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VGuitar Central => User Projects / Blogs => Topic started by: Elantric on May 25, 2012, 07:39:08 AM

Title: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on May 25, 2012, 07:39:08 AM
Ive been looking to upgrade to a faster computer to run my apps.
Was looking hard at the Acer Iconia 6120 - since it got a lot of favorable recommendations for audio DAW, but do a search on "Acer iconia dual screen ghost dots" got me concerned.

http://www.amazon.com/Acer-ICONIA-6120-14-inch-Tablet/dp/B004P0WLEY (http://www.amazon.com/Acer-ICONIA-6120-14-inch-Tablet/dp/B004P0WLEY)

but I really need to run OSX for many modern music apps I use - and / or want to learn, and the new Intel Ivy Bridge CPUs are shipping in systems next month, so now is the time to hunt for deep discount deals on last years Sandy Bridge models. 

Nearly ordered a Lenovo W520 laptop- since this is one of the last Laptops with 1394 Firewire and Expresscard/34 slot standard, I7 Sandy Bridge CPU and can be loaded with 32GB ram.

EDIT: Aug, 2012
Re: Lenovo W520 - I needed a faster Win7 machine for work tasks
http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/566338-lenovo-w520-owners-thread.html (http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/566338-lenovo-w520-owners-thread.html)
I'm just now upgrading an ebay recertified Lenovo W520, ($1,100) which came with I7 2760QM Quad core, 1900 x 1080 15.6" display, 500GB 7200 drive, Pantone Color Calibrator, and 1 year warranty.
http://www.storagereview.com/lenovo_thinkpad_w520_review (http://www.storagereview.com/lenovo_thinkpad_w520_review)
Ive upgraded it with four 8GB SODIMM DDR3 ram (32GB), - pretty incredible for a notebook
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233265 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233265)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages17.newegg.com%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fnewegg%2F20-233-265-Z03%3F%24S300W%24&hash=bcd76a35a9ddf69f7206ed15df212d71b434547e)


and a 256GB mSATA system drive. Blazing performance.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008AIYSWA/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008AIYSWA/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F51y3dk0lRDL._SL500_AA300_.jpg&hash=a19105fb526ac87cd62994b1ff8ff2d913e51d08)




But back to my studio machine:

So I just got a new iMac 27" with I7 3.4GHz Sandy Bridge at a good price from the Apple Outlet store :
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FD063LL/A (http://store.apple.com/us/product/FD063LL/A)

I discovered there is a very active community of iMac modders and with my skills this iMac can be upgraded to 32GB RAM, and an external ESATA drive port can be added too, and there are now many Thuderbolt peripherals just now shipping - thanks to TI making thunderbolt chipsets to support the Intel  / Apple standard. There are Thunderbolt to expresscar34 adapters and I have my eye on the BlackMagic Intensity Shuttle for HDMI capture, or drive the iMac 27" display with an Xbox360.

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/ (http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/)

and with VMware Fusion 4  - I can run WinXP, Win7 32, Win7 64 - and all my  Cad  / PCB design apps - faster than they ran on my old Core 2 Duo Quad core rig.

Apple wil be refreshing the iMac later this summer  - updating to the new Ivy Bridge CPU and rumor is strong that USB 3.0 ports will arrive too -

But Im happy with my refurbished May 2011 rev iMac 27 - as this model revision originally shipped with Snow Leopard OSX 10.6, and in a pinch I could downgrade to run Snow Leopard ( because its the last OSX that supports 32 bit "cocoa" code and older mac apps) 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS_X (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS_X)

Lately Apple is getting more like Microsoft, and dropping support for the old 32 bit world. The Macs that have been introduced after October 2011 can not run Snow Leopard, due to a firmware lock out.   


there is a "fix" for the lack of "Save As" on OSX 10.7 Lion


http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20120604101520950 (http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20120604101520950)

--
QuoteThe autosave feature in OS X 10.7 has been a mixed bag. It's nice that it saves things for you, but it's not nice that automatically saves things that you don't want to change permanently, or that the "Save As..." option has disappeared. The good folks at stack exchange have discovered a remedy.

To disable autosave in TextEdit.app, run the following command in Terminal:

defaults write com.apple.TextEdit ApplePersistence -bool no

This disables autosave and versions, reenables the "Save As" option and hot-key (Command-Shift S), and reenables Command-D as a hot key for "Don't Save".

For TextEdit, you'll run into sandbox-related permissions errors with this with the old style Autosave, where it attempts to place a file name "filename (Autosaved).txt" in your working directory. I don't know a good fix for that (if someone does, would you mind making a comment?)

This works for other apps as well, just replace TextEdit with the name of the app, e.g.:

defaults write com.apple.iWork.Keynote ApplePersistence -bool no

defaults write com.apple.Preview ApplePersistence -bool no

It is such a relief to have that "Save As..." option back! Hopefully I'll be able to get something done in Lion now with a minimum of cursing.

[kirkmc adds: We know that Save As is coming back in Mountain Lion, but if you want to turn off autosave for a specific application, this is good to know.

I'm not sure about these sandboxing errors. After working with a TextEdit file for a bit, I got an error saying, "You don't have permission to write to the folder that the file "test" is in." To be honest, that kind of outweighs the usefulness of turning off autosave; so if someone can find a solution for that, I'd say this hint might be more useful.]


Other strategies to restore "Save As" in OSX 10.7 are here:

http://lifehacker.com/5877519/bring-back-save-as-in-mac-os-x-lion-sort-of (http://lifehacker.com/5877519/bring-back-save-as-in-mac-os-x-lion-sort-of)


http://osxdaily.com/2011/11/30/how-to-save-as-mac-os-x-lion/ (http://osxdaily.com/2011/11/30/how-to-save-as-mac-os-x-lion/)
Anyway - back to my new iMac.

wow - I have never had a faster setup with ANY computer. Since Ive had an iPhone since 2009, all I had to do is enter my country, my WiFi WEP security key, my Apple ID, and pair the Magic Mouse and bluetooth keyboard, and I was up and running!!

Compare that to my worst new computer  - a 2006 Toshiba M4 Tablet PC that had so much bloatware and Norton tools that it Literally took 3 hours to click "yes, "no", "no", "no", to all the prompt after prompt for the "free games Trial " , free Sync to Desktop Trial, etc, etc, and then wait for the Microsoft updates, and nag screens. 2 years later just after a Microsoft WinXP update, the Toshiba M4 decided its CPU was too hot and became more useful as a hot air blower than a tool Id want to use for computing.

Thats when I got my Intel based 2008 Macbook Pro and discovered VMWare Fusion and (sadly) I ran WinXP 99% of the time for quite a while, and never actually used OSX much. My last new Apple was a 1986 Mac Plus with 4meg RAM, and 20meg SCSI drive purchased new for $3K

In 2010, one day the Macbook Pro's screen went black - I took it to an independent Apple store "MacSuperStore"  and they wanted $1600 to repair it.

I figured I would head to my local real Apple store, and within 30 minutes I met with the Genius Bar support guy, who plugged a black dongle in the Firewire port, and determined my Macbook Pro had an nVidea 8600 graphic GPU that had a known early catastrophic high failure rate, and despite the fact i was out of my warranty - Apple would replace the logic board for free and have it ready for me that afternoon - no charge.

Anyway, the product Ive been co-developing at work for the past 6 years ( a JPEG2000 decoder with FIPs compliance) was just picked up by Dolby. Its the crucial component for every theater in the world that exhibits the Christmas 2012 release of Peter Jacksons Hobbit in 3D
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57320959-1/peter-jackson-reveals-3d-secrets-behind-hobbit/ (http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57320959-1/peter-jackson-reveals-3d-secrets-behind-hobbit/)
Its been a major effort - but with my new  iMac - with luck  maybe I will get back to making music again 

   

 
 
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on May 25, 2012, 10:18:24 AM
Congrats on your i7 iMac!  I really like mine.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: gumtown on May 30, 2012, 02:36:24 PM
I can't wait to see the Hobbit movie when it's released.

Congrats on the iMac, with the 27" screen, that would be a good size to work with.

