Beginner's Macbookpro and Pro Tools question

[nickmadsen]

First of all I apologize if this has been answered many times, but I can't really seem to find the answer I'm looking for, since I don't really know how to ask it.

Here I go: I'm about to buy a macbook pro 2.66 to use with pro tools. I'm currently working on a PC, but I need a more powerfull machine. But I've read somewhere in my search about needing an external harddrive to record on? I have an old version og protools LE and use an Mbox mini. Will this work the same way on the mac as it does on the PC? Or do I need to buy something else?

Thank you for your patience

Nick

[b mcgibney]

It is no different than a pc in that a separate had is advised. That said I have done smaller sessions with just the internal drive. YMMV and external drives are cheap. Oxford chipset firewire drives of course.

B

[nst7]

These work great and are reasonably priced:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other.../MEAQ7500GB16/

[mhelm01]

What version of Pro Tools do you have? It may not be compatible with your new mac.

[nickmadsen]

Ok thanks guys.

So is it really just a completely normal USB external harddrive I need? Cause I have one already. Or is it something created just for Mac/recording Audio?

I really can't remember my version, I believe it's LE 7.something, But I live in europe and is currently visiting USA, and want to buy a macbook home with me. That's why I needed to be sure.

But I have run Pro tools Strike without any problems (except a sometimes slow performance due to the slow PC), and from what I can see on the Strike Compatibility page. Pro Tools LE 7.0 win XP, is the oldest version which runs with Strike. Will I be good then? Or what version do I need?

Strike Competibility Page:

http://www3.digidesign.com/index.cfm...icles&eid=2899

Thank you for your time!

[humpback]

"just a completely normal USB external harddrive I need"

Nope... It is highly recommended that you use a Firewire drive. Not USB. They are also at OWC (macsales.com) or newegg.com or other vendors, and are cheap. Save yourself a lot of head/heartache and don't record to your internal drive, and don't try to record using USB. I have seen people get away with it, but it's not stable, and will bite you in the butt.

Best,

Nathan

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by humpback

"just a completely normal USB external harddrive I need"

Nope... It is highly recommended that you use a Firewire drive. Not USB. They are also at OWC (macsales.com) or newegg.com or other vendors, and are cheap. Save yourself a lot of head/heartache and don't record to your internal drive, and don't try to record using USB. I have seen people get away with it, but it's not stable, and will bite you in the butt.

Best,

Nathan

To be a bit more specific, use an approved firewire drive with Mac and Windows XP or Vista. With Windows 7, USB2 drives are now the Avid recomended choice. As always, if you are running a desktop machine, adding internal drives(or eSATA) will net the best performance. I do all my work on internals(I run 5 drives in my computer) and leave externals for backup/archive and transfers. Using an HFS+ external allows easy transfer of files between my Windows 7 machine and my neighbor's Mac/DP system.

[humpback]

Albee is quite right... though I didn't add any of that additional info as the OP wants a MBP, so no Win 7 and therefore no USB2... and I guess I could have been more specific - recording to the internal system drive is the no-no. Again, though, since it's a MBP in question here, the only internal drive is the system drive.

[nickmadsen]

Ok thank you very much guys. You made me understand the whole thing now :)

But now 2 new questions have come to mind:

I'm planning on using the MBP as my home amateur studio, but is that a bad idea? Since the Mac is quite expensixe would there be another solution that would suit me better you think?

And Humpback you wrote:" as the OP wants a MBP..." I guess the OP is me, but what does it stand for?

But once again thanks for all of your kind replies.

[humpback]

OP = Original Poster

I've known a lot of folks who very successfully have used a MBP as the main 'engine' for their studios, and have even used mine for the same purpose - and mine is a couple generations old. There might be some cheaper Apple solutions, but a lot - IMO - depends what your needs are. Can you let us know what sorts of sessions you plan on running? Also looking back at the thread, I see that you have version 7.x. Getting a new Apple product of any kind will have Snow Leopard (10.6.x) installed, and 7.x will not run with it, so you'll have to upgrade your version of PT as well.

Nathan