Avid Pro Audio Community

nickthomas · #1 05-17-2006, 07:52 AM

Hi Everyone. I have a couple of questions. I am about to make a huge $$ purchase and need help in deciding if I should go with a Terra Digital Audio PC system or a PowerMac G5.

Does is still matter if you are using a PC or a MAC to run Pro Tools?
Does ProTools 7.0/7.1 take advantage of the 64bit OS of the G5?

I have never used a MAC before, but if it's better to go with the MAC for ProTools, then I'm all about it. I'm an avid PC user for 20yrs and know my way around a PC blindfolded. (MCSE)

Can someone give me the PROS and CONS of both, or help in any way?

thanks
-Nick Thomas

spkguitar · #2 05-17-2006, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Does is still matter if you are using a PC or a MAC to run Pro Tools?

No.

Quote:

Does ProTools 7.0/7.1 take advantage of the 64bit OS of the G5?

No.

The only advantage to the MAC is that there are a few more plugins available that are MAC only (but that has been changing...)

Bottom line; use what you like and are comfortable with.

JCBigler · #3 05-17-2006, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Does is still matter if you are using a PC or a MAC to run Pro Tools?

Yes it matters. One costs a LOT of money, the other one half to one third the cost of the other, and will give you the same performance (or better), thus freeing up more money that you can spend on mics, mic pres, plug-ins, or guitar strings (or in my case, saxophone reeds).

Read THIS THREAD

Quote:

Does ProTools 7.0/7.1 take advantage of the 64bit OS of the G5?

As far as I'm aware, Protools does not work with any 64-bit OS on any platform.

Quote:

I have never used a MAC before, but if it's better to go with the MAC for ProTools, then I'm all about it. I'm an avid PC user for 20yrs and know my way around a PC blindfolded. (MCSE)

I'm working on a project right now on a Mac HD3 system. And let me tell you. Every night we have to reboot at least once. The firewire connection is sporadic at best. And, to me anyway, Mac OS is confusing as all hell. If you have lots of experience on a PC, I say go with a PC running Windows XP Pro. You will spend more time making music, and less time fiddling around with an unknown OS.

EGS · #4 05-17-2006, 08:40 AM

Both work great for Pro-Tools. I'd suggest going with the platform you are most comfortable with. If you plan to run LE, make sure you check out:
http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat.p...=5&o=7&fpart=1

markshan · #5 05-17-2006, 02:07 PM

Quote:

The only advantage to the MAC is that there are a few more plugins available that are MAC only (but that has been changing...)

Really? I just went to KVR and found 2081 PC Instrument and effect plugs but only 658 for Mac. That sounds like PC has three times as many to me.

Also, I would argue that the very recent switch by Apple to Intel chips is a good reason to stay away a while until other people work out all of the bugs (IMHO).

spkguitar · #6 05-17-2006, 02:51 PM

Maybe I should have clarified? A few more RTAS plugins...

K.B. · #7 05-17-2006, 04:08 PM

I would definitely hold off on any buying decisions.

Take a look at this article here.

In it Robert X. Cringely argues, with some intriguing supportive reasoning, that Apple will include in OS X 10.5 specific support for Windows APIs (application programming interfaces). This is not Boot Camp (which might just be a de-bugging dry run) but is all about going native. Mac owners would be able to run many Windows applications natively in OS X - right next to their Mac apps.

That would be a significant trick for Jobs to pull out of his hat - something that would have been considered an outright miracle only a few years ago. Cringely's predicting that Apple are significantly revising OS X's kernel in order to do this, and also to significantly boost Mac performance.

matthew.sawicki · #8 05-18-2006, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Every night we have to reboot at least once. The firewire connection is sporadic at best.

The firewire connection to what? I hope you don't mean the interfaces.

I've only experienced kernel panics on an Apple computer maybe 5 times in the 2 1/2 years that I've been running ProTools extensively. The only times I've ever had to restart was due to plugins freaking out the cards because they were not properly designed/updated for HD Accell systems.

I'm not saying that Apple would be better for YOU, but I'm saying that I have never had a problem with running a Mac system.

ejwells · #9 05-18-2006, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Maybe I should have clarified? A few more RTAS plugins...

It's true. I'm Waiting patiently for Sound Toys to throw us lowly Windows users a few bones.
That reminds me, I must check their website to see if they have.

To the original poster-

Your choices are certainly broader than Power mac and Terra Digital.

You can build a quad core AMD beast for less money than Terra wants for a dual core.

nickthomas · #10 05-18-2006, 07:16 AM

Alright guys,
I'm staying with the PC (phew!)

Now, I know how build my own LE sytem. If I do build my own using the specs here, the only other question I have is, will it be stable and 100% compatible 100% of the time vs. buying one from TerraTec that is guaranteed to be stable and 100% compatible 100% of the time .
Keep in mind, this box will only run PRO TOOLS and will have at least 2gig of memory and running dual core.

Money is no object.

-Nick Thomas