|
New Mac Pros (pg. 3)
|
View this Thread in Original format
| ambient_chris |
| check out the apple refurb some. Mate of mine has just bought imac with the 29" display and its really good. Saved quite a bit and you cant tell its a refurb. |
|
|
| nortek |
| how about the 21"? quite alot cheeper, might get myself something like that next time. meanwhile im happy with my little macbook. |
|
|
| Mad for Brad |
| What about buying a used mac pro 2009 2.8 ? My only worry is that MAC has the worst warranty policy on the planet. |
|
|
| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by nortek
how about the 21"? quite alot cheeper, might get myself something like that next time. meanwhile im happy with my little macbook. |
I have the 21.5" imac and it's flawless. Best computer I've ever owned. |
|
|
| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Mad for Brad
What about buying a used mac pro 2009 2.8 ? My only worry is that MAC has the worst warranty policy on the planet. |
I wouldn't know, none of the macs at work nor mine have ever had a problem themselves (3rd part videocards and interfaces, yes, but the macs, no).
A 2009 mac pro would work superbly as a node - you'd probably be doubling your cpu capability, if not more.
We have just slapped on a macmini which gives a nice boost but a pro would be waaaaay more. |
|
|
| jlea |
| yeah - refurb store is the way to go - they have the 27" quad imac(i7) for £1399 |
|
|
| DJ RANN |
True. My mate just picked up a refurb 28" imac maxed out for $2000.
Thing is ing lovely but too big for me and setup.
However, I do think you get a bit ed outside of the USA for macs.
My 21" imac cost me $1200 ne in 2008w and the same model was being sold in the UK for 1200 quid, which was like $2000 at the time.
but still 27" quad imac for 1399 EUR is a great deal.
The way I look at it, I want 4 years min out of a computer. That means I essentially paid $300 for it per year for my imac, and that figure gets even lower if I manage to resell it even for a few hundred dollars. |
|
|
| Rebel Brown |
| quote: | Originally posted by jlea
yeah - refurb store is the way to go - they have the 27" quad imac(i7) for £1399 |
This is definitely the way forward, even with my discount through Uni the 27" i7 is still almost £1600! |
|
|
| Lunar Phase 7 |
| 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 the hell do you do to require node processing on a mac pro?
I don't get how some people need so much power? |
|
|
| Mad for Brad |
I think it is just the amount of tracks. I'm working on my composition portfolio and I want it to sound as good as possible so not only do you have all these instruments but you are always combining different libraries to get the best mix from each instrument. So minimum
Woodwinds
Piccolo
3 Flutes
3 Oboes
English Horn
Clarinet in E-flat
2 Clarinets in B-flat, A
Bass Clarinet
3 Bassoons
Contrabassoon
Brass
8 Horns in F
4 Trumpets in E, E-flat, A, D, F, C, B-flat
4 Trombones (3 Tenor, 1 Bass)
(Euphonium)
(Wagner Tubas (2 Tenor, 2 Bass))
Tuba
Percussion
Timpani
Snare drum
Bass drum
Cymbals
Tam-tam
Triangle
Tambourine
Glockenspiel
Xylophone
Chimes
Keyboards
Celesta
Organ
Strings
2 Harps
16 Violins I
16 Violins II
12 Violas
12 Violoncellos
12 Double basses
so each of those 2- 3 channels so already right there 39 X 2 channels.
Then
Some softsynths
Always use the Spectrasonics collection.
And that doesn't even include effects.
It adds up. I don't think it is pure CPU but rather a combination of buss bottlenecking that makes things sort of not reliable as I start adding lots of instruments. My current mac is fully loaded with 32 gigs of ram with 1 hardrive for os and 3 raid arranged drives for samples but even loading everything in ram adds a certain level overhead and of course it is hard to force logic to only use ram so there is the hardrive bottlenecking too.
I just get nervous when I see CPU spikes and that kills my willingness to want to work. I probably don't need it but having it would make me less paranoid that is going to start crackling and popping. |
|
|
| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Mad for Brad
I think it is just the amount of tracks. I'm working on my composition portfolio and I want it to sound as good as possible so not only do you have all these instruments but you are always combining different libraries to get the best mix from each instrument. So minimum
Woodwinds
Piccolo
3 Flutes
3 Oboes
English Horn
Clarinet in E-flat
2 Clarinets in B-flat, A
Bass Clarinet
3 Bassoons
Contrabassoon
Brass
8 Horns in F
4 Trumpets in E, E-flat, A, D, F, C, B-flat
4 Trombones (3 Tenor, 1 Bass)
(Euphonium)
(Wagner Tubas (2 Tenor, 2 Bass))
Tuba
Percussion
Timpani
Snare drum
Bass drum
Cymbals
Tam-tam
Triangle
Tambourine
Glockenspiel
Xylophone
Chimes
Keyboards
Celesta
Organ
Strings
2 Harps
16 Violins I
16 Violins II
12 Violas
12 Violoncellos
12 Double basses
so each of those 2- 3 channels so already right there 39 X 2 channels.
Then
Some softsynths
Always use the Spectrasonics collection.
And that doesn't even include effects.
It adds up. |
What do you mean 2-3 channels per each of those? Where's your LCRLsRs? O at Least LRLsRs? I would say at least 50% of that list would be 4 channel (at least the way I was taught to mic).
And what about vox not to mention your perc is a bit light (most the projects I've done go in to the dozens).
Where's your dulcimer, cello and basses? No guitar?
@Lunar Phase 7 - I'm a score engineer. I can't actually think of a project that was less than 200 tracks before even getting in to FX. Two mac pro's get eaten up in heartbeat.
We usually have separate dedicated PTHD4 rigs for each component: Orch, Synth and Mix rig are the most basic setups. |
|
|
| Mad for Brad |
i just listed a typical romantic orchestra. Didn't feel like listing everything. but yes, it includes and then some. What I mean 2p-3 channels per instrument is that I combine libraries to really get a sound I like. So for example, WIVI has great high end nimble brass but for those low FFF brass, symphobia sounds great so I piggy back that on to the original sound. Just combining things to get something that sounds up to current standards. Same with strings, Lass is great for somethings but the spiccato and short staccato is better in Hollywood strings so it is mix and match.
cello and basses are there, just called a different name. And yes for percussion, at least 20 channels but I would say 30 with all the layering.
I'd isn't all the production stuff I do that requires this. That theme for tv I did required less than 20 channels but I really want to do the classical / electronic hybrid a la John Powell. I am trying to think about orchestras less in a traditional sense and more as a tool but I guess I was trained if you could list a film composer Steiner or I suppose in modern terms, William. It isn't really where I want my style to go but that is what I found the most challenging therefore that is what I worked on.
ALso I suppose part of the work includes working with large scores, so I practice both composition, conducting, score reading and then production. As you know I took a break from orchestration and I am just going to hack away at this. Or maybe write a screen play.
My goal is to really get something that sounds modern, hybrid like and skilful that shows my abilities both within the classical realm and the electronic and I suppose pop with stuff like guitars and what not |
|
|
|
|
