How is Protools running on your 16GB MacBook Pro?

[JCBigler]

I’m considering getting a 2018ish 15” MacBook Pro to use for Protools, QLab, Smaart and Davinci Resolve.

I would like a MacBook Pro that has 32GB of RAM, but they are still pretty expensive even used. Either a six-core i7 with 16GB of RAM, or a six-core i9 with 32GB of RAM.

How is Protools doing with just 16GB of RAM? Is it enough in 2021 or does it lack some head room. The purpose for this machine would likely be mostly just tracking, but may get used as a mixing system as well. I’m not doing huge projects with lots of virtual instruments. Mostly classical music recording and mixing, but I do want it to be able to record up to 64 channels at a time for live concerts without choking. Obviously I’ll be recording to an external SSD.

[JFreak]

Without sample based VI's no problem


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[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by JCBigler

Obviously I’ll be recording to an external SSD.

Why "obviously"? If you have the space the internal NVMe/PCIe SSD may be the very best place to record to. Especially if it avoids external unreliable cables, or many variants of slow external drives (you need to be on Thunderbolt 3/NVMe SSDs like a Samsung X5 to get to the same performance ballpark as the internal drive).

[JCBigler]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

Why "obviously"? If you have the space the internal NVMe/PCIe SSD may be the very best place to record to. Especially if it avoids external unreliable cables, or many variants of slow external drives (you need to be on Thunderbolt 3/NVMe SSDs like a Samsung X5 to get to the same performance ballpark as the internal drive).

Data redundancy. If the main SSD dies between recording and off load, then I don’t lose the recording.

And who said I wouldn’t be using a TB3 SSD?

[Obsidian Dragon]

Originally Posted by JCBigler

Mostly classical music recording and mixing, but I do want it to be able to record up to 64 channels at a time for live concerts without choking.

I'm not sure if it will handle 64 simultaneous inputs, but that might be more of a limitation on the interface than the computer. What interface are you considering to get 64 inputs? I've done orchestras in the past but topped out at around 24 inputs due to my interface, but that was like 10 years ago so interfaces may have more inputs now.

[JCBigler]

Originally Posted by Obsidian Dragon

I'm not sure if it will handle 64 simultaneous inputs, but that might be more of a limitation on the interface than the computer. What interface are you considering to get 64 inputs? I've done orchestras in the past but topped out at around 24 inputs due to my interface, but that was like 10 years ago so interfaces may have more inputs now.

Focusrite Red 8Pre with an HD32R on a Dante system, with HD Native, and a JoeCo BBR64-Dante and DVS for a triplicate recording system.

My orchestra recordings are 20-24 inputs also. But I do other live events as well which have more inputs.