MacBook Pro (2015) & Digi002

[somefinn]

Hi all, reading some other threads but they have conflicting reports.
I'm hoping for a simple solution to recording and have wanted a Macbook for some time.

I already have a Digi002 Rack and am considering purchasing a Macbook Pro.

Should I go with a New Macbook or for an older model?
I hear that newer models have connectivity issues with Firewire devices.

also when it comes to the Digi002,

is it easier to look at an alternative?
I was planning to use Pro Tools and am hoping for a bug free, glitch free, issue free experience.

any thoughts, recommendations?

[Darryl Ramm]

Yes a MacBook Pro, not a (very underpowered and Firewire-less) Macbook. You want i7 and max out the internal SSD since it is so fast and can usually be be used for boot/system, samples and audio/session files.

Any issues are *NOT* a Firewire the problem (just use the Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter) the issue is OS X version that run on a new MBP retina... which is the latest El Capitan only, and no you cannot install older OS X releases on those computers. The question is does your version of Pro Tools run on El Capitan? Can you get a 002 driver that runs on El Capitan?

Driver info here.

http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/e...02-003-Drivers

System requirements here.

http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/e...m-Requirements

There are still graphics performance bugs with Pro Tools and El Capitan that are affecting some users.

Apple will eventually release new MBP Retina models with Skylake processors, and those hopefully will have Thunderbolt 3, and then we get to see how compatible all that is with current Thunderbolt. I'd at least hold off until Apple's upcoming March 21st (iPad/iPhone focused) press event and see what is announced/changes then.

[somefinn]

great advice, yes i was going to wait until March 21st, if they release something new i may get that instead.

[VRW]

If you want to stay with your 002 why not consider an older, used yet i7 Quad Core MBP like one of these?
They still got FW ports which never is a bad idea with those FW interfaces like 002+003 although I know they
basically do work with the adapters but...

It´s just an idea/suggestion. You could get a nicely working system for about €1000-1200.-, let me show it
to you:

Get one of these for example (I hope I read it correctly, it´s Dundalk/Ireland, right?).
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Apple-MacBook...YAAOSwv9hW4HGb

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/APPLE-MACBOOK...oAAOSwyjBW3W5Y

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Apple-Macbook...8AAOSwuAVW0aEf

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Apple-MacBook...kAAOSwqrtWnXmL

Replace the OS drive with this one.
http://www.flexxmemory.co.uk/solid-s...b-mz-7ke256bw/
Replace the Ram with this one.
http://www.flexxmemory.co.uk/laptop-...memory-module/
Replace the optical drive with this combination.
http://www.flexxmemory.co.uk/accesso...cket-solution/
http://www.flexxmemory.co.uk/hard-dr...d-drive-black/

...and you will be good to go.
The replacement stuff will be around €350.- all together, delivery will be free to Ireland they write.

Those MacBooks Pro are all i7 Quad Core machines which will work with PT nicely, the Samsung 850 Pro for
the OS drive and the WD Black 7200rpm 750GB for the Pro Tools drive should be fine for any recording applications.

Well, you know, if you can/want to afford it, a 2nd Samsung 850 Pro 500GB for the Pro Tools drive would be sweet indeed .
Btw you want those good quality 16GB Ram for Pro Tools finally.

Another good thing with these older MacBooks Pro is that you can run any Mac OS X from Snow Leopard upwards
you will want to. You just can choose the best working for your system (mind that the 002 may not really love all the
latest versions of OS X).

I´m aware of that it´s still a certain amount of money for quite old computers. If you want to stay with the 002 it may
be a reasonable and cost effective solution though.
And, don´t forget to use a new and really high quality Firewire cable for the 002. This could be crucial for a trouble free
performance as well.

Just as food for thought.
If you rather prefer a new Macbook Pro you might consider to replace the 002 with a more recent audio interface if you
really want it glitch free, bug free and issue free imo .

Whatever route you decide to go, the best of success to you,

VRW

[somefinn]

Wow, thank you for that.

I went and purchased a Macbook last week and cancelled the order due to a lack of knowledge.

Im currently running a pc with TLA M4 as my tracking desk, Its a good "studio" set up, but troublesome because of the noisy computer running cubase SX 3.

I figured macbook and digi 002 would be a nice intimate recording solution, due to the quiet of the macbook, or maybe macbook with an alternative hardware. Im still surmising.

Will wait for Apple's Conference on March 21st, see if there is a macbook revision....

Originally Posted by VRW

If you want to stay with your 002 why not consider an older, used yet i7 Quad Core MBP like one of these?
They still got FW ports which never is a bad idea with those FW interfaces like 002+003 although I know they
basically do work with the adapters but...

It´s just an idea/suggestion. You could get a nicely working system for about €1000-1200.-, let me show it
to you:

Get one of these for example (I hope I read it correctly, it´s Dundalk/Ireland, right?).
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Apple-MacBook...YAAOSwv9hW4HGb

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/APPLE-MACBOOK...oAAOSwyjBW3W5Y

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Apple-Macbook...8AAOSwuAVW0aEf

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Apple-MacBook...kAAOSwqrtWnXmL

Replace the OS drive with this one.
http://www.flexxmemory.co.uk/solid-s...b-mz-7ke256bw/
Replace the Ram with this one.
http://www.flexxmemory.co.uk/laptop-...memory-module/
Replace the optical drive with this combination.
http://www.flexxmemory.co.uk/accesso...cket-solution/
http://www.flexxmemory.co.uk/hard-dr...d-drive-black/

...and you will be good to go.
The replacement stuff will be around €350.- all together, delivery will be free to Ireland they write.

Those MacBooks Pro are all i7 Quad Core machines which will work with PT nicely, the Samsung 850 Pro for
the OS drive and the WD Black 7200rpm 750GB for the Pro Tools drive should be fine for any recording applications.

Well, you know, if you can/want to afford it, a 2nd Samsung 850 Pro 500GB for the Pro Tools drive would be sweet indeed .
Btw you want those good quality 16GB Ram for Pro Tools finally.

Another good thing with these older MacBooks Pro is that you can run any Mac OS X from Snow Leopard upwards
you will want to. You just can choose the best working for your system (mind that the 002 may not really love all the
latest versions of OS X).

I´m aware of that it´s still a certain amount of money for quite old computers. If you want to stay with the 002 it may
be a reasonable and cost effective solution though.
And, don´t forget to use a new and really high quality Firewire cable for the 002. This could be crucial for a trouble free
performance as well.

Just as food for thought.
If you rather prefer a new Macbook Pro you might consider to replace the 002 with a more recent audio interface if you
really want it glitch free, bug free and issue free imo .

Whatever route you decide to go, the best of success to you,

VRW

[somefinn]

Decided to come back with an update and possibly some questions, as im a new mac user........

i got a late 2013 Apple mac pro with retina display.

thunderbolt to firewire connection and connected to my rack Digi 002.

i installed 002_and_003_Family_Drivers_v90_r3_73509.dmg
first of all, but the digi 002 didnt connect,

so then i installed

003_Family_Driver_11_1_3_Mac_83630.dmg
and my digi 002 was recognised within garageband...

When trying to record a single mic input, there is glitching and an error appears in garage band

"error while trying to synchronize audio and midi"
"Sample Rate 33,305 recognized.
Check conflict between GarageBand and external device."

sample rate is showing 44,000 everywhere i can see it. so im not sure if the issue is with the 002 itself or the drivers..

I'm really hoping for a simple solution.... i seem to just end up throwing money at something only for it give me further errors....


I'm not settling on garageband btw, just using it to test.

any thoughts?