The Mac
Apple Computers
The Way To Go.
The Way To Go.
For years the platform for recording has been the Mac and still is. There are too many variables with PC. Yes, 90% of the world is PC. It has been less expensive, but that is changing. For internet (with constant virus protection), home use, and office use-- it works. For graphics, video, and music I think the Mac wins. Now Macs have the Intel chip so you can run Windows also. You can do your Windows stuff and then switch over and do Music (Logic, GarageBand) and all the iLife applications (iTunes, iPhoto, iWeb, etc).
If you are new to guitar recording, I highly suggest a Mac. If you are already have a PC, you can find software that is capable. Either way make sure you have at least a 1 gig of RAM, 2 gigs is better. The more the better. The iMac comes with a gig of ram , Interl Core 2 Duo and hard drive that spins at 7200rpm.
I have been using Mac since late 90’s, OS 8.3, 8.6 or so, I forget. I was sales manager at Manny’s and I had a real heavy Pro Tools salesman who really knew his stuff. He recommended Mac and Logic. Pro Tools was too much $$then. I wanted good audio and midi stuff for the guitar. He could of told me to go with a PC. Mac is the way to go for music.
Now, with Apple also owning Logic, anytime there is an update you know it will work. You have to check with your other third party equipment manufacturers and keep those up to date (audio interfaces, plugins, etc). Never update till you know that everything you are going to use is updated and able to work.
You get GarageBand on new Macs, so you can dive into audio and midi recording and get to learn the basics. So if you are new to all of this, get a new Mac use GarageBand for a while and then you can go to Logic Express or Logic Pro. All of Garageband loops and instruments are usable in Logic. Garageband makes it easy and there are good guitar presets in there.
For other software go here: Software
Meet Mac Pro.
The Apple Mac Pro is the fastest Mac ever produced to date - perfect for all your audio and video needs. Eight-core processing power was once only top-of-the-line. Now it comes standard. This time around, performance is more phenomenal than ever — up to two times faster than the previous standard-configuration Mac Pro. And with the multicore technology enhancements of Mac OS X Leopard, the new Mac Pro is a force to be reckoned with.
8 cores, standard.
8-core processing was once reserved as a high-end option. Now it's at the heart of the Mac Pro line. This incredible power stems from all-new Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Harpertown” processors, featuring speeds up to 3.2GHz and 12MB of L2 cache per processor.
Blazing fast, up to 2x performance.
With its 8-core processing, advanced Xeon architecture, 1600MHz dual independent front-side buses, and 800MHz memory, the new Mac Pro delivers up to 2x greater application performance.2
Up to 4TB storage, RAID, and SAS.
The cable-free, direct-attach hard drive bays make it easy to install up to 4TB of storage with Serial ATA 3Gb/s drives. For enhanced data protection, the optional Mac Pro RAID card delivers hardware RAID levels 0, 1, 5, and 0+1. Used with this card, 15,000-rpm SAS drives bring added performance to RAID configurations.
Feast your eyes
An all-new high-performance graphics card from ATI makes Mac Pro graphics technology even more cutting edge. The standard graphics card — an ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT with 256MB of GDDR3 memory, PCI Express 2.0, and two dual-link DVI ports — provides great performance for typical creative applications. And you get dual 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display support out of the box.
PCI Express 2.0, double the speed.
The PCI Express 2.0 graphics card slot delivers twice the transfer rate of the previous generation. And you can install up to three additional PCI Express cards in three full-length slots — one PCIe 2.0, the other two PCIe.
Massive, fast memory.
Add up to 32GB of fast 800MHz DDR2 ECC fully buffered memory — a memory architecture that's up to 256 bits wide and allows for incredible memory capacity, bandwidth, and reliability.
The Mac Pro is the fastest, most powerful, most configurable Mac ever.
**Why go with a bigger display or monitor? You have more physical space to see multiple windows when you are recording and/or editing. This is a BIG convenience once you get into it.
Additional displays:
Apple MacBook Pro Notebook Computer (2.4GHz, 15.4 in.)
The new MacBook Pro is meticulously designed for maximum performance in a minimum size. Bare minimum, in fact. It's 5.4 pounds of unparalleled portable power in only one inch. Encased in sleek and sturdy aluminum, MacBook Pro is just as ingenious on the outside. MacBook Pro features an advanced trackpad with amazing Multi-Touch technology. You can flip through photos, enlarge text, and adjust an image using just your fingers. The new MacBook Pro. Seatbelts sold separately. A 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Next-generation 802.11n wireless. Gorgeous upgraded displays. Wickedly fast NVIDIA graphics. Start your engines.
Apple MacBook Pro with Multi-Touch Trackpad (15.4 in.)
Apple MacBook Pro with Multi-Touch Trackpad (17 in.)
zZounds offers the widest selection of name-brand insruments at
guaranteed lowest prices. You can purchase over 125,000 different
products from their website 24 hours a day.Check it out!
