New MacBook Pro Good for Sound Editing

[VChile123]

I'm curious what kinds of results people are getting with sound editing to picture with the new MacBook Pro. Specifically:

-What kind of track counts are you getting?
-What's your Quicktime file size and resolution?
-Is it running smoothly with heavy volume automation?
-What hardware are you using?

I'm using an MBox with an old Mac laptop and it's very clunky. Time to get a new laptop and possibly better hardware, but would be good to hear about other's experiences before I drop thousands of $$$$.

Thanks
Aaron

[guitarmongoose]

Well except for the top of the line Macbook Pro, the new Macbooks don't have any Firewire ports, which I think almost rules them out for use with Pro Tools. If you get the top of the line MB Pro, I don't think you'll have any problem with decent track counts on your system. Of course I can only dream about affording one right now so this is just conjecture.

[Obsidian Dragon]

Let's not over generalize. If someone is using a USB based system like the MBox MBox2, Mbox 2 Mini, etc, The new Macbook and Macbook Pros should have not problems running Protools. It is the Firewire interfaces only that may need a solution.

[Tuur]

Don't forget your external "firewire harddisk' That you'll need!!!

Tuur

[Obsidian Dragon]

Originally Posted by Tuur

Don't forget your external "firewire harddisk' That you'll need!!!

Tuur

Good point. I was too focused on the interface that I forgot to consider the need for the separate audio drive. Hmm therefore it does look like the new base Macbook is not adequate for Protools. The new Macbook Pro may still work if we can figure out the Firewire 800 solution.

I am seriously looking at getting the previous 15" Macbook Pro with both the FW800 and FW400 ports. I can live with slightly slower graphics, non block of aluminum case, and the mercury and arsenic in my non instant full brightness display.

[cheekypaul]

Originally Posted by Tuur

Don't forget your external "firewire harddisk' That you'll need!!!

Tuur

hello people. i've run a fw400 drive off my fw800 port with an adapter , just for fun , over the years , and it doesn't seem to cause any problems.
though , of course , we are talking digi here...

[citi]

Originally Posted by Tuur

Don't forget your external "firewire harddisk' That you'll need!!!

Tuur

Well, I have used firewire drives for god knows how long but I have to be honest, I have worked on projects on the road with many tracks off the internal and have never had a problem. I'm not saying that you should buy a macbook (I do video too so I need the firewire) but lets just say that if Protools was just a hobby, you could get buy without firewire.

I always thought it was funny that I have been able to run Ableton and Logic with huge track counts without problems. Sometimes I thing Digi throws worst or optimun case scenarios. Not everyone needs to use all 32+ tracks and heavy plugs.

IMO...