Help for a novice using pro tools 8.5le and now need to upgrade

[stuart66]

which desktop would you recommend to run pro tools 10.......i have been looking at so many things i have confused myself........my heart has been set on a DELL XPS 8930 as it seems to have lots of great reviews.....i would appreciate it if you could give some advice.......change causes me stress....but now is the time as there is smoke coming from the XP..haha

[Ben Jenssen]

Originally Posted by stuart66

which desktop would you recommend to run pro tools 10.......i have been looking at so many things i have confused myself........my heart has been set on a DELL XPS 8930 as it seems to have lots of great reviews.....i would appreciate it if you could give some advice.......change causes me stress....but now is the time as there is smoke coming from the XP..haha

If you're ready to go mac, then I could give you lots of advice, but Windows… I know nothing.
Anyway, no one can suggest anything before you describe more what you need, have, want, and your budget.

[stuart66]

No problem

I will stick with windows, its what im used to

I use midi instruments mainly, so looking for more built in synths etc.....

I dont need that much as i have managed for years with my current set up and wrote my music this way...

it is a home recording project and my girlfriend sings vocals....

my budget would be around £1000 maximum for computer desktop

[Ben Jenssen]

OK, I'll leave it to my friends here on the DUC to advice on a PC.


Just a thought; You realise you will have to leave XP behind, so you'll be in for a big change. So why not change to a very user friendly mac? And must you have Pro tools? A mac has Garage Band and Logic which might be both cheaper and more suitable. Just saying.

[stuart66]

I have looked at logic and getting a MAC what puts me off is having to learn a new software like Logic......i just want to be creative and not go back into learning, which i did when i first got pro tools

I know Logic is cheaper...and Macs are highly recommended...............

Decisions.....

[unkJE]

A 16 GB RAM quad-core i7 Lenovo W520 laptop can be found pretty cheap – for example:

Lenovo ThinkPad laptop W520 i7 2920xm 1920x1080 16GB 1Tb Hdd And Ssd
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-Thin...8AAOSwG0Ff8KhV

I prefer to buy from a refurbisher, but, at this price, it may be worth it.

I normally look for eBay Sellers who’ve sold many items and have high % eBay Feedback from customers.
If you pay with PayPal – and the item turns out to be faulty or “not what was advertised”, PayPal will organize a Refund, though this can take 2 to 3 months – and Buyer pays the Return Postage.

There are various models – look for a quad-core [don’t get the i7-2620M(2.70GHz) dual-core]

https://support.lenovo.com/au/en/sol...-thinkpad-w520

Available quad-core processors are:


Intel® Core i7 processor i7-2630QM(2.00GHz) with quad-core
DDR3 memory controller (up to 1333MHz), Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 (2.90GHz), Hyper-Threading technology; 6MB Cache

Intel® Core i7 processor i7-2720QM(2.20GHz) with quad-core
DDR3 memory controller (up to 1600MHz), Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 (3.30GHz), Hyper-Threading technology; 6MB Cache

Intel® Core i7 processor i7-2820QM(2.30GHz) with quad-core
DDR3 memory controller (up to 1600MHz), Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 (3.40GHz), Hyper-Threading technology; 8MB Cache

Intel® Core i7 processor i7-2920XM(2.50GHz) with quad-core
DDR3 memory controller (up to 1600MHz), Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 (3.50GHz), Hyper-Threading technology; 8MB Cache

Expansion Bays

• 4-in-1 Media Card Reader slot
• One ExpressCard slot
• One SmartCard slot
External ports
• Two USB ports version 3.0
• One powered USB 2.0
• One USB 2.0 eSATA/USB combo port
• Additional connector supports the optional Port Replicator, advanced dock, and advanced mini-dock.
• Audio ports One microphone and one headphone jack (support 3.5 mm mini-plug)
• External monitor (VGA DB-15, DisplayPort)
• DVI port 1.0
DVI port only supports Single Link capability.
• eSATA port
• Ethernet RJ-45 connectors for LAN connection
• IEEE 1394 FireWire 400 (4-pin connector; 1394a-2000 standard)


If you need extra ports – you can find used models of the following, cheap on eBay:
ThinkPad Mini Dock Plus Series 3 with USB 3.0 – 170W (433835U - U.S.)
https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/be/en/p...tions/pd024298

Features and specifications
• One Super-Speed USB 3.0 Port on each dock
• Left corner alignment for easy system attachment
• Convenient eject button for one-step system removal
• USB Ports: Mini Dock Plus (90W & 170W): 6x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0
• Multiple video ports: Mini Dock Plus (90W & 170W): 1x VGA, 2x DVI, 2x DP
Many systems allow for two of these video ports to be used simultaneously. Select systems, including those with NVIDIA Optimus technology, allow for up to three video ports on the dock to be used simultaneously.
• Audio ports: Analog microphone in, headphone out
• RJ-45 Ethernet port
• Integrated key lock and cable lock slot for physical security
• Included AC Adapter - Mini Dock Plus 170W: 170W AC Adapter

If you buy used Pro Tools software on eBay, follow the precautions listed above.

Avid Pro Tools Pro Tools 12 (12.5.2) (USED) with ilok key
Includes older 10 & 11 versions
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PACE-ILOK-K...MAAOSw~TNbSTje

You’d need to ask the Seller for the Installers for Pro Tools 10/ Pro Tools 11/ Pro Tools 12

Buyer states: "* NO TRANSFERS to different iLok Account ( Avid does not permit this )"
Avid does permit it – as long as the Transfer of Ownership form is paid for:
https://avid.secure.force.com/pkb/articles/FAQ/en363631

If you contacted the Seller and offered to pay for the T.O.O. you could then have the license transferred to your Avid account – which would enable you to upgrade to the latest version at a later date. This would require a “Reinstatement for expired license” – which are now only available from Resellers and are in limited supply.

If you’re happy to just have the iLok (and Installers) and stay on Pro Tools 12.5.2, this is the cheapest option.


I have a SIIG Firewire 2-Port ExpressCard in the W520’s front RHS ExpressCard slot, for the Firewire lead to my Mbox Pro 3:
https://www.amazon.com.au/SIIG-NN-EC.../dp/B000EMAXPQ

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Avid-MBox-3...oAAOSwz7Jf63rC

[stuart66]

Thank you so much unkJE that is a brilliant help to me, i will get back to you once i have had a chance to check out the links......I did read Lenevo are solid and reliable,along with the Dell,,,,portability is not a big factor so i may look at the Desktop versions.....but at least i am getting closer and feel i am making the right decisions now with your help. and everyone else......thank you

[Ben Jenssen]

You’d need to ask the Seller for the Installers for Pro Tools 10/ Pro Tools 11/ Pro Tools 12

I'm pretty shure they're available on avid's downloads page when you have the licence for them.

[JFreak]

Actually no, Avid Account would have the latest PT12 that the license allows, and "legacy" section would provide latest PT 10/11 download which means no PT10 download

Avid Download Center has versions from 12.6 to current. Other versiona need to be asked from Avid Support


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