In the debate over Mac or PC, in my opinion there is one true winner but everyone’s opinion is different due to the nature of the project you are working on, and your budget. Your decision should also be based on your experience level. Are you new to recording music? Are you a seasoned professional? I will take you through every level in hopes that in the end of this article, you will at least have a better idea of what your needs are. Cost: True or False: You have to have a million dollars worth of equipment to sound like a million dollar recording? The most important part of your recording gear doesn’t cost you a dime and you were born with them attached to your head.

There is not a preferred “brand” of computer for music making! The only deciding factor for using a Mac or PC (in our opinion) is explained in the next bullet point. In the recording industry, Macs are usually considered the standard on account of their reliability and stability. Unfortunately, you have to spend more to get a Mac of the same specification as a PC. If you're on a budget, a PC is most likely the wisest choice.

It’s your Ears. You will then need to build your gear around your ears and your budget carefully. There are a lot of great mixers, interfaces, etc. Out there that don’t cost a whole lot and will last you for years if you just know what you are looking for and where to find it. PC’s are definitely a lot better on your budget and are more readily available. You can get on any online selling website these days and pick up a great PC for around $200 – $300 that would make a great home studio rig.

The Mac however is a little harder to find, and costs usually around twice as much. The thing to remember is that just because the Mac costs more, doesn’t mean that it is the best choice. I have recorded with both PC’s and Mac’s for years now and they both have their advantages though they differ in price. Compatibility: When choosing the Mac or PC make sure that any existing equipment that you already have (mixers, interfaces, software, etc.) will be compatible with your new system. This is one category where I agree that the PC is far superior.

Most modern software (Pro Tools, Cubase, etc.) is available and compatible with most PC and Mac systems, but the difference lies in the details. The PC’s for example will usually run many versions of the recording software on the same version of Windows. So you will have many more options on which versions of software you will get to use and they will not need to be upgraded for years if all goes right. The Mac however is a little different. As with everything Mac, software, hardware etc.

Is always reliant upon what version of OSX (10.5.5, 10.6.1, etc.) that you are using. Then you have to make sure that each individual piece of equipment and recording software is also compatible with your exact version of OSX. Now, I know from personal experience that even thought Mac will tell you that the version of Pro Tools 8 won’t work on OSX 10.6.1, i have seen it first hand and it seemed to work fine. Mac is just very careful about guaranteeing anything that might come back and bite them. Can’t blame them.

Youtube photoshop mac tutorials for beginners. One plus of the Mac is they will usually come with recording software called “Garage Band” installed. Now, this isn’t as fancy as Cusbase or Pro Tools but you can always upgrade it later. So when choosing the Mac or PC for your home studio, make sure to be aware of what versions of recording software work with what versions of operating software. In the end, it will save a lot of headaches, trust me. Performance: In the overall grand scheme of things, most people will tell you that Macs are faster I disagree.