VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

melissa eX · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 8:57 am Post subject: Which MAC?

I've given up on keeping my studio upstairs where it's been for years - the new airport flight patterns are killing me. So down to the basement I go. Since I've been using the same PC for recording and paperwork I'm getting a new computer that will just be for recording and e-mail/internet. This one is going to be a MAC. Question is - which one? iMac, Mac Mini or MacBook? Budget's limited so I'll be choosing between the lower end models on the MacBook or iMac. I guess I'll be going from Sound Forge to one of the MBox systems as well - though I have no idea which is best without being overkill. Anyone care to chip in with thoughts on the best setup?

Thanks!

M

glittlefield · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 1:17 pm Post subject:

I'd have to say that, no matter which you get, make sure it has a lot of RAM and hard drive space. I haven't worked with either the new iMac or Macbooks, so I couldn't really give you any thoughts on those. I do, however, think that either would be a good choice. The Macbook would certainly be more portable in case you need to take it with you for whatever reason...
_________________
Greg Littlefield
VO-BB Member #59

BenWils · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:22 pm Post subject:

Buy something today at Apple online and save money. They are having a sale today.....like everyone else.

I have a Macbook with 2 gig of RAM and it works really well. I have a Mac Pro tower for home studio stuff but the Macbook is really nice. I had issues recording on the road with it once because I was going into the mic in on the computer because my firewire Alesis board would not work via firewire. The fan was coming on during recording. I have since bought a Mic Port Pro and it works via USB......no issues with the fan now. Very cool!

I have looked at the new iMacs and they are a terrific value and somewhat portable if need be.....not as portable as the Macbook, but you could take it on road trips fairly easy. They even have backpacks and bags made for the iMac too. It depends on your needs though.
_________________
Ben

"To be really good at voiceover, you need to improve your footwork and hip snap."

todd ellis · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 8:23 pm Post subject:

i like "n-cheese"
_________________
"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

Deirdre · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 8:30 pm Post subject:

I like my Mac Book mucho plenty.
It totally changed the way I do business, and is completely quiet.

I've only played around some of the new Mac Books which are insanely fast. Dang— my 'book is nearly 4 year old and is still crankin' out the hits. It's tough to trade in something that's this solid.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

jasbart · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:29 pm Post subject:

I'm using a Macbook with an Mbox Mini; and a Mac Mini (the 1.83 mhz processor) with the original Mbox. Both work great, and both are silent.

Got the Mac Mini from Macmall for well under $500...great machine if you don't need portability.

Jim
_________________
Jim Barton
Barton Voice & Sound
www.bartonvoice.com

Jon Morss · Guest

Melissa,

Which Mac?? If you must have a Mac, my choice would be a iMac 20' or 24'. The mini Mac and Mac Book just does not have enough power and the graphics are on the low end of the low end as ar as graphics are concerned. The MacBook Pro is nice, but the sticker price is a bit on the heavy side for me for what you get.

I think a better question would be, why go Mac if you are used to a PC? I'm not trying to bag on Apple systems since I am a Mac user as well and I have had good luck with the system (iMac G5) over the years. The only issue I have is the cost of the Macs. Take some time and compare the hardware that is in a Mac system vs. what you can get in a PC. They are essentially the same. Apple uses the same Intel processors, graphic cards, Hard Drives etc as are found in WinTel systems. And, beware of MAC OS X 10.5 since there have been reported driver issues. But, then again Vista is basically trash for the time being.

The one big advantage a Mac system has over a WinTel system is that the Mac OS is more robust and virtually Virus free for the time being. Also, you can run VMWare Fusion on a Intel based Mac system which allows you to run Windows and its a Hobo Tounge

s in a virtual environment. If you are used to SoundForge, this would allow you to use that application in Windows on a Mac. And the Mac systems seem to be much quieter than typical Windows systems. However, to me, this just does not equate to the $1000 plus more you pay for a Mac system over a PC.

As far as hardware to connect to a Mac, you don't have to stick with a MBox and Pro Tools. Most vendors work well , if not better with a Mac vs. a PC. Have a look at what Mackie, M-Audio, PreSonus and others have to offer. For software, check out Bias Peak, Audacity, Cubase 4 (Works on Windows and Mac), Tracktion and a world of other software that is out there to use.

Well, that's all I got to say about that.

Good luck with your Mac search.

Jon

Jowillie · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:19 am Post subject:

My wife's cousin's children (we ARE Southern) are considered to be some the top Macsperts in this part of the country. One of them designed, set-up and runs the Tupperware site. They all have discussed my contemplation of switching to Mac.
When I too expressed concern at the higher cost of investing in Mac, they explained to me how good Mac product holds its resell value. They upgrade every two years and sell their old product at about half what they paid for it. PC is MUCH lower in used value.
At that value ratio, the next Mac investment is slighty lower than PC for a more robust system.
But even after all this, I still cannot make up my mind.
Willie
_________________
Wild Willie Edwards
www.hometowntvtoday.com
http://vomictest.blogspot.com

Deirdre · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:13 am Post subject:

I certainly understand the "Why switch now?" question. Learning to navigate through the Mac User Interface will take some time.

