Help with what to buy for Logic

[stillcrazy]

Well after a ton of research I have decided to buy the Pro 7.

I have been looking at Cubase and such for Cubase on a PC, so I am kinda lost here.

I am taking a Sequencing course from Berklee Music in July, so I want to be ready to go after that, so..

What Mac computer and interfaces should I be looking at that will work real well with the Pro 7..??

Thanks

Jack

[yofi]

Lazy - still crazy......

 

 

sorry couldn't resist it. Don't take it personal

 

You say you've done a ton of research but you don't tell us what your needs are. How many ins/out - do you want a portable rig - just software or are you adding mics? Vocals?

 

going blind I'd probably suggest as a student you'd be best of with a macbbok/macbook pro - depends on your budget

[stillcrazy]

Ok here goes:)

When I say I did my research, it was on what program I think will work for me.

Just a little more info for ya.

I am a 49 year old musician, the problem is I got married waaay back when, and put my music ambitions down for too long, so I am used to a piano, paper, pen and a $25 tape recorder.

Hence the reason I am taking the course as I am at a total loss when it comes to Midi and the likes.

So what I will be doing is laying down tracks here at home with my Yamaha keyboard, and Pro Logic.

The type of music I will be doing is some rock, jazz, orchestra pieces and the like.

So far it seems I should get a Mac g5 and I was looking at the RME fireface 800 interface.

Sorry if I seem so green, it is because I am when it comes to midi, so I am reading all I can and taking the course, so hopefully I can take what I have learned over the years and lay it down..

Thanks

Jack

[yofi]

Ok Jack -

 

The first thing to say is everything you hear in a place like this is completely subjective. You may get a whole load of people say you need to get this or that based on what thier needs are not yours.

 

Are you aware that the G5s are the last generation of macs? thats not to say they won't work for you - they will and then some but I wanted to clarify if you were aware.

 

From what I hear the RME s are fantastic but the 800 might be slightly overkill if your just playing midi into your computer - If your later looking to expand to record a whole lot of sources at once then fair enough but I'd caution against that. You've got enough of a learning curve ahead of you without getting into multi tracking yet.

 

Enjoy your journey...I'm sure you will

[stillcrazy]

Thanks so much for your input.

So are you saying that the g5 as well as the RME are overkill??

You say last generation Mac,,what do you mean when you say that..

I am in no way a rich guy,,I just want to get what will work for Pro 7. but don't want to skimp,,as I feel if I get quality now I won't have to rebuy..

So any advice on what you would do, would be appreciated...

Thanks

Jack

[yofi]

The G5s have been replaced as the latest model by Intel compatible macs (your entering into a bit of a minefield for the uninitiated here but)

 

Logic will work for both - you can get stupidly powerful macs these days but from what you say you dont need anything really powerful like a quad (4 processors).

 

To run a little midi studio as you want I think you could do a lot worse than a 2ghz macbook with lots of RAM (very important) and a little interface like the firebox

 

http://www.presonus.com/firebox.html

 

Again all these suggestions are subjective and others would probably disagree but for what your asking to do that would be more than enough to be getting on with and will be a lot cheaper than you were suggesting.

 

I know how people like to buy the newest and best but those guys are rarely making good music - Anyway I'm conducting an experiment with my partner this year to see if we can go a whole year without buying anything new (except for food and loo roll and other perishables obviously - you could take advantage of all those guys updating gear all the time and pick up some bargains.

[stillcrazy]

Here's a nice macbook with 2gb of Ram...

Apple

13.3" MacBook Intel Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz Black 2GB/160GB/SD

Intel Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz, 2GB DDR2, 160GB SATA/100, Intel GMA 950 graphics 64MB, 13.3" TFT 1280x800, SuperDrive(DVD+-R/CD-RW), Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n WLAN, Bluetooth, Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger

It is only $1600..

Think that will work??

Thanks again..

Jack

[gsilbers]

i think berklee started doing he "u have to buy a apple laptop" to go here. so u better check with berklee cause u may end up buying a G5 and then u have to get a laptop.

 

both are good.

 

 

in berklee synth clases they use logic. for contemporary writing and production and film score they use digital performer.

 

and for engineering and produccion they use pro tools.

 

also reason is used in all dept.

 

 

i feel for you a macbook pro and a meduimed sized I/O would be enough, something like MOTU ultralite or any of the m-audio. or a keyboard midi controller with audio I/o

 

for software logic pro will be beter suited cause u have the virtual instruments and if u doing jazz u have already all jazz instruments. like the rodes, acustic bass, piano, hamond, d6, jazz drum kit.

