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  #1  
Old 10-14-2020, 10:38 PM
TruestPain TruestPain is offline
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Default Laptop Rig Suggestions / Apollo Twin settup?

I know that there is a list showing compatible laptops and although mostly inexpensive, I'm looking for something that is a bit beefier as far as power, upgraded tech and of course efficient to run PT sessions. I currently run PT10 off of a mac mini settup that I have for years but I am looking for a more "mobile/portable" settup via laptop. Windows or mac is fine but I want the latest in thunderbolt as my understanding it is the fastest and reduces latency. I heard gaming laptops are the way to go but if anyone has a list of a few suggestions that would be compatible with PT 10 and/or 11 please help.

Needs are thunderbolt 3, i7 processor (preferable the latest gen), upgrade graphics card, 16/32g RAM, SSD, latest hook ups (usb, thunder, fire, pcI)
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  #2  
Old 10-14-2020, 10:46 PM
Darryl Ramm Darryl Ramm is offline
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Default Re: Laptop Rig Suggestions / Apollo Twin settup?

I cannot follow what you are saying about cost. What is your budget?

All MacBook Pros make good Pro Tools portable computers. The Avid compatibility list is really not useful. The current 16" MBP is lovely. As with any Mac, try to max out the internal SSD drive, and hopefully you can fit everything, macOS, samples and sessions on that drive. A 16" MBP will cost you over $3k.

But Apple is switching to ARM processors starting later this year. So that's a future risk to be aware of.

Windows laptops are an absolute crapshoot, and Thunderbolt more so... I would not go there if you are a mac user. But you should check also what Thunderbolt 3 equipped laptops UAD/UAD users say work on Windows. (and you will have to get off 32-bit Pro Tools 10 to use UAD Thunderbolt on Windows).

----

Edit: Oh Pro Tools 10? So do you want to run Pro Tools 10? Or Pro Tools 11? (you posted to a Pro Tools 11 forum) or what exactly? All versions of Pro Tools with AAE processing has issues with performance, 2019.5 significantly improved AAE/AAX-64 plugin processing. So I would not be messing around with Pro Tools 11 or 12, especially as Pro Tools 11 would keep you in older slower MBP (including the horrible butterfly keyboard models).

You can't buy any new Mac now with Pro Tools 10 compatibility. I would dump Pro Tools 10 in a heartbeat.

If you do want to run Pro Tools 10 you really need to work out yourself what the supported macOS versions are and what Macs can run the old macOS versions and look around and buy those used Macs. Folks here are unlikely to do that for you.

Mac info: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/m...acbookpro.html
Pro Tools compatibility table: https://avid.secure.force.com/pkb/ar...tibility-Chart

And I expect future ARM processors are likely to end any ability to run Pro Tools 10 on Mac. So you either invest in a hardware museum or try to move forward.

And compatibility is more than just Pro Tools... you need to make sure all your plugins are available as AAX-64 as well if moving off Pro Tools 10.

Last edited by Darryl Ramm; 10-14-2020 at 11:21 PM.
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  #3  
Old 10-14-2020, 11:17 PM
Darryl Ramm Darryl Ramm is offline
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Default Re: Laptop Rig Suggestions / Apollo Twin settup?

Many of your desires are not clear or kinda contradictory or going to give you very limited choices.. like Thunderbolt 3 on a Windows laptop.

And what do you mean by "(usb, thunder, fire, pcI)"?

USB what? USB 1? 2? 3.1 Gen 1, Gen 2, ... newer? (A MBP will get you USB 3.1 Gen 2 today over USB-C).

"Firewire... why?

PCI? You mean PCIe slots in a Thunderbolt expansion chassis... why? What exactly do you need to run? Or do you mean PCIe/NVMe SSD?
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  #4  
Old 10-15-2020, 08:56 AM
TruestPain TruestPain is offline
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Default Re: Laptop Rig Suggestions / Apollo Twin settup?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm View Post
I cannot follow what you are saying about cost. What is your budget?

All MacBook Pros make good Pro Tools portable computers. The Avid compatibility list is really not useful. The current 16" MBP is lovely. As with any Mac, try to max out the internal SSD drive, and hopefully you can fit everything, macOS, samples and sessions on that drive. A 16" MBP will cost you over $3k.

But Apple is switching to ARM processors starting later this year. So that's a future risk to be aware of.

Windows laptops are an absolute crapshoot, and Thunderbolt more so... I would not go there if you are a mac user. But you should check also what Thunderbolt 3 equipped laptops UAD/UAD users say work on Windows. (and you will have to get off 32-bit Pro Tools 10 to use UAD Thunderbolt on Windows).

----

Edit: Oh Pro Tools 10? So do you want to run Pro Tools 10? Or Pro Tools 11? (you posted to a Pro Tools 11 forum) or what exactly? All versions of Pro Tools with AAE processing has issues with performance, 2019.5 significantly improved AAE/AAX-64 plugin processing. So I would not be messing around with Pro Tools 11 or 12, especially as Pro Tools 11 would keep you in older slower MBP (including the horrible butterfly keyboard models).

