Which Mac to Buy for Use with Logic?

I'm currently looking to buy a new Mac and am torn between the iMac and Macbook Pro. iMac is definitely in my price range more than the Macbook.
I'm looking to do basic video editing and audio recording (15 tracks at most) most likely using an Apogee Duet as an audio in - mostly recording 1 or 2 tracks and adding more. I would be buying Logic.
Do you think the iMac would do the trick?

i would be you and if you can afford go for the macpro (2008 the 2009 seems to have some incompatilities cf. other thread). By experience allow yourself to have some margin, i mean more cpu power (one day you will maybe use heavy plugins or synth instruments from 3th party software) and this is killing the cpu. So more is always better. It takes me more than 6 months (start last year) to setup my macpro to a stable stage and now i am so happy it can runs without any big problem everything i want. (ex i use superior 2 as an internal synth instrument in Logic (not as standalone, to have the maximum control within logic, and i load it as multitrack instrument, it taxes 40 % of a single core - and because of synth instrument, only one core will function, and i can record without problem 2 guitarists (using GTR3.5), the drummer on a e-drum superior 2.0, a bassist with gtr3.5 and a vocal with buss reverb, in low latency mode - buffer 128- the cpu core reach about 80 %, without soft instrument than you have almost no limit cause all your core will be actifs, i mean recording just audio.).
Hope you understand what i mean here..

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Please help on which audigy 2 card to buy for use with logic audio plati

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i would be you and if you can afford go for the macpro (2008 the 2009 seems to have some incompatilities cf. other thread). By experience allow yourself to have some margin, i mean more cpu power (one day you will maybe use heavy plugins or synth instruments from 3th party software) and this is killing the cpu. So more is always better. It takes me more than 6 months (start last year) to setup my macpro to a stable stage and now i am so happy it can runs without any big problem everything i want. (ex i use superior 2 as an internal synth instrument in Logic (not as standalone, to have the maximum control within logic, and i load it as multitrack instrument, it taxes 40 % of a single core - and because of synth instrument, only one core will function, and i can record without problem 2 guitarists (using GTR3.5), the drummer on a e-drum superior 2.0, a bassist with gtr3.5 and a vocal with buss reverb, in low latency mode - buffer 128- the cpu core reach about 80 %, without soft instrument than you have almost no limit cause all your core will be actifs, i mean recording just audio.).
Hope you understand what i mean here..

Best drum loops for use with Logic? Ease of use, usability, etc.

Hi,
I have BFD2 but find it slow to load and sometimes clumsy auditioning loops within Logic. I love the Apple Loops library but I wondered if people are importing MIDI drum files for use with Logic. Do all drum files use the same MIDI mapping? If I drop a BFD2 loop into a Logic drum virtual instrument will it work? I bought a few packs from Groove Monkee but have yet to use them with Logic. I only use them within BFD2.
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Thanks

try Stylus RMX by Spectrasonics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlgP1q1HCj4

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Paul,
LaCie d2 DVD±RW with LightScribe http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10113
$179.99 includes full version Toast 7
$129.99 includes Toast 6 Lite
The $129.99 unit that comes with Toast 6 Lite can be found on the web for a lot less. Later, if you outgrow Toast 6 you can upgrade to Toast 8 (which is the latest version).
External Multi-Format DVD RecorderDRX-830UL/T $129.00
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/%3Cwbr%20target=blank%3EINTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start ?ProductSKU=DRX830UL%2fT&Dept=computers&CategoryName=cpu_Sony_PCAccessories_CD%2 fDVDBurnDVDBurners
My experience with Lacie and Sony burners has always been positve and Toast is good to have around, it's always complimented iDVD well (in addition to having a host of other useful features).
Note:
I'm not familiar with any of Toast 6 lite's features, but I do know you can burn DVD's with it. It adds another means of authoring a DVD outside of iDVD.

What is the best Logitech (or other) camera to buy for use with 10.3.9?

I have heard that both Gearhead and Rocketfish have many issues. I read that Logitech cameras, various ones, work with either 10.2 and under or 10.4.9 and over. The Isight prices on ebay or very high. Calls to both Logitech and Apple leave me disconcerted with there cryptic answers. Officially, it seems that Logitech has no camera that works with 10.3.9 but I have read that it has been done. I don't need all the bells and whistles that a new model Logitech camera provides and I know I won't get those on the MaC, however, I would like a good pictre and Skype compatibility. I know I can get iChatUSB and Macam drivers with some cameras. Can I do all that on 10.3.9? Is there another, different company that makes good cameras I can use with 10.3.9? A call to Creative Labs brought me a "no" when I asked him if any of their cams were 10.3.9 compatible but I question if he was right.
I know there has to be many of you out there with this issue - no Isight, but using Panther with a really good after market camera and really satisfied with the results...what did you do?
Please help me and tell me what my best option is....upgrading seems very expensive as well.

