Migrating from Macbook to Mac Pro

[mes41860]

My first of what I'm sure will be many posts.

I plan to install ProTools 11 on the Mac Pro, download the editor for the 11 Rack, and update everything as available. I've purchased plugs for my Apollo Quad, which I believe live with the unit so that's not an issue that I know of. At that point I'll copy the few ProTools sessions I have from the Macbook to the MacPro and hopefully take off from there.

I've done some plunking around on the Macbook but have been waiting on the MacPro to really get started. I'm just wondering if there's anything I need to be aware of as I'm a PC guy going Mac and starting from scratch. Thanks!

[albee1952]

Just keep your sessions on their own drive(7200 rpm) and dive in. Also, if your mouse doesn't have a right-click button, I'd suggest a new one(or a Kensington Trackball which many love, but me, not so much...)

[mes41860]

Thanks, Dave. Do you work on the OS drive and then store the file elsewhere or are you working on files straight from the storage drive? I would have imagined working on the "C" drive (ssd) for better read/write speeds and storing them on the mechanical drive after the session.

[JFreak]

If you're talking about the new Mac Pro (the Trashcan), it has wicked fast SSD that you can safely use for sessions and can forget about the old rule of do-not-use-system-drive-for-anything-but-system. I have the new MacBook Pro with the same SSD tech an I have had zero trouble with about 64-80 track sessions.

[mes41860]

Yep..."trashcan". I like that.

Anyway, I'll work on the ssd, copy to a storage drive then delete from the ssd when I'm done. Thanks Janne.

[Seafoam_Green]

Originally Posted by JFreak

If you're talking about the new Mac Pro (the Trashcan), it has wicked fast SSD that you can safely use for sessions and can forget about the old rule of do-not-use-system-drive-for-anything-but-system. I have the new MacBook Pro with the same SSD tech an I have had zero trouble with about 64-80 track sessions.

Wow - that's a revelation from the philosophy of old ?

I'm in the same boat as the Op , ie; Windows pro tools 11 user and switching to a mac pro trashcan.

Although at least the Op has tinkered with a Mac , Im still a green horned virgin

- but ive been watching lots of Mavericks Videos etc on Mac Pro Video , so ..., "She'll Be Right" and I will only be doing pro tools stuff anyway - So it shouldn't be much different ...,

To the OP - Id recommend the MPV & Groove 3 Video tuition series to you , a pictures worth a thousand words compared to reading a manual IMHO , and there's stacks of cool tips and tricks to learn too


My Trashcan ..., coming soon ....,


I am about to slap down a deposit on a trash can ...,
- 4 core > upgraded to 6 core
- storage upgraded to 1 terabyte .
- 12 Gb ram ..., but will later have 64 Gb ram (from OWC) sent to Bali.

I upgraded the 4 core model to 6 core ( rather than just buy the 6 core base model) as I didn't want to be paying extra for the D500 dual video cards ,

- as reviews I have read here and elsewhere have "claimed" that the D300s are more than sufficient for multiple - Ultra high HD monitor use , with pro tools etc. + I don't edit video, and I am not a Gamer either.

- My current SSD (operating drive) on my PC is already loaded at 350GB with OS software and apps ...., & thats why I went for the upgrade on the trash can. 500 Gb would have been enough - ie; until it isn't ..............., that's why I got 1 TByte


So JFreak ..., its good to know that it is possible to read & write/ record bulk tracks on that drive without errors

......, as errors and PITA issues all I seemed to get on my PC most of the time + its not powerful enough for what I wanna do (ie; lots of tracks using lots of Plug-ins & V.I,s)
......, So my move to Mac Trashcan for me is designed to kill both birds with the one stone (hopefully)



......, I was going to get the Lacie Little big disc thunderbolt 2 , as a JBOD , as its 2 X 500Gb PCIe cards

- I was originally planing to use one of the PCIes for Current pro tools projects
- and the other PCIe for all my V.I sample packs sound libraries - for instant lightning speed load up.



Ive got till about mid next week before I slap down the deposit for any last minute final decisions / changes


Ps ; 1 last question ; - with the 1TB storage upgrade on the mac Pro, I believe this is also 2 X 500gb PCIe card installed inside the Mac Pro ..., are these also showing up in mavericks as 2 separate 500Gb drive , or as One complete 1 terabyte drive ?

[Craig F]

Originally Posted by JFreak

If you're talking about the new Mac Pro (the Trashcan), it has wicked fast SSD that you can safely use for sessions and can forget about the old rule of do-not-use-system-drive-for-anything-but-system. I have the new MacBook Pro with the same SSD tech an I have had zero trouble with about 64-80 track sessions.

will it work, yes

is it a safe practice, no

do so at your own risk

[JFreak]

Is it a safe practice? Yes. Is it an Avid-blessed practice? No.

I have done lots of stress tests and so far I have had zero system-SSD-related hiccups. Lots of CPU hiccups though, but those are totally Avid-related as those never happened pre-11.2.0

[Craig F]

have you seen Pro Tools overwrite the System Folder when recording to the System Drive?
I have, it was not a good outcome

[JFreak]

Long time ago it was a standard procedure, but it was fixed since so long time ago I don't even remember