Help me spend my money!!

[right beside]

It's time to upgrade to a new system. New computer, new interface, and new PT. My budget is around 5k. I want to stay portable and have at least 8 inputs. I prefer Mac. I'm not sure I can, but if possible, I'd like to get the features of the CPTK or HD native. However the PT11 debacle has me concerned on that front.

I've been considering:

New Macbook Pro
PT 10
Liquid saffire 56
(optional add of the CPTK if I can find a reasonable priced license)


New Macbook Pro
Pro Tools 10
Mbox 3 Pro (If it's headphone amp is the same as in the Mini, I'll pass - white noise)
(optional add of the CPTK if I can find a reasonable priced license)

Used Macbook Pro
PT HD native thunderbolt and Omni
Its a stretch, but I might be able to find it.

Is there a different/better combination that I'm not considering? Should I be trying to find a computer that is still in Lion instead of Mountain Lion (for stability)? Should I wait for the new macbooks to come out in a few months?


Thanks.

[Chief Technician]

Originally Posted by right beside

Used Macbook Pro
PT HD native thunderbolt and Omni
Its a stretch, but I might be able to find it.

powermax.com

Originally Posted by right beside

Is there a different/better combination that I'm not considering?

Probably not.

Originally Posted by right beside

Should I be trying to find a computer that is still in Lion instead of Mountain Lion (for stability)?

Don't buy anything older than mid 2012. I don't recall seeing any older MacBook Pro computers being qualified for v11.

Originally Posted by right beside

Should I wait for the new macbooks to come out in a few months?

Can you afford to wait? If Apple does a radical redesign, do you want to be a hardware beta tester? If the new macbook only runs OS 10.9, do you want to be a software beta tester too?

[right beside]

That's a good point about being a beta tester.

I'm still in PT9 on Snow Leopard and a 2008 MBP.

Do you know:

Whats the most stable pairing of PT10.x.x and OSX10.x.x on the i7 chip?

Does Mountain Lion get along with PT10 or should I be looking for a 1 year old computer with 10.7.4?

Can a current model macbook pro run 10.7.4?


here's my dilema:

if I buy a new mac right now, it will come with the latest and greatest OS the world has ever seen: 10.8.x and no install DVD's. Apple won't downgrade the OS for you, even though you are buying a computer from their company.

[nst7]

What audio interface are you currently using?

[right beside]

Just an mbox mini, for mixing. But I'm heading into a tracking phase and need at least 8 inputs and white noise-free volume changing

[right beside]

And also a command 8.

[jasonthurley]

5K for everything??

Sounds like a windows PC with Pro Tools basic version and a decent interface.... a new Macbook Pro will be 3K alone (for a good one with 8G RAM or more, etc)... Focusrite is another $800-900 and then if you add a Pro Tools 10 package that has HD Native Card is $5K just for the smallest package...

For 5K you will either have to do something like this:

Windows PC Laptop (1K-1500) http://www.alienware.com/Landings/laptops.aspx

Pro Tools with CPTK ($2800)

Focusrite Liquid Saffire (800-1K)

I dont see you being able to get a MAC on this budget unless you loose the CPTK and run regular PT with the saffire liquid, which may be the wat to go If your wanting any plugins....

Just some info as you look at what you can get and what your really need.

[right beside]

well, around 5k or so. I could go a little higher but not to 6K.

I priced a macbook pro 15" NON retina with a 2.6GHZ processor, 8G of ram, and applecare for $2,448. I'd save a little if I did my own ram.

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MD103LL/A?

So let's say $2500 for a computer
$800 for a Liquid Saffire.
and $400 for a crossgrade to PT 10 from PT9.
http://shop.avid.com/store/product.d...25865714841120

So that is more like $3700, leaving $1300 more or less.

[jasonthurley]

Add tax, shipping, all the things you forget to spec when you all excited (wireless mouse or a magic mouse, external keyboard is always great so you can use all the quick keys in PT, 3rd party converting software for finalizing a mix and burning CD's... etc, etc, etc...)

Just tax on the Macbook Pro will be over 200 bucks... unless you can get it in a different state (no tax).

Its going to be a this? or THIS? situation for your budget. MAC or Windows? PT HD (using the CPTK) or non HD?

This is what you need to figure out... MAC's are my favorite manufacturer of laptops but is it going to be worth the investment over a PC with the same chipset and essential components for over 1K less?

Would you rather have PT HD (CPTK no hardware) and a windows PC or regular PT and a MAC?

Sounds like a neat project... wish I was hired to design it

[jasonthurley]

Not to mention a fader port if you want transport controls and to be able to automate volumes with an actual fader... ... things to think about.
http://www.presonus.com/products/FaderPort