My daughter managed to break the screen on my laptop, so i'm dragging around an old 15" CRT monitor until a new screen arrives.
I must get a new home computer, my work issued i5 Toshiba laptop has "all my eggs in one basket" and never enough HDD space.
I also use a ESATA docking cradle which takes raw 3.5" and 5" hard drives (drop in cradle) with other operating systems.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on May 30, 2012, 02:51:01 PM
After using OSX Lion for a few days, I'm seriously thinking of downgrading to OSX Snow Leopard.

I find huge incompatibilities with OSX Lion and Flash Player based web pages. Symptoms are "submarine-ing" Cursur that simply vanishes without warning anytime its hovering on any Adobe Flash based web page - and only repeatedly moving the magic mouse in 4" radius circular motions across my real  desktop for 30 seconds finally "wakes up' the cursor again and it suddenly becomes visible again for normal use.
When its not doing that, then the cursor enters into this bizarre mode where it appears / disappears/ appears / disappears in a constant rhythmic pulse "on / off" every second.

"But -  other than that - how was the play Mrs Lincoln?"

   
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: scratch17 on May 30, 2012, 09:58:54 PM
Congrats Elantric.

I worked tech support for Apple in 95 and 96, just before Steve Jobs returned. At the time, everyone expected apple to go away and die.

I bought my first Mac in 95. It was a Power PC 7500 with 8 MB ram. It cost me $556 for an added 8 MB.

My Macbook Pro (Feb 11) is a fantastic machine. I got it while still taking classes the old fashioned way - in person. My classes are now all online, so I plan to upgrade to an Ivy Bridge 27" iMac when that iteration is released.

As for Snow Leopard versus Lion, I've run both and had zero issues. I've never had the problem you mention  with Flash based web pages.

The issue may be with flash support for the browser you are using. Try Mozilla's Firefox.

Good luck,

Steven.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on May 31, 2012, 05:20:28 AM
Another thought.  Go to http://labs.adobe.com/ (http://labs.adobe.com/) and get the latest 64-bit version of Flash installed.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on May 31, 2012, 09:45:20 AM
QuoteAnother thought.  Go to http://labs.adobe.com/ (http://labs.adobe.com/) and get the latest 64-bit version of Flash installed.

That might help thanks Tim - er. Todd ! ( a.k.a "aliensporebomb" )

http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/flashplayer11-3.html (http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/flashplayer11-3.html)


EDIT: See below - turned out adding more memory was the path to fixing this issue.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on May 31, 2012, 09:57:59 AM
Quote
That might help thanks TimTodd  ( a.k.a "aliensporebomb" )



My first name is "Todd" actually but you were close!  Most don't even get the first initial right.  I've found that labs link sometimes has updates that fix things well before an official fix is available - you just have to accept that sometimes their fixes might break other things.  So far I've been lucky in the last year though.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on May 31, 2012, 10:08:51 AM
Ive been doing research - but moving forward I may just leave it with Lion.

I do have a 2008 era MacPro  - but the cost of memory upgrades is rediculous.

instead - I found i can upgrade my May 2011 era iMac 27 to 32GB for $150 - $199
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: musicman65 on May 31, 2012, 04:59:55 PM
Elantric,

You are enjoying the low cost of open market computing thanks to the Intel/MS collusion. Now if Apple would allow their OS to be purchased and installed on the hardware of my choice, that would be awesome. Of course their problems would increase exponentially! But wouldn't the possibilities be awesome?

bd

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on May 31, 2012, 05:36:29 PM
QuoteYou are enjoying the low cost of open market computing thanks to the Intel/MS collusion. Now if Apple would allow their OS to be purchased and installed on the hardware of my choice, that would be awesome. Of course their problems would increase exponentially! But wouldn't the possibilities be awesome?

Agreed!

i still might grab a Lenovo W520 later this summer, as the new Ivy Bridge version (W530) will replace it, and then the price will plummet on remaining stock of W520's.

It's one of the last laptops that still have Firewire and ExpressCard/34 slot. Id be hosed without those ports.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kevin M on May 31, 2012, 11:30:48 PM
I'm a lucky owner of a Lenovo W520 (soon to be my mostly exclusive music system).  Nice machine, as are most of the Thinkpad line.  I also had to have FireWire for my MOTU.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: randyrocker on June 03, 2012, 10:29:30 AM
Quote from: aliensporebomb on May 25, 2012, 10:18:24 AM
Congrats on your i7 iMac!  I really like mine.

Yeah the I7 is great I have the same CPU water cooled and running it at 5GHz I myself am a Computer Engineer I am not anti Apple I just find that Windows 7 is much more tweakable
congrats... Im running 32 GB of Ram as well its a mean machine... I could always run a Hacked version of OSX but I find way more programs for Windows than I do for Mac
I remember  time when everyone thought that Linux would be the master of the desktop its still Windows and Mac :)   I also am getting older I just bought a very nice 32 inch to go along with my
27 inch monitor I really need more but thats enough for now. :) have fun
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 06, 2012, 10:36:59 AM
On my iMac 27"  - I just swapped out the factory 4GB Ram for 4 x 8GB sticks = 32GB total

All my prior OSX Lion complaints with the Adobe Flash problems with the disappearing mouse cursor are now fixed.

I know OSX Lion needs more Ram, but the move to 32GB really improved the performance of this machine, and because DDR3 memory is dirt cheap today it only cost me $198 for the 32GB Ram upgrade. 
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: guitarno on June 06, 2012, 10:54:03 AM
Quote from: Elantric on June 06, 2012, 10:36:59 AM
On my iMac 27"  - I just swapped out the factory 4GB Ram for 4 x 8GB sticks = 32GB total

All my prior OSX Lion with Adobe Flash problems with the disappearing mouse cursor are now fixed.

I know OSX Lion needs more Ram, but the move to 32GB really improved the performance of this machine, and because DDR3 memory is dirt cheap today it only cost me $198 for the 32GB Ram upgrade.

$198 to go from 4Gb to 32 Gb ?? That IS a good price. I didn't realize ram was that cheap now. Where did you get your ram from if you don't mind my asking?

Thanks
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 06, 2012, 11:04:38 AM
I ordered two of these kits at $96 each: ( approx $192 total)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006DI9PG8/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i03 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006DI9PG8/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i03)

Corsair 16GB Dual Channel DDR3 SODIMM Memory Kit (CMSO16GX3M2A1333C9)

Price:    $95.74 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F51MnpdcHONL._SL500_AA300_.jpg&hash=2d3ecf5b00c7226b04310f711cd9bf353ca9f16f)



The Caveat is that not every iMac can go up to 32GB. Luckily my May 2011 build does.

Many 2008 models use older DDR2 and are maxed out at 4GB.


I have attached a PDF doc that explains all the memory upgrade options in recent Apple iMacs.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 06, 2012, 12:28:13 PM
<kmaus10 wrote>
QuoteI'm a lucky owner of a Lenovo W520 (soon to be my mostly exclusive music system).  Nice machine, as are most of the Thinkpad line.  I also had to have FireWire for my MOTU.



Glad to hear you are doing well with the Lenovo W520. I keep my eye on those for the next three months as i'm sure they will be heavily discounted soon, and they make a very good mobile DAW platform that can also be expanded to 32GB ram too, and can be "hackintoshed"
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: scratch17 on June 09, 2012, 11:01:57 AM
Check out the new Mac versions to be announced on Monday at WWDC 2012. There are strong rumors of a new Mac Pro with Sandy Bridge Xeon 6 and 8 core E5 chips. Plus a probable upgrade to Ivy bridge for iMacs. USB 3.0 support, and support for faster RAM is also expected.

Depending on features and price, I'll make a choice on which to buy.

The main advantage of the Mac Pro over the iMac is the ability to add more RAM and access to the drive bays without voiding the warranty. Apple's optional SSD in current Macs is weak on performance when compared to third party drives. And it's expensive.

Being  able to select and install a thrid party mid-line SSD for boot and audio drives is a real plus for audio workstations over an iMac. Also, according to Intel, the new E5 Xeon memory architecture should decrease bottlenecks. That may show up as a faster sample load time, compared to current Macs.

Of course, if you have > $3K to invest, a multiprocessor Sandy Bridge Mac Pro will easily outperform a single processor iMac with Ivy Bridge.

