New Computer

[Financier]

Ok,,,I am looking t get a new computer just for my music. I have been a PC guy my whole life. Of course I hear from all my friends that a Mac is the way to go with music production.
Is there really a difference in sound or anything between the two? I have used a MAc a couple times and was not sure.
I use Ableton 8 Suite and am upgrading to 9 when I get the new computer.
Thanks

[cgren72]

People say that Macs have better midi timing

[CS_TBL]

Is there really a difference in sound or anything between the two?

OSX itself doesn't make sound, the D/A converter on the motherboard (or sound card) makes ones and zeroes into an analogue signal. Before that, it's all ones 'n zeroes. Ones 'n zeroes on a 1982 ZX Spectrum on the planet Venus will be the same ones 'n zeroes on a Mac on planet Melmak. And all these ones 'n zeroes are all based on mathematical formulas. It doesn't matter where the 2+3=5 comes from, from 1982 home computer or a supercomputer at NASA. The answer can't be anything else than 5.

The only reasons why things between computers may sound different are:
- a different D/A converter, and that's a matter of installing a better soundcard, the choice is yours
- different software. But to be exact: it's still universal math, but someone decided to not use a cross-compiler, which may mean that computer A only has support for plugin ABC while computer B only has support for plugin XYZ. Meaning that the difference is the software, not the computer, and as I wrote above, it's usually a matter of not using a cross compiler.

[meatballfulton]

Mac's built in audio is of higher quality than what comes with most Windows machines, but if you use an outboard audio interface that's a moot point.

Mac OS allows aggregate audio devices, this lets you combine multiple audio devices to work seamlessly as a single device. On my iMac I have set up an aggregate device with two Firewire interfaces for a total of 36 ins and 26 outs! You could just as easily aggregate a USB interface with a FW one (try that on Windows).

Mac OS has a Library directory with an Audio subdirectory where all your plugins go, unlike Windows where the plugin installer can dump the plugins wherever it wants and you have to tell your DAW where to find them. This makes managing your plugins easier.

Audio drivers on Mac OS use Core Audio, there's no confusion over whether to use ASIO, DirectX, MME, etc. for best performance.

Most Macs have audio jacks that support both analog and digital (optical SPDIF) connections in and out.

Mac OS supports both VST plugins as well as AudioUnits (AU) although the VSTs must be compiled for Mac, many VSTs are Windows only. Free VSTs built with SynthMaker will not run on Mac.

Macs come with GarageBand installed which is a DAW based on the Logic engine, so you get a nice starter DAW included in the purchase price. It is file compatible with the iOS version of Garageband.

Macs can boot Windows using either BootCamp (included) or virtual machine software...you have to supply a copy of Windows...so you can still run Windows only programs if you need to. I have used this to run some standalone utilities like patch editors that were not available for Mac OS.

If you are interested in using Firewire devices, while some recent Macs have lost the FW port a Thunderbolt port plus a $30 adapter from Apple gives you rock solid FW. The latest Macs now also support USB 3.0, although no vendors have announced audio or MIDI hardware for this yet.

[tekkentool]

Mac if you're prepared to pay.

PC if you'd rather be frugal.

I went the frugal route but rest assured I'd be using a mac right now if it was an option, the interface support is historically 9000x better.

Not that I'm really having a sook I love my computer and i haven't hit 100% CPU yet which is like a gift from heaven for me.

[Mission Difficult]

Depends on your budget and if you want the latest hardware or not.

[phesago]

I recently went through something similar. Between the advice between this forum and muffs, i decided tO build a windows machine. A tech friend said if i wanted a mac i could just load the osx onto the machine i built. Either way i ended up spending 1300 on a box that will be able to suite my needs and then some.

[Miles Powerhouse]

http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2012/ ... r-mac-daw/


Just gonna leave this here.

[Financier]

Great info !!!! Thanks to all. I bought a Mac a year ago cause I heard how amazing they were. I was not using it for music, but as my regular computer. But it was slow and not and no fun to work with so I went back to PC.
This time if I get one it will be solely for music and I will keep my PC for my other stuff.
Now time to shop.