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New Mac Pros (pg. 2)
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| music2dance2 |
Agreed the imac's are much better value for money. I would buy one, but I need a mac book pro for mobility so have to spend that little extra.
johncannons1 - sounds like you got the top end one dude. How much did that set you back? |
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| n3lly |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
It's like getting a hot girlfriend and then chopping your dick off. |
Excellent! haha.. |
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| Rebel Brown |
| quote: | Originally posted by 19503
I would expect the new Mac Pro to atleast have bluray |
Jobs thinks that Blu-ray is a fad and will die out, so I seriously doubt we'll see it being used on any Macs in the near future. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by kevin shawn
It's flakey if you're not computer savy and the process has gotten easier the past 2 years. Software takes place of the unix based hacking that was required when I built mine.
I love computers so it was a fun project for me. |
It could be a "fun" learning experience, especially if you've got the time to mess about with it, and even though it's got easier than a couple of years ago, it's simply not a viable consideration for audio or DAW usage.
If you really want the flexibility/upgradeability then just buy a PC as win7 is pretty decent or just buy a mac.
I don't really get the whole upgrade argument when it comes to macs these days - my imac is over 2 years old and I simply cannot see the need (even with all the really intensive audio programs I use) to upgrade anytime in the next 2 years (at least). That's a minimum of more than 4 years out of a computer that cost me $1000.
And you can always run win on mac and it works very well so my bother trying a buggy, unsupported home made hackintosh.
Anyway,back OT, the mac rpos are good if you really have the spare money but honestly, the increase in price vs the relatively small extra performance increase is not warranted IMO.
Go for the imac - it's damn powerful, they are incredibly reliable, the screen is an absolute joy to spend hours in front of, and they are low noise and low footprint which is always important in a studio environment. |
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| CReddick |
| quote: | Originally posted by Rebel Brown
Jobs thinks that Blu-ray is a fad and will die out, so I seriously doubt we'll see it being used on any Macs in the near future. |
I believe 'bag of hurt' was the term used by Jobs to describe BD. LOL |
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| sterilis |
| if you add a mac mini to an imac will it combine your cpu and ram and increase them overall? |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by sterilis
if you add a mac mini to an imac will it combine your cpu and ram and increase them overall? |
Not exactly - Logic (and some other programs) have the ability to use nodes, where some of the processing is offloaded to a networked computer.
So some people buy a mac mini (or other) and use it as node as a way to boost their CPU - I know quite a few people who have macbook pros as their main computer but then at home, either have an imac or a mac mini + a much larger second screen so they have better processing power when not traveling.
Logic nodes actually work very well and is incredibly bug free. It just lets you squeeze a bit more out.... |
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| Timothy |
| quote: | Originally posted by Mad for Brad
I've been thinking of getting another desktop but these things are retardedly expensive and don't really do that much more than the 2008-2009 8 core macs. I used to be a good deal but man, their current prices are absolutely ridiculous. I'm usually pro mac but they haven't really done anything to it and are charging almost 2000 more.
Is there any point in using nodes ? Should I get mac mini or an imac ? I've actually had the 8 core mac at about 80% the other day and I do need to get my girlfriend something so I'm thinking maybe just a mac mini or Imac is a good value.
Are macs still a good value because that price tag for the macpro is just stupid. |
If you don't need expandability, then get an iMac. If you do, then you need a Mac Pro.
If you want to get a new Mac pro, the best configuration is the 3.33 ghz 6-core Mac Pro in my opinion, rather than the 12-core Mac Pro.
But personally I'd wait for Sandy Bridge which is out next year. Probably new Mac Pro's again, with 16-cores :D So if you can wait, I'd wait :) |
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| Mad for Brad |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
We have several of the macpros at the studio and every so often we run out and get a mini for the node processing.
With logic, it does make a difference (obviously protools is absolutely pointless unless you're using logic as the front but that then gets complicated etc.).
However, at the moment, in my personal experience the imacs are by far the best power vs cost on the market. You can also get a mini later for expansion if needed but I just don't think the extra cost of the Pro is warrented in most circumstances unless you need PCI options.
The new screens are just ing stunning - a mate got just the 27" and I have to say I'm now jealous when I look at my 21".
He also does a ton of visual production and thing just doesn't slow down - we had nearly 20 apps going without it flinching. |
What sort of processing could I expect ? I'm starting to do more of my own stuff for my portfolio and although I have 32 gigs of ram , the CPU component seems to top of sometimes. Is the CPU sort of like the asio monitor in cubase or does it actually monitor CPU. I would like to get another mac pro but it seems like a really bad time. The Imac is doable as my girlfriend will also now have a computer to use. Also, can I have the computer in another room and just have a longer cable or do I need to have the other computer close to change settings. I know I could economize by sort of orchestrating for computer instead of traditional approach then porting that but I somehow feel dirty doing that. Probably why I hate using Symphobia although I do use it once everything else is down to add accents where needed as the FFF sound great.