To be fair, the iMac is cheaper, offers great performance, and has the Apple Display built-in. If it gets a significant upgrade on Monday, I'll probably opt for it.

Not too far down the road I expect to see moderately priced thunderbolt drive bays from Drobo.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBQQqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zdnet.com%2Fblog%2Fstorage%2Fdrobo-previews-its-upcoming-thunderbolt-storage-at-computex%2F1695&ei=VYXTT6maGqm62wWLi5WnDw&usg=AFQjCNGyKl1u-P7r8waRl5QGviU_r0RdNQ&sig2=QYqsvVEoOxaS-4e872NzqA (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBQQqQIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zdnet.com%2Fblog%2Fstorage%2Fdrobo-previews-its-upcoming-thunderbolt-storage-at-computex%2F1695&ei=VYXTT6maGqm62wWLi5WnDw&usg=AFQjCNGyKl1u-P7r8waRl5QGviU_r0RdNQ&sig2=QYqsvVEoOxaS-4e872NzqA)

Since Thunderbolt is really the PCI bus, storage read/write speed should be close to that of internal drives. 

Other thunderbolt peripherals such as hubs with USB, eSata and even PCIe 2.0 slots are now shipping (or are close to shipping).

So some of the (single processor) Mac Pro's advantages may disappear soon.

Also, check out Macsales.com for memory upgrades. While apple doesn't support use of 16 GB sticks, OWC (Macsales) has sticks that work just fine in current Macs. My local Fryes also sells 16 GB sticks for Macs. they are more expensive per GB than 8 GB sticks, but they double the Mac's RAM capacity.

Contrary to reports from Intel that say thunderbolt is an main board only technology, Asus is apparently making a PCIe 4x card available for select series 7 boards (the Ivy Bridge boards) that will have a Thunderbolt expansion port. apparently, Asus has imbedded whatever is necessary in on-board components, so that a card could be added later. The top of the line series 7 board has thunderbolt built in.

Why should a Mac user care about this? As some have mentioned on this thread, the answer is Hackintosh. These series 7 boards will be close enough (as are most Sandy Bridge main boards), that with a Core i5 or i7 Ivy Bridge processor and suitable video card, a Hackintosh with great performance, stability and expandability can be built legally, easily, and cheaply. I've already seen performance data posted on i7 Ivy Bridge running Lion.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on June 09, 2012, 11:54:06 AM
The problem with hackintosh is no matter how attractive on price and how well put together it is not a professional solution for a for-hire recording studio because these systems are illegal. 

Lots of people use them but the fact remains that one software update could totally obliterate your recording setup and you'd have to wait until the next hackintosh guru to figure out a way around it to get your system functional again.  Apple won't help you with a hackintosh.

I sure wish I had a thunderbolt iMac.  Firewire 800 is okay but gigabit ethernet is better still and thunderbolt still better than that.  I may have to sell this one to get the "next gen".  Plus, I'm locked to 16 gigs of ram on this one:
I've not heard any stories about 8 gig 1333 ram working in the 1st gen i7 iMacs.  The 4 gig chips work fine.

I was strongarmed into getting the first gen i7 imac when a power transformer on the pole blew up destroying my PowerMac G5 2.5 dual and didn't have quite enough funds to get a suitable Mac Pro at the time. 
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: scratch17 on June 09, 2012, 01:41:11 PM
Quotethese systems are illegal

I agree that in a commercial studio that it is inappropriate to have a Hackintosh. However, in a commercial studio, presumably you should have enough income (or at least projected income) to cover the cost of a real Mac.

I do not recommend that anyone break the law. However, the legality of a Hackintosh is at least debatable. The Apple OS is built on an open source kernel. The Free Software Foundation recognizes this. I believe that Apple is a signatory, although I may be incorrect.

Apple will freely let you buy a copy of the OS on a thumb drive at their store, without asking for proof you own a Mac. But buried in the license agreement that you must agree to when you install is language that prohibits you from installing the OS on non-Apple hardware.

Yet Apple appears to never enforce this clause. In fact, when Apple and Intel first demoed Thunderbolt, they did so on a Hackintosh with the Apple reps working the booth and the press conference.

I suspect that Apple might object (and probably threaten legal action) to Hackintoshes, were they become ubiquitous at a Fortune 500 company. However, it may be that Apple's lawyers have offered Apple the opinion that it is not worth going after any individuals. Further, they have probably pointed out that Apple could lose such a lawsuit. That might put Apple in jeopardy of losing the tight control they currently do have over their OS.

For example, if a court decided that since the OS since is open source, it is therefore free of restrictions as to its use. The court might then hold that the install agreement clause requiring apple hardware might not be valid.

Such a ruling might open a can of worms, allowing other companies to sell Apple clones again. Yes, I know that Apple successfully stopped small clone companies in the past.

But armed with a new court ruling, what if HP or Google decided to try to take some of Apple's market. They'd have the money to fight the legal battles. And the potential profit would be worth going for.

As far as stability after software updates are concerned, "you pays your money and you takes your chances" with a legit Mac or a Hackintosh. I do agree that there is probably less chance of problems with a legit Mac. But consider what Elantric went through when he first moved to Lion.

Most reports indicate that Sandy Bridge/Z68 based Hackintoshes are stable and require no additional hacks, if one of a long list of video cards is chosen for the build. The OS X installer just sees a Mac. As with any computer, once you get a  stable install, just don't do software updates that are not necessary.

What makes an update necessary, regardless of platform? The number one reason should be a security issue. Adding hardware or or adding a major software function (which might destabilize the OS) should be next in line.

But updating widgets or iTunes on a Mac used for commercial purposes is just plain silly. Such a Mac should be stripped down to its basic functions. No non recording software or hardware should be on the Mac. Software for other purposes should be on another machine. Also, this should be the paradigm followed for a hobbyists Mac used mostly for serious studio work.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kevin M on June 09, 2012, 07:52:17 PM
If the computer and OS license are purchased legally, how is it illegal to combine the two?  I fail to see this.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: gumtown on June 09, 2012, 08:52:44 PM
Hackintosh's are notorious for crashing, and osx software updates kill them.
Some people spend serious coin on building them so i don't think it's really about having a cheap mac,
but the satisfaction of being able to force a square peg into a round hole.

I most certainly would not run one for serious or professional work, just go buy the real deal.
Then again, you can run windows on your intel mac gear if required.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on June 10, 2012, 09:57:05 AM
Quote from: kmaus10 on June 09, 2012, 07:52:17 PM
If the computer and OS license are purchased legally, how is it illegal to combine the two?  I fail to see this.

The Apple software license does not allow Mac OS X to be used on a computer that is not "Apple-branded".

There's a really, really long wiki about the history of this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSx86 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSx86)

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kevin M on June 10, 2012, 11:38:48 AM
Quote from: aliensporebomb on June 10, 2012, 09:57:05 AM
The Apple software license does not allow Mac OS X to be used on a computer that is not "Apple-branded".

There's a really, really long wiki about the history of this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSx86 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSx86)

I understand that, but doing so violates an agreement rather than an actual law.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: tekrytor on June 10, 2012, 03:51:21 PM
Quote from: kmaus10 on June 10, 2012, 11:38:48 AM
I understand that, but doing so violates an agreement rather than an actual law.
Agreed. Apple does not provide support for their software running on non-apple hardware. That is the issue. I would question whether apple provides support for their software period. It IS after all, "plug-n-play". I have yet to have Apple or Microsoft respond to an email inquiry for technical support. Ubuntu Forums are far better inthat regard, a lot more like this forum. I for one would not let Apple's idle threats intimidate me from running a Hackintosh. I would be concerned that Apple may retaliate and put anti-Hackintosh code into their updates though. There is a financial and stability risk involved.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 12, 2012, 03:52:36 PM
Trivia - my new iMac 27" uses a 3.5mm headphone output which supports
ALL the following using just the headphone Out jack:

SPDIF PCM digital out via optical cable.

AC3 5.1 digital out  via optical cable.

Stereo Line Level Audio out.

Stereo headphone Audio out.