Welcome to Apple Discussions, Stovepipeforever
I use iSight, but if you do not get better answers here, I offer the following for your consideration.
If you have a Mac compatible, Firewire connected DV camcorder, it will work for your video chats. If not, take your portable Mac with you when you go shopping, and ask to try any camera of interest with your computer and software before you buy. That way you will KNOW you have one that works for you with the apps you want to use.
Unless your 10.3.9 laptop has a G3 processor whose speed is less than 600 Mhz, it can give you a good picture and Skype compatibility if your system meets the other system requirements for all the apps you plan to use. Any camera's video frame rates will be noticeably slow if your laptop is a sub-600 Mhz G3.
If multi-party video chat or screen sharing are not important to you, there is no need to upgrade to later versions Mac OS X and iChat. The latest version of Skype is compatible with 10.3.9 and later, so there is no Skype impact on your upgrade decision.
You are correct that you will need iChatUSBCam and drivers to send iChat video from your 10.3.9 Laptop. (Your laptop system will also need to meet the other System Requirements for iChat AV 2.1 that are not obviated by using iChatUSBCam.
Although other USB cams may work, you can use iChatUSBCam's camera guide page to find a list of USB cameras that are Known Working Configurations. Any of them should be compatible with Skype, but check the camera's compatibility info before you buy to be sure it claims to work with Skype. If it works with Skype for Windows, it will work with Skype for Mac.
More cam info at http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=6645107#6645107
Enjoy shopping and video chatting.
EZ Jim
PowerBook 1.67 GHz w/Mac OS X (10.4.11) G5 DP 1.8 w/Mac OS X (10.5.2) External iSight

Hard drives for use with Logic

Anyone have any opinions on the best hard drives for both the project files, as well as extra external drives for keeping samples on? I'm pretty sure that at this point, my hard drives are creating more system locks than my processing speed.
According to the "activity monitor" my processing and RAM are definitely not working to capacity.
Is there a threshold where drive capacity gets too big and starts to affect performance, or does it really not matter?
Thanks,
-jeff

I've used a lot of lacies but I don't recommend them anymore and won't buy one the next time I get a drive. too many things have gone wrong with them over time, I have a hard time trusting them. I currently use a lacie 500GB d2 drive (the long one with triple interface) for my sound library and project files using FW800. so far so good, but it will be relegated to backup drive as soon as I get a g-tech drive.
I'm probably going to go for a G-RAID 500GB. I'm even considering getting an e-SATA one to use with my MBP using an e-SATA card.. I like the idea of having desktop-class data throughput. and also I've been eyeing off the liquid mix for my MBP, so having the firewire bus totally free for that would be not a bad idea at all..
I've head nothing but good reports about g-tech drives, the only bad thing is that there never seems to be any stock available, you always have to back order. maybe this is a good sign?
I'd second the opinion already posted that as far as firewire goes, g-tech are the best choice for serious work.

What is the best external typing keyboard for use with logic studio?

I'm currently using Logic 7 and looking to upgrade to Logic STUDIO.
I want to get a nice typing keyboard with coloured and customised keys (short-cuts) to use in place of the MACBOOK keyboard.
I have previously bought the stickers from Editors keys, but there key command sets suck.
Hoping someone can suggest a better company offering a better product with more intuitive key command settings so that it matches well with LOGIC STUDIO - assuming its been simplifed with its work flow, I want a typing keyboard to match.
Also is it worth gettinga jog wheel to use in place of or in addition to a mouse - I think this is called a shuttle.
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Thanks

I believe that there are keyboard overlays for Logic available for the Apple Keyboards... although, I don't think there's anything for 8 yet, seeing as the release probably took them by surprise.
However, I do agree that using a wireless keyboard and mighty mouse are must-haves... at least in my studio. They allow me to work at my piano and control Logic from a distance (I don't like assigning MIDI commands, outside of my control surface). However, I do with that Logic would recognize the presence of a Mighty Mouse and allow assigning the remaining button presses to other features in Logic, like showing the floating toolbox while the right-click handles the contextual menus.
jord

Which Mac Mini should I buy for use with a 65 inch Panasonic GT30?

