Quest For The Right Mac, g5 vs. g4 vs. imac etc. Options

[cwmiii3]

..depends on what you do and how much you want to spend. yes, i know..and more so than before thanks to reading posts for the last week.

So here' s my question to macmusic users: i'm currently a pc user with a modest starting studio setup (Mbox, PTLE, decent moniters, and at least one half decent mic) who does some home recording of guitar based music and crafted radio production work. In other words, i'm a semi-professional who does everything from layered pop songs to 1/2 four track audio documentary work....and looking to get more serious. my pc laptop just barely meets my needs and, after pulling out my hair trying to run ptle for the past couple months, i've decided to go mac. But which one is for me ?

i've done a fair amount of research on this and to tell the truth, i still can't make up my fri'ggin mind. Money is an issue, but more in the sense of 'should i borrow towards the G5?' The noise factor is also important, mainly because my current computer makes so much of it and it drives me bonkers. Finally, which macs are more audio friendly than others with more i/o's otions?

One final aside: i was all settled on 'buy for the future' approach and had picked the G5 1.8 duall as the best bang for the buck. But then, i talked with a Guitar Center mac studio guy who said i, given my equipment and needs, it was like pairing a Jag with a flat tires. Does the truth hurt? his advice: i should think G4. any suggestions?
thanks,
cwmiii3

[swilder]

Let me tell ya man, I got a dual G4 and it is seriouly loud. Unless you're gonna have the recording source in another room, or some sort of iso box for the computer, the G4 WILL be picked up by the mic.

I would say buy the G5. Even though the mbox is not a $30,000 pro tools rig, you can still get very professional results. The dual G5s with tons of RAM is gonna give you lots of plug ins! It's not about the gear, it's about the people that use it. I know alot of pros that have an mbox around for the combo of PT and mobililty.

Don't let some salesman tell you what you need, he's just there for the commision

Scott

[Nels]

If your budget allows for the G5 Dual, that's a very very good thing. However, you might consider a 15" G4 1.25/Superdrive Powerbook Laptop with an added external 20" display. Price wise you'd still be in the ball park and you'd have the option to be wireless mobile if needed later. ..It would definitely be quiter(though the G5 is pretty quite) and some will tell you that the G4 1.25 Powerbook actually processes at a faster rate.

If the salesman was refering to the G4 dual / tower, that would be more than enough for your needs and you'll be able to pick one up a lot cheaper these days, thus saving some big big bucks, ......but you should decide for yourself in the end which way to go. The salesman's intension might have been just to save you some $$$$.

Now, with either or, I would suggest, as most would, to get an external 7200 hard drive for all your audio files storage.

For what it seems that you're doing, the Mbox is cool for now.. Your monitors are your ears, so for the sake of your mixes, hopefully they are decent. As for mics, you should be using nothing less than a Shure 57 or 58, but if you end up getting any of the above Macs, definitely get a dynamic cardiod / condenser mic w/ shock mount. In a word, CLARITY!

Hope that helps, ...good luck!

Nelson

[cwmiii3]

thanks for the input. in fact, the 1.25 G4 superdrive powerbook is also under consideration, though i guess you've answered a sepearate question: whether it's worth the extra money to max out the specs. plus, i have to admit the idea of a mobile rig has a lot of appeal. and you say they're quiet?

on a similiar note, what about the g4 imac? any reason that should be ruled out ? thanks, cwmiii3

[Nels]

The G4 iMac? Defintiely not to be ruled out. All Macs these days can be used for most DAW systems and the iMac is used by some. The Macs mostly used though are the G4 Dual / Tower, the new Power books and last but not least, the "G5". Just a matter of preference.

If you're considering the iMac as a choice, then it's your choice. It's, of course, good to weigh all your options before buying, that's all. Do the reasearch and get different views, which you're doing and then decide. Keep in mind that you really can't go wrong with any of the more recent and especially the newer Macs.

I have a friend that uses an iBook w/ PT and he's perfectly content for now. The new Macs are most defintely cool and powerful, but the most recent Macs get the job done too.

Don't let all the G5/Powerbook hype get you down. Bottom line: If you're not a complete pro yet, you could save yourself a lot of money by getting something comprable to your needs. On the other hand, if you really intend on getting more and more serious and your budget allows, go for the gold.

Tough, I know, but if you do decide to go for the Gold, rest easy knowing that you won't have to upgrade(spend mo $$$) for quite some time. You'll be able to grow into your Mac pants, if you will.

Nelson

[cwmiii3]

sage advice all. many thanks.

one final question: what about inputs/outputs for the G4 powerbook vs. G5? anything i should consider? i seem to remember someone posting that ProTools was phasing out G4 support. if true, how can that be? cwmiii3

[Nels]

Don't know where you heard or read it. That's absolutely not true. If it were true, there would be massive international chaos.

Pro Tools LE is the most widely used DAW and the Powerbook G4's(Titanium / Aluminum) are likely to be in most Pro Studios.

As to the ins and outs, all is the same on both, the new G4 PBook and G5 with the exception of the optical ins and outs that the G5 has. However, there are inexpensive adapters for that, should you ever need for the Powerbook G4.