It really depends on the audio hardware. It's like capturing video from DV camera via FireWire. Certain brands like Canon have DV cameras that doesn't work well with any FW HD on the same FW Bus while others like Panasonic DV Cameras work all right. So far, limited testing on Tascam FW-1884 seems okay.
How do macs handle recording?
- Thread starter The-Warlord
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The-Warlord
New member
Well, I have 2 FW ports, a 600 and an 800, and the 800 will go to the MOTU, so I could use the 600 for the HD?
Thing, is, for the MOTU, Laptop +1GB extra RAM, and the 300gb hd, i am quoted at 7.1k, which is nearly 500 off the original, and since the HD stands at 499, i basically get it free...so should I go for that or still go buy one and put it in a casing?
And Victorp, to answer your question, I'll be going to Berklee.
Another question. When I have the MOTU plugged in, should I use that as my 'sound card' as in, for games and audio listening, videos and movies also? Thanks.
Thing, is, for the MOTU, Laptop +1GB extra RAM, and the 300gb hd, i am quoted at 7.1k, which is nearly 500 off the original, and since the HD stands at 499, i basically get it free...so should I go for that or still go buy one and put it in a casing?
And Victorp, to answer your question, I'll be going to Berklee.
Another question. When I have the MOTU plugged in, should I use that as my 'sound card' as in, for games and audio listening, videos and movies also? Thanks.
Cheez
Moderator
I think you meant you have a 400 and a 800 FW port. Fine - faster one goes to audio. For recording, the bottle-neck is not in the transfer speed but the drive speed (ie write/seek time). Good choice of notebook! Mine also has 2 FW ports.
7.1K sounds terribly expensive. Can give a breakdown on how much each item cost? I think the cost can be lowered. What notebook are you getting? Money could be spent more wisely on software - which is just as important as the hardware. Software also cost a bomb.
I've said a lot on my opinions on using DAW as gaming machines. Please do a search on other threads for solutions. The answer is bascially in dual-booting.
MOTU does not come with built-in sounds like Creative. It is not meant for games. So on the DAW boot partition - disable built-in soundcard and use MOTU FW; in your everyday-use partition (which includes Office, internet etc) - just use the build-in soundcard and don't ever plug your MOTU into it. Problem solved.
7.1K sounds terribly expensive. Can give a breakdown on how much each item cost? I think the cost can be lowered. What notebook are you getting? Money could be spent more wisely on software - which is just as important as the hardware. Software also cost a bomb.
I've said a lot on my opinions on using DAW as gaming machines. Please do a search on other threads for solutions. The answer is bascially in dual-booting.
MOTU does not come with built-in sounds like Creative. It is not meant for games. So on the DAW boot partition - disable built-in soundcard and use MOTU FW; in your everyday-use partition (which includes Office, internet etc) - just use the build-in soundcard and don't ever plug your MOTU into it. Problem solved.
The-Warlord
New member
Cheez:
The macbook pro 17" + 1gb RAM = 5502.
MOTU Traveler = 1600
HD = 499...
The macbook pro 17" + 1gb RAM = 5502.
MOTU Traveler = 1600
HD = 499...
Cheez
Moderator
Do you really need so many I/Os? If not, there are other options. Echo is also excellent in terms of latency and stability. You haven't budgeted in your software.
As for the HD, I still really think 300GB is too much. The price isn't worth it. You can only use it for storage anyway. The plate is too thin for frequent use of recording.
As for the HD, I still really think 300GB is too much. The price isn't worth it. You can only use it for storage anyway. The plate is too thin for frequent use of recording.
If you are going to Berklee for your studies, why don't you purchase your notebook and other equipment in the US; it will be cheaper there. You can definitely purchase the MacBook Pro at Education Pricing (and remember to purchase AppleCare to increase the warranty up to 3 years which I think it is important for notebooks).
I agree with Cheez: do you really need that much Audio I/O? You can use Berklee facilities if you want to record from multiple sources. Why don't you decide on the Audio hardware when you settle in over there and see what equipment you can use in Berklee? Same with the HD; HD prices do come down, and I think you should only purchase it if you do need it. There are excellent Mac equipment seller like OWC and MacResQ where you can purchase from in the US. You can post here to ask us questions while you are in the US.
With regards to the FireWire on MacBook Pro, I don't think it will change much from the PowerBook G4 - the FW400 & FW800 share the same bus and the fastest it will transfer data will the the slowest of the FW devices on these two ports.
