600mhz Ibook, what can I expect from one? Options

[ottoasamotto]

I am looking at laptops to bring stuff to rehersals. I am really not impressed by the cheasy PC notebooks out there. The hardware can be a joke.

I had an iMac 33mhz and was always struggling with how slow it was. So I'm kinda worried about stepping into the sub-gig world of processors. But am hoping OSX makes up for it.

I plan on using Ableton modestly, as well as some sort of replacment for Fruity Loops to assemble loops.

What can I expect in terms of preformance?

[Synthetic]

I don't know about this "Pro Tools is the industry standard" line, really. Emagic seem able to boast about some pretty big hitters using Logic, as do Steinberg for Cubase.

Yes, you get Pro Tools in a lot of studios, but are you actually going to be migrating your projects to such studios any time soon? I'm sure you could find a studio that used Logic or Cubase or DP4 or whatever app you start using now further down the line anyway.

The Mbox and the Digi001/002 are nice, but Digidesign want you to use their hardware with their software - they don't want you switching to Logic later and plugging your Mbox in. It's definitely not as straightforward as hooking up an 828. Now that'll work with almost anything. Or, saying that, any of the USB devices currently flooding the market.

Also, Pro Tools plug-ins are always much, much more expensive and much, much less common than either VST or AU plugs. Very nice, thoroughly professional, but very expensive. And I'm guessing no-one here has that much money.

Nothing wrong with Pro Tools - just don't get pressured in thinking it's the only true "pro" app out there and that all the rest are just pretending. People have made million sellers with Cubase on an Atari, for heaven's sake!

yeah... but I use Logic and PT with Digi001 and I will say Logic doesn't do audio editing and sequencing better than PT does. If you take a survey amongst serious pros that use both... They will probably tell you the same. Logic does midi better than PT but I get frustrated trying to make complicated cuts and edits with Logic compared to same task in ProTools. Since most major studios are more focused on audio recording and not complex midi composing... they opt for PT as it is more widely used in other studios so trading sessions between studios such as mixing to mastering is easier and it behaves more like a tape machine (theoretically really) which is the foundation that most recording engineers and mixers have in their past.

As for plugs... well if you compare any plugs that share VST, RTAS, MAS versions etc... they are same price no matter which format. Sure there are lots more cheaper VST plugs but sometimes you get what you pay for (not always but usually) and cheaper plugs sometimes means not as sophisticated algorithms and thus quality suffers compared to other products. For your average joe home musician... this doesn't seem like big deal but to studios that spends thousands on one compressor to get just the right sound... its inadequate and sub par. Remember... not all compressors sound alike just as not all synths sound alike.

I have Digi001 and it was no big deal to make it work with Logic. No hassle really but... the only downside I have with using Digi001 with Logic is that latency is a little worse than when using PT but that is only important if trying to dub over recorded passages. It just makes it a little difficult to monitor from Digi001 monitor outs while trying to record new selection but there are ways around it.

So yes... there are tons of other app choices for the average home user but... there are reasons while PT is more popular than most and yes not everyone needs PT to make good music but if you ever have thoughts of taking your material to professional mixer or want to add material recorded in a pro studio... using PT will make it easier

I don't want to start a sequncer app war but I have strong feelings for my Digi001. I used to have a Emi 2/6 as well and considered selling Digi001... for just a moment and then realized I wouldn't have PTLE to use if I sold and just couldn't part with it... so it is forever a piece of home studio

This post has been edited by Synthetic: Thu 12 Jun 2003, 00:29