You can't buy any new Mac now with Pro Tools 10 compatibility. I would dump Pro Tools 10 in a heartbeat.

If you do want to run Pro Tools 10 you really need to work out yourself what the supported macOS versions are and what Macs can run the old macOS versions and look around and buy those used Macs. Folks here are unlikely to do that for you.

Mac info: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/m...acbookpro.html
Pro Tools compatibility table: https://avid.secure.force.com/pkb/ar...tibility-Chart

And I expect future ARM processors are likely to end any ability to run Pro Tools 10 on Mac. So you either invest in a hardware museum or try to move forward.

And compatibility is more than just Pro Tools... you need to make sure all your plugins are available as AAX-64 as well if moving off Pro Tools 10.

Ok, I am looking to upgrade but i am not a fan of the pay monthly for an app thing that Pro Tools is now pursuing its user base. I want to upgrade to a flat fee and thats it and i'll upgrade plug ins along the way.

I am looking for an upgrade via laptop, but I also want it to run an Apollo twin interface. What would be the best route you think?
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  #5  
Old 10-15-2020, 09:50 AM
Darryl Ramm Darryl Ramm is offline
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Default Re: Laptop Rig Suggestions / Apollo Twin settup?

Again your goals are kinda contradictory.

If you are a Mac user, and especially because you want Thunderbolt on a laptop that would keep me on a Mac, with a MacBook Pro. But that means moving to an end of the line Intel MBP... and upgrading to a recent Pro Tools version to get Catalina compatibility.

Or go Windows... but possibly have to give up on Thunderbolt. And just face much more risk with compatibility performance.

There are too many variables here for anybody to recommend to you anything, especially with no budget info. If it was me and for hobby use I would stay put on whatever works now then upgrade to in future to ARM MBP when that all works. If it was for business use and I needed it, then sure get a 16” MBP now and get many years of use out of it. But you have to upgrade to recent Pro Tools. Or you can do your homework and buy a used old MBP to run Pro Tools 11.x or 12.x or whatever on... I would *not* do that, too many issues in Pro Tools to get off Pro Tools 10 and then be stuck with issues because you don’t want to upgrade. But if you find a used MBP that can also upgrade to Catalina/Big Sur then you always have some options to move forward to the last supported Mac/Intel Pro Tools versions and if you get stuck.

And again if you want to stay on old versions of Pro Tools on a Mac you have a messy compatibility issues that you need to look at.

Thunderbolt 3 equipped Windows laptops restrict options.. but Lenovo would probably be where I started looking... or maybe you should give that up and go with a USB interface. But switching OSes is not something I would recommend to users who do not already know/are comfortable with Windows.

Last edited by Darryl Ramm; 10-15-2020 at 10:01 AM.
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  #6  
Old 10-15-2020, 10:27 AM
TruestPain TruestPain is offline
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Default Re: Laptop Rig Suggestions / Apollo Twin settup?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm View Post
Again your goals are kinda contradictory.

If you are a Mac user, and especially because you want Thunderbolt on a laptop that would keep me on a Mac, with a MacBook Pro. But that means moving to an end of the line Intel MBP... and upgrading to a recent Pro Tools version to get Catalina compatibility.

Or go Windows... but possibly have to give up on Thunderbolt. And just face much more risk with compatibility performance.

There are too many variables here for anybody to recommend to you anything, especially with no budget info. If it was me and for hobby use I would stay put on whatever works now then upgrade to in future to ARM MBP when that all works. If it was for business use and I needed it, then sure get a 16” MBP now and get many years of use out of it. But you have to upgrade to recent Pro Tools. Or you can do your homework and buy a used old MBP to run Pro Tools 11.x or 12.x or whatever on... I would *not* do that, too many issues in Pro Tools to get off Pro Tools 10 and then be stuck with issues because you don’t want to upgrade. But if you find a used MBP that can also upgrade to Catalina/Big Sur then you always have some options to move forward to the last supported Mac/Intel Pro Tools versions and if you get stuck.

And again if you want to stay on old versions of Pro Tools on a Mac you have a messy compatibility issues that you need to look at.

Thunderbolt 3 equipped Windows laptops restrict options.. but Lenovo would probably be where I started looking... or maybe you should give that up and go with a USB interface. But switching OSes is not something I would recommend to users who do not already know/are comfortable with Windows.

Although I appreciate the responses. I dont know what part of what I am saying that is being misunderstood?

I'm literally looking for a laptop capable of running pro tools 10 or higher that is CAPABLE of running an Apogee/Apollo interface ( i think they are thunderbolt 3 but can be converted to USB).

I'm not really looking for used or old platforms, I think going new/recent will be worth it. I have a budget to work with but I dont feel like having to throw numbers around i am just looking for suggestions that is a laptop that has a decent amount of connections like usb, etc.

