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Hey everyone i am a new producer n onli have been using ableton 7 and reason 3

the problem is the pc i am using stops me from doing alot of things because it carnt handle som aplcations, it was bought in 2001 i have updated it but its not very helpful for music production as i carnt open certain vst's in ableton

i produce speed garage well i try lol

i want to no if i shud get an apple mac so i can buy logic pro because meny people are using this for speed garage i have seen som of their labs and most of them nearly all of them have logic running in the background, i hav never used it and never used a mac so it will take a lot of time to get used to, or shud i jus get a better pc i really want to try logic pro it seems like the one to have dus ay1 have pro tools, wots is it like help me decide thanks

How can anybody help you decide? All anybody has is their own experience, and their own bias and opinion. Unless your brain thinks and perceives things just like theirs does, their opinion is not much to go on...and that especially includes software.

And you would have to give a lot more details, such as how much money you can handle spending, before you can come close to answering your question. But since you like communicating in pseudo phone-pad-English instead of complete sentences, I'll take it you're under 18, with little money, so need to spend as little as humanly possible.

A decision is an equation. You can solve your equation with variables like other people's opinions, or you could try to be more logical about it.

You could look at your "equation" from two different points of view, i.e. decide based on making a hardware preference, i.e. PC or MAC, just because you're used to one or the other, ....or have one or the other available, or you can have a software preference, and make your decision based on what software you intend to use.

But YOU are going to have to settle on something as your starting point.....what is the "Given" in the equation?

For a specific processing purpose, such as music production, a common recommendation would be choose the software you want to use first, THEN acquire the hardware it would take to run that software. You mention "everybody's using Logic Pro," so you conclude that's what you should get. Although there's nothing wrong with Logic, you have to remind yourself that the "everybody" you know is a very limited circle, and that there's lots of "everybody's" out there using lots of other programs they would swear are "the best." But, unless you and they have actually, extensively, USED a number of different programs, you and they really are not in a position to make a judgment on what's better or worse...you just use what you have, and get used to it. (It seems to me I remember some sound cards including a free version of Logic with the card, so stop and think about WHY somebody's using the program....might be all they have, and don't have money to buy anything else, or that's what they started with with some free Lite version, and then stuck with it and upgraded....so that's no basis to conclude Logic is better than anything else.)

And, since most people can't afford to buy and use multiple programs to decide what they like, you have no choice but to read reviews, and hope those reviews refer to other programs for comparison, so you have as unbiased an opinion as possible.....but remember that's all it is....an opinion. How they logically concluded that opinion is what makes one opinion more "valid" than another to you. It's a LOT like guitar players.....a LOT of them have VERY biased opinions about what the "best" guitar or brand is, and it's based on very little logic....often nothing more than that's the brand somebody else uses, and they want to sound like them.

From a hardware point of view, since the PC you have now, even from 2001, is an "ATX" style, meaning it's using an ATX power supply (as opposed to the 1999-and-earlier "AT" style), it will allow you to mount today's "ATX" style or "mini-ATX" motherboards inside. You could conceivably gut your old PC and buy either new or used motherboard, CPU, etc., off eBay or from your local Classified Ads, or your friends, and update your PC hardware to something that would handle current software's demands, like your current version of Ableton. A lot of times, all that's necessary is to max out the RAM to whatever your motherboard will allow, and you'll suddenly find the software you have runs great. In your case, since you're mentioning VST plug-in's that won't run, it could be your processor isn't powerful/fast enough (which you could probably upgrade to the fastest the motherboard will allow with a used CPU off eBay for dirt-cheap), or it could just be you need more RAM. I suspect a motherboard from 2001 might be limited to 1 gig of ram max, but that might be all you need...you just have to try it.

What version of Windows is your current PC running?

....or just buy somebody's used PC that's newer than yours.....or a newer used MAC. But that decision goes back to what does the software you want to use demand, and/or how much money can you spend...and then you go from there. These days, some incredibly powerful PC's can be bought brand new for around $500 to $600, while my impression is that MAC's are still pretty expensive to get in to, unless maybe you buy used.

Pro-Tools on the MAC is very common in professional studios, so you could go for that because "everybody's using it," but then you're talking about serious money for everything.....fairly expensive MAC, expensive software, etc. And then you'll be on your own in your own circle that's all using Logic Pro (where you'll have people available to show you how to do stuff).

I've heard some people say Logic is fairly technical or difficult, and that's a common criticism of a lot of software,....a lot of them tend to bog you down in how to use it, so you lose your creative impulses....that great idea you just had for a song gets lost while you jump through software hoops to get the program to do what you want.....so a lot of programs try to design themselves to make it as easy as they can to help you get your idea recorded....and they promote the fact that they've been designed that way......

