Mac or PC, today's computers are stunningly powerful, and they're getting faster and more capable every day. In fact, the last few generations of computers are easily capable of running today's DAWs just fine - though there will be limitations when you start applying a lot of plug-ins.
Creation Station 400 |
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| The Sweetwater Creation Station 400 provides dual-core processing power and SATA hard drives by Seagate for premium audio performance. |
Mac or PC? Both!
Should you go Mac or PC? The answer is yes! Either one of these platforms offers plenty of selection for great audio software. How do you decide? If you're reading this online, you probably have already made the decision - provided the computer you're using now is the one you plan to use for music. One big consideration is what you're comfortable with. Another is what your friends and co-studio-conspirators are using. Also consider what software you want to run. If the major must-have piece of software you need for making your musical gems only runs on a PC, then your choice is pretty much made for you.
In fact, many musicians and engineers are finding that they want both platforms in their studios. Many are using the Mac for their main DAW platform, while also using a PC (or PCs) to run Windows-only applications like MachFive, Acid, Project 5, and others. If you're doing a lot of work with software instruments, it may make sense to add extra computers - a combination of Macs and PCs, or multiple computers of the same type - dedicated to running those virtual instruments.
Apple 17" MacBook Pro |
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| The Apple 17" MacBook Pro gives you desktop-level performance in a laptop size for mobile recording and mixing. |
Studio versus Mobile
In most cases, desktop computers are more powerful than laptop computers. But desktops don't tend to be very portable. For ready-to-roll mobility, you simply can't beat a laptop. In fact, for tracking, a laptop is likely every bit as powerful as a desktop - you'll get just as many tracks, assuming you have a fast-enough hard drive to record onto. Most laptops have slower drives, either 4,200RPM or 5,400RPM, where desktops will have 7,200RPM, 10,000RPM, or even 15,000RPM disks. Those higher speeds translate to the ability to record and play back a lot of tracks without getting close to straining the system. The mobile solution is to have an external hard drive (usually connected via FireWire) for audio recording. Desktops also tend to have faster subsystems: front-side buses, etc., that add up to faster performance and more power to run plug-ins and processing.
But it all comes down to what you want to do. If mobile recording is your goal, a laptop is the way to go. And the good news is that while most laptops can't go head-to-head with a fire-breathing desktop, modern laptops offer plenty of power for doing audio work of all types. Plus, there's just something cool about being able to tuck your whole studio into a bag and throw it over your shoulder or pick it up and carry it under your arm.
Don't Skimp on the "Extras"
Whatever computer you choose and use, the two best things you can do: Add as much RAM to your machine as you can. Nothing will improve the performance of your computer as much as stocking it up with tons of memory. Also, add a second hard drive, either internally, or connected via FireWire, dedicated to storing your audio tracks, sample libraries, and other data. And don't forget to back up often!
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