Purchasing new computer, please advise

[Panopticon]

Well, I'm getting one of those new dual processor 2GHz Mac's. I will be purchasing Digital Performer 4, and using my 828mkII audio interface.

I was wondering if any of you are running a system like this (or any sequencer on the new G5). I'm a little bit swayed by Logic and Cubase, but I think that DP4 is calling me the loudest.

[Juho L]

How much does that 2GHz Mac cost?

[udenjoe]

We just got an iMac G4. And guess what? We got no good source of income. Ohm sleepless nights...

[Jade]

Well, I'm getting one of those new dual processor 2GHz Mac's. I will be purchasing Digital Performer 4, and using my 828mkII audio interface.

I was wondering if any of you are running a system like this (or any sequencer on the new G5). I'm a little bit swayed by Logic and Cubase, but I think that DP4 is calling me the loudest.

I'm quite skeptic about Mac, because of the lack of programs on the market. And then there's the price... =( But the compability - between the system and the programs - is better.

I've built my own pc, where all part is of top quality. It cost me about 25 000 SEK, but in the end I think it's going to be cheap, when I only have to change the parts instead of buying a whole new computer.

[Tomer=Trance]

the best pc in the market today cant beat the mac g5...
if your going hardware all the way go for it if your going also software i'l would wait for the next intel chip

[Juho L]

the best pc in the market today cant beat the mac g5...
if your going hardware all the way go for it if your going also software i'l would wait for the next intel chip

The AMD's 64-bit processor is already out and Intel's new model is coming in winter. I think the PC's are on G5 level on next spring. There's no point in getting Mac if you have used PC before. You only get new system to learn without almost eny benefits.

[TommyS]

A pentium 4 3.2 gig with hyper threading on are just as fast or even faster. Mac benchmarked their systems against P4`s with hyperthreading off.

Also here in the Uk they`ve now stopped the G5 advert from being shown on tv because of false advertising.


http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=12601

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/39/33909.html

64 bit systems are going to blow G5 out of the water when there fully compatible with software.

:D

[Juho L]

64 bit systems are going to blow G5 out of the water when there fully compatible with software.

There's already 64-bit version of Windows XP released, so we'll just have to wait for Cubase update to 64-bit architechture and off we go.

[BlueSwan]

I use a P4 1,6 Ghz PC with 512 MB DDR 2700 RAM.

It works just fine for me, but then again I don't exploit it too heavily. I record LOTS of vocals through, with LOTS of realtime processing, with no problems. I haven't really used it too much with soft synths YET though, so I can't say how it would work if it was really pushed.

[Panopticon]

Well, as a follow-up, I did, in fact get the new Dual 2Ghz Mac G5. Lemme tell you, this thing is rock solid. Paid 2800 US for it (ouch), but it works great. Right now running Audiodesk 2 and Absynth, Motu 828mkII handling the sound duties, everything is amazingly stable (Absynth and Cubase SX were never very stable under Windows for me, I had constant problems). Going to get Digital Performer 4 next week.

As far as computing power, it's great. Yesterday I had 100 audio tracks playing simultaneously, with 5 effects on each track. Computer never got tired, I just got tired of adding tracks. Playback is smooth and glitch-free, even with that much going on.

This is my first experience w/Mac, and if things keep going this well, I'll never look at another PC again.

[BlueSwan]

100 audio tracks with 5 effects on each track!!!

HOLY SHIT!!

Maybe it is time to upgrade after all, but then again, I'm not recording gospel music :wink:

[udenjoe]

The mac OS runs fast with less speed. It really doesn't matter what the comparison is. PCs will always need more powa'. Macs rock, nothing beats them. They NEVER crash.

[Hollowcell]

my music pc never crashes uden! but it doesnt have n e games, or n e interent, plus it doesnt even have a burner! plus ill run softsynths on a seperate machine to the machine i record audio on too! hehe

ill tell you what though, the thing definately couldnt run 100tracks with 5 effects on each! impressive!

how many seperate effects did you use? and did you use any compressors, limiters or any other demanding plugins?

[TommyS]

Im the same as Hollowcell where my system doesnt crash. Ive used a little app called XPlite to strip the OS of all the crap thats not needed. Also i stop all the services thats not crucial for a DAW system.

http://www.absdigital.co.uk/dloads/XPdawTweaks.htm


I can get around 80-85 tracks audio with 5 effects on each channel but i need to tweak the buffer sizes from default within Nuendo 2. But hopefully when steinberg make nuendo/sx available to use hyperthreading they`ll be more powerfull. I hope.

The 5 effects were: Mod Delay , Double Delay, Reverb, Q filter, DaTube.

All of these were Inserts

:D

[nrgy]

100 audiotracks with 5 effects! 8O
if there only where a pc that could do same thing. Then I would never need to buy another production PC ever. maby Mac is the way to go, if you're serious about producing?
but it's so expensive

do you know if it's possible to use audiophile 2496 with that Mac?
and how is it about musicapps, do you need to buy new or does the same version of cubase sx, reason 2.5 and v-station work with Mac ?

and one more thing, have you tried running alot of hardprocessing vsti and vst effects(waves etc.) ?

[Juho L]

http://www.opnlabs.com/omx64.php

That's a good PC for recording. Hoho.

[TommyS]

If you go over to mac then you`ll need to get new software unless the cds you have are hybrid images aswell PC/MAC. Also if you use alot of software then theres not as much available on mac format compared to pc.

