In anticipation of my RD-88, I would like to try MAINSTAGE, which it seems to be made for . What is THE CHEAPEST MAC I can buy that will run MAINSTAGE? I've never owned a MAC and know absolutely nothing about them. Whatever you recommend, the SIMPLER (and cheaper and smaller) the better. Thanks.

chas (ain't too proud to beg)

4GB of RAM
OS X v10.11 or later
Minimum 6GB of disk space. Up to 51GB of optional content available via in-app download.

Best prices are on iMacs in the 2010 or 2011 era. They are the least expensive. Get one with an i5 or i7 processor and at least 16 gb of ram. I feel they are great machines when working with music. I have used them for a long time without a problem.

Thanks, I'll check those out first (for availability). BTW, what about these little 'mini's'? Any good?

chas

How much are you prepared to spend and do you want a desktop or laptop, when you have decided this just type a question into YouTube and you will find plenty of demos, comparisons and how too. (If possible aim for something at least post 2012)
Bill

Thanks Bill, will do.

chas

Take a look here. Some very good bargin machines.

https://www.dvwarehouse.com/Apple-iMac-Intel-Base-c-5203.html

I have purchased many of my MacBookPros here. I would recommend any 2011-2012 vintage machines. Anything of a newer vintage you start running into problems with right to service issues with the newer machines. Apple makes newer machines unrepairable. 2012 vintage machines is the cutoff for installing and running Mac OS Mojave and Catalina. If you want a cheaper older machine I don't think you would have any trouble running MainStage.

Thanks for the info, appreciate it.

chas

I would buy a used one..
With some kind of i7
And 8, preferably 16gb of ram and an SSD

I run mainstage on a 2013 macbook and it runs fine
As long as i dont layer to much and dont go insane on adding effects..


If you want a new mac, the mac min8 with i5, 256GB SSD and 8 GB should do well
You can allways upgrade memmory if needed.. its possibl3 with the mac mini


But i would personally go for a used macbook, i7 16GB, 256GB ssd..
3 to 4 years old...


And then you could consider the latest model macbook air..
Its affordable for a mac..


Also when buying mac, keep in mind that the used market is almost comparable to arranger/keyboard/synth market... you will get a fair amount of money back


Other things, check on the mac website if a used model will still run the latest osx version..

If you want to use the mainstage as a host for vst/au then this changes the whole story... depending on the vst you will use, heavier specs are needed

I saw someone say 4GB, on my 2013 macbook, when i upgraded from 4 to 16 it made a huge difference... so i would say allways go for atleast 8GB

Chas, I have zero experience on a Mac. But my advice is if you go that way, go on and get a new one or late model. I'm pretty sure you can afford whatever you need or want. Go for it!