Imac vs PC for Music Technology classes

[rad]

We (actually I did) installed 17 iMacs into the new Music rooms during October Half Term. The project started about a year earlier due to a new building for the PAMMS department.

 

They integrate with RM/Windows pretty badly but they work. Students log on with their PC/Windows Log on accounts and get a local account on that computer. They can then save anywhere, however to save to the network share, they have to physically save it in the drive assigned to them.

Installing software is done via an image, change the image, take a snap shot and then roll it out. Basic, but it works, however it has its downsides too.

Here we have Logic, Sibelius, Reason and Office on the iMacs. they also have MBPro in a trolley.

 

Cost wise, it was expensive. We didnt buy their keyboards, midi boxes, headphones etc as they had them already. We did buy the security brackets to clamp them to the worksurfaces, that was a days work in itself!

 

Overall, students were able to create something very quickly in their first Music lesson using this equipment. It made teaching Music Tech more interesting for the teachers and students.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

We replaced a load of g5 imacs a couple of years back in our music dept. Best thing we ever did. Our support calls went right down - we only ever get called out for printer issues now.

 

You do need to look at the latency and audio issues as other have said, but a decent sound card or interface will sort this out.

 

We were recommended mixcraft as an alternative to garage band. Reaper is a reasonable alternative to logic.

 

We still use imacs in the recording studio, but they are more recent and not due for replacement. I've done live multi-track recording from our Behringer x32 mixer onto a new PC. No quality or latency issues - and thats up to 32 channels over usb2.

 

You do also need to look at training issues, but if they are already using PCs, I can't see any benefits in a school.

 

Ultimately, it should come down to the whole school priorities. If everyone else is expected to make lots of budget cuts then it would be wrong to get imacs. If there is lots of money available, then maybe - in some ways - they would be the preferred option if that's what the teachers are familiar with. But I would rather spend the extra on decent mics, speakers, pre-amps and instruments, and also on data storage. That would have a bigger impact on the quality of sound you get in the end.

 

Several good points very well made

 

Windows and or OS X ( Apple Mac OS ) --> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Avid-Technology-Inc-9910-65064-00-Sibelius/dp/B005FCW42K

 

Presume what I have linked to is the correct piece of software ?

 

Yeah both Protools and Sibelius are multi format