noobie wants to go protools

[RBHova]

I took a course in recording working on a pro tools HD system. I liked the way it operated so decided to build my project studio using pro tools le. My question is what computer to use. It seems to me that Mac is the way to go with Protools, so i guess what i'm really asking is how far up the ladder of G5's do i need to go.

 

[Ford Van]

If you got money to burn, I suppose a Mac is okay. But I guarantee you that you can put together a PC with the same specs as any given Mac for about 1/3 to 1/2 less in price!

XP is a VERY stable OS and I doubt you will have any more troubles with it than you would with OSX. In fact, I was helping a guy the other day do a mix in LE using a Mac, and the damn app froze on me and shut down! Lost some stuff that I adjusted in the session.

So, that make it perfect for me! EVERY time I have tried to do audio on a Mac, PT has froze on me.

Sonar has froze on my once in the last year. Caused by a Waves plugin that doesn't work right in Sonar. No biggie.

Save your money, get a PC!

 

[RBHova]

where do i start

u say i can put together a computer but to someone who doesn't know alot where would i start. i've been told frontside bus is an important factor. Where do u reccomend i start, trust me i really don't wanna spend that much on a mac if i don't have to Sorry bout the repeat post it won't happen again

 

[bennychico11]

If you got money to burn, I suppose a Mac is okay. But I guarantee you that you can put together a PC with the same specs as any given Mac for about 1/3 to 1/2 less in price!

XP is a VERY stable OS and I doubt you will have any more troubles with it than you would with OSX. In fact, I was helping a guy the other day do a mix in LE using a Mac, and the damn app froze on me and shut down! Lost some stuff that I adjusted in the session.

So, that make it perfect for me! EVERY time I have tried to do audio on a Mac, PT has froze on me.

Sonar has froze on my once in the last year. Caused by a Waves plugin that doesn't work right in Sonar. No biggie.

Save your money, get a PC!

a lot of that has to do with the application itself, and not the OS.
That being said, I'm a PC guy. More because of cost and because I know the PC side of things better.
The new G5's are bad ass with two dual core processors and PCI Express standard. I would love to try one out. But of course the price tags on these babies are going to be out of my league.

Work what you're comfortable on, affordable and what is compatible with the software/hardware you want to get.

 

[Raw-Tracks]

u say i can put together a computer but to someone who doesn't know alot where would i start. i've been told frontside bus is an important factor. Where do u reccomend i start, trust me i really don't wanna spend that much on a mac if i don't have to Sorry bout the repeat post it won't happen again

A good resource is the following thread on the Digidesign User's Conference.
http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat....360675&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&fpart=1

I built the previous generation of the "Allenstein Machine", and I must say I am more than happy. I think I spent about $800-900 putting it all together. It keeps up really well. I did have problems early on, but that was due to a faulty motherboard. Since I replaced that, I have not had a single crash or lockup. Macs are really too expensive to be replacing every couple of years. I would rather pay for a Windows machine.

 

[sonnylarsen]

I am a firm believer in using the machine that suits you best. You will be more productive on the machine you are most comfortable using. Pro Tools works equally well on Windows XP and Mac OS X so you will be fine either way. If you are not sure which you prefer, just head out to a COMP USA and play around with the Mac's and PC's. You will figure out which you like best pretty quick.

Personally, I am currently LOVING Mac OS X because after years and years of working on and building PC's and dealing with Windows, OS X is a breath of fresh air. It's true, Windows XP is pretty much just as stable as OS X, but only with proper configuration. It's also true waht they say about Mac. It just works. But I will always have a PC around because they are so cheap.

 

[firby]

I went to school and learned on a mac too. Here I run on a g4. I love it. I use a mac cause I am constantly moving stuff between Logic Audio and ProTools. For me, then no PC because I am not learning all the stuff I can do in Logic Audio on yet another DAW. I feel spoiled with Logic Audio, ProTools and Peak as well as the ESX sampler which is tits.

Furthermore, I have never had either virus software or a virus on the mac. On my old mac running OS9 I had six freezeups in the 4 years that I ran it. I still run about like that with OSX. Having an ftp server come standard on a mac with OSX is kick ass too. I blast the mixes to other boxes easy.

