Firebox/cubase Le On Mac Book Pro?, wondering about Cubase support for Intel Options

[Vireo]

Dear friends,

According to Steinberg's website, "support for Intel based Macs is in preparation":

http://www.steinberg.net/547+M52087573ab0.html

Does anyone have futher info on this? For those of us who just bought the Firebox, will we need a new version of Cubase?

I'm enjoying using my Firebox and Cubase LE on my G3 iBook for simple audio work, but obviously I'll need something more powerful soon and am thinking about the Mac Book Pro. I just don't want to get caught in this cycle of hardware/software/interface never aligning - it seems one piece of the puzzle is always too powerful, not powerful enough, or incompatible. Right now my computer seems to be the weak link, because both the Firebox and Cubase are very powerful. My fear is that Mac Book Pro will leapfrog both these. Thoughts?

[rickenbacker]

If you buy an Intel Mac, yes you'll need Intel support from any software companies whose products you use. If you buy a G4 or G5-based Mac, you won't. For instance, the new 5.2 update to Ableton's Live provides Intel support for iMac/Mac Mini/MacBook Pro owners. For G4 and G5 Mac owners, it acts as an incremental bug fix release.

If you bought a MacBook Pro, you'd need a new Cubase version or update. The FireBox's software may also need updating from PreSonus so that the mixer interface works on an Intel Mac.

If all that comes together, you've got a very nice set-up that won't need updating again for years. Unless you want to.

[gdoubleyou]

Also be aware that cubase is the offical cpu-hog of the Mac DAws. From my experience you can get 40%-60% more instance of effects and virtual instruments using Logic or DP4.

Now the situation may change when they release the mcIntel version, but nothing in their past or recent history suggests that they will get it right on the first try. They usually get it together by the 3rd or 4th upgrade.

[booyakabass]

Hi, i seem to be running Cubase SE 1.07a with no problems on the Macbook....well so far at least....however i'm awaiting for the new Logic Express 7.2.1 to be released shortly, then making the brave move.

[gdoubleyou]

It may work, but because of the Rosetta emulation you won't see the performance boost that an Intel compatible app will have.

[gdoubleyou]

After checking the Cubase forum, it appears that the PC version and the Mac version share the SAME codebase.

So Steinbergs products work via Rosetta BECAUSE of the the poor OSX optimization.

Rosetta doesn't contain the equivilents of the OSX Altivec instruction set, at that point Rosetta will either ignore the instruction or use multiple Intel instruction in an attempt to get the job done.

Apps that are heavily OSX optimized, simply will not work. that includes all of the Apple Pro audio/video apps.