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The rules for making music on your home computer are ever-changing in our current technological climate, and they probably will for many years to come. If you want to start up your own studio for business or just for fun, what’s the best computer for you? Here are some tips and guidelines.
Basically, the computer you buy for music production depends upon three things:
- How much you want to spend
- How seriously involved you want to get with producing music
- Whether you’re a diehard Mac fan or PC fan.
Mac or PC?
In my opinion, Macs are unquestionably the best for music production. It should be noted that I’ve always used a Mac and have never done music on a PC. But I also base my opinion on the fact that every professional music producer I know uses a Mac.
Of course, I don’t know every music guy, and I’m sure there are many who use PCs and swear by them. And I do know that PCs have made major advances in music-making capabilities in recent years.
The debate over whether Mac or PC is better for music production is an ongoing one. I’ve noticed that personal preference is often based upon what the person is accustomed to using. If one grows up with either a Mac or PC, it’s sometimes difficult to change.
The cost
One hitch in buying a Mac: they’re expensive, especially the professional models. But you can find plenty of used Macs that will work fine. A used G5, for example, is very good for music production.
PCs are generally less expensive than Macs, and my research shows that they can do a great job if you have the right setup. Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Gateway, Rain and others are capable of delivering quite reliable music production results.
Some tips on buying
- Whatever computer you buy, make sure it has a powerful processor and lots of RAM and storage space. Audio production can take up a lot of memory. And it’s best to have the latest operating system for either Mac or PC.
- The music software you get is key for the outcome of your projects. For amateur music makers, there is free or very inexpensive software available. The more serious producers should check out the advanced programs.
- Know up front that there is a learning curve involved. Your Grammy won't be earned overnight!
- You should have some musical know-how but you don’t have to be overly proficient on any instrument. You should, however, know the basics of playing a keyboard.
- Shop around the internet and go to retail stores to compare. Get recommendations from friends and pros in the business.
- The amount you spend is dependent upon how deeply involved you want to become with producing music. There are many inexpensive routes to take. You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy the fun and potential rewards of producing great music!
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