Laptop vs Desktop

[akumpis]

I'd like to get your opinion on recording on a laptop vs desktop. I am trying to decide if I should buy a Macbook Pro or a Mac Pro. I do basic audio editing and production in the studio. But I also want the flexibility to record live bands without lugging my G5 around. What do you guys think?

[Radiogal]

You can´t eat is and have it at the same time. Make up what´s most important to you. Mac Pro for the studio. Buy a MBP if you need to record outside the studio. You might even buy both.

[Ratona]

Here's a lame question, but if I have windows software ie: sonar 8.5 producer and a motu 8 pre, then I really can't run that on a mac can I?
I am hoping there is a way to use windows software on a mac.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

You might even buy both.

Such an optimist! But I like the way you think.

[Radiogal]

Here's a lame question, but if I have windows software ie: sonar 8.5 producer and a motu 8 pre, then I really can't run that on a mac can I?
I am hoping there is a way to use windows software on a mac.

Yes you can. Bootcamp will turn your Intel Mac into a Windows machine.

[Radiogal]

You might even buy both.

Such an optimist! But I like the way you think.

Yes, why compromise? Cheap solutions always tend to be the most expensive in the long run.. Been there, done that... never going back.
My +20 yrs experience buying music and studio gear learned me that good investments always pay back it´s money in the long run.

Gear is there to serve you, to make things possible, to make it happen. When cheating with cheap "that will do" gear you´ll always be limited, and hunger for the more expensicve stuff, always! In the end you´ll be buying the more expensive stuff anyway cuz you learned by experience and realized you missed to many boats and really can´t live without it anymore.

Buy things second hand if you can´t afford new, make a good deal.
I´d never EVER would have all this gear I own today if I payed what was printed on the price tag in the store.
Make a wish list and keep an eye on the -used gear-Internet sites.
I always have items left on mine... Checking these sites every day..

What I want to say: Never compromise with your musical skills. they are precious and need to be respected and deserve good gear. And for sure you´ll develope and become better in what you do.
Amen

[Ratona]

Here's a lame question, but if I have windows software ie: sonar 8.5 producer and a motu 8 pre, then I really can't run that on a mac can I?
I am hoping there is a way to use windows software on a mac.

Yes you can. Bootcamp will turn your Intel Mac into a Windows machine.

So I guess the next question that comes to mind is... would there be any potiential complications ie: compatibility with the windows software running on a mac using the Bootcamp software? And.. would it still be an advantage usingi a Mac but running as a Windows machine.
The software I use will be sonar 8.5 producer and I will use a lot of vst's,MIDI & audio. Perhaps up to 30 tracks. Which Mac Laptop or desktop would you recommend?

[newrigel]

I'm sorry but in my honest opinion... I would NOT buy a Mac to run windows on it. If you want to run windows, go buy a $400 PC and don't hose the Mac up with the dual boot nightmare your going to deal with but be my guest. Yes, the mac will run windows, but it doesn't have a bios and there are reasons for the bios in windows that boot camp can't provide. I don't see any logic spending $2500.00 to buy a Mac Pro and trying to do full blown windows productions when you can get a $600.00 do it yourself PC and keep your mac experience what it should be... a pleasant experience. Dual boots are for file conversions and proofing on the mac, not for doing the "make the mac act like a PC" thing... doesn't work that way because of the bios needed for windows to run optimally... but, do as you'd like!

Turning a Mac into a real PC is as hard if not harder than turning a PC into a hackintosh!!! Buy a mac to make music... buy a PC to be a tweak and if you get that deep with windows natively on a Mac your going to be dealing with the same thing... just buy a PC to do windows on and a mac for OS X... but again, do as you'd like! Good luck!

[billf]

Here's a lame question, but if I have windows software ie: sonar 8.5 producer and a motu 8 pre, then I really can't run that on a mac can I?
I am hoping there is a way to use windows software on a mac.

Yes you can. Bootcamp will turn your Intel Mac into a Windows machine.

So I guess the next question that comes to mind is... would there be any potiential complications ie: compatibility with the windows software running on a mac using the Bootcamp software? And.. would it still be an advantage usingi a Mac but running as a Windows machine.
The software I use will be sonar 8.5 producer and I will use a lot of vst's,MIDI & audio. Perhaps up to 30 tracks. Which Mac Laptop or desktop would you recommend?

Unless you are a mobile producer, get a MacPro. If you're a studio producer, IMHO you are better off with something that is expandable, and the laptop route means everything such as backup drives will need to be external, and your ram options/GPU upgrades/etc. are all more limited.

Bootcamp basically runs Windows natively. So as long as your drivers and such are up to date, you can go on all cylinders as it's basically a PC at that point (see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1461" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for more info). The real question though is why do you want a Mac? If it is to take advantage of OSX and hardware reliability, then great. But, you'll have to transition off of Sonar and over to a Mac based DAW such as DP or whatever floats your boat.

