Mac Users: Design recommendations for a new studio computer

[Paulie]

i ended up keeping my MacBook Air with 8GB RAM and no longer submitting to string/brass heavy trailer listings.

I think I'll be upgrading to one of the newer, expensive Macs later this year. It all depends on how finances go for me over the next few months. Until then, I'll be working the less CPU intensive styles like hip-hop, tension cues, dramedy and swamp.

[edmondredd]

Thanks for your reply Paulie.. and hope to hear about your updates soon,
I was checking earlier Mac pro on ebay, you could probably find a good deal there, but then again choices, choices!

[elser]

I just went through this process and after much research and a lot of help from some of the forum members here, I settled on a 2010 12 core Westmere Mac Pro. I was also intrigued by Cyra's machines and got him on the phone. He re-assured me that he couldn't even get close to the speed of one of the used Macs for anywhere near the same price. After getting my machine i find it's a bit like having a 1960's muscle car. Extremely powerful but so far it has required a bit of tweaking to get everything working smoothly. But on a price/power scale it's a very good option.

[edmondredd]

but so far it has required a bit of tweaking to get everything working smoothly. But on a price/power scale it's a very good option.

Do you mind expanding on that one a further more?

[andygabrys]

there were some issues Jon had making everything play nicely, which I didn't have to suffer through - and we both basically got similar used Mac Pro's.

[elser]

but so far it has required a bit of tweaking to get everything working smoothly. But on a price/power scale it's a very good option.

Do you mind expanding on that one a further more?

In retrospect I think my issues we're pretty much software related. I was previously on a 2007 Quad core which couldn't go beyond OS 10.7.5. So when I upgraded the computer I also upgraded the OS, went from Logic 9 to Logic 10, Komplete 7 to Komplete 10. I have several USB 1 devices and FW400 devices so I had to find FW adapters, get a new USB hub, etc... The move from Logic 9 to 10 was pretty massive, a lot of stuff changed, and it was all happening simultaneously with the new OS and other upgrades. Now that it's all together it works great. I'm doing some pretty large projects and as long I distribute to the 12 cores evenly it's very powerful. Right now learning how to use the multi cores efficiently is the biggest challenge.

[Paulie]

Sounds like a lot of work, but worth it for the results. Apple makes it tough by crippling older completely useful hardware with continuous software updates.

[edmondredd]

but so far it has required a bit of tweaking to get everything working smoothly. But on a price/power scale it's a very good option.

Do you mind expanding on that one a further more?

In retrospect I think my issues we're pretty much software related. I was previously on a 2007 Quad core which couldn't go beyond OS 10.7.5. So when I upgraded the computer I also upgraded the OS, went from Logic 9 to Logic 10, Komplete 7 to Komplete 10. I have several USB 1 devices and FW400 devices so I had to find FW adapters, get a new USB hub, etc... The move from Logic 9 to 10 was pretty massive, a lot of stuff changed, and it was all happening simultaneously with the new OS and other upgrades. Now that it's all together it works great. I'm doing some pretty large projects and as long I distribute to the 12 cores evenly it's very powerful. Right now learning how to use the multi cores efficiently is the biggest challenge.

+1 And you had to change your audio interface as well.. I hear you!
Thank you for your answer Elser
I am still looking for my best option to come.. the newer macs come in handy but at a really high cost, and with less options of 'customisation'
The powerful PC slave is also another option.. but I haven't read anything that goes beyond 2014.. but then again, maybe start with a powerful machine and then expand..
again choices, and more choices..

[mojobone]

My recent upgrade was to a refurb 12-core Mac Pro paired with a Zen Studio I/F, and my only issues were the lack of a Thunderbolt port, which limited my interface options somewhat and the lack of driver support for my legacy Tascam FW-1884, which I knew going in; it's headed for a new B room/rehearsal space and an offline Windows machine running XP or Win7, if I can make that work.

[elser]

Actually, I didn't have to change my interface. It's a MOTU Ultralite MkIII which connects via FW400 so I did have to get a 400 to 800 adapter but it still works fine. Not the greatest, but I use it in my live rig as well and it's built like a small safe, so it has that advantage. A UA Apollo is somewhere in my future.