What computer should I use for pro tools. Mac or PC?

[t4mh]

It's a little bit more than twice the memory addressing ability:

"What's Different About 64-Bit?

While 32 bits of information can only access 4 GB of RAM, a 64-bit machine can access 17.2 BILLION gigabytes of system memory, banishing any limits far into the future. This also means that your video cards and other devices will not be stealing usable memory space from the operating system. Windows 64-bit Home editions are still limited to 16 GB of RAM for licensing reasons, but the Professional and Ultimate versions can use up to 192 GB of RAM, so keep that in mind when building that killer system."

Quoted from here:

http://lifehacker.com/5431284/the-lifeh ... ng-systems

You are of course correct Mazz. I was just trying to keep my comments somewhat glib so some of the less techno folks could get past the 32/64bit thing. But thanks for the correction!

Keith

[mojobone]

As you probably already know, the biggest advantage of a 64 bit environment is access to (theoretically) infinite RAM.

I can recall a time when one Meg of memory was 'theoretically infinite' ....

Keep in mind that with a 64-bit system, you're still limited by the number of available RAM sockets on your motherboard and by the RAM size of the installed chips.

@Ern: IIRC, I said, "...a bit of a technophobe...", hardly even a byte. There are many kinds of geeks, and you and I both are several kinds; good thing that "geek" is a compliment, nowadays!

[charlie2]

64 bit is only one aspect of my decision. I need a new computer to hold pro tools 8, the east west composer's collection programs), addictive drums and microsoft word.

I don't know if I should go mac or visiondaw. I was told pt works better on mac. The downside to that is macs don't load your software and I may have problems with things like my 3 external hard drives (seagate, mybook and buffalo), but they're telling me they will work on mac.

Plus I have to buy something to hold word and macs are more expensive.

I can also use my dell screen on the mac if I buy something to connect it.

This is a big decision and I'll take any suggestions. The mac or visiondaw

Thanks

[ernstinen]

Charlie,

I've got a VisionDAW for EWQLSO Gold Only. Works like a charm. 64 Midi-channels humming away at the same time!

But, does Vision makes a dedicated PC for ProTools? I looked at their website awhile ago during the same search you are doing, and didn't see one. They must have one or they'd be losing out on a big market!

I've decided to buy an iMac for Digital Performer, and will decide about PT later, since I only use it for stereo mastering. Strangely, the problems I've had over the last 9 months with my old Compaq P4 (2 gig RAM) that I use for PT have basically gone away! I just did a recording with 8 tracks and plug-ins, and rarely have been getting the "CPU message." It's bizarre and baffling! If the old war horse will hang in there for the occasional mastering session, that's fine with me!

Computers are strange creatures ---

Ern

[mazz]

If you have questions about VisionDAW computers, contact Mark Nagata, he's very responsive and knowledgable.

If you have the latest issue of Mix Magazine, there's a good article in there on building a 64 bit DAW computer using Windows 7. It's actually about getting one built from one of the vendors that make purpose built DAWs, including Vision DAW, and they do quote Mark quite a bit in the article.

[ernstinen]

If you have questions about VisionDAW computers, contact Mark Nagata, he's very responsive and knowledgable.

Yea, Mazz, Mark Nagata is great. I actually drove down to N. Orange County before I bought my VisionDAW. He spent a LOT of time with me, and helped me out! Great company. --- BTW, I'm gonna start a new thread about something else because I don't want to step on this one!

Best Regards,

Ern

[charlie2]

It seems like most people on this forum are using the mac for their DAW. They only seem to use the visiondaw pc to hold their samples.

Does that mean the mac is the better machine to get?

Also 95% of the people i speak to at guitar center and sam ash are pro mac which makes me lean toward the mac instead of the visiondaw pc.

I just haven't TOTALLY committed myself to it yet. It's a lot of money...and some time too, to put all the software in.

I found out all my software and hard drives are workable on a mac. Now I also have to find out if they can work in a 64 bit enviroment.

PS. what bothers me is pcs haven't been all that bad to me. I mean....I been using pt 7.3 on an xp media center pc for the past 2 years without too much trouble! And it's not suppose to work on media center!

anyway....keep the comments coming if possible. They're a big help.

[crs7string]

It seems like most people on this forum are using the mac for their DAW. They only seem to use the visiondaw pc to hold their samples.

Does that mean the mac is the better machine to get?

Also 95% of the people i speak to at guitar center and sam ash are pro mac which makes me lean toward the mac instead of the visiondaw pc.

I just haven't TOTALLY committed myself to it yet. It's a lot of money...and some time too, to put all the software in.

I found out all my software and hard drives are workable on a mac. Now I also have to find out if they can work in a 64 bit enviroment.

PS. what bothers me is pcs haven't been all that bad to me. I mean....I been using pt 7.3 on an xp media center pc for the past 2 years without too much trouble! And it's not suppose to work on media center!

anyway....keep the comments coming if possible. They're a big help.

Charlie,

Based on my own experience, I'm not sure I would rely on what the sales people at the big box stores tell you. I have found very little product knowledge when I visit one of them. I usually go into one of them after I've read a couple of reviews and done some research. It is somewhat of a shame that a customer can know more about the product than the people who are the "experts"


I doubt any of the people you have spoken to have sat down with a DAW running on Windows 7 64 bit with 12 gig of RAM. It is far easier for them to spout the same thing they have been saying for the last decade or so.


BTW two of the very successful folks on the Forum, Dave Walton and Matt Hirt, (amongst others) are running their DAW's on pc's (Dave is using Sonar and Matt uses Cubase)

I don't know if you have called Vision DAW or PCAudio Labs, but I can assure you they have more product knowledge than the 95 % who recommend a Mac that you have polled. Also, as already mentioned, they will install your software and updates and make sure everything is working properly when you recieve a system. This is a tremendous time saver that is difficult to translate into a dollar value.

Chuck

[mojobone]

I'll boil it down, it's really a question of personality; do you get a sense of personal satisfaction by being able to do your own car repairs? If so, spec and build a hotrod PC, load your own OS and software; you'll have done it once and will be able to do it again, in the event of a catastrophic failure. It's a worthwhile thing to do, because of what you'll learn. (you'll likely also save a bunch o' greenbacks) Otherwise, a purpose-built CreationStation, VisionDAW or equivalent Mac system will behave more like an instrument or a tool. (careful with that axe, Eugene...)