MacBook Pro requirements for PT12

[RobJKennedy]

Hi All,

Thanks for all the advice. I am talking to my University about their suggested tech requirements, and Mac and Avid about what will work best for me, and based on all your suggestions, I will hopefully end up with all the necessary gear to have a "hassle free" setup and operation of Pro Tool on a Macbook.

It really looks like a 2017 Macbook Pro with 1T SSD will be a better option for me, pity about the ram though.

As I'm going to University, I will need a laptop. I have an i7-8700K, 32 gig ram, 2T HDD Windows 10 desktop, which will work with Pro Tools, so that should get me out of trouble if speed and space become an issue.

I'll read through all the suggestions again and if I have any further questions, I'll put them in a specific post.

Thank you all for all the wonderful help, most appreciated.

Cheers

Rob

[Leigh Marble]

Originally Posted by PMF Media

Finally, I have to agree with Daryl re the touch bar on the new MBPro, apart from the fingerprint recognition ( which is great when installing a bunch of stuff and not having to repeatedly type your password ) it's not of much use for audio.

! Trick I stumbled upon recently for doing a bunch of installs:

Launch the first installer, enter password as normal. However, when you get to the end of the last step, DON’T press the last “OK” button or close the window.

Now launch your next installer, and it will run without asking for your password again! By keeping at least one window open, you keep the Apple installer app running, and it doesn’t ask for your password again for every installer package.

[Leigh Marble]

Oh, and more specifically about the MacBook Pro with Touchbar, there’s this free software available that creates a MIDI device out of the touchbar:

http://urbanlienert.com/miditouchbar/

It’s generic MIDI, nothing Pro Tools specific, but it could at least allow instrument input on a MIDI track. Or, if you’re tricky, you could set it up as a MIDI Controller in Pro Tools and get transport control working...

[RobJKennedy]

Ive just found out that I have to buy PT 12 and as I shouldn't buy the 2017 Macbook Pro as it runs on High Sierra and is untested with PT 12, which OS do you all recommend?

Cheers

Rob

[Darryl Ramm]

Pro Tools seems to run mostly OK on High Sierra. By the time you get it or soon after it may be officially supported. This is likely not worth worrying about and just use it (but check all third party plugin support as well--that seems a worse issue).

[panamajack]

Originally Posted by RobJKennedy

. . . I shouldn't buy the 2017 Macbook Pro as it runs on High Sierra and is untested with PT 12. . .

You have another option. B&H has the 2016 MacBook Pros (MBP) offered at $700 to $800 discount from their intro prices. The 2.9 GHz with 1TB PCIe SSD is $2,699, reduced from $3,499 retail.

I recently bought the 2.7 GHz with 512 GB PCIe SSD for $2,099. It came loaded with Sierra 12.3.

My previous MBP was an early 2015 i5 dual core 2.7 with a 128 GB PCIe SSD and only 8GB memory. However, that particular model does have a replaceable SSD, so I upgraded it with Apple's proprietary 512 GB SSD from a 2013 cylinder Mac.

Pro Tools 12.4 does run on the i5, but with the integrated video using 1.5 GB of the memory, and Pro Tools needing about 3GB before virtual instruments, it is easy to see why most people say get an i7 quad-core with 16 GB memory.

I already had tower Mac Pros so just wanted to experiment with the MBP. The 2015 i5 MBP only cost $1100, but the 512 SSD upgrade cost another $500. So my 8GB i5 with upgraded SSD cost me $1,600. Oops.

The 2016 quad core i7 for me was a bargain. It is very close in spec to the 2017 model. The SSD is soldered, so it is not upgradable. It has dual graphics with dedicated 2GB of its own VRAM which kicks in when I attach two 4K monitors. Its PCIe 3.0 bus is faster than the PCIe 2.0 bus in either the 2015 series MBP or the 2013 cylinder Mac. Plus, the 2016 and 2017 MBPs are lighter (only 4 pounds, a half pound lighter than the 2015 15-inchers). And then there is the higher bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3.

You will have to buy some hubs and/or adapters. I have spent about $500 so far getting things hooked up. I already had DP/HDMI/DVI monitors and TB 2 external drives. Gets pricey if you still need all those items, too.

But the SSD drives in the 2016 MBPs are snappy, far beyond an external 7200 rpm drive (which will measure between 130 and 170 using the Blackmagic Design drive test utility). The PCIe 2.0 bus in the 2015 i5 MBP soups that up to 1,359.1 write and 1,381.7 read. The same test on the 2016 MBP with PCIe 3.0 bus results in scores of 2014.5 write and 2532.4 read.

Apple reports even higher scores on the 2017 model, but I have not tested one. The 2017 MBPs are also available with 4GB video cards and up to 2TB SSDs, which cost $4,199. The current price on the 2017 2.9 with 1TB SSD is $3,199, but it does have the 4GB VRAM card.

There can be an issue with Apple computers not running any lower OS than what they are originally shipped with...

[PMF Media]

Originally Posted by RobJKennedy

Ive just found out that I have to buy PT 12 and as I shouldn't buy the 2017 Macbook Pro as it runs on High Sierra and is untested with PT 12, which OS do you all recommend?

Cheers

Rob

As Daryl said, it'll probably work just fine and official support won't be far off (EOY with a new update probably) anyway, it will probably run Sierra as the most recent batch of MacBook Pros haven't (AFAIK and I'm happy to be corrected on this) seen a hardware update recently.
Either way, try it, if you're not happy simply return the machine to Apple within 14 days of purchase for a no questions asked refund,

[studiostuff]

Originally Posted by RobJKennedy

Ive just found out that I have to buy PT 12 and as I shouldn't buy the 2017 Macbook Pro as it runs on High Sierra

I just bought a new MBP and it came with Mac OS Sierra (10.12.6) and not HIGH Sierra.

I was worried about being forced to use High Sierra on the new computer... but decided to just go for it.

But this one came with 10.12.6. (Bought it new at the Apple Store.)

[CLaws]

Hi, Rob.
I have the MBP you're referring to. Bought it last June and it came with Sierra 10.12.5. I've a number of pluggins and virtual instruments (including some half way decent drums and a couple of good acoustic pianos) and still have over a 100MB's left on the SSD. I could chew the remaining 100MB's really quickly if I wanted but I think I'm good for a bit.

I am having some weirdness with PT telling me the processor is being overworked at times during playback but I'm thinking something's a little buggy either with a VI when running with PT or within PT itself. It's primarily with two of the VI pianos. A UVI and the Waves Grand Rhapsody that seem to be causing the issues.

I'm still very much a noob to PT as I'm ancient and have a number of health issues so it's been VERY slow going. I bought the Magic Mouse and the BT keyboard. Love 'em both. My best to ya.

Macbook Pro (Mid 2015)
Quadcore i7 2.2Ghz
16GB Ram
256GB SDD (102.08GB free)
Sierra 10.12.5
ProTools 12.8.2
Focusrite Clarret 4Pre
Yamaha P-150
Yamaha EX5
Roland VR-09
Moog Sub37TE
Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 Key Controller
M-Audio Keysyation 49
Roland TD4-K
Audio Technica 4050
Shure 57's and 58's
Lacie 1TB Thunderbolt Drive
WD 1TB USB3 external HDD
Arturia V Collection 5 and Analog Lab 2
Many other plugins, guitars, amps etc.