If I am reading what you are saying is USB more efficient than thunderbolt now?
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  #7  
Old 10-15-2020, 10:51 AM
Darryl Ramm Darryl Ramm is offline
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Default Re: Laptop Rig Suggestions / Apollo Twin settup?

Too much confusion and conflicts... you need to get stuff worked out yourself. You cannot be on a recent powerful Mac with Pro Tools 10 or 11. If you want that you need to buy an older used MBP. Wanting a powerful upgrade, but not wanting to be on the latest Pro Tools version, on a Mac is a serious conflict. Otherwise just buy a 16” MBP and the latest Pro Tools and it should work great. Maybe $4,500 or so with interface... but an end of the line product.

Now you mention Apogee... they are Mac only... at least for their Thunderbolt interfaces, and you need to pay attention to what drivers are available for what Mac OS versions and if those versions also support the version of Pro Tools you want to run.

Thunderbolt 3 is Thunderbolt 3, it happens to use a USB-C connector. USB 3 etc. which can also run over USB-C is very different than Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt 3 should have the lowest latency. But much less availability/support on Windows laptops. Many Windows Laptops with USB-C ports do *not* support Thunderbolt 3. Not all interfaces, especially from Apogee, with USB-C ports are Thunderbolt 3.
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Old 10-15-2020, 11:53 AM
TruestPain TruestPain is offline
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Default Re: Laptop Rig Suggestions / Apollo Twin settup?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm View Post
Too much confusion and conflicts... you need to get stuff worked out yourself. You cannot be on a recent powerful Mac with Pro Tools 10 or 11. If you want that you need to buy an older used MBP. Wanting a powerful upgrade, but not wanting to be on the latest Pro Tools version, on a Mac is a serious conflict. Otherwise just buy a 16” MBP and the latest Pro Tools and it should work great. Maybe $4,500 or so with interface... but an end of the line product.

Now you mention Apogee... they are Mac only... at least for their Thunderbolt interfaces, and you need to pay attention to what drivers are available for what Mac OS versions and if those versions also support the version of Pro Tools you want to run.

Thunderbolt 3 is Thunderbolt 3, it happens to use a USB-C connector. USB 3 etc. which can also run over USB-C is very different than Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt 3 should have the lowest latency. But much less availability/support on Windows laptops. Many Windows Laptops with USB-C ports do *not* support Thunderbolt 3. Not all interfaces, especially from Apogee, with USB-C ports are Thunderbolt 3.

Ok, I may have not been too clear when i originally posted it was super late so I probably did not have all of my thoughts laid out.

I think what I am trying to do is avoid doing the monthly subscription to protools that avid is now doing - i just find that to be more robbery than anything in my opinion which i think is why I want to stay with in the Pro tools 10 / 11 area - unless I am misreading something about avids intetions that I would certainly upgrade to the latest version as long as there is stability and of course on a machine that supports an Apogee twin interface.
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  #9  
Old 10-15-2020, 12:07 PM
Darryl Ramm Darryl Ramm is offline
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Default Re: Laptop Rig Suggestions / Apollo Twin settup?

Apogee Twin? I think you mean UAD Apollo Twin? (Or Apogee Duet?)

I understand the concern with Avid licensing. I think you can still get perpetual licenses from dealers but are then on the hook for paying for annual maintenance/upgrades. Still you might prefer that over full subscriptions... but expect Avid will keep pushing folks there.

If so then a 16” MBP would be where I would go today if really needing to move, and wanting power. They are stunningly nice, I have a slightly older one. But that is a lot of $$$ for an end of the line computer.

The UAD Apollo interfaces are very nice, nice UAD plugins but a big plugin $$$ trap as well. Low, but not the lowest raw latency, but nice tracking through plugins in the Apollo Console... lots there to understand. Just max out the DSP you buy... it will likely never be enough in a Twin.

If you did want to go Windows I would ask on the UAD forums for laptop recommendations.
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Old 10-15-2020, 01:24 PM
TruestPain TruestPain is offline
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Default Re: Laptop Rig Suggestions / Apollo Twin settup?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm View Post
Apogee Twin? I think you mean UAD Apollo Twin? (Or Apogee Duet?)

I understand the concern with Avid licensing. I think you can still get perpetual licenses from dealers but are then on the hook for paying for annual maintenance/upgrades. Still you might prefer that over full subscriptions... but expect Avid will keep pushing folks there.

If so then a 16” MBP would be where I would go today if really needing to move, and wanting power. They are stunningly nice, I have a slightly older one. But that is a lot of $$$ for an end of the line computer.

The UAD Apollo interfaces are very nice, nice UAD plugins but a big plugin $$$ trap as well. Low, but not the lowest raw latency, but nice tracking through plugins in the Apollo Console... lots there to understand. Just max out the DSP you buy... it will likely never be enough in a Twin.

If you did want to go Windows I would ask on the UAD forums for laptop recommendations.
Yes I meant the apogee twin / quad or dual


I'll do some more reading/research/reviews.



When you say DSP do you mean disk space?
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