Hi I'd like some advice please. I looking to buy an iMac to run Logic Pro and wonder which is best to run Logic Pro. I've narrowed it down to an Intel i7 iMac 16GB 4.5k 2020, or a M1 iMac 4.5k 16GB 2021. Any help greatly appreciated.

Either of those iMacs should be more than fine for running Logic. The M1 model will probably deliver more power in the long run, but in the short term you'd just need to make sure that besides Logic [which of course supports the latest hardware] all your other software & plug-ins will be happy with the M1 chip. Right now some of s/w still supports the M1 chip only in emulation [not taking full advantage of its extra power yet], but a friend who has an M1 Mac said that it's so powerful that he doesn't notice any lack of performance, and he's happy with it. Either way, since you may not be able to upgrade the internal drive easily [if at all], make sure you get a big, fast internal HD -- I'd recommend at least a 1TB SSD.

Hey thanks Joe, that's brilliant, everything I wanted to know.

Hi Joe, I am looking to buy a Mac Pro book 14" 2021 Chip M1 Pro 16 gb Ram and 1 TB ssd.I need to choose from CPU 8 core GPU 14 and CPU 10 core GPU 16. Which one would you suggest? I make Tech House,Deep House...

Hi D Rey - Either one of those systems should be more than enough to run Logic [or any DAW] easily. I guess if you use a lot of virtual instruments and CPU-intensive third-party plug-ins, or create arrangements with a huge number of tracks, then you might want to go for the more powerful machine, but I expect you'd do fine with either model..

Thank you Joe! Could you also recommend a sound card and a midi controller and anything else I need to get started? I decided to buy a MacBook pro chip M1 and work with logic to produce tech house, deep house .. But I am still a bit confused about the 2 MacBook models I was telling you, because you say that if I use a lot of software instruments and tracks then it would be better to buy the 10 core. But with the music I intend to do, do you use many tracks and many virtual instruments? Thanks again D Rey

Hi D Rey - The main consideration in choosing an interface will be i/o -- input & output channels. If you'll only ever be recording one of two tracks at a time then a small 2-in/2-out interface might be fine; but if you plan to record live ensembles, then you'd need at least an 8x8 interface [to start]. Interfaces can connect either via Thunderbolt or USB. Thunderbolt is good -- faster, but pricier -- but there are not as many options, and most are high-end; USB interfaces are plentiful -- just make sure you get one with the right USB version [USB 3 or 4 nowadays] and connector. I think most new Macs come with one or two USB-C connectors, which can handle both Thunderbolt and USB, but you'll need to do your due diligence and make sure you've got the right connections. [You may still need a USB hub if you have other peripherals as well [like a USB MIDI keyboard, printer, etc].. MIDI controllers -- well that could be anything from one of those little 2-octave mini keyboards with pads -- for those who just need to tap out the occasional beat -- to full 88-note weighted keyboards for pianists and performing musicians; you'll have to decide what your needs will be there. Generally, people who record mostly live instruments will have primarily audio tracks, while those who utilize synths and sampled instruments will have more virtual instrument tracks, which tend to be more CPU intensive -- I would assume the styles you mentioned would tend to rely a lot on virtual instruments.. But if you mostly stick to the virtual instruments included in Logic, they're not too CPU-heavy [and they're good], so you should be fine. As to how many tracks you may use to build up an arrangement, well, that's going to depend on your own workflow. People who like to double things a lot and layer instruments and voices tend to have bigger arrangements with lots more tracks. But unless you were doing something like full virtual orchestral mockups with tons of third-party instruments and effects I'm sure either of those Macs would be fine.

Thanks Joe, Now I have everything I need. D Rey

Hi Joe Now I have decided to work with analog and digital together and to start off I wanted to buy the Korg MS-20 Mini which sound card would you recommend? I think I'll group some analog sinths over time as well Thank you Thank you D Rey

Hi D Rey - The MS-20 is a cool little synth -- it's always fun to have a real analog synth with knobs that you can grab and twist and get creative with.. :-) As far as an interface [sound card].. Check my earlier post for some considerations on i/o [number of channels] and connection type [USB or Thunderbolt]. As far as Thunderbolt interfaces go, there are good but pricey ones from Universal Audio, Apogee, MOTU, and others, and at least one modestly-priced one form PreSonus. Most are 8x8, though a couple of the more affordable UA ones have less i/o. USB interfaces are far more common. Ideally you'd want a USB 3 interface, and the most up-to-date ones should come with a USB-C connection [the soon-to-be standard connector for both USB and ThunderBolt]. These may range from 8x8 down to 2x2, though the majority of them are smaller [2x2 or 4x4]. Again there are options from MOTU, PreSonus, and Focusrite has a lot of models at different price points that seem to be popular with a lot of people. Make sure to check compatibility with the Mac/OS version for whatever model[s] you may settle on -- be sure they have a driver that's compatible with the macOS version you're running, and check what kind of connectors the computer has against the connection/cables that come with the interface.