3.5mm 4 conductor iPhone headphone + microphone (for skype)

and

iRig guitar adapter


QuoteIntel High Definition Audio:

  Audio ID:   32

Speaker:

  Connection:   Internal

Headphone:

  Connection:   Combination Output

Line Input:

  Connection:   Combination Input

Internal Microphone:

  Connection:   Internal

S/PDIF Optical Digital Audio Input:

  Connection:   Combination Input

S/PDIF Optical Digital Audio Output:

  Connection:   Combination Output

External Microphone / iPhone Headset:

  Connection:   Combination Output

HDMI / DisplayPort Output:

  Connection:   Display

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: kenact on June 12, 2012, 04:09:55 PM
Quote from: tekrytor on June 10, 2012, 03:51:21 PM
I have yet to have Apple or Microsoft respond to an email inquiry for technical support.

I've actually gotten an email response and a brand new installation dvd from Apple. For the most part, emails I've receivced from Microsoft have been answers to questions I didn't ask, instead of the question I did ask.  ???
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 12, 2012, 04:33:03 PM
Myself - I have always had excellent service and support from Apple.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on June 12, 2012, 09:35:45 PM
Quote from: Elantric on June 12, 2012, 03:52:36 PM
Trivia - my new iMac 27" uses a 3.5mm headphone output which supports
ALL the following using just the headphone Out jack:

SPDIF PCM digital out via optical cable.

AC3 5.1 digital out  via optical cable.

Stereo Line Level Audio out.

Stereo headphone Audio out.

3.5mm 4 conductor iPhone headphone + microphone (for skype)

and

iRig guitar adapter

I use the optical digital out from my old Roland VS-840EX mixer to the 3.5mm audio in of my i7 iMac.  And it really sounds good to my ears.

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: scratch17 on June 14, 2012, 07:22:49 PM
i was disappointed when Apple didn't update the iMac line on Monday. Now they're saying 2013 before the next revision will be released.

So I bought a 27 inch i7 on Monday. I couldn't be happier. I have it centered between two LG 27 inch monitors, so I have incredible screen real estate for Logic, Reason and all of my plug-ins.

I am even writing this on the new mac from my home theater room. I connected my 55 inch HDTV via a USB video card, and am using a wireless keyboard and mouse. I plan to bring audio from my studio (which is in the next room) through the wall. That way I can do my surround mixes on my Apogee 5.2 setup. I have a 5.1 Event monitor setup in the studio, but they pale in comparison to the Apogees.


Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 14, 2012, 10:34:47 PM
Nice.
I just ordered a refurb Mac Mini Lion Server with I7 2GH Quad Core, Dual 500gb HDD, ($849)
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC936LL/A (http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC936LL/A)

and I'm swapping out the stock pair of 2GB SODIMMs, and install another pair of those 8GB Corsair modules for 16GB RAM.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006DI9PG8/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i03 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006DI9PG8/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i03)

Corsair 16GB Dual Channel DDR3 SODIMM Memory Kit (CMSO16GX3M2A1333C9)




Principal goal will be run as a headless Ableton Live or Logic Mainstage AU effects backing track and visual server. Strap it inside a foam Lined Pelican case to make it beer proof.
http://lowendmac.com/mini/mac-mini-server-2011.html (http://lowendmac.com/mini/mac-mini-server-2011.html)


One day I'll make a line of guitar products that are all N.E.M.A. approved and beer and blast proof.

Oh and it will robotically set itself up on stage and do a basic sound check using a Bluetooth HID profile     

Back to the Mac mini, I do have one of those slim 18" 1366x768 Sanyo monitors for laptops that I may employ.

There is a OSX touch Display touchpad driver that works with my HP L2105tm 22" 1920x1080 touchscreen monitor
http://touch-base.com/ (http://touch-base.com/)

http://touch-base.com/documentation/gestures.htm#macosx (http://touch-base.com/documentation/gestures.htm#macosx)

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3286700?start=0&tstart=0 (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3286700?start=0&tstart=0)

HP Compaq L2105tm OSX Lion (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4rqUlYq6CY#ws)


mac mini os x touch screen for the kitchen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrDHZigwW0Y#ws)


But I understand there might be a way to use an iPad or Android Tablet as a VCN client as it becomes a remote display for the OSX Lion running on the powerful Mac-mini.
www.addictivetips.com/mac-os/how-to-access-mac-from-ipad-android-tablet-using-a-vnc-client/ (http://www.addictivetips.com/mac-os/how-to-access-mac-from-ipad-android-tablet-using-a-vnc-client/)
Mac Mini and iPad Combo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNkuTvpmXIQ#ws)
There are many options

Here's a UK user with this same machine
Mac Mini Server 2011 Sandybridge Lion i7 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MK84HFkpu8#ws)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kevin M on June 15, 2012, 12:11:46 AM
I have a Mac mini (early 2009 model) employed as my main non-music computer. They are really nice computers in my opinion. I didn't know the new ones would address 16G RAM.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on June 15, 2012, 12:12:50 AM
The new iMacs will address 32. 

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 15, 2012, 12:20:02 AM
QuoteI didn't know the new ones would address 16G RAM.

Officially Apple will tell you the Mac Mini will only go up to 8GB  - but OWC and others discovered it can accept 2 of the 8GB modules (16GB total)
more here:
http://lowendmac.com/mini/mac-mini-mid-2011.html (http://lowendmac.com/mini/mac-mini-mid-2011.html)


Same thing with the iMac - Apple tells you it only goes to 16GB, but Ive been running 32GB in my iMac 27 I7 3.4GHz Quad core for a week.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on June 15, 2012, 05:42:22 AM
I thought it was known that the 3.4's will do 32 officially but if my late 2009 iMac will do 32 that would be amazing. 

That's first generation i7 2.8 ghz with turboboost to 3.47 ghz.

Interestingly, they sold this with 1067 mhz ram but I'm running 1333 mhz DDR3 ram now and it works just fine at that speed.

They don't always tell you of a machines capability - sometimes so they can brag in the next model out about its "faster" ram capability.

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmadsound.dyndns.org%2Fi7.jpg&hash=d0cce3822466a6306cacd2403f0a720081ef8180)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 15, 2012, 07:44:20 AM
Read this link for a 2009 iMac 27" upgrade capabilities.

http://lowendmac.com/imacs/imac-late-2009.html (http://lowendmac.com/imacs/imac-late-2009.html)

I recall the issue is your 2009 iMac has only 2 DIMM slots, = 16GB max

My 2011 iMac 27" has 4 DIMM slots. = 32GB Max
Read this link for May 2011 iMac 27" upgrade capabilities.
http://lowendmac.com/imacs/imac-mid-2011.html (http://lowendmac.com/imacs/imac-mid-2011.html)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 15, 2012, 07:55:30 AM
Quotewas disappointed when Apple didn't update the iMac line on Monday. Now they're saying 2013 before the next revision will be released.

I suspect more upgrades will occur this year, and look for a new iMac and Mac mini this fall with Ivy bridge and USB 3.0

But they will be EFI locked to run Mountain Lion only. And may not include FireWire

Which may translate into waiting till Spring 2013 for working Audio drivers from Roland.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: scratch17 on June 17, 2012, 11:05:22 AM
QuoteAnd may not include FireWire

Which may translate into waiting till Spring 2013 for working Audio drivers from Roland.

Belkin will release a Thunderbolt hub in September for $399. While that is relatively expensive when compared to entry level Mac prices, for users such as myself, it should be a home run.

Here are the reported specs:

3 x USB 3.0 ports. My iMac has 4 USB 2.0 ports. No info yets as to whether USB 3.0 support will require Mountain Lion, or if it will work with Lion with some updated drivers.
2 x Thunderbolt ports. You need 2 ports so the placement of the hub does not require it to be the last device in the chain.
1 x eSata port. No word on whether it supports more than one drive (port multiplier support), but even one eSATA drive is nice. You could connect it to an external enclosure with an SSD and boot OS X from that drive. With Thunderbolt's speed, you would get a great performance boost over a Laptop's, or even an iMac's hard drive.
1 x Firewire 800. If the next iMac does indeed drop Firewire, you can still connect your legacy devices.
1 x Gigabit Ethernet port.
1 x Minidisplay port to HDMI adapter. This would mean you could connect an extra non-Apple monitor via HDMI via the included adapter. Of course it would have to be last in the thunderbolt chain.
1 x audio in.
1 x audio out.

