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  3. Apple sucks!

  • Apple sucks!

    R
    R

    Actually, they're probably fine, I'm just too busy to wade through the tech specs and pretend Im an it guru.  I like composing, but spend most of my time trying to figure out why nothing is playing back right!

    Anyway, to my current problem: How do you buy a new apple computer with at least minimun future proof, or expansion capability, without a mortgage on it?

    The trigger of all of this is that I bought syncron/dimension strings, and then my laptop had a hernia. 

    Is the answer a macbook pro with max 32g ram, knowing I'll probably need more in the future and have to trade up again? or Imac, or Imac pro? As for old Mac pro's, current mack pro, wait for the new mac pro?

    I'm a "mid" level user, I won't be buying pro tools or other dsp systems - but do want to able to run a full orchestra of indiovidual instruments.... is that so unreasonable?

    Any ideas out there?

    Barton,
  • P
    P

     

    Providing you're not into insanely huge templates, (I don't ever use a template, alwasy start from scratch), I would recommend an iMac Pro linked to something like an Apollo Twin or Quad. 
  • D
    D

    Hi

    What is your current setup (RAM,CPU) ? Is it a Macbook Air ?
  • R
    R
    Thanks all, It’s a MacBook Pro, mid 2014, 15” retina. 2.2 ghz i7 16gb ram, 500gb ssd + another 500gb external ssd for vsl library’s. Ive got vsl solo strings, also dimension strings which I recently upgraded to the synchronised version. Also selected percussion, brass and wind - but intending to increase those. I also have Vienna instruments pro, but not Vienna ensemble pro. The setup was working fine writing for smaller Chamber pieces, but it can’t play a full score. Barton.
  • C.B.C
    C.B.C

    Hi Rangi,

    I have a big set up at home (iMac Pro, etc.). When I go out and I want to work with VSL I use my 2016 MacBookPro (with internal and external SSDs and 16 Gb of Ram). It could be a little bit short occasionally, but it works pretty well most of the time, but only if I use a 512 ms or 1024 ms buffer (audio preferences). What is your buffer setting ?

    I think the new MacBook generation (with i9 and 32 Gb of Ram) could be a working solution.

    Good luck!

    Claude B.
  • D
    D
    last edited
    last edited

    @Rangi said:

    Thanks all, It’s a MacBook Pro, mid 2014, 15” retina.
    2.2 ghz i7
    16gb ram, 500gb ssd + another 500gb external ssd for vsl library’s.

    Ive got vsl solo strings, also dimension strings which I recently upgraded to the synchronised version. Also selected percussion, brass and wind - but intending to increase those.

    I also have Vienna instruments pro, but not Vienna ensemble pro.

    The setup was working fine writing for smaller Chamber pieces, but it can’t play a full score.

    Barton.

    That's weird. I have an iMac (Late 2013, i7, 16 GB RAM) which is as powerful as your Macbook Pro and I have no problems with SYNCHRON-ized Dimension Strings. I've made a test this afternoon. I've created a project in Logic with all the Dimension sections loaded in VE Pro. I've enabled all cells for Cellos and Violas (full, all players) and only Legato for 1st and 2nd Violins (I don't have enough RAM to enable all cells for those two sections). The total of RAM used was 13,9 GB and I had no clicks and pops. 

    Are your libraries stored on a SSD ? Regarding a new Mac, I think you can do a lot of things wirh 32 GB of RAM and an i7 (or i9), whether it's an iMac or a Macbook Pro. And the preload size available in VI Pro and the Synchron Player can be very helpful to decrease the RAM uage. 

    Best,

    David
  • civilization 3C
    civilization 3C

    I think if all your orch is VSL you could get away with the 2018 MacBook Pro fully spec'd.
    If its about Kontakt or EWQL and certain of those libs, I'd say go with 64 GB..
  • civilization 3C
    civilization 3C

     a full orchestra of individual instruments is asking a lot, anyway you cut it
  • R
    R
    Thanks all - two more pieces of information: I’m running Sibelius for composition, and using the sibelius presets. when I say full orchestra, I still mean strings in sections, not individually. Barton.
  • civilization 3C
    civilization 3C

    Well, that's good, because string sections built from 'individuals' is unworkable in samples anyway.

    You can optimize all of VSL in VE Pro (only what's used is called upon once learned) to conserve RAM.