DAW for PC and Mac

[EveningSky]

Hello GS Forum Members,

This is a question for individuals who record and music edit in both the Mac and PC world, and who work on the same project on both platforms.

Does this work?

What SW do you use to do this?

Please share your experience with me.

I have posted previously, recently, that I am a home studio hobbyist, long time Mac user, currently invested in the Mac world, but frustrated with Apples lack of commitment to lower end desktop computers.

Enough of that topic. Now to the practical question of whether one can effectively work in both worlds on the same project?

I wish to set up a second recording station at a site outside my main residence, and am considering entering the PC world with a Dell and some DAW package usable in both systems.

Yours,
ES

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Two ways work. Either use a cross-platform DAW, or follow the NARAS/AES format for platform exchange.

For myself, I just picked the DAW software that I liked to use and committed to using computers that supported that software. The difference being that I don't care a fig about the name on the machine, I need to use the tool that gets the work done easiest for me. As it happens, for me the software was PC and PC only. But the platform is a distraction, we work in the software. It's like worrying about the voltage... who cares what the voltage is, as long as the gear works using that voltage?

[Retrofreak]

Pro Tools 9.

I'm constantly working between OSX and W7 with PT9, it works well just make sure you have the same plugins installed and its good to go.

The PC version of PT9 has Mac Drive built in, so when I'm in W7 via Bootcamp it allows me to read and write sessions from the OSX partition on my MBP.

[Joe Porto]

The biggest difference is going to be how each platform handles audio. For instance, Core Audio (mac) supports multiple interface drivers as aggregate devices, and allows you to use separate audio device drivers as input and output. ASIO (win) only supports a single driver.

ASIO supports direct monitoring in software with compatible hardware, where core audio does not.

[Retrofreak]

Originally Posted by Joe Porto

The biggest difference is going to be how each platform handles audio. For instance, Core Audio (mac) supports multiple interface drivers as aggregate devices, and allows you to use separate audio device drivers as input and output. ASIO (win) only supports a single driver.

ASIO supports direct monitoring in software with compatible hardware, where core audio does not.

^^^Agreed.

+ The added variables of different PC builds and possible driver stability issues.

[Mats H]

Originally Posted by Joe Porto

The biggest difference is going to be how each platform handles audio. For instance, Core Audio (mac) supports multiple interface drivers as aggregate devices, and allows you to use separate audio device drivers as input and output. ASIO (win) only supports a single driver.

ASIO supports direct monitoring in software with compatible hardware, where core audio does not.

A universal truth with some exceptions. With the latest RME hardware and drivers, you can plug in say an RME Fireface UFX and Babyface and they appear as one large interface in your DAW. They also now have multi-client ASIO support, so you can have Windows audio at the same time as using your DAW... just sayin

[DAW PLUS]

Originally Posted by Joe Porto

The biggest difference is going to be how each platform handles audio. For instance, Core Audio (mac) supports multiple interface drivers as aggregate devices, and allows you to use separate audio device drivers as input and output. ASIO (win) only supports a single driver.

Is that an issue? Just get a decent audio interface, with the required I/O, end of story.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by Retrofreak

^^^Agreed.

+ The added variables of different PC builds and possible driver stability issues.

don't buy crap. Good products have good drivers.

[Retrofreak]

Originally Posted by Bill@WelcomeHome

don't buy crap. Good products have good drivers.

As far as I'm aware I have good products, theres still too many variables for many users to stay on top of.

[MikeFFG]

I use PT9 effectively on a macbook pro and a windows 7 machine I built. As said, the PC version comes with Mac Drive, but even if you didn't have that, you can use external drives formatted for PC and Macs can read them fine. I actually connect the two via ethernet for exchanging files as well as using external drives. It's no issue.

[Joe Porto]

Originally Posted by DAW PLUS

Is that an issue? Just get a decent audio interface, with the required I/O, end of story.

I didn't say it was an issue. It's a feature of Core Audio, and is a convenience, even in a system with "required i/o".

And as I said, ASIO allows control of hardware direct monitoring from within the DAW, where Core Audio does not. If I was a Mac reseller, I guess I could say "just get a decent audio interface with a separate monitor routing application, end of story".

The fact is that these are the fundamental differences between ASIO and Core Audio, and if either feature becomes part of your workflow, you will need to make concessions when switching platforms.

[bluzkat]

Don't overlook Reaper 4, it's cross-platform.

[Finnish]

Originally Posted by bluzkat

Don't overlook Reaper 4, it's cross-platform.

+1!

[work2do]

Originally Posted by Joe Porto

ASIO supports direct monitoring in software with compatible hardware, where core audio does not.

Clarification please. I use direct monitoring in Logic/Apogee by unchecking the box in Logic.

As for the OP: PT cross platform has been seamless for quite some time.

[norbury brook]

Cubase/Nuendo, Pro tools 9 and Reaper all are cross platform and work well on both.

I run all 3 here on windows 7 and OSX


MC

[Joe Porto]

Originally Posted by work2do

Clarification please. I use direct monitoring in Logic/Apogee by unchecking the box in Logic.

If you are unchecking the "Software Monitoring" box, then you are you manually setting up direct monitoring in Maestro? It's automatic with ASIO. You don't have to open a separate interface app to set it up, where with Core Audio, you have to set up your monitoring via Maestro, TotalMix, etc.

Core Audio does not support "native" direct monitoring, because it sees the input and output of your interface as separate drivers. It's a tradeoff between multiple driver support (Core Audio), and seamless direct monitoring integration (ASIO).

[RonGherkins]

I use pro tools(9) for this and the performance is great on both platforms.

[ObiK]

Originally Posted by bluzkat

Don't overlook Reaper 4, it's cross-platform.

Yup! Definitely this!

[work2do]

Originally Posted by Joe Porto

If you are unchecking the "Software Monitoring" box, then you are you manually setting up direct monitoring in Maestro? It's automatic with ASIO. You don't have to open a separate interface app to set it up, where with Core Audio, you have to set up your monitoring via Maestro, TotalMix, etc.

Core Audio does not support "native" direct monitoring, because it sees the input and output of your interface as separate drivers. It's a tradeoff between multiple driver support (Core Audio), and seamless direct monitoring integration (ASIO).

ok. the end result and application get the same result. thanx.

[tonemaker]

It's not the most advanced, but Energy XT can run on Mac, PC, and with some extra efforts Linux. I use it on PC from time to time even though it's not my main DAW. You can get some good use from it, but the support for it is limited. People have been waiting years for certain upgrade features in it. The developer only recently started developing it again (after making an iPod App).