Skip to main content

Alright. So i am new to the forums, and fairly new to recording as well. To make a long story short, I am in school for the recording industry (Music Industry Arts @ Fanshawe) and i need to set my self up with a digital work station. Nothing over the top, but something that can run logic, and possibly pro tools LE.

So what am I looking at here? As far as the computer is concerned i was thinking of getting an iMac 20" with 2 gigs of ram. Is this enough power to run with out locking up? Also i need some sort of interface for mics and direct inputs. Is the Mbox 2 the best way to go about it, or are there better options for my money. Also i need a midi controller. Just a 5 octave keyboard is all i would need.

I should add that until i can afford some decent monitors i will be mixing from my AKGs.

so am i missing something?

Any help is greatly appreciated. keep in mind i am a student on a budget. I can't afford a digi 002 or any thing like that.

Topic Tags

Comments

hueseph Mon, 02/05/2007 - 17:55

The iMac is fine but it would probably be a good idea to get an external hard drive for audio only. It doesn't have to be large. 80gig will do. Firewire preferredly. It's just not a great idea to run your daw from the same drive that you are streaming audio. Mbox should be fine. Mbox 2 Pro if you can afford it. As far as midi controllers are concerned m-audio has a bunch of budget controllers. It really depends on how much you rely on feel. Weighted keys are going to cost more.

TheFraz Tue, 02/06/2007 - 05:38

i am not to concerned about recording on protools.
i will be doing the recordings on logic. but i do want protools so i can edit things i have recorded in my schools studio, but i have no need to record onto protools.

i have been looking at the firebox by presonus, it looks like it has all the features i am looking for and a few more.

moisiss Tue, 02/06/2007 - 07:36

I have the firepod (same as the firebox but only more channels) and I love it. I would imagine that it would run really well on a current iMac... it (and cubase/reason) runs really well on my 2.5 yr old computer (AMD 3000+, 512 GB RAM, 80 GB HD).... I don't, however, know how well it would work with Logic... I would imagine it would be fine, but you never know. As you also probably know, with the firebox PT wouldn't be an option... but for me that was not a very big deal.

guitarjazzman Wed, 02/07/2007 - 01:58

I am reasonably new to the whole recording thing too. I purchased a 20" intel Imac about 6 months ago with Logic and a Firepod. Highly recommended! You do not need to install any drivers with the firepod - just plug it in and it works like a dream. I had a nightmare scenario with a custom built Carillon PC before the Imac (long story) and only half the inputs worked with Sonar for some reason. I have never had any problems with my Mac and I use the system on an almost daily basis.

The Imac is also virtually silent so great if you are recording in the same room with mics.