The audiophile should be compatible with a mac, just check on m-audio website. I know the delta series can be used on either machine.

I wouldnt jump on the mac band wagon just yet. Wait for the 64-bit processors to hit the market properly. Alot of the fact is the OS that the machine runs. Windows Os`s seem to be really resource hungry where as Mac OS`s can run smoothly without eating up as much resources.

But its up to you to make the choice. PC or MAC :?

[TommyS]

Thats a pretty good system. In fact the best system available yet.

I see its running Nuendo 2. (well i think so). Also the Dual 64-bit cpu`s is a nice touch.

Some uad-1`s and it`d be even better :D

[3o3]

Macs rock, nothing beats them. They NEVER crash.

Ohh! They dont? OS X = Sucks big time.. And macs arent that great either nowadays - explain how a G4 800mhz (with 768mg ram) only could run Reason 2.0 with 1 Redrum Drummachine, 3 synthesizer (1 lead, 1 bass, 1 pad) + 2 effects (delay, reverb) + 1 mixertable (with no other applications running) + no games installed + no other apps installed and the G4 processor is running at 75-90% of its capacity? and got a framerate that seems like a 486 is trying to run a game like Quake 3. I even had a friend over that worked for Apple and he said "there is nothing wrong with your macintosh, this is how they work"

Next computer i'll buy is going to be an P4 3.0, or the new 64bits processor - i dont know yet, the P4 processor gives me enough power. On my brothers P4 2.4ghz + 512 ram Reason 2.5 runs with 3 Redrums, 20 Synthesizers (both Subtractor + Malstroem - and i might ad that my old G4 where really bad at running Malstroem since it took almost everybit of the processorpower) + 4 mixertables + _alot_ of effects - probably up around 30 and no problems whatsoever.

a good tweaked PC is the best and will be the best way if you wanna use software stuff. probably the best is having an hardware sequencer and so on

[Juho L]

I wouldnt jump on the mac band wagon just yet. Wait for the 64-bit processors to hit the market properly. Alot of the fact is the OS that the machine runs. Windows Os`s seem to be really resource hungry where as Mac OS`s can run smoothly without eating up as much resources.

Yup. And on the other hand that Mac Panopticon has, is dual processor version so there's no point in comparing it with single processor PC's.

[nrgy]

64 bit systems are going to blow G5 out of the water when there fully compatible with software.

There's already 64-bit version of Windows XP released, so we'll just have to wait for Cubase update to 64-bit architechture and off we go.

Where did you read/hear about the new windows 64-bit version?

[Juho L]

Where did you read/hear about the new windows 64-bit version?

It was mentioned on a one review of the new Athlon 64. Probably coming up next spring or winter.

[TommyS]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.asp

:D

[Juho L]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.asp

I hardly can wait a third-party benchmark comparisations of G5 and the new AMD!

[nrgy]

ok, thanks!
but do you guys know, if an amd 64 bit processor will double the processing power in 32 bit programs ? :lol:

[Juho L]

but do you guys know, if an amd 64 bit processor will double the processing power in 32 bit programs?

Hoho. Probably not. Think if it would. Double power on every 32-bit program. Or with dual processor system quadruple processing power. That would be quite insane.

That 64-bit system really needs 64-bit programs to get full benefits.

[nrgy]

I heard this from someone :D that it would double the processingpower on 32-bit apps:P.
if it's true is another story

[Juho L]

if it's true is another story

Indeed. If that's true 64-bit 3GHz AMD or Intel would run 32-bit programs faster than 6GHz 32-bit system. I noticed that there's enchanced floating point processing so it will make wonders in audioprocessing.

[TommyS]

http://www.thejemreport.com/lab64/64bit.php

Hope this explains a little. :D

[nrgy]

thanks TommyS, that actually explained what I was wondering about :D

[nrgy]

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,112749,pg,8,00.asp :D

[Panopticon]

how many seperate effects did you use? and did you use any compressors, limiters or any other demanding plugins?

Every track had waves L1 and RVerb, which are both demanding; the other three were varied between amplitube, distortion, chorus, etc.

[TommyS]

Were you playing any audio on them or were the tracks empty with just effetcs on top.

A screen shot would be nice

:D

[Juho L]

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,112749,pg,8,00.asp :D

Hoho! Single processor Athlon beats dual-G5?! Good grief! I wonder what happens if you get dual-Athlon (which probably costs the same as dual-G5)!

[nrgy]

and another one, for ppl who wants to read about mac g5 vs. amd 64 fx-51

http://www.alienware.com/review_pages/review_template.aspx?FileName=review_macworld_1203.asp



quote "50-90 % more processing power than mac g5" 8O

[Juho L]

By the way how much does that dual-G5 cost?

[Juho L]

quote "50-90 % more processing power than mac g5" 8O

There are some serious trouble in Mac camp. How the heck that dual-G5 system can be slower than single AMD even the both are 64-bit processors?

[nrgy]

quote "50-90 % more processing power than mac g5" 8O

There are some serious trouble in Mac camp. How the heck that dual-G5 system can be slower than single AMD even the both are 64-bit processors?

I have no idea 8) I'm just surfing the net, to try and find most information about amd fx-51 64 bit and/vs. Mac G5 dual2.2(?)

[nrgy]

Were you playing any audio on them or were the tracks empty with just effetcs on top.

A screen shot would be nice

:D

I want to see a screenshot too if you did one 8)