If wanting to use Logic Pro and do amateur recording on iMac do need SSD or i7?

If you are just starting out and know you won't be running a gazzlion tracks and plugins etc, then ANY new Mac will be plenty adequate. It needn't be a top end i7 with SSD.
Keep in mind that Garageband really isn't bad either.. You may not even need Logic.

If all you're going to do is minor vocal recording how about an iPad. There are some pretty powerful iPad DAW apps like Auria that will do the job.

If you really want an iMac or you want to work with virtual instruments any stock iMac model will work for you.




http://auriaapp.com/Products/auria

As a general rule of thumb, multi-media does take a big toll on your CPU and RAM so you want as much as you can afford.

Having said that, the advice above is correct. Basic stuff won't tax your system that much. However, if you start to get into it more, you will wish you upgraded your specs.

I think that CPU and RAM is more important than a SSD for audio recording.

You can upgrade your RAM on the iMac, but the CPU might be harder.

Garageband.

Ditto on starting out with Garageband. If later you want to move to Logic, then the GB files will load right in and work fine.

bobright said:

I want to get a new iMac and do some minor vocal recording with something like a Blue Yeti USB Mic, not a full audio interface or anything.

I want to know what would be best to upgrade that would benefit me, would a base model 27" with a fusion drive be enough? Do I need a i7 or additional memory?

Click to expand...

Get aftermarket memory 16-32 gb and a fusion drive should be fine. You could get by with an i5 I think.