What's going on here?

[WombatStudio.Org]

I'm running Pro Tools 10.1.2 on a late 2008 MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.6 GHz with 4G RAM ... I was running on 10.6.8 and just upgraded to 10.7.3 less than a week ago with no problems ...

I use the Presonus StudioLive 16.4.2 as my interface and my old MBox2Mini that I got just to mix in Pro Tools 8 ...

I went through the upgrades from 8 to 9 to 10 via eBay and saved a couple hundred.

I've had no issues to speak of save for the input monitoring on 3rd party interfaces. The free MuteTone plugin takes care of that.

As for other DAWs, I prefer Digital Performer 7.2 as it's got all the bells and whistles and interesting to use as it was the base code for Pro Tools ... I also own Cubase and Studio One Pro and dabble in Logic ... I don't like them but have them to be able to convert sessions that come in ... Pro Tools is my go to DAW now ... that is until I can't afford it anymore ... If that day comes, I think MOTU's Digital Performer will work just fine and the upgrade to DP8 will be under $199US ...

[Sam Amato]

Thanks, that is some good info.

Digital Performer seems like an interesting DAW to consider too. I don't have much experience with it.

[The Egg]

I'm running PT HD 10.1.1 and HD Accel 2, with Lion(OS 10.7.3) on a 2011 12-core westmere with 16 gb of RAM. Not a single problem, really!!!

Like I said in my first reply to you on this thread, these forums are for problem solving in general so you'll mostly see negative posts from frustrated people and 99% of the time it's user error. Not checking compatibility issues with their comp, not running the necessary versions of their plugs, etc...

Good luck!!!!!!!!

[ggegan]

Originally Posted by Sam Amato

"A few bugs to be sorted out" - I suppose I can deal with that but not when the bugs include randomly losing output from certain tracks, constant crashes, automation not working, etc... That's some of the stuff I'm reading about that has me worried.

I'm also not crazy about how demanding the new OS and software is on RAM requirements. In 2007 with my MacBook (2GB RAM) and PT 7.3 I was able to record for over an hour straight with 32 live inputs, EQ & compression on every track plus 1 reverb and 1 delay. That just blew me away! I get the impression that now I'll need 8GB of RAM to even get decent basic functionality.

So, can someone explain to me how the new version is better? More features? I guess that is important for some people and I'm sure I would like those features too but not if I can't do the basics with ease like before.

I haven't been having those problems with the latest release. You don't have to use tons of RAM unless you want to, but if you have it, RAM cache is a great feature.

If you are happy with PT7, then you don't have to upgrade. PT10 isn't going to sound better, but things like clip gain, RAM cache, Revibe AAX Native, Channel Strip, more dynamic range, Multi Mode for ICONs, HD Native, OSX Lion compatability, and lots of little improvements are all great additions for me.

[Vedat]

Originally Posted by Sam Amato

So, can someone explain to me how the new version is better? More features? I guess that is important for some people and I'm sure I would like those features too but not if I can't do the basics with ease like before.

The biggest improvement you'll see is elastic audio. :)
Then you might appreciate not having to have an Mbox hang on to the laptop.
Ram cache is awesome if you have an HD license, otherwise the new improved disk cache improves things a lot too.
7.3 was a very stable workhorse for me too, but compared to the new bits and pieces of the later versions, it is a little outshone.

[capt kirk]

honestly dude, i've had ZERO trouble. things could not work any smoother, and i'm delivering pro tv and album work,,,

[Chris Lambrechts]

Originally Posted by Sam Amato

So, can someone explain to me how the new version is better? More features? I guess that is important for some people and I'm sure I would like those features too but not if I can't do the basics with ease like before.

Hi Sam,


I am going to speak for myself here and from my own experience. I can with a very clear and clean conscience state that Pro Tools 10 for me is the best version ever. As far as performance and features there hasn't been a release since 7.4 - which was the one with the bug automation overhaul - that has impacted my workflow as much and significantly as Pro Tools 10 HD.
Disck cache and Clip again and real time fades. ALONE is enough for me to say that.
Add the new channelstrip plugin to that / combine it with HDX and man - yes - there was still a lot of room and need for new hardware in 2012 - even with the computers being as powerful as they are today.

Stability : can't remember it ever being better.
Performance issues ? What performance issues ?

The one thing that bothers me a little bit for the moment is the lack of enough 3rd party AAX DSP plugins. But while saying that I also have to say that it is probably more a psychological issue then it really is a limitation because it is not. All my third party plugins run just fine in rtas for now and I don't have any issues with them. But hey - I'm a DSP guy so I prefer to have them on my DSP cards. It just makes me feel more comfortable behind the system.

