Protools 8

RebelRebel

Hi,

I using a digi 002 running Protools LE, Version 6.5 on a Mac Powerbook running OS X 10.3.5.

I only use it for home recording. I was thinking of upgrading however to protools 8 and was wondering if anyone uses it and would recommend it.

I'm not very tech savvy, but I would have to upgrade the operating system to Snow Leopard I think in order for protools 8 to work.

Anyone got any advice. Is it worth upgrading or should I stick with what I have. Any problems with protools 8 etc?

Any advice or suggestions welcome.

Thanks,

RR

bloodwolf

you cant do a straight upgrade from 6.x to pt 8.Having said that by the sounds of it you badly need to update your set up.go to xmusic and play around with their demo and you will get a good idea of the improvements.

RebelRebel

Thanks Bloodwolf. I didn't even know that. As I said not very tech savvy!

You're right I could badly do with an upgrade alright. I might pop out to x music at the weekend and have a look.

How would I upgrade though. Could I not just install Protools 8? Assuming I have already upgraded my operating system?

ZV Yoda

Hi RebelRebel... I have a 2GHz Core 2 Duo iMac with 4Gb RAM running PT 8 via a digi 003 rack. I started with PT7.4 about 18 mths ago... I have to say (as a home user) PT 8 is miles ahead of 7 (I don't know about 6). PT8 has more virtual instruments, a far better user interface, better midi editing./.. just an all round better package. I think its only about €150 to upgrade & it's well worth it for thre VIs alone.

I have no stability issues (touch wood). Also, you don't need Snow leopard... I’m running 10.5.6 with no probs whatsoever. The only think you might want to check is if there's an issue running the 002 with PT8 9i doubt it).

Check over on the DUC (if you haven't used it before, it's a great PT resource)
http://duc.digidesign.com/index.php

RebelRebel

Thanks ZV Yoda, Sounds like it is a must in that case. If 8 is better than 7.4 then it is miles better than 6.5!

PT 8 will work fine with the digi 002 according to the digidesign website. BUt it was there that I read that i'd need snow leopard! I may not need to upgrade my OS X that much but i'll definitely have to go up from 10.3.5 which is pretty ancient.

Think I just need to give the whole thing an overhaul! Thanks for the advice though and that resource. I'll check it out now. You've convinced me its the way to go.

Definately...pt8's a serious update...you wont be sorry..

RebelRebel

Thanks CQD - i'll have a look at it at the weekend and definitey go for it.

Paolo_M

RebelRebel wrote: »

BUt it was there that I read that i'd need snow leopard!

Snow Leopard user here.
It's actually only the very latest release of ProTools 8.03 that officially supports Snow Leopard.
I bought a MBox and PT 8.00 LE with a new MacBoo Pro running Snow Leopard and was stuck with some odd plug in "quirks" for a while.
Absolutely no need to run Snow Leopard, Leopard will be fine. In fact there's a lot of reports of problematic upgrade to Snow Leopard so I'd leave that well enough alone for now.

woodsdenis

RebelRebel wrote: »

Hi,

I using a digi 002 running Protools LE, Version 6.5 on a Mac Powerbook running OS X 10.3.5.

I only use it for home recording. I was thinking of upgrading however to protools 8 and was wondering if anyone uses it and would recommend it.

I'm not very tech savvy, but I would have to upgrade the operating system to Snow Leopard I think in order for protools 8 to work.

Anyone got any advice. Is it worth upgrading or should I stick with what I have. Any problems with protools 8 etc?

Any advice or suggestions welcome.

Thanks,

RR

1. I dont think your powerbook will even run Leopard/PT8 so you need to factor that into your costs. Even if it does, the performance will be less than stellar. You really need to be running Intel now to be somewhat future-proof
with protools.

2. PT8.03 is Leopard compat also. You dont need SnowLeopard.

3. The new Imacs are extremely powerful and worth looking at. Get the i7 processor upgrade if you can afford it and as much RAM as you can.

RebelRebel

Thanks for the replies lads. So I don't need Snow Leopard - ok cool. Good to know.

"1. I dont think your powerbook will even run Leopard/PT8 so you need to factor that into your costs. Even if it does, the performance will be less than stellar. You really need to be running Intel now to be somewhat future-proof
with protools."

In relation to the above, is there a reason Leopard won't run on the powerbook. I thought i could just upgrade? I wasn't factoring in the cost of an imac to be honest. Thought it would be a simple software upgrade.

woodsdenis

RebelRebel wrote: »

Thanks for the replies lads. So I don't need Snow Leopard - ok cool. Good to know.

"1. I dont think your powerbook will even run Leopard/PT8 so you need to factor that into your costs. Even if it does, the performance will be less than stellar. You really need to be running Intel now to be somewhat future-proof
with protools."

