Best Computer for Audio Workstation?

Scratch_n_Sniff

I'm lookin to spend about $1200 and want to get the best desktop possible to use as an audio workstation. I've got a macbook that I use separately for all my work/wordprocessing/internets/Microwave/ect. I might use the desktop for a little of that, but really, I just want something that'll run Ableton Live like a friggin beast. Plus I want lots of USB ports to plug in MIDI controllers and audio interfaces, ect.Right now the only things on my radar are getting an iMac, or getting a customized ADK desktop. In this case, is it worth going the Windows XP route in order to get the bang for your buck and customization that a PC affords? I don't like how difficult PCs are to work with, but I've got a very limited number of programs that I'm interested in running, so I figure once I get everything working it shouldn't give me too many problems.So:go PC routeorson, don't risk it

rascmon

the pc for that price would be sick, whereas the mac for that price would be feeble

Swayze

I'm pretty sure Windows is pure shit compared to Mac OSsss. On the stability front anyway..

Scratch_n_Sniff

After a couple hours of research, I realized it would be much more cost effective and worthwhile for me to simply upgrade the memory on my macbook to 4GB RAM, since it's already got a pretty swift processor (2.2 Ghz.) I'm also gonna get a Targus USB hub, and then I'll have all the functionality I want without needing to get another computer. Total cost: $250

So thank you myself.

Brian

If your hardware needs just consist of a MIDI controller, an iMac is perfectly suitable. The only concern I would have is that previous models had Firewire chipsets that were incompatible with many audio interfaces.

Scratch_n_Sniff

Thanks for the good feedback.

I'm going to definitely think about the iMac for down the road.

For now I'm set on a memory upgrade. They sell em for $200 at the apple store, but this is supposed to work for $27:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/53DR2SPAIR2G/

ZEN2

Thanks for the good feedback.

I'm going to definitely think about the iMac for down the road.

For now I'm set on a memory upgrade. They sell em for $200 at the apple store, but this is supposed to work for $27:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/53DR2SPAIR2G/

I think you'll need two 2GB modules, rather than 2 1GB modules.

Pretty sure there's just two memory slots in all the Macbooks.

Scratch_n_Sniff

Welldamn. Thanks for pointing that out. Now I'm gonna have to reorder, and return the first ones when they arrive.