#432535 - 09/22/03 07:21 PM
Switching from G4 desktop to laptop? Need help to decide!
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dissident
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Registered: 12/11/01
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Hi, I need help with a really tough decision.
Heres the thing, I while ago I bought a Powermac G4 MDD 1GHz. Resently I've started thinking about selling it and buying Powerbook G4. I'm a student so money is an issue. I'm thinking maybe a used Ti PB at 1GHz or maybe one of the new 12" PBs.
On my PM G4 I work mostly in Cubase SX, using stuff like rewire with Reason 2.5, LM4 Mark II with Drum Kit From Hell, Halion, B4 etc.. And record audio with guitar and vocals etc..
The benefits I see with a Powerbook is a more quiet computer, portability (so that I can hook up the B4 organ at with the keyboard at band rehersals). I do need to get a sound card with mic preamps, I'm thinking something like M-Audios MobilePre USB.
What do you think about this? Can you help me think about things I might loose with switching? Will a used Ti Powerbook be powerful enough for the stuff I mentioned above? Any thought will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
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#432536 - 09/22/03 09:05 PM
Re: Switching from G4 desktop to laptop? Need help to decide!
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invisibl
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Registered: 11/14/02
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you WILL lose grunt. Less thru-put
If you DO go with the pwr book, Then get a seperate monitor
Good for the eyes!
best of luck
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#432537 - 09/22/03 10:40 PM
Re: Switching from G4 desktop to laptop? Need help to decide!
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Ren.
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Registered: 12/26/02
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If you are seriously considering on getting your stuff on the road, then yes... go ahead and get a PwrBook. It'll be aweseme, dude!
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#432538 - 09/22/03 10:52 PM
Re: Switching from G4 desktop to laptop? Need help to decide!
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Loopy C
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Registered: 03/05/01
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Loc: Valyermo,CA,UNITED STATES
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I am running most of my sequencing/soft synth software from a PB 17/1 Ghz. I love it but I feel the difference not having SCSI (the internal drive is 5400 rpm and Firewire 400 is still much less robust than SCSI). At least consider a FW 800 HD if you are going to run alot of tracks (you'll get about 40`50 with a 800). CPU-wise, it all depends on how heavy the plug-ins themselves are in usage, I have Reaktor ensembles that use 95% of my CPU alone! (extreme case but still...)
Also realize the new PB's only run OSX (no OS9 boot partition, just Classic emulation which does not work for audio app's). So make sure all VST's you use are carbonized and working under X.
Other than that, I create a lot more stuff now that I am not tied to the physical location of my studio, my G4 now mainly runs Protools as companies catch up with X and Audio Units (though there is still some important gaps, research very carefully). I simply burn CD's/DVD's of the data so am able to get away with Core Audio Engine for right now (be sure to check out Audio Hijack Pro for a great way to grab any audio from Core Audio's 32 bit to 24 bit aif's).
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Chris R. Gibson aka Loopy C Micworks Ken Tamplin Mastering
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#432539 - 09/23/03 03:22 AM
Re: Switching from G4 desktop to laptop? Need help to decide!
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dissident
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Registered: 12/11/01
Posts: 46
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Originally posted by invisibl:
you WILL lose grunt. Less thru-put
If you DO go with the pwr book, Then get a seperate monitor
Good for the eyes!
best of luck
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#432540 - 09/23/03 03:44 AM
Re: Switching from G4 desktop to laptop? Need help to decide!
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dissident
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Registered: 12/11/01
Posts: 46
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Originally posted by Loopy C:
Also realize the new PB's only run OSX (no OS9 boot partition, just Classic emulation which does not work for audio app's). So make sure all VST's you use are carbonized and working under X.
Other than that, I create a lot more stuff now that I am not tied to the physical location of my studio,
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#432541 - 09/23/03 05:31 AM
Re: Switching from G4 desktop to laptop? Need help to decide!
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DigiGeek
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Registered: 06/25/03
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I am on the road quite a bit so I often use my TiBook to record. It is a challenge at times, as latency can be a bit much, but the freedom to do stuff while away is great.
Still if not travelling, I much prefer the capability of a desktop machine, with SCSI and the PCI bus for lower latency, not to mention dual monitors.
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DigiGeek
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#432542 - 09/23/03 10:55 AM
Re: Switching from G4 desktop to laptop? Need help to decide!
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dissident
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Originally posted by DigiGeek:
I am on the road quite a bit so I often use my TiBook to record. It is a challenge at times, as latency can be a bit much, but the freedom to do stuff while away is great.
Still if not travelling, I much prefer the capability of a desktop machine, with SCSI and the PCI bus for lower latency, not to mention dual monitors.
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#432543 - 09/23/03 01:20 PM
Re: Switching from G4 desktop to laptop? Need help to decide!
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Loopy C
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Registered: 03/05/01
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Loc: Valyermo,CA,UNITED STATES
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Originally posted by dissident: Originally posted by Loopy C:
Also realize the new PB's only run OSX (no OS9 boot partition, just Classic emulation which does not work for audio app's). So make sure all VST's you use are carbonized and working under X.
Other than that, I create a lot more stuff now that I am not tied to the physical location of my studio,
_________________________
Chris R. Gibson aka Loopy C Micworks Ken Tamplin Mastering
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#432544 - 09/26/03 08:41 PM
Re: Switching from G4 desktop to laptop? Need help to decide!
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edmann
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Registered: 08/26/03
Posts: 314
Loc: MA
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Originally posted by Loopy C:
At least consider a FW 800 HD if you are going to run alot of tracks (you'll get about 40`50 with a 800).
Under which OS?
just curious
thanks
Ed
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Ed Mann
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#432545 - 09/27/03 01:47 AM
Re: Switching from G4 desktop to laptop? Need help to decide!
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Loopy C
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Registered: 03/05/01
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I saw these figures in Sound on Sound. It was an article on the latest Firewire Drives and was using Logic 6/OSX as a test environment. They were using highly edited tracks if I recall correctly, a PB17 and the Lacie FW800 drive was averaging 48. The article was in the online version of SOS in the last 2~3 months I believe (I read so many mag's a month, I apologize for not knowing exact month, should not be hard to find though, probably in the monthly Mac Computer/OS column. If I get a chance I will post a link to it. 
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Chris R. Gibson aka Loopy C Micworks Ken Tamplin Mastering
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