In relation to the above, is there a reason Leopard won't run on the powerbook. I thought i could just upgrade? I wasn't factoring in the cost of an imac to be honest. Thought it would be a simple software upgrade.

1. What are the exact specs of your Powerbook processor/ram etc. Go to top left of screen/About this Mac, I suspect it has to be pre Intel and maybe pre PPC. Check the Apple website for minumum specs for Leopard. Powerbooks in computing terms have been upgraded to MacbookPros for a while. Even if it is Leopard/Tiger compat you then need to check min specs for Protools 8.

2. PT8 only runs on Leopard/PT7.4 will run on Tiger/PPC

RebelRebel

Below is the mac specs and don't see intel anywhere so that raises a whole other issue if I need to get a completely new mac! Ah well i'll have a think and start saving! Thanks for the replies.

Hardware Overview:

Machine Model: PowerBook G4 15"
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (1.1)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 1.5 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 167 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.8.6f0

woodsdenis

RebelRebel wrote: »

Below is the mac specs and don't see intel anywhere so that raises a whole other issue if I need to get a completely new mac! Ah well i'll have a think and start saving! Thanks for the replies.

Hardware Overview:

Machine Model: PowerBook G4 15"
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (1.1)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 1.5 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 167 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.8.6f0

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/powerbook_g4/stats/powerbook_g4_1.5_15_2.html

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=625980


http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?navid=3&langid=100&eid=6753


http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?navid=3&langid=100&categoryid=35&itemid=36933


check these out, on the last link PT8 was not even tested on your machine,
this means buyer beware !!!!! TBH I wouldn't even think of PT8/Leopard on your machine. Maybe, and its a big one 7.4/Tiger might be better. Your ram
needs to be increased though. Bottom line is unless you really want to be tearing your hair out get a new machine. Most new plugins now, are going to be Intel only.
PT 8.03 is Intel only and any further updates will be.

ZV Yoda

+1 to what Denis said... I'm not familiar with Powerbooks/Macbooks, so I didn't realise what your spec was. While PT8 is great, I reckon with that Powerbook, you might struggle to run it.

RebelRebel

Thanks Dennis for your reply and all the links. I checked them out and sounds like you are absolutely right. I think i'll just have to stick with what I have at the moment and save to get an i-mac. I appreciate all the info though. I don't know enough about computers, macs especially. I'm going to have to learn!

I was looking at the apple website, you have to go for the 27 inch 2.66 GHz Quad Core in order if you want to upgrade to the i7 processor it seems? All the others just seem to do the Core 2 Duo. I'm guessing there is a big diference?

http://store.apple.com/ie/browse/home/shop_mac/family/imac

Thanks again for the advice and to Yoda.

pistonsvox

Anyone know wihich is better to buy, Mbox with digidesign protools or M audio with m powered?

rcaz

Be careful about buying an iMac anytime soon!

http://gizmodo.com/5447250/the-faulty-imac-saga-chapter-1

RebelRebel

Wow - trouble with i-macs! Maybe i'll just stick with my 2002 G4 Powerbook! Never had any trouble with it so far!

rcaz

RebelRebel wrote: »

Wow - trouble with i-macs! Maybe i'll just stick with my 2002 G4 Powerbook! Never had any trouble with it so far!

Apple seem to be taking the piss a bit by ignoring the problem. That guy's been through three iMacs, all with the same problem, I think.

But I think it's only with iMacs. My 3-month-old MacBook Pro is great, if you wanted to stick with a laptop

woodsdenis

El Pr0n wrote: »

Apple seem to be taking the piss a bit by ignoring the problem. That guy's been through three iMacs, all with the same problem, I think.

But I think it's only with iMacs. My 3-month-old MacBook Pro is great, if you wanted to stick with a laptop

They are allegedly going to upgrade Macbook Pros with the new Intel i5 chips aswell soon. It certainly seems like there is an issue with some Imacs though.
Unusual for Apple not to fix things quickly though.
I would get the i7 quad core 2.88. Amazing value considering the screen size etc, however if there are problems hold off for a while.

rcaz

woodsdenis wrote: »

They are allegedly going to upgrade Macbook Pros with the new Intel i5 chips aswell soon

FFS!! :mad:

mattfender

and i just bought a pro...

pistonsvox

Got Mbox 2 Mini there. Installed it grand, plugged in mbox and opened protools...starts to initialize and then boom "error 5000 while verifying your authorization"

I still need to put in the registration key but i cant even get that far.

Running Macbook Pro OSX 10.6.2

pistonsvox

nevermind this is the exact problem im having. think i need to update protools

http://duc.digidesign.com/showthread.php?t=234120