......Mackie's "Tracktion 3" is one that comes to mind, or what you already have.....Ableton Live.

But, ultimately, what's the point of having somebody tell you what to do? They'll usually tell you what the "Best" is, and you look to see how much it is, and choke when you see the cost, and then you end up just getting used to, and mastering, whatever you have, usually based on the limits of what you can spend.

It sounds to me like the cheapest way to go, since you already have decent programs, is just update your hardware again. But since you've been using it and now have experience with it, if you think Ableton will not do what you need it to, even after you update your PC hardware, then you're back to square-One...and then only you can decide what single factor will be your starting point for solving your "Equation."

Just make sure your decison is logical, and isn't just based on peer-pressure of what everybody else is doing.

Stenn

Hi, Stenn has given a really good response to your question - you could do no worse than upgrading your computer to a level where is can run the applications you want at a reasonable pace. Stick with the software you have for the time being, they can do a very good job.

thanks for your neat responses guys i am running on home edition of xp. i have come to the conclusion to upgrade the pc and just stick with what i am doing and the 2 programs i am using i have beard in mind u don't become a pro overnight it takes a lot of time to get to wer u wana go not in everyones case tho rite thanks guys

Hi,

so the question arises:

Which one shall i use for sound producing, PC or Mac ?

It really doesn't matter, because linux runs on both of them, and twice as fast as XP/OsX (and with a MUCH smaller memory fingerprint), so you won't need to upgrade your computer.

Also, with linux you have a full set of advanced audio tools and plugins (including JACK for real-time audio processing - did you ever wanted to buy that 'roland' pedal for your guitar ? wait no longer: install linux, it comes for free...), and it works easily with all your VST's.

:idea: Just give it a try: Ubuntu Studio Download the iso, and burn a CD, its free and its legal software.

(hmm... evangelist? me? ... no)

is this safe and if u say it is how do we no

prezidnt1
is this safe and if u say it is how do we no

It is community based, just like wikipedia, and freesound are. That means everyone can contribute.

UbuntuStudio is the variation of Ubuntu Linux specially configured for producing music, video and graphics. Just check their wiki it confirms exactly this that i am writing to you.

Also about the performance, you can check it by yourself , but again just look at its System Requirements and see if your computer fits.

You can download the image, burn a DVD and try it without installing it (booting your computer from the DVD and start it up with the LiveCD option). So go ahead. If you don't want to run from the DVD, and are planning on installing it on your hard-drive, i STRONGLY recommend that you backup your data first.

So, just give it a try.

thanks i will give it a try n hope for the best

FWIW, it boils down to the following -

1. Money/budget.
The mac is and always has been the expensive option. Why? Reliability. I can speak from experience, as I've been producing in some of the world's best studios for the last 15 years. This isn't meant as bragging rights, more so to show my investigation background!!

The PC has always up until recently been less reliable than the Mac. They are MUCH better now (although all bets are off until Vista settles down! )

2. Audio hardware & software
The audio/MIDI hardware is in essence the same, no matter what platform you go for. ProTools (the A&R's favourite ) is mutli-platform too. As is Cubase and Reason.
If you want to use Logic, you're stuck with Mac.

Some of the more esoteric (in other words, interesting!) soft synths and plugins are also platform native.

Personally, I'm using a MacPro with Logic Studio 8, but I'm doing a wide range of music from Commercial pop to underground dance. I need something that can deliver it all. Plus I've also got a load of real synths, samplers etc as plugins will only take you so far.

The platform, as others have intimated, isn't that important - it's your ideas that count, and how resourceful you are in creating your sound with the equipment you've got.
There's very little point, unless you WANT to, in spending a load of money on equipment that won't earn you anything back (if that is your goal)

Most people start of with a PC or even Atari (!), a synth, or sampler, cubase/reason....... and take it from there. it will cost muc hless than a new computer and all the stuff that goes with it.....
also, to get the actual sound you want is also an art in itself. Get to your local college and look at a course in Music tech or Sound Engineering. This is how I started (MANY MANY years ago!!)
Learn the rules before you break em

Might not be the answer you were looking for, but hope it helps anyway

Dan

ubuntu=linux To be useful to the work, thanks..

I've been using a Mac G4 800 since 2001 in my home studio. Made a few upgrades for memory (1.5g) and operating system (10.4.11). I use Digital Performer 4.61. I have been producing and recording in studios in PA, NJ, NY for many years and always on a Mac. That has to say something about that platform. Mac is HIGHLY recommended by me.

Best of luck,

dpg4macman

PS: FYI - I also use PC's. I own a Dell laptop and desktop computer and they work great for what they do.