New Mac Mini or new iMac for my electronic music studio?
Hi,
I'm wondering what's best for my home electronic music studio...using Logic and Live with the Apogee Ensemble.
I use lots of hardware(modular/Roland X0X, MS-20...etc) and process through a rack of hardware outboard gear(DBX VU comps, SSL 384, etc...). Also not afraid to use software where is sounds best.
The Mac Pro is a bit out of my price range so I'm looking at either the latest iMac that just came out or the current Mac Mini(and just get a couple of monitors).
Depends of your budget. I purchased a new Mac Mini last week as new media server, but it would work great with Logic and my 27" Philips monitor if needed. The new slim 27" iMac is nicer but also more expensive - a matter of budget, booth works great. For Logic I recommend i7 processor and plenty of RAM.
IMO the iMac usually gives you a better bang for the buck. Generally more CPU power and they can be upgraded more easily. Me personally would look for a used previous generation iMac on CL. Or get a refurbished one direct from Apple.
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or build a PC that's twice as high end for the same price... just saying.
I've had a 6 core i7 for like 2 years now and they STILL aren't available on macs...for 2200 dollars they are including a 190 dollar quad core CPU as the highest upgrade, haha, oh Apple.
or build a PC that's twice as high end for the same price... just saying.
I've had a 6 core i7 for like 2 years now and they STILL aren't available on macs...for 2200 dollars they are including a 190 dollar quad core CPU as the highest upgrade, haha, oh Apple.
Nor Logic or Apogee does support PC so that is not an option in this thread, don't you know that? And please, no PC vs Mac discussion here, it's so pathetic.
The problem with the Mac Mini is that although adding a new one to your own screen every once in a while has the potential to be more economical in the long term the specifications of the Mac Mini are always somewhat limited in comparison to the all-in-one i-Mac, so what you probably want to figure out is what does the addition of that screen actually cost you now and in terms of resale value.
...the specifications of the Mac Mini are always somewhat limited in comparison to the all-in-one i-Mac...
except right now where the Minis are i7 and the iMacs are i5, although the iMacs are faster but I really don't know a faster i5 stacks up against the i7
one plus of the Mini is the Server edition, which allows for two internal hard drives although they're only 5400rpm, but the same is true of the iMac unless you're buying the 27" version.
either way, both are very capable of your needs. any more the Mac Pro seems a bit overkill unless you're doing some serious work and everything is in the box.
I currently have an iMac 2.4gHz Core 2 Duo that is showing its age and I'll probably buy a 15" MacBook Pro to supplement it and use live. If you are doing most things in hardware the newest and best isn't really necessary and you could save yourself quite a bit by purchasing an older model. my Core 2 Duo is fine for general DAW work but is meeting minimum requirements for most softsynths, but anything newer (like any "i" chipset) should work great.
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The problem with the Mac Mini is that although adding a new one to your own screen every once in a while has the potential to be more economical in the long term the specifications of the Mac Mini are always somewhat limited in comparison to the all-in-one i-Mac, so what you probably want to figure out is what does the addition of that screen actually cost you now and in terms of resale value.
It is not just the screen. The iMac comes complete with built-in camera, microphone, keyboard and mouse. And they are good screens. The only drawback is when the unit breaks, you have to replace everything. BTW, I do currently use an older Mac Mini and I am still happy. Once that goes, I will go with iMac.
I have a similar set up and went with a 13 MBP for the Ensemble and logic. It's really fast. I was even considering something used as an poster suggested.
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Definitely thinking something new...I don't want to think about new computers for a few years! It's as unfun as looking at the different regulated filtered power supplys.
I've been using a Mac Book...the Black laptop from 5-6 years ago. It's still going strong and I plan to still use it for smaller projects. It's gonna just be nice to sit at a desk and be able to look at a larger screen!
There is a drawback on one new slim iMacs, I think the 21" iMac included, but not he 27" (and MB with Retina display): Not possible to change/upgrade RAM. Maybe also same thing with the hard drive. Check that before configure and buying a new Mac. The Macmini I don't think is any problems, except they (and many other Macs) don't have any CD/DVD drive any longer. That is easy solved by an external drive (but still stupid by Apple IMHO)
Been looking for an alternative to my aging Mac Pro. iMac i7 looks attractive, but:
- what can one expect from the built in graphics, I need to connect 2 monitors with 1920 * 1280 resolution. Is that possible with the Mac mini? And how does it work, I gues you need a Thunderbolt interface to connect 2 monitors to?
- 16 Gb is not a lot of internal memory, been thinking about upgrading my MacPro early 2008 from 16 to 32 Gb.
- I'll need an external disk cabinet to host ca 4 3,5" sATA drives, probably connect it to Thunderbolt too ...
depends. If you have less money the mac mini i7 is very decent powerful machine. Its the same processor a i7 Macbook Pro Im typing and producing on at the moment.
If you have a bit more money a 2.93 or 3.4 i7 27 inch iMac would be better. Dont bother with the i5 models IMO...consider apple referb store and second hand from dealers...
I've been using a 2006 MacMini that originally had a 1.5 GHz Core Solo processor which I upgraded to a 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo a couple years later. I also swapped out the internal drive for a 7200 RPM Hitachi. It works really well for the most part but when you start stacking up several instances of Reaktor and Absynth it begins to struggle. I think the biggest limitation is my 2 GB of maximum RAM which is why I'm about to buy one of the brand new MacMinis.
