Which Intel Mac for Music Recording, Please?

Hi--
I'm brand new here. I'm a music professional who is in the middle of switching my recording setup toan Intel Mac-based studio, running either Logic Pro or Digital Performer (once it's ready for Intel Macs, that is).
I've got an indie filmscoring job coming up--my second. The first was done without a computer--never again!
I require some meqasure of portability--I'll be travelling between San Diego and central Mexico a few times throughout the process, either driving or occasionally flying.
So last week I ordered a MacBook Pro 17" notebook with a 2.16 Ghz processor, a 100 gig, 7200 rpm drive and 2 gigs of RAM. I have been assured by friends and contascts in the filmscoring word that this is enough horsepower to run the applications I'll need to run (mostly the recording and sequencing software, plus Quick Time).
However...I just bought my wife a 17" Intel iMac. Whoa. What a cool machine! Looking at the specs, I see it has a 1.83 Ghz dual processor, a 160 gig drive (don't know the speed offhand) and while it only comes with 512 mb of RAM I know it's upgradable to at least 2 gigs, right?
So my question is this: is the performance going to be higher on a suped-up iMac than the suped-up MacBookPro? Does anyone have an educated guess about this? The notebook has a faster processor, but...it is a laptop with a laptop drive, which are typically not as fast as a desktop drive from what I understand.
Many thanks!
Doug

If I may wade in--
Strictly speaking from a travel/immigration perspective, you are less likely to have trouble with Mexican Customs with the MacBook Pro than with the iMac 17" or 20". The immigration laws allow foreigners to enter with a personal portable computer duty free. Something as large as an iMac is possibly tempting to a corrupt official, whether they are eying it for themself or as a opportunity to pocket a chunk of change to allow you to bring it in. We have a presidential election in July, and I have noticed the old corruption creeping back in at the borders and internal customs check points that existed pre-Vicente Fox. Corrupt agents going back to the good-old-days, when it was common to supplement one's monthly salary any way one could. Do yourself a favor and go powerful, and yet less conspicuous.

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http://www.lenovo.com/contact/us/en/
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WW Social Media
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Which is better for music production: macbook air or pro?

Which is better for music production: macbook air or pro?

The MacBook Pro has higher specifications, depending
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The Air does not have a Retina display, but has lesser
specs, so that may make a difference. They still offer a
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it may work in your instance. You'd have 14 days to take
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Good luck!

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Surprise Surprise . It worked!
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1. My mac is a G3 10.2.8 and it rejects the majority of video podcasts - my local mac shop says "yes, that is common."
2. I like having my music on the MAC as it is portable - the PC is a desktop. (plus the mac looks cool in the loungeroom.)
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When I go back to my PC to get Podcast updates, it asks if it can wipe all my music. i can't find the option to just update podcasts.
Any thoughts?
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Surprise Surprise . It worked!
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cheers,
J laz
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Anyone using the MBP 13 for music recording?
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www.manikemusic.com

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Hello Werner,
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BR
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Are these specs overkill for music recording/video editing?

I haven't made any purchases yet... I'm still in the planning stages. I just need your opinion on this.
I plan on making high quality recordings using an iMac, Logic (whatever the newest one is), and a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 interface.
I customized my iMac and I'm just curious whether or not these specs are overkill for what I'm trying to accomplish.
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total: $2,447.99
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Totally agree with mende 1 on this.
The 27 inch model is best for what you want to do.
Also, for video editing, you really need the fastest CPU and as much RAM as you can afford.
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Is it possible to sync an iPhone to one mac for music only and another mac for everything else? What about shared iPhoto?

I'm trying to figure out the best way to manage my iphone and that of my wife.
Our set up is that we share music that is on my imac under my apple store id. We also like to have all of our photos in iphoto on that imac.
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I've tried to point her macbook to my imac itunes library and that doesn't seem to be working very well.
The other wrinkle is that she is taking photos on her iphone that I'd like to show up in our shared iphoto library and photo stream. Currently we have our individual icloud apple ids so we may sync our own bookmarks and such and we use a separate "store" id for music and apps and such. I'm not sure I see a way for me to merge iphotos into a shared library/stream?
1. Any thoughts on the best way to manage two iphones, each with their own computer, but a shared music library?
2. Any thoughts on the best way to merge iphoto?
I've been experimenting with setups and I have a feeling folks with more experience have probably worked this out better than the way I'm thinking of doing.
Thanks.

I'm trying to figure out the best way to manage my iphone and that of my wife.
Our set up is that we share music that is on my imac under my apple store id. We also like to have all of our photos in iphoto on that imac.
She has her own macbook and I'd like to use icloud to sink her personal bookmarks, calendar and other stuff.
I've thought about seeing if I could set her phone up to sync with icloud as appropriate, turn on wireless sync on her imac for syncing everything but music, then sync that same iphone on the imact but just sync music.
I've tried to point her macbook to my imac itunes library and that doesn't seem to be working very well.
The other wrinkle is that she is taking photos on her iphone that I'd like to show up in our shared iphoto library and photo stream. Currently we have our individual icloud apple ids so we may sync our own bookmarks and such and we use a separate "store" id for music and apps and such. I'm not sure I see a way for me to merge iphotos into a shared library/stream?
1. Any thoughts on the best way to manage two iphones, each with their own computer, but a shared music library?
2. Any thoughts on the best way to merge iphoto?
I've been experimenting with setups and I have a feeling folks with more experience have probably worked this out better than the way I'm thinking of doing.
Thanks.

Needing Intel-Mac for AVCHD feature in Final Cut Express?

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I have an older imac (2004 or 2005), definitely not an Intel, and I need the AVCHD to import from my camcorder, Canon Vixia HF20, in fact the AVCHD is the only reason I'm considering "upgrading" to Express 4 (I currently have Final Cut Studio 5.0.4) I am also open to alternative suggestions besides FPX such as imovie if you know it works. I only have imovieHD 5.0.2 and was able to mount camera but see only jpgs, no movies. please help!!!

there IS an option for nonIntels.. :
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.. you get older Intel MacMinis 'cheap'..

Which is faster for music production? internal hard drive or external drive

hey there. simple question. i'm looking to run music poductin software on an apple mac - would sound files be retrieved faster from a new mac book pro internal hard drive or an external drive? (am thinking one of those lacie orange rugged things that spin at 7200 rpm)
and if the sound files would play better coming form the internal hard drive, would it compromise processor speed for running soft synths / effects units etc etc?
please note am not talking about my current mac book, but a new mac book pro
chanx in advance - horton ;o)

For what it is worth here is my tuppence worth on the subject, horton. (and a warm welcome to the forums , by the way!)
One of the major reasons why many sound professionals (and others worried about speed) use fast external FW800 or (when possible) eSata drives for their work, rather than the internal drive of an MBP or the like, is that the internal boot drive is already carrying the OS and a bunch of apps on its fast, outer sectors. It is usually doing a fair bit of work keeping things running, too. An external FW 800 drive can be kept unencumbered of such things.
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Cheers
Rod

Which Intel Mac for Music Recording, Please?

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