The advantage of having a Mac to do this? You can continue using Sonar for your old projects while doing new stuff on your new DAW, and thus migrate in steps.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Funny thing about mobile recording I've seen with laptops. The good recordings always have a shitload of mid to high end outboard gear. The systems with a Mackie mixer and a laptop with maybe a smallish FW or ...USB... audio device doesn't do so well. LOL!

Serious users generally have desktop machines - often in addition to the laptop. I don't use a laptop except to help my wife from time to time with her Mac Book. It's way faster than my desktop, but I'd never consider doing extensive editing on it. Record in a pinch on location, maybe, but edit the show on it? OMG! I'd go crazier than I already am... and that's a lot!

[newrigel]

Go ahead and do windows in BC... try to run Sonar in full blown mode and you will soon see, BC is for non peripheral applications... but you don't have to listen to wisdom, learn the hard way as I and others have. use a mac for it's strengths... OSX! Again, good luck!
yeah, "just like running windows native" he he.
Check this page out and you'll soon see what kind of BS BC can create on the mac! Sorry guys, it's NOT like running a real PC with a bios on the logic board.
If your used to using windows anyway, you'll be right @ home trying to get it working well on a mac too he he... good luck!

[mhschmieder]

I'm a huge fan of using iMacs for on-location recording.

I share your dilemma but am fairly committed to going for a Mac Pro as my studio computer next time around, if Apple can get new ones out before I have a nervous breakdown with all the crashes I get on my ancient G4 iMac.

I will continue using the G4 iMac for on-location tracking initial multi-track sessions, until it dies.

Rather than buy a MacBook Pro for on-location recording, I would suggest looking for a used iMac instead. You can then share the keyboard and mouse etc. and have a better ergonomic experience during the on-location session.

If you look at refurbished Mac Pro's right after the new ones come out, you might be able to get both a Mac Pro and an iMac for the same price that you would pay for a brand new Mac Pro.

Remember that MacBook Pro's will work for audio sessions and are high-powered and semi-flexible in routing and expansion, but in the end, they are not as reliable as desktop computers, so for live work and on-location sessions, you may find more bang/buck in the iMac line.

In some cases, an iMac can also serve as a second monitor during your studio Mac Pro sessions.

[newrigel]

I'd like to get your opinion on recording on a laptop vs desktop. I am trying to decide if I should buy a Macbook Pro or a Mac Pro. I do basic audio editing and production in the studio. But I also want the flexibility to record live bands without lugging my G5 around. What do you guys think?

As far as that statement is concerned... go with a laptop because the "I do basic audio editing and production in the studio" gives it away! In a basic application, a laptop will be fine for your needs. The only time a desktop will come to play is when your doing bigger sessions, you'll want some DSP and even though there is the UAD and DSP solutions for a laptop, the external storage problem raises it's ugly head. Collect your data with your laptop on location (FWIW, the soon to be released macbook pro would be really fast but the fact still remains for expansion) and produce on a desktop for the raw production power, and the other benefits. I think in your position, the soon to be released MBP's (Gulftown) will do you some justice... but I would stay away from using windows to do full blown production in BC on the Mac... you already have a genuine Mac there, why spoil it running windows on it to try to emulate what a $600 PC can do, and actually, better! Again, BC is cool but it isn't for doing serious audio or video work where you need to have your peripherals talking nicely to each other... just won't happen and if it does, you are truly blessed! Your posting this on a Mac native user forum so yes, I'm going to steer you away from the nightmares your used to so don't take what I say as being derogatorily assertive.

[mhschmieder]

New MBP's were released a few days ago (I just found out today, as I was working from home the past few days and have a rule of not taking breaks).

Overall prices are lower than before, but this is slightly misleading as it has to do with changes to what is included in the base package before the various options are factored in.

Nevertheless, this new MacBook Pro line-up might help you to re-evaluate your best choices, as it is quite a bump in capabilities, just like the recent iMac updates from last October through December (or "ongoing", if you include the troublesome i7 model).

[Nibiru]

I've just finished giving my laptop steriods...

And i have to say I REALLY enjoy working on it. I have a 2.6 ghz MBP 17" with Sonnet Tempo eSATA and 4gb RAM. I use many VI's (5 or more) to record, as well as recording analog sources. My projects tend to have an average track count of about 50+ stereo tracks and 20+ mono tracks. I have VI's and audio separated between 2 G-Tech 500gb drives connected via eSATA. My laptop setup is quite the upgrade from my PPC 2.3ghz running 10.4.11 with the same drive configuration. I cannot believe I held off for so long in switching over. I was dreading having to spend more money on buying a new MacPro, so I opted for a Sonnet Tempo SATA Pro card and upped my RAM to 4gb. In love. I agree that nothing compares to having a desktop with 4 internal drives and 16gb of RAM, faster everything etc., but I don't need all of that power to have a blast making music without much limitations. So I say go for the laptop!