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Post by peterhess on Jul 16, 2024 10:23:28 GMT -6
It’s almost time for a new machine. My 2014 mini is stable w/ Mojave on old PT 11 (not officially supported) but I’ve long since reached a non-updateable threshold, and UAD Connect bricks my UAD environment. I want to stay with my UAD (among other things, praying for HW insert on Luna someday). So here’s the question: if I were buying a new mini or macbook, today, what should I get?
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Post by Dan on Jul 16, 2024 10:29:22 GMT -6
Pimped out new mini with max ram, best single core cpu, at least 1 tb of storage for the os and programs, owc external tbolt ssd array for samples and work disk. External hdd array for long term storage on hard disks, maybe even more on mini storage space if you use it for something besides audio just eat the shady apple markup
Or keep what you’re using and ditch uad. This is cheaper and easier so what id really do. There are a lot of good plugs now.
Dan
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Jul 16, 2024 10:57:02 GMT -6
You can likely load current os on that using open legacy patcher
I have current os on my 2012 mbp i7.
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Post by bluesholyman on Jul 16, 2024 17:58:27 GMT -6
Short answer is "as much as you can/want to afford." Macs have an incredibly long life span, compared to other PCs, and they are built now-a-days in such a way that they are not upgradeable. But it won't be just the mac you are upgrading, you'll likely need to upgrade a bunch of software that you currently use, that won't be compatible with the newer OS that runs on the newer macs (this is in part because of the OS moving forward, but more importantly, the newer macs are "Silicon" where yours is "Intel" based - don't get hung up on that too much, just means software will need to be updated to current versions.
I think a good starting point could be a Mini M2 with 16G of ram and 500G HD, but depending on how many things you are doing at once, 8G might be fine if you are budget limited. Honestly, the newest mac mini's will run circles around what you have now and if thats working for you. My Mini M2 is 8G/256G HD but I need to watch where stuff gets installed - have most plugins/samples on external drives as my 256G is nearly full just with "normal" stuff I use/need (i.e. PT and Logic are both on there.)
Its really a "how much can I afford" question, but "afford" needs to take into account software license updates also. Most things from that era are probably not going to work smoothly, but they might - just hard to tell.
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Post by dok on Jul 16, 2024 18:18:57 GMT -6
What Dan said. Don't skimp on RAM and internal storage, buy once and cry once. Remember that the lowest storage options on Macs are slower than the higher ones due to using a single NAND chip instead of two: www.theverge.com/23220299/apple-macbook-air-m2-slow-ssd-read-write-speeds-testing-benchmark#Apple's Refurbished site is great for this sort of thing provided there's a configuration that works for you - if there's not currently, there likely will be soon as machines rotate in and out all the time. |
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Post by ragan on Jul 16, 2024 20:28:01 GMT -6
I just got a refurb M2 MacBook Air and it is the most powerful Pro Tools machine I've used by a long shot. I can't get it to break a sweat. It definitely outperforms my maxed Intel iMac from just a few years ago (and that machine is also quite robust). The MacBook Air is 16GB RAM/1TB SSD.
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Post by peterhess on Jul 17, 2024 9:48:45 GMT -6
Thanks all! Yeah, I know I’m going to need to finally get off my old Avid stuff and move to subscription. I’ve been here before, and that’s not a problem, it’s time to get off PT 11 and Sibelius 7. Really appreciate the responses.
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Post by tonycamphd on Jul 17, 2024 10:58:56 GMT -6
you could probably get this mackbook pro for 1/2 the price i paid new a couple years ago, i test loaded it up with 24 tracks of audio and 9x24=216 instances of liquid sonics and Fab filter plugs, maxed over sampling, linear phase maxed out and it only stuttered after the 217th insert, pretty amazing even 2 years later, I'm sure these are primarily video editing machines way overbuilt for audio   |
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Post by smashlord on Jul 17, 2024 18:12:19 GMT -6
M2 Max Studios start @ $1800 with 32GB RAM and 500GB internal. I'd probably want 64GB if running sample libraries is a thing and 1 TB for software, but I can see it not being 100% necessary.
My Mac Pro has held up pretty well for 9 years... just getting to the point now where large sessions with CPU hungry plugs will slow it down. Can't complain about that run. Computer costs less per year than ProTools sub.
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Post by thehightenor on Jul 18, 2024 13:34:35 GMT -6
Short answer is "as much as you can/want to afford." Macs have an incredibly long life span, compared to other PCs, I get 9 years lifespan from my pro built PC systems. And about the same from my Macs. I think these days "longevity" isn't a platform decipher IME, it's all down to software - if you want to use Logic and Final Cut or prefer OSX then it's a Mac for you. Me, I love both platforms .... meaning what I love is modern computers - they're amazing! |
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Post by peterhess on Jul 19, 2024 9:32:54 GMT -6
You folks on MB Airs… do you have success with external hubs for additional Thunderbolt, and or legacy Firewire and USB peripherals? You must be… so I guess asking what sort of things you have best success with?
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 19, 2024 10:11:05 GMT -6
I just got a refurb M2 MacBook Air and it is the most powerful Pro Tools machine I've used by a long shot. I can't get it to break a sweat. It definitely outperforms my maxed Intel iMac from just a few years ago (and that machine is also quite robust). The MacBook Air is 16GB RAM/1TB SSD. Yeah - I'm not sure you couldn't use a MBA to run your whole studio these days... |
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Post by ragan on Jul 19, 2024 10:49:18 GMT -6
I just got a refurb M2 MacBook Air and it is the most powerful Pro Tools machine I've used by a long shot. I can't get it to break a sweat. It definitely outperforms my maxed Intel iMac from just a few years ago (and that machine is also quite robust). The MacBook Air is 16GB RAM/1TB SSD. Yeah - I'm not sure you couldn't use a MBA to run your whole studio these days... Yeah I mean I'm Running My Whole Studio from the last Intel iMac and it has no problem doing it. Based on what I've seen so far, the MBA outperforms it. |
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