 

[jonnyc]

Just do me a favor and don't believe the PC guys when they tell you "every time I work on a mac it freezes". Thats like saying every time you drive your car it breaks down. Its just total bullshit and nobody would ever work like that.

 

[TuoKaerf]

I use both for Pro Tools, but I'm on the mac more. If you feel like doing more video stuff, then PC may be the way to go if you want to add Avid hardware down the road. Otherwise, either way will work just fine.

Word of warning though, Pro Tools only will run on certain Windows based machines. Certain computer hardware will not work with Pro Tools, and Digi's website clearly tells you what you need to have. For the most part, it isn't a big issue with newer and higher end PC's, but still check it over.

 

[fraserhutch]

Just do me a favor and don't believe the PC guys when they tell you "every time I work on a mac it freezes". Thats like saying every time you drive your car it breaks down. Its just total bullshit and nobody would ever work like that.

Just do ME a favour and don't believe the MAC guys when they tell you "every time I work on a PC it crashes".

There's enough bs on both sides to go around.

I've said it here before and I'll say it again, get an Atari 1024 ST anda copy of Notator. You'll be glad you did. Trust me.

 

[Ford Van]

Just do me a favor and don't believe the PC guys when they tell you "every time I work on a mac it freezes". Thats like saying every time you drive your car it breaks down. Its just total bullshit and nobody would ever work like that.

I can truely say that so far though. I have been a PC guy for a long time.

But really, every time I have gone to a studio, and they have had PT running on a Mac, EVERY SINGLE TIME the system has crashed. This has happened about 10 times over the last 7 years. As incredible as that sounds, it is true.

A couple of these sessions were in VERY expensive studios!

I am not suggesting that PT or Macs are inherently "buggy", but more to point out that some people actually DO have bad experiences with Macs and PT. If you were to read it from Mac/PT users, they suggest that they NEVER haver problems, and I know for certain that they do!

I don't think the Mac platform is any more stable than PC. I don't think for the SAME MONEY that you can even come close to the same specs when comparing a mac to pc. The PC at any price point is going to deliver a faster machine! Let's not even get going on how limited you are on hardware/software on the Mac. There isn't that much to choose from, and it is all VERY expensive.

PC is just the better way to go. If you say had only $2000 to get a computer, soundcard, and software, I am not even sure you could do that on a Mac! You would have MANY options on a PC, and could have a pretty bitchin' machine too!

 

[jonnyc]

Well I've been on a Mac for over a year and the only time I ever have a freeze up is when I'm pushing 20+ tracks at 24/96. I also use a pc everyday and actually started on a pc for recording. But it was so buggy and crashed so often that I opted for a mac and I don't have any more of those problems. My pc is actually way more powerful and attractive as hell but with all the problems I have with it, it just doesn't make sense to record on it. Now I admit I'm not too computer savvy but the frustration level with my pc far outweighs my frustration level with my mac, which is nearly non existent. I guess I'm just lucky that my mac hasn't had a problem, but on the flip side I must be real unlucky with my pc. There isn't a right or wrong, as long as you can get a good recording and keep either machine running you're ok, they both essentially do the same thing and really are the same thing. And not all "mac" guys say pc's crash all the time, and not all pc guys say macs crash all the time, but I am sick of the guys that come on here and say that, that was my whole point.

 

[vschiano2008]

dont listen to the windoze ppl.. go mac.. you dont even need a g5. a g4 is more than enough. i have an ibook and its more than enough. just stay away from things that are not easily upgradable, like the mac mini. look on ebay for a used powermac g4. you can even get an imac g5 for $1299, new. thats not bad. good luck

 

[BigRay]

DOnt listen to either windows or mac people. Its a big pissing contest that noone wins. I own win and mac systems, and there are drawbacks to both. The whole windows/mac BS argument is stupid. its like "analog vs digital".

Use whichever you are comfortable with. they are equally good.

youll see some pro engineers with win based systems, some with mac.. . Thats a fact. Macs arent the ultimate solution, nor are win based systems.
im getting sequoia myself...heard too much negative stuff about PT.