Apple Complete Mac mini Recording Studio 2011

yeah i hate to sound like a broken record but the other reviewers are right. the mac mini is great. the keyboard is ok, the mouse is pretty much a step above garbage. the monitor looks great. the interface sounds good. and the microphone seems to be alright. the software you ask? well like 5 of the programs require an ilok as previously mentioned which is a load of bs if you ask me. if it's required to use the software it should come with the package. i've found various other headaches with a few other software titles that were included. errors, delays, read/write priviledges etc etc. they should've left a few of the headaches out and upgraded the mouse and included an ilok.... still fairly happy with my purchase.

When the others say it takes a long time to download everything, they are not joking. Still, I think this deserves 5 stars. The amount of stuff you get makes the time installing it worth it. BUT. As the one other reviewer said, you need an iLok for some of the software (such as Autotune). All in all though this deal is definitely a steal, and as far as the keyboard and mouse go, yes they are cheap but they are as sturdy as any keyboard you need unless you're extremely picky.

I 100% concur with the previous review. I would like to reiterate that it takes a LONG, LONG, LONG, LONG TIME to download, install, and activate all of the software. Take note that you also have to purchase a $50 ilok usb dongle to license some of the software. That ticked me off. I will not go into detail here, you can learn more at ilok's website. It has taken me two weeks to install everything (in between caring for my two toddlers under age 3). After successfully installing and/or activating 20+ programs, I still have not heard back from Slate Digital Steven Slate Drums 4.0 on how exactly to install their software. HEADACHE is a total understatement. Other than that I am pleased with the package. I'm a total newbie to recording music, so I can't really comment on that. I LOOOOOVE the mac mini, though. This is my first mac. I didn't realize I was getting an actual computer. Oh, and yea, the keyboard and mouse are totally cheap, lol.

I was probably one of the first people to catch on to this product and I thought to myself, this comes with some amazing features. It must be at least decent. Well there's some obvious pros and cons with this package deal. First off, don't let anyone in the store tell you that the computer comes pre-packaged with all of the programs loaded on it. That's how they sold me on the idea of purchasing it. You WILL have to load each individual program onto the computer, and it WILL take a long time. So here's a list of the pros and cons: PROS: -The mac mini is a great computer, and if you've been looking to get a mac for a while, this will get you that and a bunch of other useful things. -Even though the screen is an asus, it runs beautifully with the mac, and it looks beautiful - The keyboard and the mouse are a little plastic-y, but overall sturdy for your purposes. Can easily be upgraded later -Comes with an artist suite of Presonus Studio One 2, a decent DAW for any musician -OSX Lion is AWESOME -There is a LOT of stuff that comes with this package, and for the money spent, you do get quite a bit of things to fool with. -M-audio interface is very easy to use and works with a variety of programs. CONS: -Nothing is pre loaded on the computer so you will take hours, and I mean hours making sure that every one of the programs and effects are loaded up. And on top of that, since the mac mini lacks a disc drive, you have to load everything from the internet, so you better have a fast connection. -Multiple cards provided, including Kontakt Elements do not work or the serial numbers were wrong, despite several attempts at trying to get them to function -Microphone and headphones are of so-so quality, which is to be expected I suppose THE BOTTOM LINE: There's a lot about this package that works. And a lot that doesn't. Don't expect the world from this package, the only real deal that you're getting is the mac mini. The programs are okay, but really this is about the computer. And it's good for getting you off your feet as far as music production/composition goes.