Quote:
Originally Posted by ljguitar
Hi folks
It's not like a Macintosh (iMac) can only run ProTools, nor that interfaces and software for audio recording is particularly memory intensive (unless you are recording 32 tracks each with a stack of 8 effects each).
Video software is memory intensive, but audio not so much. That said, all my current machines are 16GB and my next one will be 32GB because I'm also a photographer shoots/edits video which is memory intensive.
I have a 2010 iMac with 4GB RAM running high end MOTU (Mark of the Unicorn) recording software and a MOTU firewire interface on an early version of OSX, and the last time the system or software was updated was probably 2012.
It's stable, and needs no upgrades (it is so old it cannot run current OSX versions). I have also not updated ProTools on that machine since 2012.
There is one new 2018 iMac (the new iMac Pro) which doesn't have upgradable RAM.
It's designed for editing photos and video, and doesn't use conventional RAM sticks (and starts at $5000).
This high end iMac is not a necessary machine for audio recording unless you are a Film Studio producing major motion pictures. The standard iMac well configured will do audio recording just fine.
I run ProTools, and three other recording software packages on my machine through my MOTU FireWire interface without anything choking or stuttering, or glitching.
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To clarify a bit further The new standard iMac with the 27" screen does have a user accessible hatch for upgrading RAM. Where the iMac Pro, will be upgradable after purchase , but only at an Apple store or authorized service center.
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/12/14/imac-pro-ram-upgrade-apple/
But given the iMac Pro entry level ships with 32 GB of RAM (unless one is also doing heavy video editing) should be more than enough BUT , I agree it seems a bit like overkill for most home audio recording . If I were goin going purchase a new iMac, I would probably opt for the standard iMac BUT with the i7 processor ( available as an option on the 2 nd tier iMac )