As for your remarks about the general vibe here on the forums at times : I hear you.

I feel bad for the people that are having issues and yes - I suppose some of them are valid for specific workflows. But in most cases - the problem is not Pro Tools. It is their system and system install.

What people seem to forget at times it that Pro Tools is historically a program that takes control of a lot of the underlying OS in order to do what it does. It differs from your average text editor to the extend that you can probably get away with running that text editor on a sick operating system or sick computer.
You do not get away with that running Pro Tools. Your computer and OS need to be healthy.

Now people will probably not like when I'm saying this but another aspect of issues I'm seeing a lot are coming from pure inexperience and general lack of knowledge on how to keep a system healthy. Most of that comes down to what I would call common sense. And a number of unspoken rules :n For me personally some of those include :

- NEVER perform a major upgrade of your OS. ALWAYS do that through a clean install
- NEVER perform a major upgrade of Pro Tools. ALWAYS do that through a clean install
- With EVERY major new install go spend the time necessary to check your plugin versions. If you have a plugin that has a newer version then the one you are using - get the newer version.

I see people get away with it - yes. They just go Snow Leopard to Lion and PT 8 to 10 without bothering. Sure. If it works they hey .... fine right ?

But if it doesn't ? Well. You can spend the next 2 weeks trying to figure out why it doesn't and get mad at Pro Tools and say it sucks and then after 2 weeks, I give you 75 % chance that your issues are not gone. Again ... the problem here is NOT Pro Tools.

And then last but not least. Compatibility. You would not believe the number of times I see people out there running unsupported configurations. Prior to Pro Tools 9 - back in the days when Pro Tools would only work with Avid hardware - it was A LOT easier to stick to a supported configuration. Both on the hardware and software side. Since Pro Tools 9 a lot of things have changed and most of that for the better. I think we al agree that it is great to be able to have more choices and not feel like you are limited to the Avid hardware only.
Now for the downside. Will any hardware work ? Well. Theoretically I guess. But then you see people have loads of issues. Especially with the kind of hardware that for some applications requires you to install their own set of drivers. That 's when things can definitely become funky as well.

At the end of the day, The lack of experience in maintaining a healthy system combined with the assumption that any configuration (both hardware and software) should just work is going to get you into trouble with Pro Tools. I can guarantee you that much even. And the only way to find out what you can get away with is to either find someone who knows and have him help you or VERY methodically do a step by step installation of your system and hardware components - starting with a setup that is supposed to work - and take it from there.

Anyways ... end of rant. Hope it helps clear up some things

Chris

[Sam Amato]

It certainly makes sense that most of the problems people are experiencing are essentially user error - that's how it is with most things. I guess this forum has changed a lot since the days when I was active on it. I'm glad it's still here though.

I looked up some of my old posts and apparently I started posting back in 2003!

[TimothyJohn]

Hey Sam!!!

+1 for someone running absolutely flawless sessions on PT 10.1.2. I use a 17" Macbook Pro 2.3 GHz i7 quad core, 8gb ram, with a 500gb 7200 rpm internal system drive for apps and samples (less than half full). The audio drive is a firewire 500gb Glyph portagig (which is bus powered). I can go 2-4hrs on battery--very cool!!!! I've been using Pro Tools since M-Powered 8. I agree that most problems i've encountered have been user error. PT 10 is the most stable--I could be a salesman, because I am genuinely impressed with the performance, features, and future development.

The Macbook Pro I use has the Thunderbolt connector. When my system drive fills, I fully expect to increase my storage/performance options by either changing my system drive to SSD and putting samples on a separate drive via Thunderbolt, or change my audio device to Thunderbolt (Apollo?) and running a separate sample drive via USB.

Don't hesitate to run Pro Tools 10. Use all all of your available resources; The DUC, Groove 3, Avid TV, Pro-Tools-Expert.com, etc. Many people willing to help. Good luck!!

Tim

[TimothyJohn]

Originally Posted by WombatStudio.Org

I'm running Pro Tools 10.1.2 on a late 2008 MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.6 GHz with 4G RAM ... I was running on 10.6.8 and just upgraded to 10.7.3 less than a week ago with no problems ...

I'm running on Pro Tools 10.1.2 on OSX 10.6.8. Very stable. However, I will need to go to 10.7, probably by the end of June at the latest. Not to steal the thread, but do you have any tips on the upgrade process? I already have the thumb-drive with OSX 10.7. I was very encouraged to see your post that your system is very stable. Should I do a clean install?? Generally, WombatStudio.Org, any suggestions to get your results in my upgrade process??

Thanks,
Tim