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Old 11-11-2009, 01:30 PM
maxxdog maxxdog is offline
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Default Anyone using just a plain MacBook for recording?

I've got PT 8 LE set up on an iMac at home, but would occasionally like to record at a rehearsal studio. Big problem for me is the cost of a MacBook Pro. It's a little steep for something I'd only use a few times a year.

What would make more sense to me would be setting up on a second-hand, regular MacBook. I know they're not recommended by Digidesign for Pro Tools, but is anyone out there using one - especially just as a recording device?

Thanks.
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Old 11-11-2009, 01:53 PM
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Default Re: Anyone using just a plain MacBook for recording?

I'm not sure where you're reading that we don't recommend them, but they're fully qualified for most Pro Tools LE systems:

http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?...5&itemid=24328
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Old 11-11-2009, 02:00 PM
maxxdog maxxdog is offline
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Default Re: Anyone using just a plain MacBook for recording?

Doesn't your system requirements page say PT 8 LE won't work on late 2008 and 2009 unibody MacBooks??
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Old 11-11-2009, 02:24 PM
Obsidian Dragon Obsidian Dragon is offline
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Default Re: Anyone using just a plain MacBook for recording?

The issue is the lack of a firewire port on some models. The previous white polycarbonite Macbooks had the firewire port and are great for Protools. The problem models are the first unibody Macbooks and the current white rounded edge polycarbonite Macbooks. These models don't have a firewire port and also don't have a ExpressCard slot for adding a firewire port. Since Protools require a second hard drive for the audio files (not just a partition of the system drive) and USB drives are not recommended, these models of Macbooks are not suitable for Protools use.

The prices I've seen for the ill fated unibody Macbooks and current white Macbooks are not too far from the current 13" Macbook Pro (about $1099 street) which does have a firewire port. Therefore this might be a possible solution for you.
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Old 11-11-2009, 02:26 PM
dougied dougied is offline
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Default Re: Anyone using just a plain MacBook for recording?

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Originally Posted by maxxdog View Post
Doesn't your system requirements page say PT 8 LE won't work on late 2008 and 2009 unibody MacBooks??

It's probably because you need an external firewire hard drive to record to, and USB just doesn't cut it. I have an older MacBook black laptop connected to a firewire hard drive and it works very well with Pro Tools 8. So yeah man, it will be good to go.
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Old 11-11-2009, 02:28 PM
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Default Re: Anyone using just a plain MacBook for recording?

Yeah it all comes down to the newer ones not having Firewire Ports on them now. My old 2006 blackbook works fine for the most part.
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Old 11-11-2009, 03:19 PM
maxxdog maxxdog is offline
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Default Re: Anyone using just a plain MacBook for recording?

That's the best news I've heard all week!! I've been thinking I was up for $3000 to get a 15" MacBook Pro with 4G RAM. Now I'm off to ebay to, no doubt, find something closer to $1000. Thanks a million!! (well, $2,000) :^)
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Old 11-11-2009, 03:24 PM
Obsidian Dragon Obsidian Dragon is offline
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Default Re: Anyone using just a plain MacBook for recording?

15" Macbook Pro starts at $1699 retail. You can get third party memory for much less than through Apple.
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Old 11-11-2009, 04:14 PM
maxxdog maxxdog is offline
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Default Re: Anyone using just a plain MacBook for recording?

Excellent. I'll look into it. But it seems the advice is, steer clear of new MacBooks that don't have a Firewire port and go for either an older MacBook (with Firewire) or a MacBook Pro. Thanks again.
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Old 11-11-2009, 04:16 PM
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Default Re: Anyone using just a plain MacBook for recording?

Quote:
Originally Posted by maxxdog View Post
That's the best news I've heard all week!! I've been thinking I was up for $3000 to get a 15" MacBook Pro with 4G RAM. Now I'm off to ebay to, no doubt, find something closer to $1000. Thanks a million!! (well, $2,000) :^)
Definitely a good call IMO - you can find MacBooks and MacBook Pros in the $425-$650 range quite easily.
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