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The release of Apple’s new Macintosh line of systems has pointed out to we who write professionally where the technology is going and where we should plan our budgets for the next 18 months. For the professional, the world is going to 8-core systems, whether Mac or PC. Both Vienna and EastWest have libraries that already take advantage of the 8-cores and will continue in this line of development.

But where does this leave educators who want a computer lab but can’t afford the industry standard Mac Pro much less other heavyweight systems from the PC side?

I have a suggestion, and it’s one that will serve the school for several years, even if you never update the software.

After looking at both platforms, and reviewing what I find myself advising learners for Alexander University Online Classes, I’ve come to the belief that school funds are best spent with Apple, because that’s where the bang-for-the-buck is going to be.

The iMac
If Alexander University classes went from online to a building, I’d buy the 20″ iMac that comes with 2GB of RAM. If the budget allows, I’d get the 1 TB (terabyte) hard drive and 4GB of RAM. RAM can be expanded to 8GB, but I don’t think you need that much.

The iMac solves several problems. First, I get the computer and monitor as a single piece. I can bolt it down making it more difficult to steal. I don’t to need to buy separate audio cards for music applications. You can, of course, consider the Mac Mini, but even so, you still have to buy a separate monitor. It’s one more part to keep track of. The iMac is an elegant solution. Everything, literally, is in one place, and it gives the computer lab a modern sleek look that could also inspire donations, even in a tight economy.

Second, the students can buy their own headphones.

Third, students can also buy their own personal MIDI keyboards that connect via USB to the Mac. This eliminates the need for a MIDI interface and saves the school money for buying plastic keyboards that will wear out long before the iMac does. An E-MU Xboard 25 fits into a book bag. The advantage of this solution is that the Xboard 25 is small and allows for more stations in a room since you’re not providing the keyboard. If you want a keyboard, look at the Xboard 61.

Fourth, micro pocket USB drives are cheap! The iMac comes with multiple USB ports, so students can save their work to a pocket hard drive that only costs as much as a few trips to McDonald’s.

Logic Software
Logic is designed for the Mac. So you’re not going to encounter the XP, XP64, Vista stuff that we’re contending with on the PC side now.

If budgets are really tight, use GarageBand. But if the budget permits, take advantage of Apple’s educational discount and install Logic 8 on each machine. It takes 6 hours to fully install. So you’ll give up 1-2 days in doing so, but what you get is so worthwhile.

We use Logic for all our production at Alexander University, and that includes our online faculty members. You can get Logic Express, but the development money always goes to the flagship programs. For a little more, get the students using a professional level program so when they leave, they have skills ready to go.

As I’ve defined it in my book, The Street Smart Guide to Logic 8, Logic is a music business production suite. It comes with a notation program, sequencing, audio engine for recording, a pro quality effects rack, and quality software instruments. Also included, which has not been advertised, is a basic starting set of the Vienna Symphonic Library, including celeste and harp. Almost anything you or a student wants to produce can be done with the onboard sounds and synths that come with Logic. Translation - no extra library costs and no system integration issues.

Load and Teach.

Logic Training. Logic is blessed with excellent text and video training. On the text side, there’s my aforementioned book which is a starting guide.

There are two published Logic Certified Trainers that I highly recommend should you need further instruction or want to run a great clinic. Jay Asher is the author of Going Pro With Logic Pro 8. He works in Los Angeles and knows the ropes. Eli Krantzberg, out of Toronto, created the Logic 8 Explained video series.

I’ve worked with both men and they’re both crackerjack.

Additional Music Software
You honestly don’t need much with Logic because the internal programs and synths are so good. However, when you do add programs, don’t add any that require USB copy protection keys. This eliminates programs that I as a pro use. But in a school lab, let’s be honest, things can go wandering in the night, and you don’t want the responsibility of students logging USB keys in and out. It’s an invitation to a lot of unnecessary system integration issues that are just pure hassles.

Here are companies whose products I recommend and that I’ve either reviewed at this writing or am about to review. None of the products they develop require USB keys for copy protection.

Best Service - this is a German company distributed in the U.S. by Soundsonline and Time and Space in the UK. All of their products are done in the Kontakt player format which works easily with Logic and has no USB key. String Essentials 2, EthoWorld 4 and their piano collection are all first rate.

IK Multimedia - this is an Italian company with headquarters in Miami, FL. They have academic discounts. I’d strongly advise adding their Miroslav Philharmonic to Logic. Pros know you need two libraries to make MIDI mock-ups work. MP blends beautifully with the onboard Vienna sounds. Stunning music can be created with both combined. Also comes with a bonus choir feature. For pop music production I love their AmpliTube and Fender programs. Logic comes with a basic electric and acoustic guitar sound. Create the melodic line, then run it through either of these plug-ins. What a gas! Their SampleTank library is also quite good. For recording training, consider their T-Racks program and the Classik Studio Reverb.

L.A. Scoring Strings - Los Angeles company. One demo released. This is the first company to release a legitimate divisi strings library in Kontakt format. Price TBA. No academic pricing announced. No USB key needed. I have not reviewed this program.

SONiVOX - formerly Sonic Implants, located in Boston. SONiVOX has just released a series of value-priced virtual instruments that you can download one set per workstation. For PC and Intel Macs only. They also have SoundFonts that Logic’s EXS24 Sampler can read and load. No USB key needed.

Spectrasonics - Spectrasonics creates some of the most pre-eminent libraries used in music production. Their three main programs are Omnisphere, Stylus RMX and Trilogy. No USB key needed for copy protection.

XLNAudio - a Swedish company makes Addictive Drums. Logic comes with a drum machine called UltraBeat, so you can do a lot. There are also drum sounds for the EXS24. But Addictive Drums are deluxe. Between IK and XLNAudio, you can create templates for some pretty exciting pop band ensembles. Again, no USB key needed.

There are certainly other companies, but for a school music computer lab, any of these products can be ordered without a USB key for copy protection, and they certainly enhance what you can do in your instruction.

Now, if you don’t mind USB key copy protection for a school lab, then by all means review EastWest Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Gold and the Vienna Symphonic Library Special Edition. Re: Gold. At one time, this was an $1800 library. The price has come down drastically. You’re getting a pro product here, not a junior program. You can buy the Vienna Special Edition as a download, but you need one USB key per machine.

Other Software
The other software is from Apple and there are no system integration issues. For building your own training tools, iWork 09 is a must. What you can create with both Keynote and Pages is awesome. I use both all the time. For media production, iLife 09 with the enhanced iMovie is a great deal and one where students can begin learning media production and media scoring. Between Logic and iMovie 09, all the tools needed to produce basic music videos and other video instruction are right there.

The PC Argument
I know some teachers who say, “We’re a PC school.” My response to that for music, as harsh as it will read, is, “Get over it.” Or put differently, “It ain’t about you.”

For music and the PC, we now have too many system integration issues to contend with. With Apple and Apple products, there are no system integration issues. On the PC, you have over choice. I know, I deal with it all the time. But you don’t have time to deal with that in a school lab, and you can’t assume, as much as they would like you to, that the school’s computer science department guys are going to understand MIDI, digital audio and recording. I’ve seen it bring many a grown adult engineer to their knees in tears.

Two years ago, I wouldn’t have said this. But today for a school music lab, I have to.

Now, for your own personal use and production studio, my recommendations are totally different. But for your school, start here.

Peter Lawrence Alexander is the author of The Street Smart Guide to Logic 8, the Professional Orchestration Series, How Ravel Orchestrated: Mother Goose Suite, and The Instant Composer: Counterpoint by Fux. His most recent orchestration is Debussy’s Sarabande for string orchestra.