Early 2013 Macbook Pro PT build questions?

[kwsmix]

Hi. First time here long time user. I'm not sure if this is the right section to ask this, but I'm putting a build together on a Macbook Pro. This particular model was, at one time, on the supported hardware list but it's dropped off as new versions of OS X and Pro Tools came along.

So to get right to the point, when I pay my $599 and for a box with an iLok and and authorization code, I can download PT. Question is though, which version do I need?

The computer is currently running Sierra 12.10.1 as a general purpose computer but I'm not sure if that's compatible with a version of PT that will be ok on this box.

Basic computer specs: Early 2013 15" Retina, 2.7GHz 4 core i7, 16GB 1600 MHz DDR3, Intel HD Graphics 4000 w. 1536 MB of RAM. Looking into the system report, It's a version 10,1 has an NVIDIA GeForce GT650M graphic co-processor, 2880x1800 Retina, and a 512GB internal SSD on a SATA buss.

I don't know which chipset I have but I did find some more detailed specs that seem to match the computer here:

http://www.everymac.com/systems/appl...lay-specs.html

Other things: 2 TB2 ports on the left side, 1 USB3 on the left side, 1 more USB3 on the right side along with HDMI, and SD card reader.

I think that covers the basics, yes?

I'm not opposed to rolling back to an older OS, and I'd be happy to have a stable system with at least PT 2.3 or higher on it.

But which flavor of OS X and which version of Pro Tools should I be looking to run on it?

I'd really appreciate any help if you can. I'm at the end of my own abilities to research this which is why I just wound up on your door step. I realize that the box is at the low range of what can be used with 12.x but I'll take what I can get.

Thanks very much in advance!

--Kevin

[albee1952]

Find the link near the top for Additional Resources. Starting there, you should be able to navigate to a compatibility chart showing which PT versions work with each version of OSX

[Darryl Ramm]

And that is normally all you likely need to worry about for compatibility. In this case you should be fine with current/latest everything... with some extra important steps.

I would trust nobody/nothing and reinstall a full clean version of MacOS Sierra before doing anything else. Then install the ILM and Pro Tools 12 latest version. And then uninstall the Pro Tools Application manager and cloud client, they cause lots of people problems.

You must read and follow the Pro Tools installation guide and should do all the system optimization steps.


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[Darryl Ramm]

The Early 2013 MacBook Pro Retina use SATA internal SSDs, they use M.2 like form factor SSD cards but only using a SATA interface, they were the last MacBook Pro Retina to use SATA drives/cards, with later ones switching to dual lane PCIe 2.0 and eventually quad lane PCIe 3.0 NVMe M.2 like form factor SSDs.

This means the internal drive is much slower than current generation MBP, and you really should plan on using a dedicated audio/session drive. I'd be looking at something like a Samsung T3 external USB3 SSD (which internally FWIW is also a SATA drive).

[kwsmix]

Wow, so much great and encouraging info so fast, you guys are great, thank you! I thought I'd be in trouble given it's vintage but this is good news.

It's currently at 10.12.1; I don't see the "additional information" link but on the main page says "...10.9.5 (only supported below Pro Tools 12.8), 10.10.5, 10.11.6 or 10.12.6 (only supported with Pro Tools 12.8 and above)"

So I should go ahead and update the OS to 10.12.6 and grab the newest version of Pro Tools (12.8.1)? It looks that way to me but I just want to be sure.

Darryl, my plan is to use an external Lacie Thunderbolt SSD as a work drive for the audio and session files. App on the system drive (obviously) and sample library on an external USB3 spinny drive.

I guess I should be good then. Thank you I'll sleep better tonight. :)

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by kwsmix

So I should go ahead and update the OS to 10.12.6 and grab the newest version of Pro Tools (12.8.1)? It looks that way to me but I just want to be sure.

No you most definitely should not *update* to 10.12.6. You should do a full clean install of 10.12.6. Download the 10.12.6 installer from the App Store and do a full install with it, not an upgrade. Don't trust anything on the current disk drive, could be bad, messed up, infected with malware, anything.

[kwsmix]

"No you most definitely should not *update* to 10.12.6..."

Ok, will do, thanks.

[nedorama]

I have this as my main computer. 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD drive.

Running 12.8 on OS X 10.12.6 with no issues using a Eleven Rack as my audio interface running through the USB port on the right side. 12.8.1 seems laggy as hell, but I need to trash prefs and see if that helps and if not I'll revert back to 12.8 which ran great for me.

Audio drives are Glyph Firewire drives running through a thunderbolt-FW800 dongle, and works fine. Right now these are being given away and bought a 2nd Glyph and then a 2TB drive from OWC to have a main drive and a backup drive.

Holding off on High Sierra next week until Apple confirms. I got this MacBook Pro used last year for $650, and it's more than paid for itself, and now my daughter has my 2011 MBP to replace her 2008 MacBook...