M4 mini and Carbon: when might I pull the trigger?

[Philthy]

Scrounged up some pennies to upgrade hardware at my studio... would really like to go M4 mini with a Carbon. I would like to spend the money before the New Year for tax purposes.

I am aware that Avid rigorously checks compatibility, but I haven't followed closely enough over the years to see how long it usually takes to get a new Apple machine certified.

"macOS Sequoia is supported with Carbon Standalone, using Audio MIDI Setup (AMS) for device configuration."

Do I understand correctly, that if I'm just using a single carbon, this will work as expected? Is there any benefit to Carbon Central beyond allowing expanded carbon systems?

Anyone using an M4 mini with a Carbon successfully?

[dominicperry]

Apple and Avid have dropped the ball on this one.

Apple - broke AVB with Sonoma. Never fixed it.
Apple - fixed AVB with Sequoia but broke Carbon Central (perhaps unavoidable).
Apple - made it impossible/very difficult to downgrade OS, even on hardware that originally came with earlier versions.

Avid - failed to find a workaround for the AVB problem (RME and MOTU devices not reporting the same problems).
Avid - didn't get a fix out for Carbon Central the moment it broke (we'll give you 4 upgrades a year. Or maybe 3. Give us more money).

I'm running Ventura on an M1 Max (MBP). Luckily I don't need loads of power, or a new machine.
I wouldn't risk an M4 machine until Avid say that Carbon and Carbon Central work with M4 (not yet qualified) and that Carbon and Carbon Central work with a version of Sequoia that you can actually install and load and stick to.
Luckily, that may be soon.

Carbon Central is essential for running a Carbon-Expanded system (Carbon & 1 or 2 Carbon Pres). It's not essential for one Carbon on its own. CC does a couple of other things like firmware updates and some minor config, but those things can also be achieved using PT itself, so it's not needed, in fact I have no idea why they duplicated those functions.

Dominic

[jeam25]

Hello,

I would like to add that I am currently running Sequoia on beta developer mode (always) with a Mac M1 and Carbon Expanded. For the moment, everything runs near perfectly, and this is my primary working system. Not saying they are compatible or that you should do it, this is just my personal experience with them here.

[Philthy]

Thanks guys. Useful information. In regard to the new Apple machine it looks like "hurry up and wait."

[K Roche]

Originally Posted by Philthy

Scrounged up some pennies to upgrade hardware at my studio... would really like to go M4 mini with a Carbon. I would like to spend the money before the New Year for tax purposes.

"macOS Sequoia is supported with Carbon Standalone, using Audio MIDI Setup (AMS) for device configuration."

That is my understanding and Carbon and Sequoia are working fine in my Studio system below (Intel iMac)

Do I understand correctly, that if I'm just using a single carbon, this will work as expected? Is there any benefit to Carbon Central beyond allowing expanded carbon systems?

Yes and I see no benefit to Carbon Central with just the one Carbon interface and I do not use it

Anyone using an M4 mini with a Carbon successfully?

cant answer this one

As far as Apple appears as if they are shipping M4 mini's
As far as Avid qualifying M4 who knows?
But If I were looking at upgrading in the near future AND I could afford to buy the new Mini but keep my old machine as a back up ... I would do it sooner than later, as prices may jump significantly if the asinine tariffs materialize