a move from PC to Mac in 24 hours before gig using Ableton?

old gregg

Hi folks,
a quick question for someone .... my windows setup has decided to no longer recognise the audio interface + midi controllers (all m-audio) together at the same time after 3 years happy configuration.

I've been thinking of changing the laptop anyway but have to sort this today. For Mac users, do you think it's possible for someone to go from never using a Mac before to getting up and running, installing and configuring Ableton Live (I may have to go a demo version for Mac to get me through the weekend), transfer all my ableton files and vst/vsti directories over from the win system and be up and running to do a gig in 24 hours?

I've used PCs since 1992 so comfortable in that regard.

Or do I just stick with that I know and grab a new pc lappy?

Many thanks.

madtheory

Missed this post. What did you do? I wrote a reply:

Eek! For a start, not all your VST plugins will have Mac versions. You can't just copy over the .dll, they don't run on a Mac. You'd have to go to the web.

Secondly, Murphy's law will ensure that something from Mac world that you are not familiar with will crop up just before curtain.

Thirdly, there's bound to be a few little differences between Ableton on Mac vs. PC that will show up when you least expect it. Especially in demo mode!

Stick with what you know for the gig. Get the Mac later.

old gregg

yea thanks man for the feedback and to some good folks over the electronic music forum especially the person who telephoned me to help. I suppose I should have posted there instead of here. Surprised that there's no MP folks who've experience in both PC & MAC :rolleyes:

In the end I muddled through and used the headphone out socket on the lappy. It's a high end Tosh so had a decent sound chip to start with so all worked out in the end. I'm pretty sure that my Fasttrack Pro has decided that it's had enough travelling and gave up. so I skipped into Dublin yesterday after the gig at Knockanstockan and bought a new Focusrite interface in Waltons. I'd tried X Music on the way through but the sales person knew absolutely nothing about electronics so couldn't be trusted for advice.

Yes I now understand that I can't just transfer my vst directory across to a mac and hope it will find everything and work. But, I've now got a fortnight before the Transylvania fest to come up with a long term solution. Many thanks again for giving this some thought madtheory, muchly appreciated.

Mick

madtheory

You're welcome. I'd say you're better off with the Focusrite compared to M Audio, so all good. Break a leg at Transylvania.