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apple computer suggestions? (pg. 7)
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| Kenny Rogers |
| we didnt really need SSDs before so why start now? are you guys suddenly starting using samples like raving mad men? i have never had issues with loading samples fast enough or anything like that. sometimes CPU goes up in the roof but that is all. the cheapest iMac without any extra config will get the job done imo and is a great price compared to anything. |
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| Eric J |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
Totally agree. The SSD's are a complete knock from Apple. That's one area on the imac you get completely screwed because the moment you open it, you're warranty is gone.... |
As a general rule, don't buy anything from an OEM that is easily user-replaceable. When buying OEM machines, we always spend big on the processor or motherboard, but skimp on the RAM and disk. Then we replace (if necessary) with high end components from third party retailers. Those things can be replaced from third party retailers as typically 30-60% less than the OEM prices for such items. |
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| Mise |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
For a 13" screen. Good luck with producing full time on that. It still won't be as powerful as an imac that costs several hundred less.
While that's true, if you do have an issue and sent it back to them and they find even the slightest reason to say the SSD caused the problem, you're screwed. It's not a big issue but it basically means you have to re-install the original hard drive before sending it back.
The other problem with that is, you can't order a MBP without a drive in it, so if you want to save the money that apple skank you on for their overpriced SSD's, you've then got a useless internal HD sitting there which was part of your ticket price of the MBP.
Totally agree. The SSD's are a complete knock from Apple. That's one area on the imac you get completely screwed because the moment you open it, you're warranty is gone.... |
yes you are right, I forgot to mention I use it with a 20" external LCD, I hope not to have any warranty issue, hopefully a close friend of mine owns two mac stores, the few times I need hardware support they did it for free, when I had an Imac, they changed a faulty HD even if it was out of warranty.. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Kenny Rogers
we didnt really need SSDs before so why start now? are you guys suddenly starting using samples like mad men? i have never had issues with loading samples fast enough or anything like that. sometimes CPU goes up in the roof but that is all. the cheapest iMac without any extra config will get the job done imo and is a great price compared to anything. |
TBH, when i start getting close to the end of a project and I've got a bunch of waves plugs, a bunch of logic a ton of samples (I use a lot as I place most of mine in arrange for drums for example) and tons of automation going on, my system can freak out a little. TBH, I should do a format as it's been two years no and I have abused the hell out of it.
The only thing is, I'd like to get some romplers, and that combined with all the AU's FX and samples,may start to slow my 2008 imac down a little. an SSD would give it another lease of life, but I'll wait until I do a format as I think that will give it a nice bump.
@eric, very good points about OEM vs Retail.
@mise - well that adds another few hundred bucks for a screen. nice hookup on the mac service though ;) |
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| Kenny Rogers |
| yeah but dont you work with multiple channels (surround) and instruments recording etc like a pro studio? that demands alot more HD cap for sure. maybe its just me keeping things minimal, deleting everything that doesnt add anything important to the track. i rarely go above 14 channels in the mixer. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Kenny Rogers
yeah but dont you work with multiple channels (surround) and instruments recording etc like a pro studio? that demands alot more HD cap for sure. maybe its just me keeping things minimal, deleting everything that doesnt add anything important to the track. i rarely go above 14 channels in the mixer. |
Well, I suppose at work we go in to the hundreds of channels (I think the mast was one that peaked at over 500ch) which has taught me not to go easy. I'm often at 30 for my projects, but yes you're absolutely right - I should be way more efficient, but I also do all of my other things on there, including my other business work, design work, personal music and all manner of other . I've nearly maxed out one 500g external I'm 60% though the internal and my other 500g external is getting close to 80% now too. Bad practice really so I think I'll have a spring clean.
Thats' why I was saying I don't think I'll need to consider SSD until after I see the results of what a damn good formatting can do. |
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| Mad for Brad |
| Both my computer with 6 tB each are pretty much maxed. It will take SSD a while to deliver that sort of space. |
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| Kenny Rogers |
the feeling of a clean system is great, dont delay it much longer :D
im doing it twice a year by habbit from windows days. probably not needed but its so easy anyway. ive removed all my old projects too now, only keeping mp3s but keep on deleting old stuff there too. everything else is on googledocs now. |
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| aNYthing |
| quote: | Originally posted by Kenny Rogers
yeah but dont you work with multiple channels (surround) and instruments recording etc like a pro studio? that demands alot more HD cap for sure. maybe its just me keeping things minimal, deleting everything that doesnt add anything important to the track. i rarely go above 14 channels in the mixer. |
14ch? really? stereo or mono? i take it you combine a lot of tracks as you go along? I have a monster ableton session - 40+ tracks, stereo, plugins. No wonder system freaks.
btw. this post was typed from my shiny new MBP 17", 2.8Ghz, 4GB RAM (going up to 8 very soon). I love my new MBP! But at the same time I'm freaked out because:
a. new OS to master
b. world of Logic to explore
c. re-learning all the tricks/tips/wealth of knowledge I used to have on XP/Win7
d. most important: I've never been so constrained before - I can't replace battery, can't add internal hard drive without voiding the warranty, highly suspect that MBP would be able to handle the load vs Desktop.
I guess it's silly for me to suspect that it will perform worse than my 5 year old Dell XPS with P4 HT 3.2Ghz with 3GB of RAM under XP (performance tuned).
Speaking of tuning... is there anything to do on the MacOS to optimize it for DAW? Kinda like what you'd do in XP - turn off services, remove eye candy, tweak some registry settings, etc?
I must say... I am really digging the experience so far. Tomorrow, I'll hook up my TI2 and start exploring what this baby can do.
So many questions!!! and lastly... I have to replace my interface or buy new card. Which of these options is the best:
1. RME HDSPE to link up with my DigiFace/Multiface
2. RME FireFace (new one)
3. Apogee (?)
4. New RME Babyface
haha, it opens up a new can of worms, don't it? |
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| aNYthing |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN you've then got a useless internal HD sitting there which was part of your ticket price of the MBP.
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usb or firewire hard drive enclosure - $10 - $20 and you got yourself an external 2.5" usb 500GB hard drive. Those are still going for about $60 - $80 bucks, last I checked. |
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| Kenny Rogers |
| quote: | Originally posted by aNYthing
14ch? really? stereo or mono? i take it you combine a lot of tracks as you go along? |
stereo. i tried to limit myself to 14ch because the Reason mixer only have 14ch and i didnt want to chain more mixers. ofcourse you can but i think limitation is good. my earliest tracks where two and three mixers but they are messy as hell.
what i have now is usually this:
ch1: kick (and sometimes snare)
ch2: baseline
ch3: drums (mids)
ch4: drums (highs)
ch5: synth (midbass)
ch6: synth
ch7: synth
ch8: synth
ch9: strings/pads
ch10+: loops/FX
and then send/returns for delay/reverb.
now that im moving away from trance and more into house/techno this will be even more reduced, im probably gonna be fine with just 8ch. |
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| aNYthing |
I only spent 1/2 a day with MBP... and I hate to say it but... I'm really digging it! It's a bit frustrating at times to not know how to do some things I'm used to doing... but I'm sure it will just take time and I'll know my way around this thing.
It's very slick and I like it A LOT!
I hate myself for liking it though and being a professional IT (windows admin) for many years it's quite counter-intuitive to enjoy the simplicity so much.
Microsoft SHOULD be afraid... Like it or not - there's a lot to be said about ease of use. Especially when you DON'T WANT TO around - you just want to be a user.
Bottom line - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED... YMMV, though. |
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