The audio, Firewire, and Ethernet ports can be used instead of or additionally to those on the Mac. So if you want to use your laptop as a desktop, but still have portability, use the Belkin hub, and just connect the two via the one Thunderbolt cable.

Since Thunderbolt is really a conjunction of the PCIe bus and Displayport bus, the hub is essentially connecting these ports to the processor as is they were hard wired to the motherboard. For the first time, through Thunderbolt, we can expand portable computers' physical capabilities.

Speaking of PCIe, Sonnet is releasing two models of PCIe slot to Thunderbolt peripherals, so those with PCIe cards can add them to laptops. The data throughput of Thunderbolt will make these cards perform as if they were in desktops.

Here's a link to some pics of the hub:

http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/5/3064879/belkin-thunderbolt-express-dock-price-release-date (http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/5/3064879/belkin-thunderbolt-express-dock-price-release-date)

Here's a description of the PCIe expansion chassis:

http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echoexpresschassis.html (http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echoexpresschassis.html)

Steven.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: rolandvg99 on June 17, 2012, 12:05:57 PM
That Belkin TB hub looks like something that would suit my MacMini server perfectly.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 19, 2012, 12:57:23 PM
Interesting read for Mac enthusiasts here.
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/brians-brain/4375168/A-recap-of-the-2012-WWDC--Once-again--Apple-does-a-forced-obsolescence-dirty-deed (http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/brians-brain/4375168/A-recap-of-the-2012-WWDC--Once-again--Apple-does-a-forced-obsolescence-dirty-deed)

A recap of the 2012 WWDC: Once again, Apple does a forced obsolescence dirty deed

by Brian Dipert- June 12, 2012

The yearly Apple WWDC (Worldwide Developer Conference) keynote has come and gone, and as usual, about half of the pre-presentation prognostication was dead wrong. There was no iTV. No app development toolkit for the Apple TV STB. No iPhone 5 preview. No robustly upgraded Mac Pro (sorry, I don't count slight clock upticks to a two-generation old Nehalem CPU-based design). And no Intel Ivy Bridge-based iMacs, either.

What did we get? A bit more detail about upcoming Mac OS 10.8 "Mountain Lion", including the insight that our Mac OS 10.6 "Snow Leopard"-based, non-upgradeable systems will be obsolete in about a month. Intel Ivy Bridge CPU (and USB 3.0) upgrades for the MacBook Air (complete with a $100 price cut...worried about Ultrabooks, Apple?) and for the 13" and 15" MacBook Pro. The quiet death of the 17" MacBook Pro (no big surprise there...portable desktop systems probably aren't selling very well, anymore)...

...And a next-generation 15" MacBook Pro with a 2880×1800 pixel "Retina" display. "But wait, Dipert," you might be saying right about now, "didn't you just diss fine-pitch computer displays less than a month back?" Generally speaking, I did, yes. But check out this quote:

The two dominant types of content propelling per-display pixel growth (as measured by pixels-per-inch and/or inches-per-display) are still-image photography and detailed-font e-books. Both factors are driving display evolutions in mobile electronics devices in general, and tablets in particular. But neither factor will have a tangible evolutionary effect on conventional computer displays or televisions.

The next-gen 15" MacBook Pro is a mobile electronics device. Its display is integrated, not standalone. And (surprise surprise) among the first software updated to support it are Apple's own iPhoto and Aperture still imaging apps, plus Adobe Photoshop. Plus, as even the ultimate Apple fanboy John Gruber admits, the new MacBook Pro is godawful expensive.

There's a fundamental reason why Apple's kept the conventional 15" MacBook Pro in the lineup and didn't extend the Retina display down into the 13" MacBook Pro form factor, far from the 11" and 13" MacBook Air. The display's gorgeous but it's too godawful costly, it will be for a long time, and there isn't broad-base application demand for it. Conventional software looks fairly cruddy on it, in fact. Plus, you need to ditch the integrated optical drive, and shell out a lot of incremental cash for the privilege, in order to migrate to it. The next-gen MacBook Pro form factor is compelling (much more so than the display, in my opinion), but I'd bet that Retina displays don't become pervasive in Apple's lineup for a long time.

The other big news at this year's WWDC keynote (not counting a redesigned and slightly upgraded Airport Express, an upgraded iPad case, and a couple of Thunderbolt adapters) was coming-this-fall iOS 6. Based on what I've heard so far, it hasn't knocked my socks off. Facebook cognizance is now integrated throughout (woo hoo..although I'd love to know who ended up paying who for that privilege), akin to how iOS 5 embraced Twitter. Maps ditches Google for Tom Tom (a winner for Apple, maybe not so much for Apple's customers). Siri gets a few more features, and expands to the iPad. FaceTime videoconferencing works not only over Wi-Fi but also over cellular data links. And...that's about it, aside from a few other minor tweaks.

So what's with the "forced obsolescence" bit in this post's subject line? Well, here's the deal...iOS 6 won't be coming to the first-generation iPad, even though the iPhone 3GS will support it. The iPhone 3GS dates from June 2009. The first-generation iPad dates from April 2010 (yes, only a bit more than two years ago). And here's how their hardware specs stack up:

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edn.com%2FContentEETimes%2FImages%2FEDN%2F612-brians-brain-table.jpg&hash=e682733c2f9e52d5df47c8934219b20e28a48244)

The first-generation iPad runs an equivalent-architecture, one-generation newer CPU that clocks at nearly twice the speed of the one in the iPhone 3GS. They have matching GPUs. And they have matching amounts of RAM; the iPad's memory is faster, in fact. From a hardware standpoint, the only first-generation iPad comparative shortcoming is that the GPU needs to drive a 1024×768 pixel LCD, versus the 480×320 pixel LCD in the iPhone 3GS. Although as compensation, I'm pretty sure that the PowerVR SGX535 GPU in the first-generation iPad runs faster than its iPhone 3GS counterpart.

So why can't the first-generation iPad run iOS 6? More accurate, I'd wager, is to ask why Apple won't let it run iOS 6. The iPhone 3GS is still available for sale. The first-generation iPad is not. Apple feels less obligation, I suspect, to maintain the first-generation iPad as compared to the iPhone 3GS. So it's not going to do so. Even though it darn well could.

I own a first-generation iPad. I'm really irked by this situation, even though as I already described, iOS 6 doesn't wow me, at least so far. I'm irked because I've seen this all before, and therefore have high confidence that I know how it'll play out again. Slowly but surely, Apple will stop supporting pre-iOS 6 operating system versions in both its own new apps and updates to existing apps. And slowly but surely, Apple's army of third-party developers will phase out iOS 5, too, inadvertently aided in no small part by Apple development tool compilation defaults for iOS 6 and beyond, neatly neutering iOS 5. Apple won't, of course, even keep old iOS 5-supportive application revs available for download from the App Store. So sooner or later, I won't be able to get software for my now-only-two-year-old tablet. And then it'll effectively become a paperweight.

What a wonderful way to support the early adopters who jump-started the tablet business on your behalf, Apple. Snort.


Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on June 19, 2012, 02:17:46 PM
Good point - except, Apple seems to be positioning these devices like cell phones - that you replace them every 2-3 years so you can get the new features that are "must have" - they are not heirlooms and after a while they're like any other obsolete technology: what once was new, groundbreaking and fast and it becomes slow and annoying. 

Except: IOS 6 doesn't REALLY have any "must have" features.  Yet.  Well, there are some niceties like multiple signatures.

We'll have to see if a new iPhone gets positioned in the next month or so since I keep hearing a new one is due for fall.

But this isn't the first time Apple has chucked a perfectly capable device and artificially restricted it from running a newer os.  Look at Snow Leopard and the PowerPC Macs. 
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on July 11, 2012, 02:48:29 PM
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/07/confirmed-mountain-lion-sends-some-64-bit-macs-gently-into-that-good-night/ (http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/07/confirmed-mountain-lion-sends-some-64-bit-macs-gently-into-that-good-night/)

Mountain Lion won't support all 64-bit Macs when it ships in late July.
Apple, Inc.

