imac and logic question

[mooch]

I currently use a korg hard drive recorder to do some recording. I want a computer for simple recording (99% of the time my guitar alone, dont need more than 2 inputs), and also to do some audio editing (just working with music files from my zoom h4 recorder) and possible video. I want to go with apple. Is an imac powerful enough for this or do I need one of the towers?

I would like to just buy logic with the computer. would logic do everything I want for recording? Can I edit audio files with it? I just want a simple easy solution and buying the computer with logic is pretty easy to me.

thanks

[Elmer]

An iMac will absolutely do what you need, no problem. The newest ones are more powerful than my aging Powermac, which will still do anything I ask of it (using Logic Studio).

As for software, you may not even need Logic - the latest version of Garageband is quite usable for most basic audio tasks, and is included with the purchase of a new Mac. For editing audio files, depending on what you need to do, you can do a fair bit using Audacity - which is freeware. For more advanced audio file editing you'd probably want something other than Logic. Editing audio files really isn't its forte.

Also cool: should you later decide that Garageband doesn't have the horsepower you need and you end up getting Logic, you'll be able to open your Garageband projects with Logic and keep on rockin'. If there is an Apple store in your vicinity, I'd suggest going and checking out Garageband running on a new iMac. You might find that it's all you need. For a simple solution, it's hard to beat Garageband + Audacity...

[Dan Desy]

Hey Mooch! Long time.

I have Logic Express on iMac, and it does everything I need it ro do and much more. I totally love it. Check out myspace, you'll see what I can do with little gear and no skills whatsoever.

It's true that GB is a good starting point, though. I started with it, but the iLife 2006 version had too many limitations, so I went to Logic Express (I don;t regret it one bit). GB 2008 is pretty impresive from what I hear though, and seems to have made up for everything 2006 lacked.

EDIT: Oh and hardware wise, I have an Intal (previous generation) iMac, and I upgraded it to 2GB or RAM and got a sizeable external FW drive. It hasn't even broken a sweat yet. So don't worry about the hardware.

[mooch]

Dan,
nice to hear from you. thanks for the info. if you are ever on the east coast let me know.

mooch

[Dan Desy]

Dan,
nice to hear from you. thanks for the info. if you are ever on the east coast let me know.

mooch

That'd be cool, mooch!
How far from Hartford, CT are you? It's probably not real close, but I'll be there in early July.

[gitman]

an iBook with the 1,2 Ghz machine is powerful enough, certainly for a smaller version of Logic (without all the extra plug-ins etc). i used an iBook with my old Motu 828 firewire interface for guitar/vocal live recording, worlked like a charm and editing was a breeze. a second hand iBook is cheap and so is the 828. an Apogee DUET is even smaller, has better pre's and much better converters and the whole setup will fit into a small backpack !

[eBay]

I currently use a korg hard drive recorder to do some recording. I want a computer for simple recording (99% of the time my guitar alone, dont need more than 2 inputs), and also to do some audio editing (just working with music files from my zoom h4 recorder) and possible video. I want to go with apple. Is an imac powerful enough for this or do I need one of the towers?

I would like to just buy logic with the computer. would logic do everything I want for recording? Can I edit audio files with it? I just want a simple easy solution and buying the computer with logic is pretty easy to me.

thanks

1 gig of memory and GarageBand will do what you want. GB's not bad either. Just bump up the sampling rate in preferences and it sounds pretty good.

[LSchefman]

My son is using Logic 8 without problems on a single processor G5 iMac without problems.

The newer ones are far faster.