OK, first off, I've decided to sell my strat so I can setup a home studio type thing in my basement where my equipment is. I am looking into buying a computer, and am wondering if I should stick with PC's or if I should look into getting a MAC of some sort. The only reason I'm considering a mac is because I'm wondering if Garage band is that good or if I should continue to use ACID Pro Studio. Basically my setup would be:

Mics --> 8 Input Mixer --> Computer --> Acid Pro or Garage Band

Thanks

well, most profesional studio people use macs. Don't ask me why, I could come up with some bullshit reasons, I only know that they use them.
Sorry, I'm not being very helpfull am I?

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Well what i use is Mic - 4 Track - Computer - GarageBand. GarageBand is an awesome program. I love it. It has a lot of useful features and its pretty easy to use. Plus the Mac is not a piece of shit PC.

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Personally...I have heard all along that Macs are pieces...but that was about 10 years ago. They have done quite a bit to make their PC's much more user friendly...and I have been told numerous times they are PERFECT for home studio ops.....get one.

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yeah before 1998 or so, mac was pretty behind. But in the last 5 years, they have really stepped it up.
My friends dad has a complete studio in his basement. and he uses a top of the line Power Mac. Its the fastest computer i have ever used. its amazing. and he has a few different professional level recording software on it.
GarageBand is the perfect program for easy, high quality recording. I'd buy a mac just for that program.

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MAC's are good comps but also very expensive. You can get an equally as powerful PC at half the cost of a MAC.

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thats not actually true... I hate explaining this to people, but basically PC mhtz are weaker than macs. So my 600 mhz Mac computer is about the same as a 1.2 ghz PC. Yeah, I know my computer is old.

Anyways the $3000 macs really are worth $3000. dual 2.4 ghz G5 processor. Thats like 10 PC ghz haha.

Anyways, Macs can run windows if you want them too. its just who the fuck would want to run that shitty os on a non crappy computer.

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Macs are toys..

Garageband has NOTHING on Cubase or Protools..

its kid shit. PC's are cheaper, more efficient, overall more practical.

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Say that to my friends dad. He has an amazing recording set up. Costed a lot. Easily over $20 grand. Uses a mac. Go into any studio, and they will be using a mac. They simply dont suck.
Yeah GarageBand isn't as professional. But this person isn't making a professional studio. It works very well for home recording though.

Whens the last time your computer had a virus? Because I have never had one in my 10 years of using them.

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amen on protools and cubase. garage band is cool. but for professional use. go protools.

but honestly, for multimedia applications. modern macs fuck pc's up. whether you're making movie's, recording music, designing websites, ect... macs own.

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I don't get viruses because I know how to maintain a PC, I dont need to be babysat while I'm online. and he spent $20,000 on recording equipment and its not professional?

Wow.. he got ripped off.

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he was talking about how the threadstarter isnt going to be using it for professional use.

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yes. this guys studio is definitely professional. thats pretty much how he makes his living.

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If I were you I would get the cheapest computer around and just fit a decent soundcard to it.

On the issue of software, CoolEdit/Adobe Audition should do you fine - once you get the hang of it, it's extremely easy to use.

the price of a setup doesnt mean jack shit, im sure you could get an equally good pc based set up for a lot less. neways for all we know, the ppl who sold the gear to your friends dad may have ripped him off...

there are far more superior software than garageband (its still cool tho ) available for pc. so really theres no point getting a mac just for garageband when you can get equally good or better software for the humble pc

and plus, you can get a fast pc pretty cheap, so the speed difference between macs and pc's will only just be noticable.

If you saw his set up, you'd think $20,000 is an understatement. Believe me, if you want quality you're getting a Mac
And I know theres much better software than garage band, but if you get a mac, most of the time its included free. My friend bought a super nice Mini Mac for $499 new and got garage band on it free.

Besides if you really wanted to, you could run windows XP on a Mac. But why use that shitty windows OS when you can use Mac os X?

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tru windows xp is shitty. but im only using windows because there are so many more things which are compatible with it, and imo, windows xp is the best windows os, so thats why i use it

edit: dude, i just looked at your post count...jesus your on alot...you started a few months before me and you've already quaqrupled me!

sure, macs are ass for games, but if your going to use profesional programs, from recording to the visuals for a magazine, macs are the way to go. For their price, they are so much more stable and so much more powerfull.

Besides, there are a lot of proffesional freeware programs that would set you back for hundreds of buck if you want their equalevent on windows.

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i would personally build my own computer. its cheaper, u know what ur puting in it... its just better, my brother and i built one last year and its fucking awesome. i bought the sound card. it costed about 600-700(just the tower part, but thats all u need)

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My budget is running around 400 dollars max, because I already have this computer, and only have about 400 left after having bought a mixer and a soundblaster audigy soundcard. I need a PC thats compatible with that card. My computer I'm on right now won't let me use it, it always crashes so I'm back to using the crappy stock soundcard on this PC. Well, thanks everybody so far for the suggestions.

$400 isn't much even for a pc.

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400 for a good USED pc is what I am talking about. If you check ebay theres tons of good pcs and macs for like 1/4 of what you normally pay for.

ah well i didn't know you were looking used.
Well you could get my computer i'm using now for about $200 used, probably. I do all my recording on it works awesome with garageband.

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$400, find some little local independent computer shop... not one of those big mainstream places. have them put together a pc(you couldnt afford a nice mac for $400) to your specs and needs. you'll find it's MUCH cheaper and in the end you'd probably get a much nicer computer.

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yeah $400 for a nice mac, isn't very common, but there are some in that price range. If its garageband you want, it's definitely an option. I'd recommend garageband any day for home recording. I've done some awesome stuff with it.
But whatever.

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Macs are great for professional level stuff, and the reason all the pros use them is because they can afford them. I do all my recording on my own PC which I put together a couple years ago. It's pretty damn decent, even today. It can hold its own on many of today's top games. The only problem is that my graphics card has been fucking up, it overheats easily, so I don't play that many games on it any more.
As for a sound car, the SoundBlaster is a good card, but a ripoff also. I got my Chaintech for $25 off of newegg.com, and it kicks ass. It's got a great sound quality, even through my piece of shit, five year old speakers. The card has an Envy24 chipset, and while I'm not really sure what the big deal is with that, according to all the reviews on newegg.com it's a really good thing.
This card was bought by a LOT of people and gets nothing but great reviews.
Here's the link to it, so check it out. I highly recommend it.
Teh Card

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MAC's are better computers because the mechanics of the computers are geared towards running heavier loads (lots of programs, or multi-track recording) at a more suitable operating level.

Personal Computers and Linux Based OS machines are made for simplicity in that they could handle more minimal things with a better GUI Capability and ease of use while sacrificing higher end features such as maxi-fucking-mum load.

A Good PC can do just as much as a MAC. My PC can smoke a mid level G5. But My computer also costed about $3100.

$400 won't get you shit for a computer. Save your fucking money, and make your parts worth it. But if that's all you have, than do this. Get some open source software or ask me for some, I have shitloads of music recording programs hacked. Everything from Adobe to Sibelius, and then some.

Buy a little line 6 Usb slot recorder. Buy 1-2 good audio cables and maybe an instrument mic like a shure sm58. Spend the other 200$ on a weed. Have a blast!

What's up with people trying to get deals all the time. Saving money is soooo last year.

My cousin uses a mac for all of his recording. He has a studio in his basement. I could pick his brain as to what he is using if you want. Although he has like a whole basement full of recording equipment.

You're a fucking madman!