mac pro vs macbook pro, concerning samples and a laptop

n8tron · 15th November 2006

my ibook died and I am looking into getting a new computer. As of right now I am using a mac mini G4, which will, when i get a new computer, be used to host various plugins.

I've been debating on if I should go the power route and get a mac pro, however I miss having a laptop very much, and have been wondering if the macbook pro is strong enough. I don't do heavy audio recording, no more than 2-6 channels at a time and I rarely go above 24 channels total. I do however need a lot of power for samples. I'm going to be getting some high grade samples soon, such as vienna or east/west symphonic. The only "real world" benchmarks I see on these systems is how many instances of a plugin they can run. I don't really care about that...What I DO need this computer to do is handle as much samples as possible, while balancing that and recording a few tracks and some other plug-ins. Anyone who has these systems and has been using them like this I would really appreciate some input. Or anyone who is using these with some top grade samples, how much can they handle.

I would like a laptop, as I miss mine a lot, but I won't get one if it won't be able to handle the job as well as the mac pro.

statikcat · 15th November 2006

Typically you just run one instance as each instance can load 8-16 sounds and be routed to their own output. I am getting my 2nd 1g stick for my Macbook Pro at the end of this month. Symph Orchestra and RA hit my processor pretty hard with a few sounds loaded but I am willing to wager my RAM upgrade will help a lot with that.

n8tron · 15th November 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by statikcat

Typically you just run one instance as each instance can load 8-16 sounds and be routed to their own output. I am getting my 2nd 1g stick for my Macbook Pro at the end of this month. Symph Orchestra and RA hit my processor pretty hard with a few sounds loaded but I am willing to wager my RAM upgrade will help a lot with that.

let me know how much it helps. also, where are your samples located? If I went the laptop route I would be getting a firewire 800 drive for all my samples.

statikcat · 16th November 2006

I have the 7200 internal but running samples from a sata 250 ext firewire 400. When I get my 2g of ram I will be using a fw800 with that but I am not sure if that will help much. This will be towards the end of the month I will let you know. Im actually planning on doing some tests side by side to see how much difference the 1gb makes because I am really curious.

15th November 2006	#1
n8tron Lives for gear Joined: May 2006 Posts: 1,115 Thread Starter	mac pro vs macbook pro, concerning samples and a laptop my ibook died and I am looking into getting a new computer. As of right now I am using a mac mini G4, which will, when i get a new computer, be used to host various plugins. I've been debating on if I should go the power route and get a mac pro, however I miss having a laptop very much, and have been wondering if the macbook pro is strong enough. I don't do heavy audio recording, no more than 2-6 channels at a time and I rarely go above 24 channels total. I do however need a lot of power for samples. I'm going to be getting some high grade samples soon, such as vienna or east/west symphonic. The only "real world" benchmarks I see on these systems is how many instances of a plugin they can run. I don't really care about that...What I DO need this computer to do is handle as much samples as possible, while balancing that and recording a few tracks and some other plug-ins. Anyone who has these systems and has been using them like this I would really appreciate some input. Or anyone who is using these with some top grade samples, how much can they handle. I would like a laptop, as I miss mine a lot, but I won't get one if it won't be able to handle the job as well as the mac pro.

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15th November 2006	#2
statikcat Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2005 Location: USA - Indiana Posts: 799	Typically you just run one instance as each instance can load 8-16 sounds and be routed to their own output. I am getting my 2nd 1g stick for my Macbook Pro at the end of this month. Symph Orchestra and RA hit my processor pretty hard with a few sounds loaded but I am willing to wager my RAM upgrade will help a lot with that.

16th November 2006	#4
statikcat Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2005 Location: USA - Indiana Posts: 799	I have the 7200 internal but running samples from a sata 250 ext firewire 400. When I get my 2g of ram I will be using a fw800 with that but I am not sure if that will help much. This will be towards the end of the month I will let you know. Im actually planning on doing some tests side by side to see how much difference the 1gb makes because I am really curious.