For example, I will usually have the normal set up for late romantic style
lets say for winds
Piccolo
3 Flutes
3 Oboes
English Horn
Clarinet in E-flat
2 Clarinets in B-flat, A
Bass Clarinet
3 Bassoons
Contrabassoon
not that you can really hear all that when it is in audio format but i'm just used to scoring that way. I think the sheer number of tracks is what is making the cpu jump but I don't want to get into the habit of shortcuts as my goal is not to be a producer.
stuff i'm using is
WIVI
LASS
Hollywood Strings
spectrasonics stuff
and a few synths.
and of course the normal gambit of effects although for the more traditional stuff, mostly just IR reverb.
My girlfriend says to just suck it up and do with what you have but I get frustrated when my work is interrupted by things like computers. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Mad for Brad
What sort of processing could I expect ? I'm starting to do more of my own stuff for my portfolio and although I have 32 gigs of ram , the CPU component seems to top of sometimes. Is the CPU sort of like the asio monitor in cubase or does it actually monitor CPU. I would like to get another mac pro but it seems like a really bad time. The Imac is doable as my girlfriend will also now have a computer to use. Also, can I have the computer in another room and just have a longer cable or do I need to have the other computer close to change settings. I know I could economize by sort of orchestrating for computer instead of traditional approach then porting that but I somehow feel dirty doing that. Probably why I hate using Symphobia although I do use it once everything else is down to add accents where needed as the FFF sound great.
For example, I will usually have the normal set up for late romantic style
lets say for winds
Piccolo
3 Flutes
3 Oboes
English Horn
Clarinet in E-flat
2 Clarinets in B-flat, A
Bass Clarinet
3 Bassoons
Contrabassoon
not that you can really hear all that when it is in audio format but i'm just used to scoring that way. I think the sheer number of tracks is what is making the cpu jump but I don't want to get into the habit of shortcuts as my goal is not to be a producer.
stuff i'm using is
WIVI
LASS
Hollywood Strings
spectrasonics stuff
and a few synths.
and of course the normal gambit of effects although for the more traditional stuff, mostly just IR reverb.
My girlfriend says to just suck it up and do with what you have but I get frustrated when my work is interrupted by things like computers. |
The performance increase is a little bit difficult to accurately predict but it will be significant. I'm going to refer to them as master and node for this conversation.
A mac pro is perfect as the master as it has a good base of processing power to begin with (which helps overall node processing but I'll get to that later) so any decent node you add is going to give you a nice boost. The biggest improvements I've seen are when you're using a lot of instances of IR reverbs (which is very good news for you). These are very CPU intensive and the longer the tails the more hungry they get and the moment you get in to multichannel you really start eating that CPU.
Track count CPU is also helped by nodes but it really depends what is on those tracks more than just how many.
Spectrasonics stuff is also quite improved as it's one of those nastly programs that uses both huge amounts of RAM, Disk reading and CPU to operate, so even offloading element of that (CPU) to a node frees up the master quite a bit.
And that's one of the cool things about nodes - offloading doesn't just use the extra processing of the node but it also frees up the master CPU.
Using a underpowered node (like an old g4 for instance)is only going to give you a small improvement in overall CPU and in the same way you won't realise the full potential of a high powered node if you're using an underpowered master (in relative terms).
I would suggest an imac would as a great solution for your sepcific situation, both technically for this in terms of the extra processing it will offer and as it fits your GF dilemma. It's not going to dwarf your mac pro in CPU power (thus not getting the full potential of the node system as stated above) but will give your overall system a serious amount of processing.
Now here's my really ing cool tip: You'd normally have a problem in that the computer should really be in the same room to alter any settings so if you need play around with anything you have easy access, but if you install VNC on it you can do a remote control production (Ahem, ;) sorry, couldn't resist) from it. Basically you just log in to it instantly and the mac pro screen becomes the imac screen or you just set it up in screen preferences so you have one of your 4 monitors in your producing rig as the imac which is in the other room.
You would also be able to check how the node is performing both in logic and as system cpu to streamline it to be the most efficient for your setup.
This way you can easily have the computer anywhere else without having to be near it but have full access to everything.
In terms of RAM just have at least 2gb on the imac but don't sweat about it too much as you still need to bias of RAM to be on the master.
You could also do a mac mini but I just think that the imac works with the GF situation and by the time you buy a screen and all the other you need you're better off buying an imac.
All you need to gigabit ethernet and a cat5e cable.
Let me know if you need help setting it up, but I really think it could give your mac pro a new lease of life, espeially now as I think it's a terrible time to buy a new mac pro with what on the horizon for apple in late 2011.
BTW, John Powell now only uses two connected mac pros to compose....all in the box apart from one little extra piece of outboard to warm it up ;) |
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| johncannons1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by music2dance2
Agreed the imac's are much better value for money. I would buy one, but I need a mac book pro for mobility so have to spend that little extra.
johncannons1 - sounds like you got the top end one dude. How much did that set you back? |
about 4000 aud.
we get a lil ripped off compared to ppl in the states. but we are used to it haha.
it was worth all the money. its so nice to use. |
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| tehlord |
I like the idea of an iMac just so I can explore Logic as well as Cubase, but they're still a lot of money.
The 27" i7 with 4GB and 1TB is £2000, and you're forced to have an Ati 5750 card that I don't really need in an audio machine.
By the time I've upgraded it to 8GB, bought Logic and plugged in an external drive you're looking at well over £2500.
Still want one though, especially for movie work |
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