New "Mac Studio" from Apple

[Frank Kruse]

Originally Posted by kings79

No M1 Max results?

Yeah the PT CPU Monitor is useless and should be ignored.

M1 laptops were also in the 90-100% range. I didn't list them as the test was done with inactive plugins pre plugin update release.

What makes you think the meters are useless? I wrote that the PT meters always reflected what the MacOS system monitor read. The only one I have no info about was the Studio (not my machine). The M1 mini crapped out after a few minutes (CPU error). I have no reason to believe that the meters were lying as the machine stopped playing. The Studio however needs some more investigation. Interesting to see a 10 year old 5,1 smoke an M1 mini after all the marketing fluff :-D
All the non-M1 readings in PT corresponded to the MacOS meters.

[Frank Kruse]

Originally Posted by audiolex1

Did you down load the PT Final Mix or Mastered zip?

Tests done with the final mix PT session. It's pretty light on voice count (around 260) but uses tons of plugins.
We used this session as it's based on built in PT plugins, has a heavy surround bussing structure and contains picture that everyone can access. So it's fairly real world comparison that challenges these machines.

Would be interesting to see at what point the Studio stops playing. Haven't tried to duplicate the folders to see if it still plays at twice the load.

[BScout]

Originally Posted by Frank Kruse

M1 laptops were also in the 90-100% range. I didn't list them as the test was done with inactive plugins pre plugin update release.

An M1 Max laptop would be the same as a Mac Studio (non-Ultra.) Which would be half the power of an Ultra, On a large session. performance is near linear.

[glasswing]

Originally Posted by Carl Lie

How many HDx cards do you use?

Hi Carl
I use one. BOught the Avid HDX chassis for it although Sonnet just about guaranteed it would work with their bigger PCIe chassis. I didn't wanna push my luck any more than absolutely necessary. The problem with either chassis is they are HUGE. My concern is top heaviness - so I'll have to find to way to keep it safe from tipping over

[Actionmusic]

Would love to know and hear experiences if anybody has used an Ultra with also first hand experience of a Max in studio or more likely macbook pro form, and the impact of them on big sessions

I have yet to see a real world "major label" style big pop production session demo , maybe VIs mixed with big track count and heavy processing master bus + other plugs (accepting PT's lack of optimisation at the moment).

Wondering if Max is more than enough for a 250 track session and therefore whether Ultra is overkill, given most of the demos online are like 8k video and multiple layers that put us audio peeps to shame with the processing requirements!

[Carl Lie]

Originally Posted by glasswing

Hi Carl
I use one. BOught the Avid HDX chassis for it although Sonnet just about guaranteed it would work with their bigger PCIe chassis. I didn't wanna push my luck any more than absolutely necessary. The problem with either chassis is they are HUGE. My concern is top heaviness - so I'll have to find to way to keep it safe from tipping over

Thanks for the reply. I use a single card as well. I've been quite happy with HDx. It's one of the few things I sunk money into that still proves itself each day.

C

[glasswing]

Originally Posted by Carl Lie

Thanks for the reply. I use a single card as well. I've been quite happy with HDx. It's one of the few things I sunk money into that still proves itself each day.

C

According to Spitfire Audio's tests, HDX used quite a bit less cpu than native. Plus, I really love the sound of HDX.

[ramonetl]

I had a thought today on the whole M1\M2 etc cpu and the 2019 MacP. I suspect they will offer an upgrade module to be able to upgrade the CPUs to the latest rather than have to buy a whole new one. Fits in the mudular nature.. Nothing wrong with the current systems.

[audiolex1]

Originally Posted by ramonetl

I had a thought today on the whole M1\M2 etc cpu and the 2019 MacP. I suspect they will offer an upgrade module to be able to upgrade the CPUs to the latest rather than have to buy a whole new one. Fits in the mudular nature.. Nothing wrong with the current systems.

They can't. The entire architecture is COMPLETELY different.

I mean the SSD controller is on the Chip itself. All the RAM, video etc is as well. And it is ARM not x86.

This guy breaks down the SSD's here and why it isn't upgradeable:
https://youtu.be/MANlo9fV9yI

[BScout]

Originally Posted by ramonetl

I had a thought today on the whole M1\M2 etc cpu and the 2019 MacP. I suspect they will offer an upgrade module to be able to upgrade the CPUs to the latest rather than have to buy a whole new one.

Never going to happen. Are you unfamiliar with Apple and its 45years + history?