New studio ideas?

[Liambo]

So finally i have became happy with where my DJ'n is at and getting quite interested in production. I was thinking about getting into the whole making beats thing but me and a mate had Nelski up in our residency and in the studio and this has given me the final push.

I have sat and looked through thread after thread, tutorial after tutorial, blog after blog and think i have came to a conclusion to what i am looking to buy..

I already have a Macbook 13" to run TSP but this would be used to mainly just gigging and stuff and i have KRK Rokit 6's but these probably won't leave my 'DJ' setup.

So after some research i decided its time to get a new desk on the go with a good studio set up and to be honest even if the production doesn't work out, it always kicks ass to have a good sound system and computer..

List so far:

New Mac mini (i specced it up to what i want and costs around £1200)
Duel 21" screen (already own)
Magic Mouse and Magic keyboard (already own)
KRK VXT6's
Ableton Live 8

The only thing im struggling with is a control to control my monitors into the Mac mini?

Whats everybodys opinions on this? I already enjoy using Ableton basics, wasn't to fond of Reason and Cubase.. and reasons for getting a Mac mini instead of an iMac is i already own duel screens and everything that comes with it unless somebody can convince me??

P.s, i also do photography and am a full time graphic designer so Photoshop etc will be used on the Mac.

thanks.

[fullenglishpint]

No keyboard or ableton controllers?

[Liambo]

No keyboard or ableton controllers?

I did think that aswel but i thought to myself im just beginning with Ableton so once i get the hang of things id then add a keyboard or something

But if did have the urge to use something my mate has a few moogerfoogers, phatty and a few other things i could use. lol.

[fullenglishpint]

haha no shortage of expert advice then.

[Liambo]

haha no shortage of expert advice then.

haha none at all! So any input on my thoughts?

[fullenglishpint]

I don't see much wrong with it but I'm no producer! Only thing is you'll probably want some kind of Production level sound card with good quality balanced outputs, something like the NI komplete audio 6.

I'm sure someone can chime in with more useful suggestions!

[Junior P]

Get an iMac over a mac mini, more bang for buck
And like FullEnglishPint said, you'll want to get as sound-card as well.
My advice? Don't buy an M-audio FTP unless the drivers will work well on mac, because on windows vista(7?) they're total bs.

[towifer]

The mac mini idea is good, what are the specs on the one you're looking at?

A quality soundcard is a must, i wouldn't go for a NI one tbh id get something more like a Focusrite Saffire 6, then you'll want some soft synths, NI Komplete 7 has most things that you'd need to start with.

[Cameluntu]

Ehy!!Check the motu audio express sound-card. I LOVE IT!!!!!

[kilobytekaushik]

for production, use cards that do not color the sound i.e. U should get a nearly flat response ( before mastering ), best is the apogee duet or u can go for the previous version. Take a look at yamaha hs50s for monitors. Krks would grow on you.