Apple has now confirmed via its Mountain Lion upgrade page that previously published limitations on some 64-bit Macs will extend to the final release. This means that several otherwise 64-bit capable MacBook Pros, iMacs, and Mac Pros will indeed be restricted from upgrading to OS X 10.8 when it goes public later this month. And according to information found in the recently released golden master (GM), the limitation appears to be related to graphics, as we originally suspected.

When the first developer preview of Mountain Lion was seeded to developers earlier this year, the release notes listed hardware requirements showing that some early 64-bit Mac models were not compatible. (Lion is likewise 64-bit, and can run on any Core2 or newer 64-bit Intel processor.) As such, Mountain Lion developer previews would not run on the earliest Mac Pros, MacBook Pros, iMacs, and other hardware.
Macs supported by Mountain Lion

    iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
    MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
    MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
    MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
    Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
    Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
    Xserve (Early 2009)

Apple declined to tell us the reasoning behind leaving some of these models out of potential Mountain Lion upgrades, but we suspected it is related to an updated graphics architecture that is designed to improve OS X's graphics subsystem going forward. Our own Andrew Cunningham suspects the issue is more specifically related to graphics drivers, since the GPUs not supported under Mountain Lion have drivers that were written before 64-bit support was common.

Information included with the first Mountain Lion GM now corroborates the connection to 32-bit graphics drivers as the culprit. While Mountain Lion is compatible with any Mac capable of running a 64-bit kernel, the kernel does not support loading 32-bit kernel extensions (KEXTs). Furthermore, Macs with older EFI versions that are not 64-bit clean won't load Mountain Lion's 64-bit only kernel.

As you might have already guessed, graphics drivers are KEXTs under OS X. And the GPUs in some of those early 64-bit Macs were deprecated before 64-bit KEXTs became common. Since those older drivers are 32-bit, Mountain Lion won't load them. We believe Apple decided it was better to draw the line in the sand for some older machines rather than invest the resources into updating the drivers for these older GPUs.

While Apple had suggested that the hardware limitations were not set in stone back in February, it seems anyone hoping for additional support before Mountain Lion is released will be disappointed. Look on the bright side: both Snow Leopard and Lion are likely to get security fixes for at least the next year, so your machine should continue to hum along fine for now. If Mountain Lion contains updates that are useful to you, however, it may be time to start shopping for a newer Mac.
Editor's Pick: Promoted Reader Comment

    Andrew Cunningham | Associate writer
    jump to postArs Staff
    Rykin wrote:
    So I wonder if they have programmed ML specifically not to run on these machines or if say you have an older Mac Pro that has been upgraded to a supported GPU if it will let you install. I am willing to bet that soon after or likely even before it ships there will be hacks to get it running on unsupported machines. XPostFacto makes a dramatic return ;)


    On those older Mac Pros that shipped with unsupported graphics cards, Apple hasn't deigned to update their firmware to support 64-bit EFI. You can run this command in Terminal to see whether you have a 32-bit or 64-bit EFI:

    ioreg -l -p IODeviceTree | grep firmware-abi

    All of the Macs dropped by Mountain Lion are going to return "EFI32" - if you can hack around that in addition to upgrading your graphics card, you may indeed be able to get Mountain Lion running on an older Mac, but it's a bit of a long shot.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kevin M on July 11, 2012, 09:25:39 PM
Quote from: Elantric on July 11, 2012, 02:48:29 PMhttp://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/07/confirmed-mountain-lion-sends-some-64-bit-macs-gently-into-that-good-night/ (http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/07/confirmed-mountain-lion-sends-some-64-bit-macs-gently-into-that-good-night/)

Mountain Lion won't support all 64-bit Macs when it ships in late July.
Apple, Inc.

Apple has now confirmed via its Mountain Lion upgrade page that previously published limitations on some 64-bit Macs will extend to the final release. This means that several otherwise 64-bit capable MacBook Pros, iMacs, and Mac Pros will indeed be restricted from upgrading to OS X 10.8 when it goes public later this month. And according to information found in the recently released golden master (GM), the limitation appears to be related to graphics, as we originally suspected.

When the first developer preview of Mountain Lion was seeded to developers earlier this year, the release notes listed hardware requirements showing that some early 64-bit Mac models were not compatible. (Lion is likewise 64-bit, and can run on any Core2 or newer 64-bit Intel processor.) As such, Mountain Lion developer previews would not run on the earliest Mac Pros, MacBook Pros, iMacs, and other hardware.
Macs supported by Mountain Lion

    iMac (Mid 2007 or newer)
    MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer)
    MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer)
    MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer)
    Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer)
    Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer)
    Xserve (Early 2009)

Apple declined to tell us the reasoning behind leaving some of these models out of potential Mountain Lion upgrades, but we suspected it is related to an updated graphics architecture that is designed to improve OS X's graphics subsystem going forward. Our own Andrew Cunningham suspects the issue is more specifically related to graphics drivers, since the GPUs not supported under Mountain Lion have drivers that were written before 64-bit support was common.

Information included with the first Mountain Lion GM now corroborates the connection to 32-bit graphics drivers as the culprit. While Mountain Lion is compatible with any Mac capable of running a 64-bit kernel, the kernel does not support loading 32-bit kernel extensions (KEXTs). Furthermore, Macs with older EFI versions that are not 64-bit clean won't load Mountain Lion's 64-bit only kernel.

As you might have already guessed, graphics drivers are KEXTs under OS X. And the GPUs in some of those early 64-bit Macs were deprecated before 64-bit KEXTs became common. Since those older drivers are 32-bit, Mountain Lion won't load them. We believe Apple decided it was better to draw the line in the sand for some older machines rather than invest the resources into updating the drivers for these older GPUs.

While Apple had suggested that the hardware limitations were not set in stone back in February, it seems anyone hoping for additional support before Mountain Lion is released will be disappointed. Look on the bright side: both Snow Leopard and Lion are likely to get security fixes for at least the next year, so your machine should continue to hum along fine for now. If Mountain Lion contains updates that are useful to you, however, it may be time to start shopping for a newer Mac.
Editor's Pick: Promoted Reader Comment

    Andrew Cunningham | Associate writer
    jump to postArs Staff
    Rykin wrote:
    So I wonder if they have programmed ML specifically not to run on these machines or if say you have an older Mac Pro that has been upgraded to a supported GPU if it will let you install. I am willing to bet that soon after or likely even before it ships there will be hacks to get it running on unsupported machines. XPostFacto makes a dramatic return ;)


    On those older Mac Pros that shipped with unsupported graphics cards, Apple hasn't deigned to update their firmware to support 64-bit EFI. You can run this command in Terminal to see whether you have a 32-bit or 64-bit EFI:

    ioreg -l -p IODeviceTree | grep firmware-abi

    All of the Macs dropped by Mountain Lion are going to return "EFI32" - if you can hack around that in addition to upgrading your graphics card, you may indeed be able to get Mountain Lion running on an older Mac, but it's a bit of a long shot.


Looks like I could upgrade as I have an early 2009 Mac mini (recently upgraded to 8G RAM, thanks to info from Elantric). I'm ok running Lion, though.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on July 20, 2012, 05:51:07 PM
USB3 + Apple Update from NI; Your Best Bet — Wait

by Peter Kirn


http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/07/usb3-apple-update-from-ni-your-best-bet-wait/#more-24785 (http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/07/usb3-apple-update-from-ni-your-best-bet-wait/#more-24785)

Native Instruments, whose hardware was some of the first to prompt reader compatibility reports, now has issued a statement. I had hoped for more background on what's actually going on – we'll keep pressing vendors to tell us more – but the short-term advice on the MacBook Pro and Air and their USB3-only ports is clear. You're going to want to wait until hardware you use is confirmed to work, and it seems that at least this vendor is communicating with Apple directly. (Those fixes will hopefully benefit the handful of readers we have suffering from USB3 woes on Windows, though the PCs more often have a dedicated USB2 port, not just USB3.)

Excerpt from today's announcement, on Friday the 20th, July 2012:

    Native Instruments has conducted compatibility tests with its hardware products connected to USB 3.0 ports of current-generation MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models. Some NI products are experiencing a degraded audio signal caused by USB 3.0 audio driver issues present in recent versions of OS X.

