The Acoustic Guitar Forum - Pro Tools and iMac

The Acoustic Guitar Forum (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/index.php)

- RECORD (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=43)

- - Pro Tools and iMac (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=490835)

Hi folks

It's not like a Macintosh (iMac) can only run ProTools, nor that interfaces and software for audio recording is particularly memory intensive (unless you are recording 32 tracks each with a stack of 8 effects each).

Video software is memory intensive, but audio not so much. That said, all my current machines are 16GB and my next one will be 32GB because I'm also a photographer shoots/edits video which is memory intensive.

I have a 2010 iMac with 4GB RAM running high end MOTU (Mark of the Unicorn) recording software and a MOTU firewire interface on an early version of OSX, and the last time the system or software was updated was probably 2012.

It's stable, and needs no upgrades (it is so old it cannot run current OSX versions). I have also not updated ProTools on that machine since 2012.

There is one new 2018 iMac (the new iMac Pro) which doesn't have upgradable RAM.
It's designed for editing photos and video, and doesn't use conventional RAM sticks (and starts at $5000).

This high end iMac is not a necessary machine for audio recording unless you are a Film Studio producing major motion pictures. The standard iMac well configured will do audio recording just fine.

I run ProTools, and three other recording software packages on my machine through my MOTU FireWire interface without anything choking or stuttering, or glitching.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljguitar (Post 5569467)

To clarify a bit further The new standard iMac with the 27" screen does have a user accessible hatch for upgrading RAM. Where the iMac Pro, will be upgradable after purchase , but only at an Apple store or authorized service center.
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/12/14/imac-pro-ram-upgrade-apple/

But given the iMac Pro entry level ships with 32 GB of RAM (unless one is also doing heavy video editing) should be more than enough BUT , I agree it seems a bit like overkill for most home audio recording . If I were goin going purchase a new iMac, I would probably opt for the standard iMac BUT with the i7 processor ( available as an option on the 2 nd tier iMac )

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevWind (Post 5569516)

…If I were goin going purchase a new iMac, I would probably opt for the standard iMac BUT with the i7 processor ( available as an option on the 2 nd tier iMac )

Hi KW

Me too. Our current home Mac is a 2012…2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 with 16GB of RAM and I'm feeling the slow down with the latest system upgrade.

So 2018 or 2019 we'll bump up to a 27" iMac. I'm retired, and no longer doing any 'heavy lifting' recording…but my photo and video editing have ramped up due to our ability to travel whenever/wherever we choose.

I have no need of the MacPro.

I'm going to look at the info on the new iMacPro. Early reports indicated RAM not upgradable, so if it can be done retro by service that would be awesome. I don't think the audio, photo or video industry are lowering their standards so the horsepower required in the future is sure to go up. Futureproofing is a tricky art-form.

Avid just released ProTools 12.8.3 which is certified for use with the following Mac operating systems:

macOS High Sierra (10.13.2), macOS Sierra (10.12.6), and macOS El Capitan (10.11.6).

macOS Yosemite (10.10.x) is no longer supported and appears not to work with PT 12.8.3.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdelsolray (Post 5575088)

Yes and is apparently the good news that the GUI lag issue many were having with PT 12.8.2 and down - is fixed. And over on the DUC (Avid Forum) while there are a few reports of issues with High Sierra there are also a number reports of no issues and great performance .

Now I am still on 12.8.1 and Sierra and haven't noticed any lag issues myself

The only thing that has me perplexed is that in the Technical Alerts section of the DUC on the updated "High Sierra not yet supported" thread, in the linked documentation it states that Avid Audio Interface drivers are not yet supported .....BUT on the High Sierra supported thread there is no mention of this ? I started a thread to ask for some knowledgeable clarification so we will see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljguitar (Post 5569467)

Hi folks

I have a 2010 iMac with 4GB RAM running high end MOTU (Mark of the Unicorn) recording software and a MOTU firewire interface on an early version of OSX, and the last time the system or software was updated was probably 2012.

It's stable, and needs no upgrades (it is so old it cannot run current OSX versions). I have also not updated ProTools on that machine since 2012.

i have a 2010 imac with 16gb ram and i'm on high sierra. i did wait a while before upgrading but i've had no problems at all running any of my software including logic and reason.

play music!

OK just found out the Tech Alert is out of date an Avid hardware is Compatible with High Sierra here we go off to the races ......

FWIW, I spent the day engineering at a studio that had the latest PT running on High Sierra. It went relatively smoothly. Only issue was that audio could only be imported by drag & drop. Import from the menu was non-functional.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DupleMeter (Post 5575722)

Interesting what version of PT was being used HD or reg ?

I wonder if it might have something to do with the change in the file system on HS ??

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevWind (Post 5576194)

Interesting what version of PT was being used HD or reg ?

I wonder if it might have something to do with the change in the file system on HS ??

It was Standard PT (I guess they call it "Native"), with a UAD Apollo interface, if that matters.

The iMac running PT was still using HFS+, not the new AFS. The boot drive was a Fusion Drive, which wasn't auto converted as SSDs are on update.

It was an odd problem. Luckily it was easily worked around.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DupleMeter (Post 5576476)

Yes technically it would be "native" but PT is a bit funny in it's version nomenclature, given there is also PT HD native (runs on PCIe cards) And runs the HD version but the processing is done natively on the computer as opposed to HDX where DSP processing takes place on the HDX cards ... So the term Vanilla is often used to describe the Standard non HD version

I don't know, beyond my pay grade :D but the file system anomaly could be the reason.
Yes I usually prefer drag and drop anyway, unless I want to pre designate a position later than the start of the song.

I think a standard iMAC or even MacBook Pro would be fine. I use a cheese grater Mac Pro with 16 gigs of memory and a 8 gig MacBook.

As LJ said audio recording and editing is not too memory intensive, especially not if you are mainly home recording with just acoustic and vocals. You really have to be pushing things to get into trouble.

The iMac Pro is designed for media work but with those studios in mind who refresh the equipment every few years or so. There is a new Mac Pro (modular and expandable) coming out sometime next year.

But for audio, a standard iMac will have more than enough power. Go for the biggest screen you can afford!