garage Band, Digital Performer and Logic?

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[WaterDog]

twain gave an excellent overall view of some of the basics on the tools available put there. When it comes to software, though, everyone is going to work differently, and so different tools may work for you than work for me...

My two bits: If you're starting out, though, I think Garage Band or Metro are great programs too, and WAY cheaper. They offer enough features to suit many musical and production styles. If you use one of them, and start to feel limited, then you could move up to something like Logic or DP. There are a ton of good and inexpensive audio interfaces out there. I just got a Tascam US122 for my laptop for about $100. Sounds great (less filling!) and rock solid.

One thing - MOTU just came out with DP 4.5, which puts it more on par with Live (and the new Logic 7) by adding Beat Detection, Time Stretching, etc--also improved score to picture features, and some other improvements. Check it out at motu.com

Personally, I use Digital Performer for most of my sequencing and Quicktime scoring, and do prefer the DP interface to Logic. As good as twain's post was, I don't agree that Logic is "crap." Logic is a bit thorny, and its interface confuses many (myself included) but Logic is an amazing tool, and includes softsynths, samplers and effects that, frankly, DP doesn't. MANY pros use Logic, and for good reason. If I won the lottery, I'd buy it.

Speaking of Reason, I also use and love Reason, and I find that I use Live more and more instead of DP--although Live's sequencing features are in the early stages, they work flawlessly. Between DP, Live and Reason, with Sample Tank 2 and a couple of EMU modules, I have a pretty good life in the studio. But you can make great music with FAR less.


Hope this helps.