If you want the ups and downs of a Mac Powerbook, PM me. I don't want to have this thread take on the appearance that I'm shilling for Apple.

I don't recommend an iMac for recording, you can't get away from the processor. Mine is terribly noisy, and unsuitable for use in a recording environment; other folks have had better luck with theirs, I believe.

A Mac Book Pro gives you the option of adding a 2nd monitor if you need more screen real estate. I use a pallets monitor all the time when I'm working on a video project, or an audio piece that has a load of tracks and plug-ins.

I haven't used a Mac Mini, but if you already have a stand-alone monitor and keyboard, it's not a bad choice. If you're looking at audio recording as your focus, the lack of monster graphics-rendering capability might not be that big a deal.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

steveanthony · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:17 am Post subject:

How quiet is the Mac Mini compared to the MacBook Pro?

davidmonteath · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:32 am Post subject:

My 2c worth,

I used to record directly from mixer to an iMac outside the booth, I mirrored the monitor and had a keyboard and mouse in there with me. As it was outside, I didn't have any issues with noise, although I completely agree with the boss that it can be or could be intrusive. I should say that on my machine the fan really only kicks in after its been running for a looooong time and I do something very processor intensive, in this case looooong time is 12-14 hours.

I went loopy and bought a Mac Mini to be dedicated to recording and attendant software, this now sits well below mic and mixer level and is totally silent as far as I can tell. I had a spare keyboard and mouse and attached it to a 20" cinema display ( I feed eyeTV through to it) and it lacks nothing in the way of display.

The networkability of Macs really appealed to me, as a lazy boy, its kinda handy to sit outside with my Mac Book and remotely connect to the Studio Mac and drag off sound files for a bespoke demo.

I have always used Macs for recording and have just bought Logic Express 8 as my main utility software and its superb, I am sure that others have their opinions, but LE8 does just what I need it to.

For my tight-fisted Scottish money Macs are the best (no flaming please, its an opinion only), they work, the shortcuts are the same whatever a Hobo Tounge

you use, the software is great for what we do, they do resell, but more importantly, they are beautiful and a pleasure to use.

Like Deebs, I won't go on too much (too late perhaps), please PM or email me if I can help at all.
_________________
www.davidmonteath.com

Sponsor of Voice APpreciation Indulgence Day 2010

Proud member of Self Appointed Voice-Over Experts Discussion Group - overenthusiastic pontification a speciality.

melissa eX · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 12:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all of your responses! I'm still trying to narrow it down. I DO want to go with a Mac. I used Mac's way back until I went to the PC in a hissy fit when Apple refused to even look at my machine in spite of the 'lifetime support' it had. By the time they settled the class action lawsuit that had been brought on that issue I already had everything on the PC.

Jon: I have a good, very very quiet PC but since it's been the only one in the house for a while now it is also the general purpose computer. When I purchased this one I looked at Mac but I needed a particular feature that I only found in Sound Forge and I couldn't find an equivalent Mac program with that feature - so I wen't with a very quiet PC. Now, however I want a Mac again. I want to be able to punch in an edit with a 5 second pre-roll so I don't have to stop, edit etc. when I'm doing those insanely long medical narrations - I know Pro-ToolsLE does that (and I don't know what else is out there that might) - and the PC version of PT doesn't play nicely with my PC.

I'd only be using this computer for recording and on-line use - e-mail and internet, so I don't need the quality graphics. I'm also sick of gunking up the PC with all of the anti-this and anti-that and while I know Mac's aren't immune they aren't anywhere near as vulnerable. So a Mac it is. I do want one that will support a dual display just in the event it's too loud. I'll still have Sound Forge on the other computer so I can do those jobs that entail hundreds of tiny tiny files on that (in the middle of the night when flying is restricted at my problem airport by the FAA!)

Deebs and David - I'll PM both of you - I'm sort of leaning toward a low-end Macbook we don't have a laptop here - must be the last people in the free world without one... The mini sounds good also but I don't know how much I'd save since I'd have to get all of the peripherals.

Thanks everyone - I'd appreciate all suggestions on Pro Tools alternatives also - I know nothing about the rest of the software out there.

M

billelder · Guest

Don't Mac's run Windows software now as well (if not better) than a PC? I'm considering a Mini as well.

davidmonteath · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:56 am Post subject:

SFX (ethereal voices & music)

(whispered with gentle urgency)

MVO - Do it Bill.
_________________
www.davidmonteath.com

Sponsor of Voice APpreciation Indulgence Day 2010

Proud member of Self Appointed Voice-Over Experts Discussion Group - overenthusiastic pontification a speciality.

ccpetersen · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:16 am Post subject:

Bill,

I had a MacBook a couple of years ago (pre-Wintel) and it did run PC stuff, but slowly. I hear the newer versions run it a bit faster. It's nice to have access to the best software of both worlds, although in some cases, the "remade" Mac versions of PC software were not as feature-laden as the PC versions. I'm thinking specifically of Word. But, again, things may have changed since then. Be sure and test it out at the store if you can.
_________________
Charter Member: Threadjackers Local 420