I agree with Cheez: do you really need that much Audio I/O? You can use Berklee facilities if you want to record from multiple sources. Why don't you decide on the Audio hardware when you settle in over there and see what equipment you can use in Berklee? Same with the HD; HD prices do come down, and I think you should only purchase it if you do need it. There are excellent Mac equipment seller like OWC and MacResQ where you can purchase from in the US. You can post here to ask us questions while you are in the US.
With regards to the FireWire on MacBook Pro, I don't think it will change much from the PowerBook G4 - the FW400 & FW800 share the same bus and the fastest it will transfer data will the the slowest of the FW devices on these two ports.
The-Warlord
New member
Well, the reasoning for the buying the laptop now is becasue I have a 2 month break coming up soon, where I will be travelling alot, but have a mountain of work I need to get through. I have chosen the MOTU for its 4 mic preamps, which will allow me to record my band, and since I was getting a laptop I deceided on the traveller to take advantage of the bus powered feature - it needs a 6 pin to be powered, hence the reasoning for the 17' laptop. I have nearly 100GB of music on my computer now, which is nearly the full limit of the laptop already. I already own Cubase, Reason and various other software that I will be using on my mac, so that is sorted...
I very much appreciate you two going through this with me - it is a hell of a lot of money, and I have thought it through alot..but still, thanks very much! I don't want to make a bad choice!
My little quarell remaining is the HD...Cheez you said something about the plates frying? How likely is this?
And vitcorp..."With regards to the FireWire on MacBook Pro, I don't think it will change much from the PowerBook G4 - the FW400 & FW800 share the same bus and the fastest it will transfer data will the the slowest of the FW devices on these two ports." What does this mean? My HD wont run at 7,200rpm? The MOTU won't run well? :S
Thanks!
I very much appreciate you two going through this with me - it is a hell of a lot of money, and I have thought it through alot..but still, thanks very much! I don't want to make a bad choice!
My little quarell remaining is the HD...Cheez you said something about the plates frying? How likely is this?
And vitcorp..."With regards to the FireWire on MacBook Pro, I don't think it will change much from the PowerBook G4 - the FW400 & FW800 share the same bus and the fastest it will transfer data will the the slowest of the FW devices on these two ports." What does this mean? My HD wont run at 7,200rpm? The MOTU won't run well? :S
Thanks!
Cheez
Moderator
How much you tax the HD depends on how you are going to use it. If you run multiple tracks frequently (read/write), I think it's dangerous.
I use Gigastudio which steams samples off HD. The recommendation is not to go above 120GB due to the plate thickness. There are reports of plates wearing out due to extensive usage. My recordings are mainly done directly off my Gigastudio, and I don't use more than 6 audio tracks most of the time (although my midi tracks easily goes above 30-40). But the streaming taxes the HD especially since I load 30-40 instruments in one go.
What I do is to use the more robust HD for streaming/audio recording, then when after I mix-down, I transfer the final wav to my storage HD.
I can see that if you do multiple track recordings frequently, theoretically it is going to tax the HD like streaming, although I think the latter taxes it more. Anyway, for recording, I don't think you're going to use anything more than 120 GB (or even 80GB) in a few full takes even at 24/96. I wouldn't take the risk. But for storage-wise, I see no problems (except the cost). I can't imagine my sample HD dying on me - I have close to 100GB of samples; if that dies on me, it's a lot more work for me. Which reminds me, I better backup my sample HD...
I use Gigastudio which steams samples off HD. The recommendation is not to go above 120GB due to the plate thickness. There are reports of plates wearing out due to extensive usage. My recordings are mainly done directly off my Gigastudio, and I don't use more than 6 audio tracks most of the time (although my midi tracks easily goes above 30-40). But the streaming taxes the HD especially since I load 30-40 instruments in one go.
What I do is to use the more robust HD for streaming/audio recording, then when after I mix-down, I transfer the final wav to my storage HD.
I can see that if you do multiple track recordings frequently, theoretically it is going to tax the HD like streaming, although I think the latter taxes it more. Anyway, for recording, I don't think you're going to use anything more than 120 GB (or even 80GB) in a few full takes even at 24/96. I wouldn't take the risk. But for storage-wise, I see no problems (except the cost). I can't imagine my sample HD dying on me - I have close to 100GB of samples; if that dies on me, it's a lot more work for me. Which reminds me, I better backup my sample HD...
The-Warlord
New member
So i cant use say 200GB of the external HD for storage and the other 100 fo recording? the most im going to be recording at once is 4 tracks, using the 4 preamps.....
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