Mac Mini

[miketrondson]

I've been toying with recording some music and I have been using my new HP laptop that I just bought. I am considering buying a desktop once I get a little better with the software I am using (Live 7.0).

Since Apple is what everyone usually uses for recording music, I am thinking about getting this mac mini.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9269187&type=product&id=1218072180264

Would this be good for running software like Protools, Ableton, Logic or others like that while running midi controllers and an audio interface like the M-audio fast track?

[Yontsey]

I just bought a mac mini for my set up. The mini will be fine for what you do. I run Logic Pro 8 and Reason 4.0 on mine. Just make sure you max out the ram for sure!!!

I also have a Presonus Firepod in my rack mount set up to use as my interface. I got the last revision of the mini instead of the new ones so that I could have a firewire 400 input. Get yourself a couple of cheap Rockit monitors too. Those will really help with recording.

[miketrondson]

I just bought a mac mini for my set up. The mini will be fine for what you do. I run Logic Pro 8 and Reason 4.0 on mine. Just make sure you max out the ram for sure!!!

I also have a Presonus Firepod in my rack mount set up to use as my interface. I got the last revision of the mini instead of the new ones so that I could have a firewire 400 input. Get yourself a couple of cheap Rockit monitors too. Those will really help with recording.

So far, everything I use is M-audio. I am probably going to get M-audio monitors. Is firewire better than USB 2.0?

I was worried that it comes with 1gig of ram, I was wondering if that will be enough as it is?

[Yontsey]

Eh, I'd definitely look into KRK Rockit monitors instead. Great value for the price.

Firewire is better than USB2.0 because it has less latency when recording.

You're definitely going to want more then 1gb of ram no matter what system you go with if you're going to be using those programs. In my macbook when I do things, I have 4gb of ram and in my mini I have 3gb of ram. You can upgrade it yourself though and save a lot of money. I upgraded the harddrive and the ram myself and it only took like 15minutes.

[Esrb99]

what is your price range for stuff? how many inputs do you want to record at once?

i'd personally get (again,) a presonus firestudio. fw 400, 8 (somewhat) Colorless preamps, good converters for price, and a fair range of sample rate selection, for around $350ish if you look around. great all in one interface.

i'd get that and maybe some high quality external pre's (bypass pres on firestudio via line inputs) such as those in the API 500 series. best thing about the 500 stuff is that you can always add to your outboard chain in a lunchbox with great eq's, comps, reverbs, etc. good stuff for fair prices.