Macbook for Audio Recording, or not?

Hi everybody,
I need some advice on two main things. (1) Whether you think my existing Macbook is capable of doing what I want it to do? (2) If not, what would be the most appropriate machine for my needs?

I'll try and get to the point, but first I'll fill you in on some background information. About 3 months ago I got a 2.4ghz alu-Macbook. It's fantastic! Being a long time dissatisfied Dell/HP/Windows user it's a breath of fresh air, and it's now being used more-or-less as a desktop replacement (productivity, entertainment etc.). I say 'more-or-less' because there are some other demands I'm not sure it can fulfill.

I'm a musician and I've got into music recording in the past year. I'm not by any means an audio professional, but it's a growing and serious hobby. Before I bought the Macbook, I'd (perhaps foolishly) decided to upgrade my 4 year old Dell Desktop (PCI soundcard, microphone pre-amp etc.), and buy some fairly expensive software, and at the time it worked OK. However, it has since become a nightmare. It's intollerably slow, and crashes frequently. I've tried many things to remedy this, but I think it's safe to conclude that it's finished.

Therefore, I'm pratically left with the Macbook. Remember, at the time of buying the Macbook, I didn't envisage it as being a fully fledged desktop replacement. I'd always intended on running a desktop/laptop set-up, and intended to get another Windows desktop within two years.

What should I do then? Should I try and use the Macbook for all my needs? This raises it's own issues. I would like to continue to run Windows for software demands and a bit of medium demand gaming, but would not feel comfortable partitioning the Macbook's 250gb harddrive. Is the lack of firewire a massive disadvantage for me? I ideally want a new firewire audio interface, but would settle for USB. The external harddrive is the main problem however. I plan on documenting a pretty huge CD collection on iTunes, and the Macbook is slow when recording to an external non-firewire harddrive.

Or should I get a replacement desktop sooner rather than later? I know your all probably biased towards Apple, and to be honest I am! But in that case what Mac desktop do I get? An iMac? It would do the job. I'd be inclined to get the 2.8 ghz 24 inch. The problem is that I've got a fairly new 24 inch monitor, so that would be deemed irrelevant. Or a Mac Pro? I would love one. But they're expensive, and it would probably be overkill for my needs. But then there fully customizable, and, most importantly, it's got OS X.

However, saying that I would still like to run Windows. Does anyone have any experience in knowing how adept is a Mac Pro at running Windows?

I'm sorry if i've bored you. I've tried to be as concise as I can, but this dilemma is driving me crazy! With the benefit of hindsight I should have probably opted for a high-end Macbook Pro.

Ben.

Thanks for your advice so far!

Hi Guys,
Thank you very much for your time and advice so far. Very informative! In response to 'Demosthenes X', I have thought about selling my Macbook and replacing it with a MBP, but I don't think it would make financial sense. Let's say I sold it for £800 at a 25% or 30% depreciation of it's original price, and then spent around £1700 for a 2.53 ghz MBP. I'd still lose £900, and that's desktop territory. I've also become quite attached to my Macbook!

I'm coming to the conclusion that it would make a lot of sense to get a new desktop. Although my MacBook is probably powerful enough in itself, I feel I would need to upgrade it with more RAM and the biggest possible hard drive. Even then it would be marginal when it comes to storing my current and planned future data (i.e. huge iTunes library). The lack of connectivity options (e.g. firewire) is not insurmountable, but I think it would be enormously inconvenient now and going forward, both for music recording and other things. For instance I've got a TV near my computer that I would like to utilize as a monitor occasionally, and I don't think my MacBook would adequately cope with a dual-monitor setup.

On this basis I would seriously consider the single-processor Mac Pro. If I got a Windows PC i'd probably be spending £900-£1000 anyway, and I'd then be stuck with Windows of course. Either way I think I'll wait until the new iMac's/Mac Pro come out before making a definitive decision.

