Music Production | iMac or Mac Mini, help me make a decision

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Music Production | iMac or Mac Mini, help me make a decision

I've been playing the piano competitively for 12 years, producing classical and electronic music with Cubase SX on PC for 5 years.

Just to put you in proportion, the following specs were enough until recently - my productions became better and more complicated.
Additional 40% performance would completely satisfy my needs, no way I'll need more.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/GbeTech/Compspecs2.gif

I also have a pair of monitors, a LCD screen and a sound card (Juli@: http://www.esi-audio.com/products/julia/) that I would like to use.
- The monitors are obligatory to use.
- The sound card is obligatory _unless there is an option for a sound card with identical or better performance than the Juli@_.
Question: Is it possible to buy a sound card with similar or better performance than the Juli@ with either iMac or Mac Mini?

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I can't afford a Mac Pro, as my budget is 2400$ max.
I'm trying to decide between an iMac, or a MacMini;

iMac
20"
2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
320GB HD 7200RPM
Wireless Mouse and Keyboard
1349$

MacMini
2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x2GB
320GB hard drive
1049$

iMac

Advantages
• A little better performance than the Mac Mini, but as both have better performance than my sufficient and current PC, I'm OK with either.
• More flexible about upgrading, changing hardware etc...

Disadvantages
• More expensive than the Mini, because the computer is actually a screen, which I don't need

MacMini

Advantages
• Possible to use my LCD screen
• Very cheap

Disadvantages
• Not really possible to upgrade anything significant.

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*- Can I install my sound card into the iMac or the Mini?*
*- Is it possible to buy a sound card with the same or better performance than the Juli@?*

I prefer installing my card rather than buying a new one.

Can you help me decide?

Message was edited by: GbeTech

PC, Windows XP Pro

Posted on Jul 12, 2009 6:31 PM

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Answer 1

Eriksimon

Level 6

15,428 points

Jul 13, 2009 1:24 AM in response to GbeTech

You cannot use the Julia in either machine, as you need a PCI slot for it, and neither of them have one.
But, for for both machines you could buy almost any FireWire or USB Audio Interface.
I would recommend the iMac; you could hook up your (extra) screen to it. Working with two screens is very nice (arrange window in one, mixer on the other screen).

One of the best 2 in 2 out Audio Interfaces is the Apogee Duet. Other interface makers to consider are RME, MOTU, Presonus, Focusrite, TC Electronic, Edirol and Tascam.

I do not quite get what sort of performance you are looking for. 40 % more than what? That AMD processor? My careful guess is that the 2.66 iMac is at least twice as powerful as the AMD.

regards, Erik.

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Answer 2

GbeTech Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 13, 2009 4:36 AM in response to Eriksimon

Thanks, your answer was very helpful.
Additional 40% = The whole performance of the computer (processor, RAM, motherboard), multiply by 1.4 - that would be enough, I reckon.
More than enough is always good for years to come.
Until reading your reply I didn't consider two screens; I really felt the need for such a solution.

Where can I see the optional sound cards and how much they cost?

I would like to hear more opinions please.

Message was edited by: GbeTech

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Answer 3

Jul 13, 2009 7:21 AM in response to GbeTech

GbeTech,

I think it will come down to which machine you think you will enjoy using. You won't be able to use your Julia Sound Card in either machine.

I had a Core Duo 1.6Ghz Mac Mini with 2MB of Ram. I used both Logic 8 and Garageband on the Mac Mini with a Motu 896 and an external Firewire Drive using the ports on the Mac Screen. I never had any latency issues or crashes and recording was fine.

I play classical guitar and accordingly I need a system which is whisper quiet - the Mini was great in that regard.

I then switched to a 3.06Ghz iMac with 4MB of Ram. The iMac only has one FW 800 port and I was worried about daisychaining the Motu through the external Drive.

As it happened I've had no problems whatsoever using the iMac with the Motu and the External Drive. The iMac is as quiet as the Mac Mini - so for me I got a faster computer with no downside.

Having said that the old Mac Mini was quite adequate for my needs. My recordings are very simple - usually one stereo track and one mono audio track for each recording pass - if I multitrack (rarely now) multiply that by 3 plus a few synth/piano/bass tracks and I'm done. After mixing in Logic bounce as a Sound Designer file and then master using Peak 5. Quick simple process that produces fantastic results given recordings are made at home.

I use the above process for recording classical guitar. One thing though - do be careful in the type of External Drive you use - I had one that would click as it was being written to and my mircophone would pick up the clicks !! Changed to a quieter external drive and all is good.

If i'm messing around on an electric guitar - I use Garageband and plug the electric guitar straight into the back of the iMac using a cheap $2 1/4 to 1/8 jack - get a clean strong guitar signal which is then tweaked in Garageband.

I notice that you play classical piano - how you record may have a bearing on what machine you buy. If you simply use a midi keyboard then most probably either machine would be fine. However if you are using multiple mics around an acoustic piano you might want to look at Motu and the other interfaces out there, which in turn could influence your decision.

Hope the above helps.

Kind Reagrds

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