    The following products have shown to be affected:

    AUDIO 2 DJ / AUDIO 4 DJ / AUDIO 8 DJ
    AUDIO KONTROL 1
    GUITAR RIG MOBILE
    GUITAR RIG SESSION
    KORE 1
    RIG KONTROL 2 / RIG KONTROL 3
    TRAKTOR AUDIO 2
    TRAKTOR KONTROL S4

    The following products have shown to be fully compatible:

    KOMPLETE AUDIO 6
    MASCHINE / MASCHINE MIKRO
    TRAKTOR AUDIO 6 / TRAKTOR AUDIO 10
    TRAKTOR KONTROL S2

    NI hardware products without audio interface functionality (KORE 2, TRAKTOR KONTROL F1, TRAKTOR KONTROL X1) have also shown to be fully compatible with the current MacBook Air and MacBook Pro generation.

    Native Instruments is currently in contact with Apple in order to find a solution.


<Peter writes>
The good news is, some hardware is perfectly compatible – something we've heard from some other vendors (including MOTU). The bad news is, everyone else will have to wait – and notice the mention of "drivers."
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on July 26, 2012, 10:43:27 AM
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/07/what-to-know-about-mountain-lion-so-far/#more-24829 (http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/07/what-to-know-about-mountain-lion-so-far/#more-24829)

What To Know About Mountain Lion, So Far

by Peter Kirn
Jul 26 2012

OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion is out this week. And it's a great time to point out that Lion, 10.7, is a terrific upgrade for anyone with a recent Apple machine and 8 GB of RAM (which is what I'd recommend anyway). No, that's not a misprint – sometimes, it seems, Apple upgrades are just about perfect and fully compatible with all your stuff round about the time the next new thing is out.

Here's the deal: even tiny changes in an operating system can have a big impact on sound. The reality is, even a simple setup for music making can involve a lot of components – software, plug-ins, installers, hardware, drivers, all extremely sensitive to low-level compatibility issues and tiny performance tolerances. Your ears are extremely delicate pieces of equipment, and they know when tools aren't performing. (It sounds something like this – ahem – uuurrrgccch rgggh rccch rccch rccch. Or some variation.)

So, there are a few things to look out for on Mountain Lion. I expect that, as with Lion, it'll eventually be a good upgrade; I quietly upgraded to Lion early this year and didn't look back. For all the hair pulling about Apple turning Macs into iPads, I adjusted a couple of mouse settings I didn't like and I'm really happy. I think the same will be true of 10.8 — just not yet.

I could almost just write a Perl script that posts a blog entry, timed to Apple's OS releases, and says "don't upgrade," then waits a couple of point releases and says "okay, fine, now, if you must."

But if you are thinking of upgrading, here's what you'll want to know:

Backup first. I love Carbon Copy Cloner. Get a cheap external drive, duplicate your primary drive, and you'll easily be able to revert to the old OS. (You'll also have a bootable rescue drive. And it's Mountain Lion ready. It's useful for all backups, but especially so when you're upgrading the OS.) There is no reason, ever, to upgrade any OS without easy ability to revert.

Turn off Gatekeeper. For now, most music software isn't yet signed to work with Apple's new application security model, Gatekeeper. There's no reason to freak about this or have an existential crisis about the future of the Mac; signing apps is a well-known technique on other platforms (Linux, in particular). Nor is Apple forcing anyone to use their App Store – a good thing, too, as almost no pro audio developers have embraced that platform and it seems to be incompatible with the plug-in development model. But Gatekeeper will break most installers for now, so until more developers sign their software, it's easier to just turn the thing off, restoring the way installation works on 10.7. Steinberg, for instance, has produced a step-by-step guide to disabling Gatekeeper, even as they promise updated installers soon.

Some installers may still have issues. Apple has deprecated some legacy technologies for installation, and I'm already hearing reports some installers aren't working. (William Light here in Berlin is updating libmonome, so, please, don't do a clean install before your monome gig, okay? Leave him alone and let him fix that terrific open source library and report back to us on how this stuff is working.)

USB audio devices may not function. Here's the potential deal-breaker. We've already seen statements from Roland and Native Instruments reporting performance issues with their audio interfaces on USB – even including connections to USB2 ports. Readers have found issues with other makers, too. So far, I've only seen Native Instruments release updated drivers, which means if you only have NI gear, you might be okay. But if you're using products from other vendors, now's a good time to do an inventory and check support forums before you upgrade – or risk problems afterward. It also appears that the incompatibility results from a change Apple made in the OS. That is, Apple was involved, and you shouldn't only blame your device vendor. Instead, you should breathe deeply, stay on 10.7, and wait for an update. (We might even see an update on the Apple side, not just from third parties; we'll be watching.)

Don't be surprised if everything does work. Hey, okay, we all feel like we're in the center of our own computing universe. When stuff breaks, it feels catastrophic. When stuff works, we wonder what the fuss is all about. So do read Chris Randall's take on Mountain Lion. Chris is hardly a Mac fanboy – that is, he speaks in frank terms and expletives about what he doesn't like. And he likes the new OS, and reports back on some stuff that does work.

I'd still wait. But, back to that backup idea – whatever OS you're using, if you can make regular backups, you can rest easier in any configuration. So, whatever you're running – backup.

It might leave you with a few hours with no computing to do. Might I, again, suggest the lake or beach?

CDM out.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on July 30, 2012, 09:17:22 AM
More reports of Audio problems from other users who upgraded to Mountain Lion prior to doing research on the status on availability of Mountain Lion specific USB Audio Drivers 

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/07/audio-woes-now-on-new-apple-os-not-just-new-apple-laptops-ni-driver-fix-in-beta/ (http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/07/audio-woes-now-on-new-apple-os-not-just-new-apple-laptops-ni-driver-fix-in-beta/)


QuoteIt's happened with my TASCAM US-1800 that worked fine under 10.7.4. Upgraded earlier today, came home, plugged in, and while the USB indicator light is on showing a connection, Mountain Lion doesn't see the interface at all in audio properties. I tried my Fastrack USB and it does see that and allow that to function, but Cubase doesn't see the Fastrack (It was use on my PC with Pro Tools). So far, haven't heard anyone else with this problem, but really, I expected more from Apple. It's supposed to just work, and I can't downgrade to Snow Leapard without doing a clean install and losing everything. SO PISSED!!!!!
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on August 07, 2012, 03:10:43 PM
More reports of Audio problems from other users who upgraded to Mountain Lion prior to doing research on the status on availability of Mountain Lion specific USB Audio Drivers 
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/07/audio-woes-now-on-new-apple-os-not-just-new-apple-laptops-ni-driver-fix-in-beta/ (http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/07/audio-woes-now-on-new-apple-os-not-just-new-apple-laptops-ni-driver-fix-in-beta/)
Quotecorey949 wrote:

Alas, add focusrite saffire 6 usb interface to the list of new-driver-needed for Mountain Lion. I guess I consumed too much Apple kool-aid, since this time, I didn't even bother to check compatibility before I joined the herd and stampeded to upgrade to Mt.Lion.  When I plugged in my brand new, just unboxed AKG perception 220 to the saffire, opened my DAW, I discovered that my input preference had defaulted back to the built-in mic. When I switched to the saffire, the whole system crashed immediately. A very rare occurance on my iMac.  When I rebooted, everything looked OK and I was getting signal from the AKG. But when I hit record, I got nothing but horrible distortion in my ears. Just to be sure, I switched to an old berenger mic and had the identical distortion.  The Focusrite site says that they're working on it.  Some of their products seem to do OK with OS 10.8, others clearly do not.  THe same thing happened when Apple went to Lion. I was using an M-audio firewire back then and had to wait for new drivers.  Don't the manufacturers of audio interfaces and Apple developers talk to each other?  Having been through this twice, I promise to be patient next time and check that my hardware can be updatred BEFORE I upgrade to another OS.  What comes after Mountain Lion, Loch Ness Monster?
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on October 23, 2012, 12:02:12 PM
After hearing today's news of updated hardware from Apple - I'm extremely glad I purchased my 2011 era 27" iMac in spring 2012.

The updated version today is actually less appealing in my book. As I predicted, they deleted the Firewire ports.
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6104.msg43034#msg43034 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6104.msg43034#msg43034)
They also removed the Mic  / Line / SPDIF Input jack too.

