need your advice

[eeoo]

I'm using a 2008 imac with 4 gigs of ram running pro tools 9. I don't do huge orchestral sessions but I run addictive drums and reason (re-wired) and a an additional VI or two on most sessions and i make it work. Whatever system you end up getting will anhilate my rig but my rig still gets pretty decent results. I don't think you need 32 gigs of ram unless you're running massive sessions of multiplreVI's.

[Len911]

ok. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-MacBook-P ... SwHoFXqj4Y

This macbook here on E bay looks good for $1250. This would be able to hold my eastwest/addictive.drume/finale/garritan samples? sounds great!

But i never brought a computer on e bay. is it safe? anyone know?

i had trouble with pay pal in the past so i e mailed the buyer to pay by check

thanx for your help

Is that the same link as Andy posted? His goes through, but yours doesn't for some reason, they look the same.

Generally ebay is safe, if you follow the rules. I doubt if many will take a check, that's not really the protocol, paypal is, or credit card through Pay Pal.

But why you would buy a used laptop when you can purchase a new one with so much more for less, and especially if you are coming from a Dell, my only guess is maybe you are caught up in the hype of Apple? The cache?? It doesn't matter, and it certainly isn't for me to judge! It's totally your decision. If Mac is something you've definitely decided, then we can move on from there.

It really depends on your approach.

1. I really want a Mac, I don't wanna spend a fortune, and will it run my software the way I run it now, I need a replacement for my dying computer. I don't want to have to mod and upgrade, I'm not a techy, I'd rather have a warranty.

2. I want the best bang for my buck to replace my dying computer, and I don't want to spend more than x. I want something that won't be outdated by next year. I intend to expand by music software with instruments, effects, and applications.

3. I just want the best and the sky is the limit as far as budget is concerned. Probably wouldn't be inquiring in the first place though,lol!

There's really a few unknowns. Like what version of Pro Tools do you have? A free version? The full version? If you have the free version, you might want to upgrade to Logic Pro? It's what $199 compared to other daws costing $300-$500? That's just one advantage that goes into the cost, if that's the case.

The more that is known about your wants, needs, priorities, budget, is the ultimate thing that determines what you find best for yourself, and everyone is here with suggestions!

[mojobone]

Allow me to clear away some debris; if you're Apple, Logic is a way to go. If you intend to do massive MIDI mockups, and you need to output individual printed parts, Digital Performer might be the better option. Your mileage may vary.

[VanderBoegh]

8 gigs of RAM might be enough to get you by with the software & virtual instruments you mentioned, but it will be pushing it.

For my first couple years as a composer, I used an iMac with a mere 3 gigs. Worked decently if I was just using audio clips. But when I started running synths & virtual instruments, or inserting too many plug-in's like compressors, reverbs, EQ's, etc, bad things would happen frequently.

If you can afford it, I'd suggest 16 gigs at a minimum. It'll save you considerable headaches and frustrations in the future.

~~Matt

[andygabrys]

Allow me to clear away some debris; if you're Apple, Logic is a way to go. If you intend to do massive MIDI mockups, and you need to output individual printed parts, Digital Performer might be the better option. Your mileage may vary.

Cubase is a fav of many of my ex-classmates working in LA doing big mockups. The exporting of audio is very flexible.

[charlie2]

ya,

i have pro tools 7.3 and i may or may not upgrade at this point since im moving. i also have finale/garrittan/eastwest and addictive drums. i may only put pt and finale in and put the rest in a seagate harddrive but i need to see if itll fit.

maybe i should stay with pcs since i don't really have the money.

i liked how andy gave that link to the machine i needed but it was too much money and a mac.

any more links to less expensive pcs? i can use my old monitor i quess.

what could i get for 700 dollars?

thanx. really

[mojobone]

If it has to be a laptop, Andy's advice is pretty solid; later Macbook Pros aren't as upgradeable and are more expensive. Your cheapest option is to build a tower PC from off the shelf parts, which is easier than you'd think, but that's obviously not portable. A refurbished mid-2011 Macbook Pro can be ordered with the RAM maxed out (at 16G for a couple hundred, unless you buy and install it yourself) and a fair to mid-sized SSD, and you don't need a retina display unless you're doing high-res graphics.

https://www.gainsaver.com/used-macbook- ... -mc723ll-a

I'd recommend popping for diagnostics and a new battery, as well, and replacing the Superdrive with an alternate SSD is a very good bet. I don't believe you need 32G of RAM just to run ProTools, but that kinda depends on how many VIs you wanna run at once. Mainly, you want more drives, cuz multiple programs reading/writing from the same drive simultaneously will tend to choke performance.

[Len911]

ya,

i have pro tools 7.3 and i may or may not upgrade at this point since im moving. i also have finale/garrittan/eastwest and addictive drums. i may only put pt and finale in and put the rest in a seagate harddrive but i need to see if itll fit.

maybe i should stay with pcs since i don't really have the money.

i liked how andy gave that link to the machine i needed but it was too much money and a mac.

any more links to less expensive pcs? i can use my old monitor i quess.

what could i get for 700 dollars?

thanx. really

Ok Charlie, I found one that looks interesting.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... gnorebbr=1

-$312 with shipping (you can purchase a $50 1 yr. on site repair plan if you choose) or read standard return and warrantees, this is a refurbished unit.
-it has 8GB of ram memory, I would try that, and if it doesn't work, $60 for 16GB of ram, the cards just snap in, only 1 way, simple upgrade.
-has windows 7 64 bit Professional, pro has advantages over home.
-External 480Gb ssd $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... gnorebbr=1

~$525 AMD quad-core processor, 1 TB internal hard drive, 480GB external ssd hard drive for your programs, 16 GB ram, 8 GB takes $60 off the price to $465, use the rest of the money to buy a new monitor, or a new mouse or keyboard, if you don't like the ones it comes with, a new daw? Reaper, Traktion??

http://www.acer.com/datasheets/2014/487 ... A.001.html
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... rder=PRICE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... rder=PRICE
http://www.reaper.fm/
https://www.tracktion.com/

[Len911]

Then there are laptops,lol!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... =100%20700

These all have 16gb of ram. They all also have built in ssd. If you want to add the external ssd drive for the $150 as listed in the other post, they must have a usb 3.0 port, to find out that info you need to copy the model # from the specs and google that with the mfg. name. It doesn't seem to be readily available in the info on the newegg site.

Here's one that does have a usb 3 as shown in one of the pics.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... gnorebbr=1

It's one of the more expensive ones $530 + $150 for external usb ssd 480gb = $680

-Windows 7 pro 64-bit, i7 2.6 Ghz, 16GB ram, 256 GB SSD,

here's an i5, with usb 3.0, 16GB ram, 256 GB SSD $347 + $150 for ext. usb ssd 480GB = $500
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... gnorebbr=1

the desk top processor above is comparable to i5 laptop, so it looks like the laptops are probably a better buy, they have the internal ssd, and a monitor!

[charlie2]

hey thanx. im checking this out. i think ill go with a pc desktop and use my old monitor.

question. my guy at guitar center has a 1tb hard drive to hold my eastwest/garrittan/addictive stuff. can i just directly put all that stuff into my new hard drive or do i have to load it?

also how does this look? lenova desktop 12gb memory amd a10 with 2tb hard drive. model h50 90bg003jus windows 10 for 499

thanxxxxxxx