Mac mini

[jeffrey collins]

Re: Mac mini

i would not use an external HD for recording. Only for the finished product to keep on an extra HD and not use up all the available space on my main HD. You use THAT space for the actual recording.

[Caley Martin]

Re: Mac mini

I record on my 12 in. PowerBook (4200 rpm HD) using Soundtrack Pro, and the recordings are flawless each time... but I would want a faster drive in the case of rendering and editing the waveform.

[jeffrey collins]

Re: Mac mini

i've never heard of that program. i wouldn't mind getting a macbookpro, but right now i think i don't wanna have to spend that much just yet on a laptop.

[miketpoto]

Re: Mac mini

i would not use an external HD for recording. Only for the finished product to keep on an extra HD and not use up all the available space on my main HD. You use THAT space for the actual recording.

Actually kids, you want to minimize any high bitrate realtime capturing and recording to your system drive (main hard drive with OS on it). If you keep your free space at 35% or more of the total drive size you should be ok to do this with audio (but video needs more room).

Reason being this, as your HD gets fuller the files get more fragmented and if you keep it pretty full all the time, you are going to get more and more corrupted files, and eventually (this does happen kinda often) you will begin to have files written over important system files because there's not big enough empty spaces left to capture live.... and then your OS is fucked and you can't boot. This is a bad thing.

[Caley Martin]

Re: Mac mini

its like trying to pass a kidney stone through your urethra

[Gloomy]

Re: Mac mini

Hey guys, thanks for all your replies. In the meanwhile, I haven't bought a new comp yet, but I've become wiser by reading stuff on the steinberg website and a lot of CPU comparison sites. Conclusion: MAC isn't the one and only machine anymore for music production. Dual Core CPU's for PC seem to pay off. Ok, there's the competition between intel and amd, but when it comes to dual cores, amd seem to be the best of the two. With the the 4400 X2, you get best bang for your bucks. So I think I've finally made up my decision.

So my next salary over a few weeks is already reserved

[jeffrey collins]

Re: Mac mini

whatever goes down, at least you're beginning your wonderful journey of being a dance music composer. and great for you. it truly is the real only way to get known these days. you just can't be a killer dj anymore.

[Caley Martin]

Re: Mac mini

hmmm, not to stir much shit, but Intel's Core 2 shits all over AMD's offerrings... and you can expect to see those in upcoming Apple products.

[Gloomy]

Re: Mac mini

whatever goes down, at least you're beginning your wonderful journey of being a dance music composer. and great for you. it truly is the real only way to get known these days. you just can't be a killer dj anymore.

well I have been composing dance music for a longer time, but only recently, I opened my mind for software. I have been a hardware addict for far too long, untill a friend of me (frontman of 'heyaeb'), told me that I was crazy not to use music production software. Since then, I can't do without anymore. Here's one of my first tracks I made with my laptop (my temporary production solution):

http://users.pandora.be/hendrikdeclercq/trackingtreasuredown.mp3

it's a cheesy trance remix of Gabriel & Dresden - tracking treasure down. Yes cheezy trance, I'm sorry hehe.

hmmm, not to stir much shit, but Intel's Core 2 shits all over AMD's offerrings... and you can expect to see those in upcoming Apple products.

The reason why apple choose for intel dual cores is power consumption ... the weak point of amd processors, but essential for mobile applications (still a growing market). As I will be using a desktop, power consumption is not my first matter (as long as I don't have interference with other devices). I choose for amd because different comparison tests on dual cores proved amd to give the best performance.

Oh well, the fact that there are some much discussions about this topic, means that both intel and amd must have decent stuff in store?

[Caley Martin]

Re: Mac mini

The reason why apple choose for intel dual cores is power consumption ... the weak point of amd processors, but essential for mobile applications (still a growing market). As I will be using a desktop, power consumption is not my first matter (as long as I don't have interference with other devices). I choose for amd because different comparison tests on dual cores proved amd to give the best performance.

Hmmm. Power consumption yes, but the Core 2 comes in a variety of flavors though. There is a Core 2 for the mobile environment (Merom), the desktop environment (Conroe) and the server environment (Woodcrest). Regardless of power consumption, the Core 2 still gets more performance when pitted against AMD. Have you checked out the stats on the Conroe and Woodcrest chips? From the tests I have seen, they blow even OC'd AMD chips completely out of the water. And one test was even optimized for the AMD chip and not the Core 2...

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...1976398,00.asp

AMD has some fierce competition if they wish to expand that, what, 17% marketshare? There was a time when AMD chips shat all over Intel's offerings, but times are changing pretty fast IMO.

And I still think there is more value in going with purchasing an Apple computer. It's not overrated or cliche to be into dance music production and having an Apple. There is a reason for that. Just wait until products ship with the Core 2 chip and see what they are like. coughaugustorsoonercoughcough...

[jeffrey collins]

Re: Mac mini

Well i think there's a money issue into it also. Don't let Apple think they did all this just for computing power.

[Caley Martin]

Re: Mac mini

Well I am sure there is profit involved, if that is what you are referencing, but it's up and up for Apple to use the Intel chips... the PPC was stagnating and dead in the water. So if you make money as a result of a better chip resulting in a better product for the consumer, so be it! That's business.

[jeffrey collins]

Re: Mac mini

IBM is working right now on a chip that is supposed to be a hell of a lot faster than what Intel has out there right now. I read about it in some magazine...can't remember right now.

[Caley Martin]

Re: Mac mini

A little too late. Hah, they hedged their bets with the Cell processing for the game consoles. Fuck 'em.

[jeffrey collins]

Re: Mac mini

Oh well. Screw IBM anyway. They have been in the dark ages of tech for so long now.

BTW. I am in the process of saving up my money to buy a 20" Imac. And I'm looking forward to working with it. Then I think i'm gonna get that new MOTU half rack soundcard to go with it.