I'd still like to be able to run Windows though, not neccessarily just for the music software, but also for other Windows compatible software I've accumulated over the years. Although this is probably not the right thread, can anyone tell me generally how easy it is to run Windows on a Mac? Is there a disadvantage in doing this? I've read conflicting evidence, and would greatly appreciate some further advice.

Thanks again,
Ben.

Dual Monitors

Hi again and thanks for your continued help,

In response mainly to 'MattyB240', I assumed that the Macbook wouldn't be able to run two big monitors due to the fact that there seems to be a noticeable performance drop when using the Macbook's native display in conjunction with an external monitor. For instance, when using 'spaces' or 'expose' their seems to be noticeable lag. I've checked the activity monitor and the use of the 'system memory' seems to shoot up. It's not a big issue however. Running dual monitors isn't a neccessity for me.

It's good to know that Windows won't be an issue. I assumed that it wouldn't be but I read somewhere that demanding programmes didn't run as well. I haven't studied it greatly, as I'd always planned on getting another Windows desktop eventually.

The Macbook-only option I'm sure would be adequate for the time being. It would just mean that I would have to upgrade the Harddrive to 500gb, and preferably the RAM to 4gb. It would also mean that I would have to get a USB audio interface instead of a Firewire interface. To be honest I'd much prefer a Firewire interface as I've read that USB interfaces do not render sound as well and are prone to latency problems. Another problem would revolve around a USB hub. Presumably if I plugged either the audio interface or the external harddrive into a connected USB hub there would be a significant performance shortfall from either one of the peripherals? I suppose I would just have to leave the hard-drive disconnected, but would have to remember to plug it in occassionally for backup.

It's a complicated issue, but there's no rush!

Ben.

Sorry! I misread 'Claimed4All's' advice about an external harddrive, and based my last post on the assumption that an internal drive would be adequate; so sorry if I didn't make sense when talking about leaving the external HD disconnected! I'd knew about the need for an external or at least seperate harddrive before. See the link: http://www.ehow.com/how_2142929_choose-hard-drive-audio-recording.html

I have no doubt that the Macbook is powerful enough to acheive to do the job music-wise. However the lack of connectivity would be the main problem- the lack of firewire being the big bummer. The more things I look into concerning the Macbook for audio recording and editing, the more obstacles there are to overcome. That's why I think a new desktop would be the most appropriate option, perhaps at the end of the year or when Snow Leopard comes out. Either an iMac or a MacPro.

One last though however. Would there be any possibility of getting a tech guy to install a firewire port in the Macbook? I know it's a stupid question and probably doesn't deserve an answer. If only I had opted for the MBP! I just didn't foresee my PC deteriorating like this.

Ben.

claimed4all said:

If you really wanted to go the iMac - MacPro route, I think the macpro would be overkill. Have you also thought about the White Polycarbonate Macbook. It has firewire, it may not look as good as the aluminum one, but it will do what you want. If you are worried about latency, go to your local music shop and see if you can rent a USB unit or how easy they are on their return policy if it does not work as well as you planned. Also, there is no way to add firewire.

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Unfortunately I don't see an alternative option but to at least get an iMac, being that I want a Mac anyway. Tell me, is USB that much of a disadvantage when it comes to recording audio? I would certainly be best off recording to an external harddrive, as you say, but does the lack of firewire make a discernable difference? I only really at the moment want to make a high quality recording of an acoustic/electric guitar with some midi bass, effects, and drum loops, for practice, to share with people etc. Bear in mind that I also want to store a big iTunes library in excess of 200gb and run Windows-only compatible software including some games.

I'll try with the Macbook for the moment but I don't feel comfortable using it for all of these demands. I would have to upgrade the harddrive for windows of course, and/or buy a USB audio interface and new software to use for OSX. That's quite a bit of money right there, and I'd rather just buy something that would last for a while. I've already wasted enough money.

bumzo1 said:

get it

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Sorry but get what? The upgrade stuff, the interface, and the software, or another Mac?