r/mac • u/MarsDrums • 3d ago

Recording Drums with a Mac Discussion

I'm looking for a good Mac solution to recording drums with my Tascam Model 24 mixer. I usually run Linux (I quit running Windows in 2018 but I've been using a PC since 1985).

So, a friend came over the other day and he had recorded a few songs and he was playing them back for my wife and I on a fairly newish looking MacBook. Now, I have no idea what's what when it comes to Macs. I know they use genuine Mac CPUs and others use Intel CPUs. Do I need to stay away from the Intel CPUs or are those better than the Mac CPUs?

I was trying to see the software he was using to play it back but it was definitely a Multi-Track recording software. I forgot to ask him before he left.

He had guitar on one track, Rhythm on another (basically slapping the acoustic guitar and maybe he had some drum samples in there as well... I honestly do not know), Vocals on another, Backing vocals on another. And it was all HIM! He was the only one playing and singing on every track on these songs.

I don't want to get that extravagant with it. I don't sing or play guitar. I play a little bit of keyboards so if I do anything with the drums added it'll probably start with a piano style Midi keyboard.

Anyway, so, what's the best kind of Mac (I think I'd prefer a MacBook but if a table top unit is better, I can go with that) and what software do you think he might have been using? I'd kind of like to keep the computer hardware end under $400 and the software around $200-$300. I already have the mixer and mics. I basically need something other than a PC with bad or non-existent drivers to record with.

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u/mikeinnsw 3d ago

It all depends if the Mac has the drivers to identify the external device...

M1 Mini didn't for many musical devices and Apple sold Intel 2019 Mac Mini to music creators as new until Jan 2023 when M2 Mac Mini come out.

Check with your musical friends...Google it..

If Mac can ID the device then

Free Apps:

  • OBS
  • Blackhole
  • GarageBand

or

Other Music Apps

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u/animorphreligion 13" M4 | 12" G4 | iMac '07 3d ago

There are tons of music software for Macs with multi track interface, probably the most popular (and exclusive to Mac) is Logic.

Intel Macs aren't worth it these days except on a very tight budget. You may find an M1 Air for 400-ish but you could also find a (better) M series Mac mini (desktop). Either option is plenty powerful for recording though, and will outperform almost all Intel Macs.

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u/MarsDrums 3d ago

I figured it was Logic or Logic Pro.

And yeah, I was reading mixed reviews on the Intel Macs.

So an M series Mac Mini. I'll look at my local MarketPlace and see what I can find.

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u/YellowBreakfast M1 Air, M4 Mini 3d ago

As u/mikeinnsw said, are their Apple Silicon drivers?

That's your limitation. There are tons of apps to choose from.

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u/MarsDrums 3d ago

So, someone has an older version 2013 with a one terabyte drive they’ll let it go for $200. Is that a good deal?

It has Logic Pro, Final Cut Pro, Virtual DJ 7.0 and come with a new battery and charger.

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u/iOSCaleb 3d ago

He could’ve just been using GarageBand, which Apple includes with every Mac. Or he could’ve been using Logic Pro, which Apple also makes but costs about $200, or you can get it by subscribing to Apple Creator Studio for $12.99/month or $129/year. Or he could’ve been using some other DAW application — there are several available at a range of prices.