Im very interested in surfing the web from the comfort of my Lay Z boy. I have a 65inch Panasonic GT30 tv along with an Onkyo TXNR609 av receiver that handles everything (DirecTV, PS3, X360, Wii, Apple TV). My only concern is the lag issue in dealing with the big display. Should I buy the base modle with the slower processor and upgrade the RAM? Or should I buy the i7 and rock out that way? I can afford either but would like to spend the least considering this isnt going to be the main computer in my house. Thanks for any advice!!

If you ever (*ever*) want to fire up a serious 3D game (one with a 2010+ appetite for GPU power), go for the midrange model with the real videocard. If you only want to browse the web, maybe do some flash, things like that, the low end model has enough videocard for that. That Mini has the same Intel HD Graphics 3000 as my MBA13/2011 does, and that is currently driving my external 24" 1920x1200 screen just fine. Your TV is 1920x1080, so that even though it may have a lot more inches, it has fewer pixels than that, and it's the pixels that cost GPU power, not the inches. Size doesn't matter, its what you do with it!
Since you're comfortable upgrading the ram yourself, obviously put in 8 or 16 instead of the 2 or 4 it comes with. The pricing on that ram is insanely low right now and while I'd personally go for the 16 on a desktop machine, I reckon for your intended usage 8 is well more than sufficient (4 would probably work, it does on aforementioned MBA13 after all), and it's about $50ish difference which is not nothing.
If you can live with a small capacity drive, and are willing to open up the Mini further than just the base cover over the ram, I'd recommend getting a 128 GB SSD and installing it. The Apple price for the 256GB SSD, only on the midrange, is probably not worth it. You can even get a second-hard-drive-kit from one of the two well-known vendors and add the SSD while keeping the existing drive as an internal storage drive.
P.S.: I don't actually believe in CPU upgrades. Even when you start with the midrange, the i7 is still $100 and that will also buy you that SSD, or get you most of the way to that SSD plus the second hard drive kit. The difference in performance between the i5 at 2.5 and the i7 at 2.7 is really pretty darn minimal, so as long as you're choosing to do one thing and not the other, get the SSD before the CPU upgrade, no question. If you wanna go full-option balls-to-the-wall-everything-maxed, that's another thing, just don't go for the i7 upgrade as the first thing.
P.P.S.: Now that the 2012 MBAs and traditional MBPs are out, it seems likely that a Mac Mini refresh is coming relatively soon which contains an Ivy Bridge CPU and chipset (which means USB3 and HD4000), a more capable discrete GPU in the versions that have them, and (speculation tempered with hope) one of those new 35W TDP Quadcores in the midrange model, possibly as the CPU upgrade (pretty please, Apple?). It might be worth waiting for. On the other hand, waiting for new computer hardware is also a chump's game. There's *always* something better around the corner.

Cm 5 phones/dn/macs to bat for use with 7

-we have cm5.x with around 300 phones deployed..
-now we are having new hardware with cm7.02
i want to achieve the ff
-(do the reverse way actualy) of extracting out from cm5 an excel format for the phones along with the dn as well as macs to be use as bat to the new cm7..
note: cm5 did not used bat at all on their implementation

Hi Celso,
You could use the BAT Export from CUCM 5.x and then Import on CCM 7.x but the .csv files will need to be tweaked. The look and feel of BAT on 7.x versions is a little different so you would have to experiment with what fields need to change before the actual Import is done.
Cisco Unified CallManager Bulk Administration Guide, Release 5.1(3)
Exporting Phones
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/cucm/bat/5_1_3/t03phexp.html
Cisco Unified Communications Manager Bulk Administration Guide 7.0(1)
Inserting Phones
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/cucm/bat/7_0_1/t03inph.html
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Rob

Which MacBook to buy for using iMovie

I would like to purchase a new 15" MacBook Pro and am wondering if I should get the more expensive one with the Nvidia Graphics Card or without. I like to do a lot of video editing on iMovie and have thousands and thousands of photos on iPhoto that I like to edit.
Do I need the Nvidia graphics card or should I get the standard 15" model and up the memory/processor/hard drive?
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iMovie works just fine on my 13" MacBook Pro (early 2013 2.6GHz, 8GB RAM) and it doesn't even have descrete graphics.
I think it's fair to say, any MacBook Pro is going to run iMovie just fine.
You certainly don't need the NVIDIA card for iMovie.
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Matt

Recommendation for time/pitch plugin for use with Logic?

