Any Vista Users out there?

[dabresk]

So what do you all think? A G4, upgrade the memory (it's running OSX...not sure what version)...get cubase and some new VSTi's. I was going to get EWQL Gold anyway. I figure I can get the computer for next to nothing. Can I import the existing stuff in cubase from the PC to the Mac?I also use reason....would the same be true there?

[vermeer]

A G4 1.6MHz?Jump on it...now! As it happens, this baby will be able to run the latest Mac Leopard 10.5 OS. Unbelievable! Try upgrading like this this with an ancient Windows machine You may have to boot from an external DVD if this one doesn't have one. Back in the days, those were optional. Yeah, plenty of life left. I'm assuming that it was well cared for at the hospital Yeah, all the major cross-platform apps will write machine independent sessions..They don't like doing the same work twice. Just double check with their support site to make sure the path is clear. This should definitely keep you busy until you get the money for a new (or used) Mac.Vermeer

[slideboardouts]

dabresk I would definitely nab that thing if you can get it for next to nothing. On ebay there are a couple G4 powerbooks that are still selling for a little more than $600. You can import your files from pc to mac in cubase and reason. Just a few days ago I took a reason 2.5 project I did on my pc and put it on my mac to work on it in Reason 4. Worked just fine. -Steve

[ciskokidd]

You guys are tempting me to go out and get a used Mac!Oh the temptation!!!!!!I've been seeing them all over craigslist and ebay.Hmmmmm?Cisco

[vermeer]

ciskokidd,Common' you know you want it...join the bright side...;D. My final argument: a recent survey showed that Mac users were getting laid more often than Windows users. If that doesn't convince you to switch, nothing will Vermeer

[davekershaw]

Hey! Now I'm convinced.But yeah, you guessed it - I'm a Sonar user!!!It seems strange that as most pro's are using Macs, Cakewalk haven't gone into that market.I'd be interested to hear which sequencers you all using on your Macs, and how they compare to Sonar.

[vermeer]

Dave,Surprisingly, feature-wise, they're splittig hair right now. They all do a pretty good job at audio and Midi. Logic is kicking some major ass with Logic 8: it has no dongle and tons of plugins for 400$. The cool part is that the workflow is now very similar to GarageBand, so you can get started for free on GB and migrate to Logic when you hit the quality ceiling.Personally, I use Protools LE, just because 6 years ago, when I started recording, it was by far the easisiest to learn without a manual. Also, I knew a few pros who were using it for their major release projects, so I felt good using the same gear as they did. Plug-ins are expensive however and there's not a whole lot of free stuff. The best plug-ins by far (USR, Waves, McDSP, Sony Oxford, Line6, Virus, GML, etc.)MOTU is used mainly by people in film or those midi sequencing veterans. It's pretty much as powerful as Protools, but the lack of high-quality plug-ins makes it a hard to invest in. Thatt, plus the price (~800 last time I checked...hope it's no longer the case...)Vermeer

[53mph]

Quote:Hey! Now I'm convinced.But yeah, you guessed it - I'm a Sonar user!!!It seems strange that as most pro's are using Macs, Cakewalk haven't gone into that market.I'd be interested to hear which sequencers you all using on your Macs, and how they compare to Sonar.It's not true that most pro's are using Macs. That may have been the case in the old days but PCs users have probably purpassed the number of Mac users.If you read interviews in magazines with pro musicians and producers you'd be suprised how few actually use Macs.From my experience, the photography, design and advertising worlds tend to use Macs, but, Macs are definately not the industry standard for music production.I'd say that in my experince Pro Tools is the industry standard for music editing. It's really easy to transport sessions from one studio to the next using Pro Tools.I use and love Sonar, but, I get the impression that it is really a home user/producer package. I'd be interested to know if there are any studios that actually use it as their main DAW. If you believe the advertising blurb and reviews then you'd think that Sonar is the most powerful tool out there, but, somehow I doubt it. I think the price tag on Pro tools makes it 'reassuringly' expensive for studios.I worked for a major audio content provider which used Pro Tools. Every studio they worked with around the world also used Pro Tools as standard (only the crappy cowboy studios tended to use programmes that weren't compatible).If you plan on sending sessions across the world for collaborations then I'd say Pro Tools is your best bet for compatability.Now, I await the backlash!

[vermeer]

No need to flame anybody. We all have different experiences and make choices accordingly Saying that "all the pros" use [insert favorite pro gear] is dangerous statement. However, what I can say from my experience visiting local studios that do major label recording is that they all have Protools and use it as the primary way to transfer sessions.I can also say that personally I have less problems with the Mac audio sub-system. And I'm the kind of guy who always had more than 3 PCs at any given time. I just don't do audio on them.Even when I go to Japan, I'm suprised to see that they too use ProTools as well as a bunch of funky stuff I've never heard of, but for music always a Mac.Vermeer

[matto]

I don't think anybody would disagree if I call myself one of the more "Pro" taxi members , and I use a PC and Cubase.If you're having problems with your PC that you can't seem to fix no matter what you do, then maybe you should consider giving the Mac a try. But don't switch because a bunch of people are telling you "Pro's use Mac's"...that would be ridiculous. And if you use Sonar and love it and have become fast on it, I certainly wouldn't switch. I'd get a PC custom built for audio. Sure that erases the price difference between PC and Mac...but just like many Logic PC users switched to Mac when Apple bought Emagic, paying a bit of extra money to be able to work efficiently with the software you love is a good investment for sure.That being said I've used stock Dells for year with no problems whatsoever other than the fact that they're noisy...but so are many Macs.matto