MacPro 8Core, 16 Gigs ram - good for MIR standalone w windows?

[mpower88]

I'm thinking about using my existing machine with MIR. It's an 8-core MacPro 3Ghz with 16Gb RAM. If I run Windows 7 or whatever flavour of windows that VSL recommends on it, will it be a suitable, reliable machine for MIR.

I already own this machine, and I have a new machine for my compositions, and I don't want to sell it and buy a PC, it seems good enough to me just need to install windows.

Any advice? I would like to get something that can easily do the job. Presently I'm only doing stereo mixes, but, you never know, maybe 5.1 down the line or perhaps even sooner. But I would be happy if it could just do a good job of stereo 24bit 44.1khz mixes anyway.

[Dietz]

Windows 7 is fine. If you tell us the details of your Mac (processor type, graphics card model etc.), CM will give you an educted guess what the machine is able to do. RAM-wise, you're fine for medium sized arrangements in stereo (60+ instruments), especially when you make good use of VI's RAM saving feature.

Other elements to consider are a good audio-card with 64 bit compatible ASIO drivers, and a way to get MIDI to MIR (internally? LAN? MIDI interface?).

Kind regards,

[mpower88]

Hi,

Just to be clear, the machine I'm talking about would be for MIR, not VI. I will get another machine for VI. I would hook up two mac pro's side by side, probably with the gigabit ethernet connection between the two machines, with the master machine being VI. Is that right?

  Model Name: Mac Pro

  Model Identifier: MacPro2,1

  Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon

  Processor Speed: 3 GHz

  Number Of Processors: 2

  Total Number Of Cores: 8

  L2 Cache (per processor): 8 MB

  Memory: 16 GB

  Bus Speed: 1.33 GHz

ATI Radeon X1900 XT: 512Mb.

[DG]

 MIR hosts your Vienna Instruments. There is currently no input to MIR other than MIDI.

[Dietz]

@DG said:

 MIR hosts your Vienna Instruments. There is currently no input to MIR other than MIDI.

DG is right - MIR has to be the host for all virtual instruments. Routing audio into MIR from other applications will be a feature of MIR Pro.

[Dietz]

@mpower88 said:

Hi,

Just to be clear, the machine I'm talking about would be for MIR, not VI. I will get another machine for VI. I would hook up two mac pro's side by side, probably with the gigabit ethernet connection between the two machines, with the master machine being VI. Is that right?

  Model Name: Mac Pro

  Model Identifier: MacPro2,1

  Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon

  Processor Speed: 3 GHz

  Number Of Processors: 2

  Total Number Of Cores: 8

  L2 Cache (per processor): 8 MB

  Memory: 16 GB

  Bus Speed: 1.33 GHz

ATI Radeon X1900 XT: 512Mb.

I see - it's a quad-core. This will limit the possibilities a bit, as convolution puts enormous strain on the CPU. Still, medium-sized arrangements with around 30 sources should be no problem, especially with higher latencies.

ATI should be fine for MIR's needs.

[mpower88]

Ok, looks like I'm getting mixed up here:

the machine has 2X quad core processors, so, 8 cores in total.

However, the idea was obviously to use the new more powerful machine for MIR, which would be whatever the top of the line maxed out MacPro is, and use the 'old' 8 core machine for hosting more instruments, and midi - but I wasn't aware that MIR hosting VI as well, so, that changes it a bit, then I wouldn't need such a powerful machine like an 8core just to do MIDI, and I would need to sell it anyway... Unless it can be used to host more instruments. 

I tend to work at low latencies and keep everything "live" as much as possible. I like to be able to re-play parts right up to the end of a mix sometimes.

[Dietz]

You don't necessarily need a second computer for MIDI. Quite a few MIR users due everything on the same machine, using virtual MIDI loopback, like LoopBe30.

[mpower88]

Ok, well that's good news as that's my preferred method of working ;) However I also like to work with low latency in large projects right up to the final mix, so I can replay parts as part of the mix process,  if that makes sense... So I would need a very very powerful machine I guess to be able to build large projects, and run all the instruments. I'm happy to use the freeze and low ram facilities though, as long as I can keep the latency right down as low as possible (usually in logic, 256 with a small or medium buffer is nice). Yes, call me crazy, but that's what works for me ;) So do you think that would work? Or would I be better off getting a separate machine and waiting for MIR pro?

[DG]

 If you still want to use Logic, then you will have to get another machine, as MIR is Windows only.

DG

[mpower88]

Aha... ok, the catch.... 

[Dietz]

To avoid any further confusion: -> [URL]http://vsl.co.at/en/211/497/1687/455/1666/1328.htm[/URL]

Kind regards,

[Sergino Futurino]

@mpower88 said:

Hi,

Just to be clear, the machine I'm talking about would be for MIR, not VI. I will get another machine for VI. I would hook up two mac pro's side by side, probably with the gigabit ethernet connection between the two machines, with the master machine being VI. Is that right?

  Model Name: Mac Pro

  Model Identifier: MacPro2,1

  Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon

  Processor Speed: 3 GHz

  Number Of Processors: 2

  Total Number Of Cores: 8

  L2 Cache (per processor): 8 MB

  Memory: 16 GB

  Bus Speed: 1.33 GHz

ATI Radeon X1900 XT: 512Mb.

 I have a 2008 3.1 Mac Pro that should be the following series.

I can play without problems about 50 instruments but forget the real time playing.

I have to use long latncy settings.