Macbook for serious audio

Pulsewave · Pulsewave #1 (**permalink**)

02-23-2007, 11:01 PM

I'm a Sound Technology student, and am starting to need as near professional quality results as possible from audio software. My trusty old PC laptop has finally given up the ghost, and I'm seriously considering a Macbook 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo, 1gb RAM (For now, probably upgrade the RAM later, when I have funds)

I don't hear great things about it's graphical prowess, but that doesn't bother me as I'm trying to cut back on gaming anyway.

But how does it deal with proper audio applications? ProTools, Reason, Ableton Live, Logic, things like that.

What can I expect in the way of polyphony, multi-tracking, latency, and plugin/effect performance?

Thanks

AnatomyOfARyan · AnatomyOfARyan #2 (**permalink**)

02-23-2007, 11:53 PM

welcome to the forums pulsewave. you shouldnt have any issues doing some heavy duty recording with your MB. the 1 gig of ram will come in handy when running quite a bit of plugins, but the more you use, the more ram youre gonna eat up. if you are gonna be mixing some seriously large sessions with lots of plug ins, opt for anothe gig of ram and you should be ok.

i use my macbook for mobile recording with Pro Tools and have little issues. multi-tracking is fine, as ill use 8 simultaneous tracks while recording drums, latency is never an issue, etc. ive had errors on occasion, but was only when i was running with the standard 512 mb ram. good luck.

amdxmania · amdxmania #3 (**permalink**)

03-04-2007, 01:52 PM

I have white MacBook 2.0 Ghz w/ 2GB of ram
don't have any problem what so ever to use w/ pro tools 002 with 2~3 plugins per each channel w/ 24 track mixess

caribiner23 · caribiner23 #4 (**permalink**)

03-04-2007, 01:54 PM

I use my MacBook to record and produce our podcast. Most of the mixing and final production work is done under Adobe Audition on XP running under Parallels, and it works beautifully.

SlickShoes · SlickShoes #5 (**permalink**)

03-07-2007, 07:56 PM

i just got my macbook and so far reason3 runs like a treat!

Dillinger-63 · Dillinger-63 #6 (**permalink**)

03-22-2007, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlickShoes

i just got my macbook and so far reason3 runs like a treat!

What sound card are you using?

Aptmunich · Aptmunich #7 (**permalink**)

03-22-2007, 03:57 PM

I'd recommend you consider replacing the harddrive with a 7200 rpm drive.
That can make a big difference when playing multiple tracks from harddrive.

It's mind-boggingly simple to swap drives on the macbook and you can always put the original drive in an external enclosure and use it for backups!

AnatomyOfARyan #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 02, 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 504 Mac Specs: 15" 2.2GHz MBP w/ 2GB of ram and 320 GB HD, 4GB iPhone, 60GB iPod	02-23-2007, 11:53 PM welcome to the forums pulsewave. you shouldnt have any issues doing some heavy duty recording with your MB. the 1 gig of ram will come in handy when running quite a bit of plugins, but the more you use, the more ram youre gonna eat up. if you are gonna be mixing some seriously large sessions with lots of plug ins, opt for anothe gig of ram and you should be ok. i use my macbook for mobile recording with Pro Tools and have little issues. multi-tracking is fine, as ill use 8 simultaneous tracks while recording drums, latency is never an issue, etc. ive had errors on occasion, but was only when i was running with the standard 512 mb ram. good luck. 17" 1.86 mhz iMac Core Duo, 13" 1.86 mhz Core Duo MacBook, 60 gig video iPod (black), 4GB iPhone www.ryanlukewagner.com
	QUOTE Thanks

caribiner23 #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 06, 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,404 Mac Specs: Macbook; iBook G4 12"; iPod 5G 30GB; iPod Shuffle 1GB	03-04-2007, 01:54 PM I use my MacBook to record and produce our podcast. Most of the mixing and final production work is done under Adobe Audition on XP running under Parallels, and it works beautifully. Cheap Date Show: Real people. Real food. Real date.
	QUOTE Thanks

Aptmunich #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 09, 2004 Location: Munich Posts: 9,075 Mac Specs: Aluminium Macbook 2.4 Ghz 4GB RAM, SSD 24" Samsung Display, iPhone 4, iPad 2	03-22-2007, 03:57 PM I'd recommend you consider replacing the harddrive with a 7200 rpm drive. That can make a big difference when playing multiple tracks from harddrive. It's mind-boggingly simple to swap drives on the macbook and you can always put the original drive in an external enclosure and use it for backups! Mac-Forums Twitter \| Mac-Forums Blog My Twitter \| Jetplane Journal
	QUOTE Thanks

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Pulsewave #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 23, 2007 Posts: 5	02-23-2007, 11:01 PM I'm a Sound Technology student, and am starting to need as near professional quality results as possible from audio software. My trusty old PC laptop has finally given up the ghost, and I'm seriously considering a Macbook 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo, 1gb RAM (For now, probably upgrade the RAM later, when I have funds) I don't hear great things about it's graphical prowess, but that doesn't bother me as I'm trying to cut back on gaming anyway. But how does it deal with proper audio applications? ProTools, Reason, Ableton Live, Logic, things like that. What can I expect in the way of polyphony, multi-tracking, latency, and plugin/effect performance? Thanks
	QUOTE Thanks

SlickShoes #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 21, 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 230 Mac Specs: Aluminium Macbook 13.3"	03-07-2007, 07:56 PM i just got my macbook and so far reason3 runs like a treat!
	QUOTE Thanks

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