Apprehensive about buying new iMac for music/audio production

[robes1]

I'm thinking of buying a new iMac to use for music production, but I'm having some real doubts given the numerous problems I'm reading about in Catalina, and possibly due to the T2 chips. It seems to be a common problem for a lot of people using Logic. If I'm gonna spend some serious money on a machine, I want to work without any issues, otherwise I'll just get a decked out PC for almost half the price.

Am I justified in being apprehensive, or are the audio issues overblown? From what I've read online from Mac users, it seems like Apple are dragging their feet on this issue, and/or just don't care.

 

[Aquarium2now]

A main issue for music production is that many third-party software vendors have not upgraded to 64-bit architecture. So, if you have many 32-bit plugins, they won't be usable in Catalina. If you are a Logic user, you may have ability to test drive some of your legacy Logic files on a new machine at the Apple Store, assuming they use straight Logic-based plugins. Otherwise, if you must use legacy third-party 32-bit plugins, an iMac running Catalina is not a great choice.

 

[r6mile]

A main issue for music production is that many third-party software vendors have not upgraded to 64-bit architecture. So, if you have many 32-bit plugins, they won't be usable in Catalina. If you are a Logic user, you may have ability to test drive some of your legacy Logic files on a new machine at the Apple Store, assuming they use straight Logic-based plugins. Otherwise, if you must use legacy third-party 32-bit plugins, an iMac running Catalina is not a great choice.

If the issue is 32-bit Software support, you can always downgrade a 2019 iMac (which is the latest version, for now) to OSX Mojave.

 

[mBox]

I know a lot of studios running DAW on older Mac Pros even as old as 2006.
The beauty of audio production

 

[Aquarium2now]

If the issue is 32-bit Software support, you can always downgrade a 2019 iMac (which is the latest version, for now) to OSX Mojave.

My iMac was delivered new with Catalina as the base, default OS. Given this, it is my understanding that the OS cannot be downgraded to Mojave.

I know a lot of studios running DAW on older Mac Pros even as old as 2006. The beauty of audio production

For sure. If it works, use until it doesn't.

 

[Fishrrman]

If you get a 2019 (or perhaps an Apple-refurbished 2017) iMac, there is NO t2 chip in it, and it can still run Mojave.

Thus, you avoid the potential problems mentioned in post #1 above.

 

[robes1]

If you get a 2019 (or perhaps an Apple-refurbished 2017) iMac, there is NO t2 chip in it, and it can still run Mojave.

Thus, you avoid the potential problems mentioned in post #1 above.

How would one downgrade to Mojave on a new 2019 iMac? I'm assuming they're shipping with Catalina.