Imac G5 For Audio, question about conveniet mac hardware Options

[paideia]

Hello,

I canot get a Power Mac G5 dual, but I can buy an Imac G5, but, is it good for compose with virtual instruments? Has it the sufficient power?.

Other question, I will not recording, only works with virtual instruments: will an audio interface give me more power in a mix situation in my computer? In other words: I dont know if an audio interface like Mbox or Tascam us 122 or Motu 828mkII will help me to get more power to run plugins, mix, etc with an imac g5 running dp 4 or logic express. Thanks, sorry for my english and wait yours comments.

[dixiechicken]

There's a difference between plug-ins and virtual instruments.

Plug-ins like filters, reverbs compressors and the like are used inside lets- say Digital Performer or Cubase - they will in most cases work just fine - even with my iMac G4.
(convolution reverbs is not an option of course)

However triggering the sounds from Motus virtual synth MX-4 -- that can be used either
as a standalone application triggered from my midi keyboard or as
a plug-in inside Digital Performer
consumes hugh amounts of cpu-cycles from you computer.

On my iMac G4-800 I can ONLY trigger the simplest sounds from MX-4 via
my midi-keyboard. Any complex sound vill overload my CPU.

At that I'm NOT even runing anything else on my computer.
Much less usding DP-4 and using MX-4 inside that as a plug-in.

In short to run virtual instruments like Motu:s MX-4 you'll need a really powerful computer.
I personally got the advice from "Big Daddy" (moderator at OS-X Audio)
to go for at least a dual G5-2.3

My advice would definitely be - try BEFORE you buy.

Cheers: Dixiechicken

This post has been edited by dixiechicken: Sun 30 Oct 2005, 18:11