I do have a question maybe someone can answer. I was told you could install dual hard drives in any of the new MacMini models, not just the server. I don't really want to pay extra for the server model. I want the 2.3 GHz i7 with the 2.6 GHz upgrade option (+$100). I plan on taking out the stock HD and adding two solid state drives in it myself. This will save money and give me a faster machine than what they're offering. Is anyone absolutely certain that this can be done in the non-server models?
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I expanded the RAM to 8GB and added an external Firewire hard disk.
This setup is perfectly adequate for Logic as I use it. Possibly if you use huge numbers of tracks with CPU-heavy VSTs you might need something more powerful.
< - 2012 Mac Mini i7 2.6 w/ 16gb RAM and 256GB SSD. Bought direct from Apple.
I have a second SSD in an external USB3 enclosure permanently attached.
I am extremely happy with this computer so far. It handles everything I can think to throw at it without a hiccup. Silent. Cold boots in under 10 seconds.
Shows up as 8 cores in Logic.
And if you needed to, you could stuff it in a backpack and take it to another studio (as long as they have an extra monitor you can use).
My previous Mac was a Macbook Pro 13 inch 2.4ghz Core2Duo. The Mac Mini absolutely TRAMPLES it wrt cpu power. Feels like night an day.
Best of luck
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I do have a question maybe someone can answer. I was told you could install dual hard drives in any of the new MacMini models, not just the server. I don't really want to pay extra for the server model. I want the 2.3 GHz i7 with the 2.6 GHz upgrade option (+$100). I plan on taking out the stock HD and adding two solid state drives in it myself. This will save money and give me a faster machine than what they're offering. Is anyone absolutely certain that this can be done in the non-server models?
Yes, you can do this. The only caveat is that the regular mini's don't have the cable for the 2nd HD. But you can buy that pretty cheap from the better mac specialists.
Definitely no need for the Mini server now.
Why? I built a hack for someone last month with an i7 and 16 gigs of ram for under 800. It works great. Its waaaay faster than the mac pro I have in my control room.
After my experience with the fiasco that was/is Final Cut Pro X I would never, ever, ever build any type of production computer system around any Apple product ever again.
It has been WAY to long now since Logic was given an update. During that time every other major DAW with the exception of Sony Acid 7 had had at least one if not twp or more major updates.
Don't think for a second that Apple will not drop Logic all together, or create a new totally crappy product and call it Logic X and say it Appletastic and is the best thing ever, only good luck running your old Logic projects. But hey we are Apple and we know more than you, besides the new version will work great in your new tangerine orange iPod Touch.
After my experience with the fiasco that was/is Final Cut Pro X I would never, ever, ever build any type of production computer system around any Apple product ever again.
It has been WAY to long now since Logic was given an update. During that time every other major DAW with the exception of Sony Acid 7 had had at least one if not twp or more major updates.
Don't think for a second that Apple will not drop Logic all together, or create a new totally crappy product and call it Logic X and say it Appletastic and is the best thing ever, only good luck running your old Logic projects. But hey we are Apple and we know more than you, besides the new version will work great in your new tangerine orange iPod Touch.
They did it with Final Cut they will do it again.
How does that load of self opinionated tosh even nearly answer the OP's question?
Yes, you can do this. The only caveat is that the regular mini's don't have the cable for the 2nd HD. But you can buy that pretty cheap from the better mac specialists.
Definitely no need for the Mini server now.
Thanks for the reply and heads-up. I'm going to see if OWC carries the HD cable, as I plan on ordering the SSD drives and 16GB of RAM from them as well.
Yeah? It was Oct, 25th 2012 and was dubbed 9.1.8 ....
wow a point update to a point update? Where is Logic X? Logic 9 was released way back on July 23, 2009 and in well over 3 years we have gone from version 9.0 to version 9.1 to various 9.1.whatever (which made non Intel Macs unable to run it, as well as the ability to run it in 64 bit.)
In a few weeks on January 12 it will have been 3 years since 9.1 came out, since then we have gotten a few minor bug fixes and that's it.
In that same time Cubase has gone from version 5 to version 7, and Protools has gone from version 8 to version 10.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Llitsor
How does that load of self opinionated tosh even nearly answer the OP's question?
easy because he asked which Mac he should buy to run Logic at which I answered that he should buy none. Unless you think that buying a new Mac is a good idea to run a program that to most people has been all but abandoned by Apple, and from a software company that has a history of totally abandoning it professional user base.
If you think that is a good idea then by all means do it and be happy that in 6 months you might get 9.1.9 that will allow you to buy loops in the App store from Apple, while the rest of the world gets innovation and enhanced functionality with other DAWs .
If on the other hand Apple has not abandoned Logic then for a delay this long they must be doing another Final Cut move and will come up with something totally new that is not backwards compatible and will be regarded as a major step backwards. When Final Cut X came out it wiped out 11 years worth of work for many working pros, many of whome invested tens of thousands of dollars into building a studio around it.
Again they did it with Final Cut what makes you think they will not do it again?
In that same time Cubase has gone from version 5 to version 7, and Protools has gone from version 8 to version 10.
And they still don't do everything that Logic 9 does (especially PT). If tons of professional users are still using Logic to make very successful recordings, what makes you say somebody shouldn't use Logic? Even if Apple hasn't released a major update with "chord track" or something, Logic 9 didn't magically stop working or start preventing people from making music. It did everything Paul Epworth needed to win a ton of Grammys recently. Also, FYI, Apple has stated they are working on Logic X.
To the OP, a custom upgraded Mac mini looks great.
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