To HD2 Accel + Mac Pro 2.66 users

[Alécio Costa]

Hello
Soon I will be using this setup and I would like to know your choices, regarding CPU power:

a)Are you folks still mainly using TDM bundles/plugins or have considered going with the cheaper native versions?

I´m asking this because I have considered purchasing McDSP Emerald Bundle or the Waves Gold Native Bundle.

b) Are you using Toast 7, 8 for burning your CD Masters? (I´m Coming from Toast 5.1.2)

c) What other utilities could be considered essential? Disk Warrior? Data Rescue II?
(I stayed over 5 years using a pretty stable OS 9.2/5.1.3, with Norton SW .)

d)Which have been your favorite EQ/Comp plugins?
Waves SSl?
URS N series?
Sony Oxford (Sonnox)?
Mc DSP Channel G?

e)what is the preferrable Ram memory size?

Thanks again!

[sammyfarr]

I have a HD2 on a Macpro 2.6 and can say that it's nowhere near as stable as the mix system i was running on a G4 800. Im using Waves gold TDM, but you could probably get away using native versions - the processing power in these new mac's is unbelievable! I started with only 2 gig or RAM and quickly found that when running a few RTAS instruments you run out of RAM pretty quick so i added another 2 gig. Toast 8 is a great upgrade from 7 combining Toast and Jam in the one program, as for compressors i bought the massivePack 5 from digi and there are more great compressors in there than i could ever need but i think the URS is a bit of a favorite, it's got some great fairchild style presets!

[remainanon]

I've got that system too - love it.

Interestingly, I find I use mainly native plugs where available on audio tracks and tdm on the auxes - mainly because as long as I stick to that arrangement I can keep the ADC on the lower size and preserve a little more processing power.

But I haven't yet maxed out on a mix. I will soon though!

There really is plenty of native power on these things.

JW

[Alécio Costa]

Oh! Just to be in safe area, I will keep the old stable G4 800 and a Mix Plus for a while.
Some people advised me not to go with the native stuff once we still can not mix like this on achannel strip: tdm>rtas>tdm>rtas. I thought this was something of the past. At least we can put RTAs on auxs!
Thanks
More opinions?

[innesireinar]

I would avoid to use RTAS on aux and master channels.
You can do it since 7.0 but you will have twice HW buffer latency on these channels that could not be compensated (depending on how is set the buffer and the ADC).
Also, you loose two voices per mono channel by inserting RTAS on aux and master.
I would use RTAS on audio and instrum channels only (before any TDM insert)
Having said that I agree with Sam, the macpro 2.66 is very, very, very powerful, I found more difference between G5 2x2 and the macpro than between G4 2x1 and the G5.
I've done a test, I have been able to insert up to 25 TL Space instances in RTAS with 3 CPU enabled for RTAS task.
Incredible!!!

[Alécio Costa]

Thanks. BTW.. what are your main EQ/Comp bundles/plugins?
RAm size?

[Alécio Costa]

Many thanks for the tips, folks!

Here are my substitutes. Please, verify if it is OK:

Waves Q10 I will probably susbtitute for Digi EQIII

Waves De-essser I will substitute for Digi Deesser

Waves C1 for Mc DSP Compressor Banks CB2/3/4 (already did that at Mix4 era)

Waves RenReverb/Trueverb for Revive and TL Space

Waves C4 for Mc DSP MC 2000

TC MAster X for TC MD3 (new license required)

Which plugin could be a substitute for PAZ? Spectrafoo now is standalone, right?

Seems Mc DSP Emerald Bundle or Classic Bundle would be be more useful than Gold Bundle at this moment...

Also, I Still would have Channel G, Chroma tone, Revolver, AC1 and AC2.

Any other ideas?
A URS package would be a better choice?

[innesireinar]

Digi eq III is fine but I prefer the SonyOXF(now Sonnox).

I have McDSP CB and it's fine, take a look to Smack and TL Aggro also.

I tried Waves Ren/TrueRev when I was on Cubase and found them horrible.
With TL Space and Revibe I have everything I need. Maybe I'd add the VSS3 and Princeton stuff.

I don't have experience with other stuff that you have mentioned, but from what I've heard URS are fine and well DSP-optimized.

Another tool that I use a lot is the Inflator (Sonnox), even on single channels.

I hope this help.

[Alécio Costa]

Sonnox, the cousin of Sonex -LOL
Thanks for your tips!