Hi

I'm concdering buying a new machine for music production

I would mainly be using cubase and Kontakt

My Budget is low but considering

I5 2.7GHZ Quad-Core 1Gb HDD and 8GB Ram

Would this be ok

Thankx

 

Yes, but if you can swing it then doubling the RAM for Kontakt would be good.

Don't know where you're getting this, but also if you could swap the HDD for a solid-state drive would be good.

 

Hiya, and welcome.
Long story short, yes! Just go for it. And I'll help you with anything I can.

In detail: That would be okay, yeah. But if you can get 16gb of ram, or even more, you'll be happier. Especially across 4 cores.
8gb, which will be split 4x2gb across your Quad-core I imagine, is way more more efficient than a Core 2 Duo with 2 x 4gb ram.
This all relates to using Kontakt, really.

But a few years ago I had less than what you are looking to buy (I only had 8gb and a 2.4ghz processor) but I still managed okay creating recordings. Although I hit the limit pretty quickly once I started using big Kontakt libs!

Also, if you can get a faster processor than 2.7ghz, you'll aslo be happier regards certain other instrument plugins, and fx plugins, and you'll be slightly more future proof.
There are plugins that came out even nearly ten years ago that really need a 3+ghz processor as a starting point, especially when used with other software at the same time.

More important to budget for is going to be some external drives for your audio scratch-disc and for Kontakt libraries.
Best to only have your daw on your OS/internal drive, and record audio to an external.
Plus, those Kontakt libs can mount up in their footprint pretty quickly.

I've been using Mac mostly for around twenty years, but have also done all this with Microsoft too, and still have to use a Windows system sometimes. I way prefer Mac.

I'm glad I got to you before all the "depends what music you are going to make"/"get a pc" comments that will arrive pretty soon...

 

This is obviously a misprint!

 

I also need to change my old imac and I made some investigation.
Imac with fusion drive are not adviced for audio production.
Best solution for my needs is currently mid range mac mini, I5, 256 SSD, 8Go.

I advice to wait next mac generation on next april and see what Apple offers in the mid range Imac.
Hope they ditch that shame fusion drive for a full SSD as standard.
Fusion drive is a shame for a 2500 $ computer, we are 2020, not 2000.

If nothing improved, perhaps I will see for a PC.

 

But it isn't true really. I've seen loads of students do alright with them.
I reckon it's just clever indoctrination & propaganda from Apple! To make you spend more.
Remember: they are not our friends anymore!

 

Wow. You had a hybrid drive back in 2000!? Awesome.

I told the OP we'd get the anti-Mac brigade pretty soon!
Must say, I dig the sly way you did it though.

 

I have to add that Smoove Grooves has it sorted out, listen to them.

 

Those specs are very similar to mine, and I get by just fine. As already stated, kontakt libs will dominate 8gb ram, but there’s ways to deal with that. If you’re using ableton, the freeze/flatten feature will be your best friend when the CPU Takes hits. I’m not sure if Cubase has the same, but worth researching.

 

Any daw can bounce in place though, even if it can't freeze. Essentially the same anyway. I never freeze in Logic, I just print it and save the MIDI track but without Kontakt.
Anyway, these kind of questions are what arises after OP has bought the Mac!

 

SSD for the OS is a must, it makes a huge difference in reaction times
The problem is that Apple support cannot do it for internal policy: they can only install original hdd's. If you feel brave enough You can do it yourself, consider that swapping the Imac's hdd is not that simple.

This is a good tutorial:

 

hey guys thanks for the replies its been a great help

i am concdering a SSD and will update ram to 32GB in the coming month

i have the machine now but it also had windows i think via boot camp

will windows run fine on a mac hardware with the spec or will it be a sluggish perfomace you would get on a pc

 

I run Windows via 2 different virtual hosts on a Mac with SSD with less ram than 32gb and it's all good.
You just need to allocate your ram between your Mac's OS, and the virtual OS.

You'll be very happy with 32gb ram!

 

32gb ram is good if your processor will support the volume of this memory.
Need to watch the peak opportunity.

 

If that imac 21inch is current you wont be upgrading ram anytime soon
only models before mid 2011 with the dvd residing internal are ram upgradeable
Once apple moved to the 21inch slimline with no internal dvd option the ram is surface mount on the board
Only the 27inch versions are upgradeable now with ram unfortunately

 

Last edited: Jan 27, 2020

for some reason I thought the iMac's through 2012 were ram/hd upgradeable like the mac mini's and laptops etc... could be wrong obviously..

 

best option right now Is a Intel Nuc
I use one here for video and audio I dont play any games so the graphics speed is not a issue
although the intel 6000 display Is not bad at all
And there not much bigger than a oversized packet of cigarettes
throw it in a bag and take it with you

they can also be made into a hackintosh

Intel Nuc I5 quad core
32 gig SODIMM .. 2 x16gig
Drive M.2 x1tb or a 2tb if you can afford it
SSD x1tb Loaded internally or what ever size you can afford
internal Wireless
Ethernet RJ45
Display HDMI upto 3 monitors
Bluetooth for keyboard and mouse


Use an External Audio Device of your choice

Compact Cost effective Mobile and very fast little unit is ready to use in approx 3 to 6 secs from boot

 

Last edited: Jan 27, 2020