PT8 LE PPC vs. Mac Pro

[doorknocker]

Essentialy I hope to be talken out of a purchase......

I use a G5 Dual 2Ghz and just recently upgraded to Leopard/PT 8 LE. It seems that there's definitely a lack of processing power now.

I rarely go past 30 tracks or so but I really want to be get a better performance and maybe also be able to track at 96k for some projects. Tracking at Buffer size 32 is great but it only works for overdubs/small sessions before the Mac is crapping out.

How much of an improvement would a Mac Pro be? Since I still could get some cash for the G5 I think that the time for an upgrade would be now. I guess I'd need a new machine anyway soon but I wonder if it would be just a bitof an improvement or rather a huge difference?

What do you think. Does PT8 LE work satisfactory on a Mac Pro? Can you track at 96k without slugishness with reasonable sized projects?

[videoteque]

It will sure be a big improvement!!!
thumbsupthumbsup

[norton]

I was told by some mac code junkies that osX-leopard was optimized and basically made for the newer Intel mac Pro architecture.

Whereas, the G5 setup will run leopard, BUT the operating system won't be as efficient.

Which is probably the cause of the sluggishness you're experiencing.?

[doorknocker]

Originally Posted by norton

I was told by some mac code junkies that osX-leopard was optimized and basically made for the newer Intel mac Pro architecture.

Whereas, the G5 setup will run leopard, BUT the operating system won't be as efficient.

Which is probably the cause of the sluggishness you're experiencing.?

Yeah, I heard that too and it really seems to be true. I can't see myself downgrading to PT7 again though, even temporarily, the imporvements in PT8 are just too big.

[audiolux]

About a year ago, I made the exact same switch that you're contemplating (G5 dual 2G to MacPro). The difference has been incredible. I can easily record 18 initial tracks of drums etc, at a buffer setting of 32 (very low latency) while sending an 8 channel headphone mix from the auxes, and then continue overdubbing large sessions (40+ tracks), even using several plug-ins, while staying at the 32 buffer setting. By the time i finish tracking, CPU usage seems to be hovering around 30% usually. I only end up upping the buffer when it's time to mix and I need to use a lot more plug-ins. When I set the buffer to 1024, I've got room for more plug-ins that I could ever use. This is on a MacPro 8 Core (harpertown), running PT8 with the complete production toolkit and an 003rack.

I'm not recording at 96K (generally 48), as this would limit my interface options (the 003 optical input doesn't run at 96), so I can't say what the difference would be there.

I don't run a lot of VIs, but I while I'm tracking I do always have a click instrument, and an instance of Xpand running with a piano just for occasional not references, and occasionally add another 1 or 2 Xpand plugs while staying at a low buffer setting.

I switched from an HD3 on the G5 to this setup (but I also ran an 002 on the G5 for a while, so I remember what the performance was like), and so far I've been more than happy. I very rarely have to think about power limits.

[Tony Shepperd]

Unfortunately the bottom line is you'll need to buy a new Intel Mac, especially if you are doing native based processing with LE.

I posted this a few years ago, but for every gain you have with native processing there is another jump in code writing with a new app.

Amazing stuff in PT8, but in order for it to run just as smooth as PT 7, you WILL need a newer/faster Intel Mac.

[doorknocker]

Thanks for your input, audiolux and Tony. I guess I need to make the move, just need to find a way to pay for it!!

Originally Posted by audiolux

I'm not recording at 96K (generally 48), as this would limit my interface options (the 003 optical input doesn't run at 96), so I can't say what the difference would be there.

On a Digi 002, is it possible to record @ 96 with both S/PDIF and ADAT? (I use a UA 2192 along with a Aurora 8.)

[videoteque]

While you find the money, the Mac Pro line should renew it's products!!!

[audiolux]

The Digi interfaces do not allow recording at 96k through the lightpipe inputs, so with the 002 or 003 you are limited to using only the 8 built in analog inputs plus spdif if you want to record at 96k.