 

in berklee theywont show u logic or any other program at the beginging. i think they used DP for intro midi. they will go more into the theory of what is midi, daisy chain, bits, audio technology etc. so overall audio tech thoery.

 

maybe u should wait unltil u go to berklee and see what they requier. they also have a cmpouter lab with all the programs so u can choose for yourself which is the best.

[gsilbers]

Here's a nice macbook with 2gb of Ram...

Apple

13.3" MacBook Intel Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz Black 2GB/160GB/SD

Intel Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz, 2GB DDR2, 160GB SATA/100, Intel GMA 950 graphics 64MB, 13.3" TFT 1280x800, SuperDrive(DVD+-R/CD-RW), Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n WLAN, Bluetooth, Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger

It is only $1600..

Think that will work??

Thanks again..

Jack

 

i would recomend a bogger screen size and maybe lookin g in the refurbished section of apple.

[gsilbers]

Here's a nice macbook with 2gb of Ram...

Apple

13.3" MacBook Intel Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz Black 2GB/160GB/SD

Intel Core 2 Duo 2.16GHz, 2GB DDR2, 160GB SATA/100, Intel GMA 950 graphics 64MB, 13.3" TFT 1280x800, SuperDrive(DVD+-R/CD-RW), Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n WLAN, Bluetooth, Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger

It is only $1600..

Think that will work??

Thanks again..

Jack

 

i would recomend a bogger screen size and maybe lookin g in the refurbished section of apple. but yes, its enough horsepower.

thats almost as fats as my g5 dual 2.5 with 2gb of ram. and i can run a big ass session of about 48+ tracks and more than half audio instruments.

[stillcrazy]

Hey Guys,,,BIG thanks.....

Ya I was thinking the screen size was kinda small, and nice 20 inch will do alot better:)

So if I am not mistaken, with the Pro 7, Macbook, an decent interface, sound moniters, cables and such with my midi keyboad I should be all set right?

Again,,,,Thanks a whole lot!!!!!

Jack

[gsilbers]

yep.

 

once u ir berklee. there is a student help dek u can ask for logic pro classes. or u can ask anyone in the cumputer lab. there are some video seminars in the apple site with a guide for logic.

[stillcrazy]

Now the only thing that concerns me is the speed of the Macbooks hard drive is 5400 rpm.

I have been reading that you need at least 7200rpm...

Is that just for the PC??

Thanks

Jack

[gregwheatley]

I bought the cheapest mac mini and upped it to 2 gigs of RAM and bought a nice PC widescreen flatscreen and I am good to go. buy a mac keyboard and a usb mouse if you don't have one and you should be fine. I am running Logic Pro on it with no issues. I bought an external A/V rated hard drive to samve my songs to (at least 7200 rpm) and i have logic on the computer main hard drive. (too much for the CPU to read and write to the same drive.) the drive is 150 gig. Should last a while. then I got the MOTU ultralight and the Korg MicroKontrol as a midi controller. If you are a piano player, you might wanna go another way because it is a mini keyboard (which suits me just fine cuz i play guitar). Best of luck.

[gregwheatley]

in answer to your question above, you will need to buy a second hard drive that is at least 7200 rpm and is firewire. The difference between usb2.0 and firewire is that usb relies on CPU to alocate space which can be redirect to another use if necessary (this results in lag which only matters if you are recording in real time which you will be so don't do USB) whereas firewire is driven directed FROM the firewire drive and basically puts up a fence around the CPU that it needs and says "no touchie!" Which is awesome cuz now your problem is solved. If you don't get the second hard drive you will hate your life until you DO buy one. 9ms at least. hmmm.... I think that pretty much covers it. Don't get mac monitors unless you really think it is important to be able to look at the screen clearly from different angles and want to pay $800 more dollars for that privalage. Total tag on this.

 

Mac mini -$600

2 gigRAM -$300-400

Widescreen flatscreen monitor $200

Logic Pro $1,000

Korg MicroKontol $400

MOTU Ultralight $600

so... roughly $3100.

 

Thats the way I ended up going. There are other ways. If portability is important you may want that hot little laptop, but seeing as they cost an arm and a leg, I just couldn't justify it, especially with the sheer sex appeal of the mini... I was all like, "hey mini... what are YOU doing tonight?" And mini was like," hanging out with big man." and I was like "thats completely sweet mini. lets write some music." Boun-chik-a-wow-wow

 

word.