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Thanks.

Melodyne
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So I was reading over your post, and even though this is older and has to do with CS5, I have some information for CS6 that will be relevant to your question now that it is time to upgade the software. In general Photoshop has always been more about RAM than Processing power, though that is important too. Until CS5 it could never quite take advantage of what multi-core processors really had to offer, and even the graphics card didn't really effect much of it outside of certain features and the 3D optio
Now that is no longer true and Adobe can effeciently use all aspects of the computer to give you much better performance.
So much so that I was able to buy a brand New ASUS with the following specs:
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You can read my details on how to buy a Photoshop CS6 Laptop, what specs you need, comparison between Mac and PC and watch the video of my Photoshop Speed Test by reading this article:
http://robertoblake.com/blog/2012/06/buying-a-photoshop-cs6-laptop

Which is the best MIDI interface to use with Logic 7 ?

Hi folks :o)
Firstly, thanks all for any advice you can give. I'm a pro user, but right in the middle of a major upgrade (G4/OS9/CubaseVST32 >> G5/OSX/CubaseSX3/Logic7) & feel a huge learning curve coming on!
The situation is this:
I have a Steinberg Midex 8 midi interface, plus a MOTU MTPav in the cupboard. The Midex took place of the MTPav because it had much better midi timing under OS9 with Cubase... The Midex8 drivers for OSX, however, are still beta & a pile of rubbish. (It keeps losing communication with the G5.) I'm fed up with how bad Steinberg have been sorting (not!) these problems out (not to mention the fact that Cubase SX3 can't recognise my 'studio' created in Audio Midi Setup either.. arghh!), so I'm considering jumping ship & going entirely to Logic in one hit, plus whichever is the best midi-interface for this software & OSX.
As food for thought, I'm currently thinking of tracking down a 'Unitor 8', having made the (perhaps wrong) assumption that it'd work 'best' with Logic seeing as it was made by Emagic. BUT, despite a lengthy search in Logic 7's manuals & this forum, I can't find any mention of Emagic's 'Active Midi Transmission' protocol & whether or not Logic 7 supports it; AMT is the only reason I'd buy the Unitor. (I've got all the other bases covered with the MTPav.) I'm also concerned about the long-term support issues regarding drivers for the Unitor 8 & OSX; ****, I'm having enough problems with Steinberg & their Midex 8 (which is still a current product in theory!) without throwing Emagic & a midi interface that's no longer manufactured into the pot...
So..... What do you folks feel is the best midi interface to use with Logic 7 as regards tight midi timing & system reliability? Can anyone out there with a big midi setup categorically say "I've got one (or more) of these MIDI interfaces, it works beautifully under OSX & Logic 7, & the MIDI timing is rock-solid, even when put under heavy midi 'duress' " ??
Many thanks again in advance for any feedback!
Your new Logic Pro virgin ;o)
Jason

Thanks for your reply folks. It's good to hear a number of you are having good results with your MTPav - I guess I'll pull mine out of the cupboard in that case!
As an aside, it's been interesting to note how difficult it's been to get a clear answer from companies (be it shops or Apple) as to whether or not Logic 7 supports 'Active Midi Transmission' on the old Unitor 8 MkII..... (The reference manual has one mention of it in the index, yet points to a page that doesn't say anything about AMT at all!)
If anyone here DOES have a clear answer about AMT with Logic 7, I'd be very interested to hear about it... thanks.
Kind regards,
JC

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Hi,
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Which Mac is best for music purposes? I want to mix music recorded from MIDI and live sound, and also want to use Sibelius to play music in. I'm looking at MacBook Pros; any tips? 13" or 15"?

Which Mac is best for music purposes? I want to mix music recorded from MIDI and live sound, and also want to use Sibelius to play music in. I'm looking at MacBook Pros; any tips? 13" or 15"?

I would think a 15" with the i7 CPU. You can get a 13" with the i7 CPU but the 15" has a dedicated graphic chip along with the intergrated one.
You will also need to upgrade the hard drive to a faster 7200RPM model instead of the standard 5400RPM model that comes with all MBPs. The Sibelius website recommends the 7200RPM or a SSD. You will also be better off installing 8GBs of RAM.
Both of those upgrades can be made after you buy a MBP for much less then Apple charges for the same upgrades and you get to keep the original RAM and hard drive.

Which Mac to Buy for Use with Logic?

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