Vista questions before taking the Vista Plunge

[Herkimer]

Really simple questions...

Are Vista ProTools sessions completely 100% compatible - in every way - with Windows XP sessions? Will the same file open in either OS or do I have to "save to" different OS formats to bounce sessions between the two operating systems? How about plugin settings and peripherals like Midi and control surfaces? Same drivers?

Would I have to find Vista versions of all my plug-ins? I use a lot of wrapped windows VSTs - especially the freeware ones. Are they compatible in Vista? Not just the company line of "we support blah blah blah..." but do they work or not? I don't care if it's officially supported or recommended. I'm wondering if anyone has loaded up a bunch of XP plug-ins in Vista and found that many of them work just fine in Vista.

Lastly, does using Vista involve all the same system tweaks necessary for running XP? Fat32, Background processes, etc. (All the settings in the manual.)

Thanks in advance!

(And yes, I'm somewhat forced to make the Vista plunge. I need a new Laptop and I can't get anything except Vista at Best Buy or Circuit City.)

[spkguitar]

Are Vista ProTools sessions completely 100% compatible - in every way - with Windows XP sessions?

Yes.

Will the same file open in either OS

Yes.

How about plugin settings

Yes.

and peripherals like Midi and control surfaces? Same drivers?

No. All of your other hardware will need to have Vista drivers.

Would I have to find Vista versions of all my plug-ins?

Technically, yes.

I use a lot of wrapped windows VSTs - especially the freeware ones. Are they compatible in Vista?

I wouldn't count on it.

Not just the company line of "we support blah blah blah..." but do they work or not?

Most should technically work. Whether or not they are officially supported by the individual companies is up to the individual companies to announce. You should visit each one's website to find out. (hard to give you a list of compatible ones when we don't know exactly what you are using; there are literally tens of thousands) Whether or not they actually work and don't cause errors of some kind is a totally different scenario, and I don't think anyone has yet to try. You will be one of the pioneers in that regard. Report back with your findings!

I'm wondering if anyone has loaded up a bunch of XP plug-ins in Vista and found that many of them work just fine in Vista.

I completely gave up on Vista partially for this very reason.

Lastly, does using Vista involve all the same system tweaks necessary for running XP? Fat32, Background processes, etc. (All the settings in the manual.)

Vista will require it's own settings, but some will be similar, yes.

In my personal opinion (and that really doesn't matter that much at all), it is unwise to run Pro Tools under Vista currently. Maybe in a year or two when all of the other companies have drivers and versions for Vista it will make much more sense, but right now? Nope.

(And yes, I'm somewhat forced to make the Vista plunge. I need a new Laptop and I can't get anything except Vista at Best Buy or Circuit City.)

Buy a MacBook and load XP through Boot Camp; you will be better off. Seriously.

[Shan]

...and as a side note, many places will install XP for you instead of Vista when requested which is quite common. Microsoft is supporting Vista until 2014 and at this point in time, unless we see HUGE performance gains that are absolutely needed for PT, I will stay with XP until Digi announces that it will no longer run in XP. Windows 7 is already in full swing and I will do what it takes to bypass the entire Vista/ME cycle. But then again, give it another 18-24 months and we'll see how Vista is doing with PT.

Shane

[sunburst79]

spkguitars advice about the Macbook is right on the money also. Theres no real downside to the Macbook and PT.

[SeedGuy]

Just upgraded to vista. All my plugs and apps work flawlessly, have drivers for my USB controllers so they all work, plus, 7.4 seems to be running slightly faster with the vista, load times and system responsivenes, which was a pleasant suprise.

[Herkimer]

As for plug-ins, the "biggies" are (in no particular order):

Antares Autotune (I'm still on 4.0)
Amplitube 2
Ozone 3
The Kjaerhus Classic series
Massey CT4 and L2007
T-racks
FXpansion VST2RTAS Adapter
BFD 1.5

Did anyone have luck with these? In the meantime, I'll navagate to some of their websites and see if there are free upgrades to vista.

[Herkimer]

Ok, so I justed checked three of those plug-ins from above.

Ozone 3 - no Vista specific download available in my user account area. Only "PC" and "Mac"
Autotune 4 - No Vista specific download available in my user account. Only a "PC" version.

Here's the interesting one:
Amplitube 2 - there's a "XP/Vista" installer and it's the same download!

[SeedGuy]

OK, so all my plugs worked, session load times were faster, BUT, PT performance is horrid.

Can't even run 2 mono audio tracks and battery at 128 without buffer errors. In XP i could run huge sessions before having to change buffer setting.

Also, there are loud pops now and again, so PT obviously doesn't like Vista, or at least mine doesn't.

Will be back on XP in an hour or 2!