Currently using a Dell for my production work with Maschine but i want to get into Logic.
I have 2 25" Monitors hooked up to the Dell so im considering a Mac Mini rather than an imac as i dont have the room for another screen and im also flat-broke after moving house.
The Mac Mini 2009 and above supports dual screen so i could get one for half the price of an imac.
On the face of it it seems like a good way to go. I can use the monitors i already have.
Anything over 2.0ghz with 2gb should be ok…??? Thinking of picking one up second hand.
i got the original dual core when they came out. i think it was 1.66 ghz. pretty good, machine. quite fast once i maxed out the ram.
there were two issues for me though. the dvd drive crapped out after a few years, this seems to be a not uncommon problem with macs as i know people who’ve had the same problem on different models.
the second and much larger problem is that a few months ago the motherboard just died. it erased the hard drive too, luckily most of my info was on an external drive. this was after about 4 years of use.
i’m really not sure if this is a common problem as after it happened i was too pissed to research it. pretty suspect because even though i used the computer a lot, it’s not like i was carrying it around like a laptop.
Hmm yeah ive had 2 Logic Boards crap out on me in the passed and one SuperDrive go tits up so these issues are known to me. WTF is it about Mac Logic Boards???
They redesigned in '10 so maybe they improved stuff.
Dunno jury is still out.
Been trying to find a way to have Dual Screen on a Macbook Pro as well but its not a cheap solution.
I am considering the same option once my PC dies on me. So far Mac is seems to make me more and more creative.
(Could be a psychological factor, but somehow it just does that for me.)
I know a couple of guys that use the mac mini, it’s more than enough, instead of processor upgrades go for faster hard drive and more RAM if you’re just using it for logic. If you went the macbook route (which I did) you could use the Macbook’s screen as the second monitor? Then you can take your productions with you!
Ooh these are the expensive solutions i mentioned.
I can buy a Mini Mac for the same price soooooo…
This looked promising but on researching it seems that the MBP can output both Analogue and Digital but not both at the same time.
Damn it.
Yeah, i could but i really want to use both my widescreen monitors at the same time. be a shame to have them and not use em but i guess it means that i can still have my Dell on the other screen.
ill probably do this in the meantime before i get a Mini Mac or fathom a solution for 2 external screens.
Im solely using Maschine and need to expand into a DAW. Ive used Ableton before but wasnt hugely impressed but… i have to say this is not a particularly well informed opinion i have.
Ive been recomended Logic by many of my friends and ive heard that Logic 9 is fantastic…
Im not looking at live performance just studio production so i figured id dive in the deep end.
It also helps that my mate is a Logic tutor at the local college so i can get uber-advise on the end of the phone or he will pop round.
BUT: all advise is welcome. I know jack about DAW software thats why i just splurge threads like this so i can get advice from the experienced heads.
In the meantime i have Ableton ready to go on my Dell so im just gonna get into that but looking at Logic long term unless i fall for Ableton.
Im not fixed on anything yet, just feeling my way.
The thing is about the endless DAW debate is ALL daws essentially do these things:
Host your VSTi’s - these sound the same (without effects) on ANY DAW
Trigger and arrange your Drum/vocal Samples - ditto the above
Record audio from your Interface/mic/guitar/ inputs - yep ditto again
So if most of the components of your tracks are going to sound the same in any DAW, what’s the difference?
Inbuilt effects - if you’re not using external VSTS’s, DAWS come with effects built in. These vary slightly but all do the same sort of jobs. Delay, reverb, compression etc etc ect. If you learn them inside out, you should be able to get the sound you want with any delay effect for example. FL Studio is often regarded as basic but when i used it I could build up complex effects chains with the included software just as easily as I can with Logic 9 now.
Inbuilt instruments, same sort of arguement here, except that Logic as an example comes with a HUGE library of great sampled instruments, but it costs more, and you can buy an equivalent sounding libary separately.
Audio Manipulation - I.e Ableton Warp, Logic Flex, FL stretch. Again may or may not use different algorithms (i’ve heard that some DAWS may license audio stretching technology from the same company but that’s just a story from a friend). It’s going to be hard to tell the difference pitch wise. Ableton has warps markers and it’s very easy to set u clips etc that you want to stretch. Fl studio has the time stretching feature as knob when you open up a clip properties. You only have the options to do it freehand, which requires a bit of intuition/guess work/ or maths for longer clips. Or presets for snapping to 12/3/4 beats or 1/2/4 bars. You can manage with this quite easily. Logic flex, looks great and is very intuitive and has flex markers.
Look and Feel/ Workflow - This is where it’s all decided in my opinion and even here there are huge similarities. Logic/Pro Tools/Cubase all go for the standard track layout with ins out and effects per track. I prefer this for creating a strong structure for my productions, and for when I want to duplicate tracks and keep everything line etc. Fruit loops is very experimental, but it’s great for getting ideas down and working with drums and replacing sounds easily. Reworking structure is very easy but things can get a bit muddles as they’re not in definied ‘lanes’ and it can be hard to remember where things are routed in your mixer, FL has in my opinon the greatest MIDI editor around. Ableton is also very experimental but you can switch between the live mode and am more conventional laned set up. I find the automation a bit fiddly and I’m just not comfortable with the layout. Loads of people love it though and I can understand why.
Gotta decide what im doing with my PC / Macs and then im gonna look further into it.
I still think at this time im going with Logic but im still scoping it all out.
Got a new version of Live 8 Intro to have a look at this week.
First job is to backup my Dell as it crapped out on me today with a Keyboard failure (not the actual keyboard at fault).
Yup still in Preston, moved in with my g/f finally. The deal was that if i could have my own room for a studio id leave my nice flat. Turns out she was wanted a house with a big enough room to shove me and all my crap in anyway…
@R2D2 i think that cable will just duplicate the screen rather than provide 2 extended screens. I need to have 2 different programs running on the 2 externals.
Nope you should be able to detect the two monitors I did this with a dell a while back I used the same sort of cable on a single output and it found two monitors with extended desktop ect you only need amped jobs at long ranges that or similar will work
EDIT.
If plugged into a macbook pro via dvi you should be able to see 3 monitors !
Really…??? Wow that’s awesome news if it’s true. Will look into it further.
I know how my gear desire works and I’m pretty sure I will get a mac mini but with your solution I can put it off till after Xmas and use the money for logic and use my MBP.
