Intel Mac Pro

Fung45 wrote:Don't get me wrong I'm going to be buying a mac to run pro tools eventually, I've had an Intel processor in my desktop since the 90's. Tell me more about Mac hardware and why it's different and worth the inflated price tag pound.

You should try using Mac to understand. As long as you are at the stage comparing spec by spec, you won't get it. (I don't consider myself a mac fanboy, just I've been using mac for more than a decade. I don't even own iPhone or iPad.)
Nowadays, computers, both PCs and Macs, are very powerful, most likely you won't need Mac Pro to do music productions. MacBook Pro is great (I hate glossy screens though, mine is MacBook Pro with matt screen, bought 4 years ago. Still works great.)

JVC wrote:MacBook Pro is great (I hate glossy screens though, mine is MacBook Pro with matt screen, bought 4 years ago. Still works great.)

I'm glad I went with the AG screen.

Fung45 wrote:I've used Macs and they're great, very stable and fast. Every professional studio I've been in is Mac based and I'm going to buying a Mac once I can afford to. I never said Macs are bad or they 'don't work every time' but what's under the hood isn't much different than a PC especially now that Macs have intel processors in them. I was responding to the comment 'I'm the first to step into the world of intel' and 'PC's are not built for music' something along those lines. PC users have had Intel processing in their machines for over a decade, and Macs are overpriced.

If you are comparing with desktop PCs and Mac Pro, I kind of understand that you feel that way. But I know how well Mac Pro is build, I feel it is unfair to compare with PCs with cheap case. A PC case that can compete with Mac Pro's chassis (high-quality aluminum PC case) is pretty expensive.

But operation system is not free. Windows 7 would cost around $200 (forget about those crippled "Home versions") Personally I do not deal with Windows, as we all have wasted countless hours with Windows OS... (Windows 7 is still Windows 2000/XP under the hood.) (maybe the cost of OS was purposely omitted?)

But, Macbook Pro should not be compared with those cheaply produced Acer or HP brand laptop.

Well Im just getting used to all these new Plug Ins that I have, man the Mac Pro runs great, I only froze Pro Tools twice using some memory extensive plugins...well the MAC PRO is a BEAST, I am never happier, it runs my MPC, Motif and I can record Vocals all in one session, mix and master it down with everything synced up...Its amazing at what these machines can do....Those of you using Macs, have you ran into any limitations? I have not even trying to push the computer to its limits...I guess 8GB of RAM isnt enough when trying to make music, Im thinking of spending 500 and buy 16GB and go 24GB of RAM...Couldnt hurt it though...In my honest opinion.

poundaproblem wrote:I dont recall the OP asking for any PC comparison.......

Yeah youre right, I think the PC heads are just jealous because we run MAC...MAC's are beasts, this was for my Intel Mac Pro owners and users, or Intel based Mac owners, I just wanted to see what everybody is using with what MPC.

YumYumRolex wrote:I guess 8GB of RAM isnt enough when trying to make music, Im thinking of spending 500 and buy 16GB and go 24GB of RAM...Couldnt hurt it though...In my honest opinion.

I think you'd be wasting your money buying that much ram.

I've been using no more than 2 gig for years, and that's with heavy track counts. Having 4 gig is a luxury I can cope with for a while.

YumYumRolex wrote:I only froze Pro Tools twice using some memory extensive plugins...

You just got it and you've already frozen Pro Tools? That's not good. I'm not saying that Macs don't freeze, though I don't ever get freezing. What version of Pro Tools are you running?

Being that Pro Tools is still a 32bit application and you have more ram than a 32bit app can even access, I think you better make sure that you have the latest stable versions of PT, OSX and your plug-ins.

Thanks for showing concern, I thought that that wasnt normal either, Im running 8.0.3...I got OSX 10.6.7, I updated my OSX and everything...should I update my Pro Tools to 8.0.5? I thought that it was peculiar that my system froze...but I had some huge plugins running and I was trying to do too much at once, it seems that the 8GB is not enough memory to do anything but just basics...Im thinking of dropping $500 on 16GB of Ram and just going 24GB that should be enough for my webdesign and video work that Im trying to start...But yeah I froze effin pro tools...running it at the max though.

Undertow wrote:

YumYumRolex wrote:I only froze Pro Tools twice using some memory extensive plugins...

You just got it and you've already frozen Pro Tools? That's not good. I'm not saying that Macs don't freeze, though I don't ever get freezing. What version of Pro Tools are you running?

Being that Pro Tools is still a 32bit application and you have more ram than a 32bit app can even access, I think you better make sure that you have the latest stable versions of PT, OSX and your plug-ins.

I need PT 8.0.5 then huh? I thought I could get by with 8.0.3 I guess that one has bugs...I need to download the newest update.

also, tweak your buffer settings etc. in PT. You shouldnt be getting freezing/dropouts. Once you dial it in that thing will run super smooth. Like I said, I only have 1gb of ram on a mac mini and she runs clean as hell.

Just downloaded the 8.0.5 Update...I should be good now...hopefully, Im going to try and freeze it again today to see if thats what the problem was because with 8GB of RAM there shouldnt be any problems with the software.

poundaproblem wrote:also, tweak your buffer settings etc. in PT. You shouldnt be getting freezing/dropouts. Once you dial it in that thing will run super smooth. Like I said, I only have 1gb of ram on a mac mini and she runs clean as hell.

Word...How do I tweak buffer settings? Should I set it to 1024 or 512? Damn yeah my boy said in order to make the jump to intel he was going to run a Mac Mini...you should upgrade your Mini to 8GB just so that you wont run into any limitations.

Coz wrote:

YumYumRolex wrote:I guess 8GB of RAM isnt enough when trying to make music, Im thinking of spending 500 and buy 16GB and go 24GB of RAM...Couldnt hurt it though...In my honest opinion.

I think you'd be wasting your money buying that much ram.

I've been using no more than 2 gig for years, and that's with heavy track counts. Having 4 gig is a luxury I can cope with for a while.

Well I want to get into Video Editing and I need the RAM to run CS5 for school, Im also in college for internet web design...I just want a effed out tower nah mean?

YumYumRolex wrote:

poundaproblem wrote:also, tweak your buffer settings etc. in PT. You shouldnt be getting freezing/dropouts. Once you dial it in that thing will run super smooth. Like I said, I only have 1gb of ram on a mac mini and she runs clean as hell.

Word...How do I tweak buffer settings? Should I set it to 1024 or 512? Damn yeah my boy said in order to make the jump to intel he was going to run a Mac Mini...you should upgrade your Mini to 8GB just so that you wont run into any limitations.

the most the mini is capable of is 3.3gm ram. I may just upgrade to 2gb, but for what Im using it for (pro tools, reason, recycle) she gets the job done.

As far as the settings, each machine is going to act differently. I would just experiment with each setting. You can turn on the meter in PT to show how much power you're consuming and get a better idea of how you're running.