But the new iMac does give us 4 USB 3.0 ports - but if you read a few posts above, many third party USB audio interfaces are still having stuttering problems and drop outs with USB 3.0 on Mountain Lion macs. 

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/imac (http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/imac)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: whippinpost91850 on December 07, 2012, 12:35:07 PM
New to DAW based recording. I could sure use a good suggestion for best Computer (MAC /Windows) to buy for basic home recording.  ???
Please Help!!!!!!
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on December 07, 2012, 12:47:30 PM
Depends on your budget and what you want to accomplish.

If you have basic needs  - a 3 year old Macbook Pro may work.

If its  a new PC/Mac  - Get a machine with  Intel I5 or I7 at least 2.2GHz , expandable to at least 16 GB ram, and a large enough display to see all your new virtual instruments (1440 x 900 minimum).


I have several , but I currently use a Lenovo W520 i got refurbished for under $1200 I love. (read posts above)

and more discussion here:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6152.msg49411#msg49411 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6152.msg49411#msg49411)

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: whippinpost91850 on December 07, 2012, 01:23:42 PM
Thanks Elantric. I've reread most of the posts, But admit I'm still a bit overwhelmed/confused. my budget is probably up to $1800-$2000 if neccessary. I want to deal with the least bit of latency and agravation as possible. I don't mind used but don't want something to outdated or can't update memory etc  . I used Macs for years , But the last 5 or so years I've been using PC's for work.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kevin M on December 07, 2012, 01:30:39 PM
Quote from: whippinpost91850 on December 07, 2012, 01:23:42 PM
Thanks Elantric. I've reread most of the posts, But admit I'm still a bit overwhelmed/confused. my budget is probably up to $1800-$2000 if neccessary. I want to deal with the least bit of latency and agravation as possible. I don't mind used but don't want something to outdated or can't update memory etc  . I used Macs for years , But the last 5 or so years I've been using PC's for work.

Have you thought about which DAW software you might be interested in?  Maybe this is a good starting point since it could imply which OS you would use.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: whippinpost91850 on December 07, 2012, 01:42:58 PM
I have Protools 10 that came with my My poor lonely Eleven Rack, But Ive never used it. Some people say It's a little complicated to use, but I don't know. I'm not married to any one thing though and at my "advanced age" I think I want something fairly intuative.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on December 07, 2012, 02:07:15 PM
QuoteI have Protools 10 that came with my My poor lonely Eleven Rack, But Ive never used it.

I recently acquired an Eleven Rack +Protools 10 bundle myself $650

For Protools 10, I will use my Lenovo W520 running Win7 64 Pro, with I7 CPU, 32GB RAM, Dual 750GB HDDs, dedicated 256GB mSATA SSD for Komplete 7 VSTI sample playback. I have the W520 version with 1920 x 1080 display. Great machine - they can be found on Ebay for $1100.

Since Protools 10 uses the iLok - it allows you to install it on multiple machines - so i will also install this on my 2011 Mac Mini and 27" iMac 

All three have Intel i7 CPUs
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: whippinpost91850 on December 07, 2012, 02:11:41 PM
Interesting Which system do you find the most advantageous to use ? Mac or PC  ???
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on December 07, 2012, 02:12:26 PM
Macs have more flexibility and lower latency.

A used 13", 15" 17" Macbook Pro with i5 or i7 CPU, large HDD is ideal.

The latest 2012 versions are less interesting, as they removed Firewire, and went all USB 3.0, and OSX Mountan Lion 10.8 has many issues with audio stuttering.

On my Mac's I'm sticking with OSX 10.7 Lion, and Snow Leopard and I require Firewire for my MOTU 828MK3, Phonic Helix 18, and many Sony / Canon DV  / HDV camcorders and Gibson  / Echo Audio RIP Firewire Audio Interface for my Gibson Dark Fire

I use the Lenovo W520 mostly due to bulk of my employment work being mobile PCB design with Altium Designer  / Protel 99SE and its my "go to machine" today.

The Mac Mini is cool, yet awkward due to the need for a separate display. and the iMac 27" is too large to move       
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: whippinpost91850 on December 07, 2012, 02:36:55 PM
Elantric thanks. I have been leaning towards a MAC and your info has probably just sealed the deal ;D Again thanks you allways seen to have excellent insightful information. 8)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: LPHovercraft on December 07, 2012, 02:39:26 PM
Quote from: Elantric on December 07, 2012, 02:12:26 PM
Macs have more flexibility and lower latency.

Not to troll - but I'd *love* to understand the origins of any known universe where this is a categorical truth.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kevin M on December 07, 2012, 03:16:24 PM
I think platform is mostly subjective. I have used Windows and Sonar for quite a number of years with no issues with latency or performance - even with large numbers of tracks and soft synths. For daily use I prefer Mac or Linux (it's a unix, thing. :-) ), but I have too much invested in my DAW platform choices to move away from it.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on December 07, 2012, 03:29:20 PM
QuoteMacs have more flexibility and lower latency.

OSX allows low latency "Aggregate Audio Device" (i.e. use multiple separate hardware interfaces to create one large multichannel device) using Core Audio 
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1215 (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1215)

By contrast, Windows relies on Steinberg ASIO drivers for low latency, and you rarely can use more than one interface at a time.

I have far more audio routing options on OSX to share audio streams among several apps running at the same time using Soundflower .
   
http://soundflower.en.softonic.com/mac (http://soundflower.en.softonic.com/mac)

But hey - I just use the best Software I need and can afford for my work, and then run it on the best platform recommended by the software vendor.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: musicman65 on December 07, 2012, 03:38:17 PM
Quote from: LPHovercraft on December 07, 2012, 02:39:26 PM

>>>> Macs have more flexibility and lower latency.

Not to troll - but I'd *love* to understand the origins of any known universe where this is a categorical truth.

In the grand scheme of computing, that statement is categorically incorrect. In the tiny world of music production, it's a perception based on experience. Either platform can be very flexible and extremely low latency. The pc world is vast and many machines are simply not designed with music production in mind, therefore PC selection is more critical. This pushes many right brain creative types to choose a Mac as an appliance that "just works"....which in and of itself is a myth. In the larger view, PC's are vastly more configurable and flexible for those willing to work with the platform. Only 1 of every 8 personal computers run MacOS today.

Edit: but either platform will work fine. Apple makes a very nice (but pricey) computer, no doubt. And its 1 in 12 (8%) MacOS market-share today.

bd
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kevin M on December 07, 2012, 04:54:16 PM
Quote from: Elantric on December 07, 2012, 03:29:20 PM
OSX allows low latency "Aggregate Audio Device" (i.e. use multiple separate hardware interfaces to create one large multichannel device) using Core Audio 
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1215 (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1215)

By contrast, Windows relies on Steinberg ASIO drivers for low latency, and you rarely can use more than one interface at a time.

True, although I believe you can work around this by using two or more of the same devices (eg two MOTU 828's) when using ASIO under Windows.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on December 07, 2012, 05:14:31 PM
If your budget allows - buy one Mac and one Windows PC. I have had to use and support both since the 80's , and Ive had more luck with Macs being more stable and reliable. Yet I use my Windows machines more as i use one for my day gig. (Dell Optiplex 980)

Ive had more headaches with my Windows machines - seems anytime I want to be creative and record a song, is the same exact time Windows Update kicks in and clobbers my machine and schedule. Had my first blue screen in years last week on my Lenovo - traced to a free Video conversion app I downloaded.  ( running a drive scan with Malware Bytes fixed it)

As always - review your software requirements, select the best app for your needs, and then buy the best computer you can afford to run it.

I always recommend buying 10 month old technology - because the latest bleeding edge tech is typically very unstable.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on December 07, 2012, 08:24:19 PM
Currently I'm running a 2009 Core i7 iMac with 16 gigs of 1333 mhz memory, a 1 TB internal drive, an external 3 TB firewire 800 array and 4 USB2 storage drives (topping out around 7 TB total). 

I run Logic but honestly use Garageband for songwriting because it's very fast and hassle free and then I can save that session and open it in Logic and then throw "the works" at it once the tune is ready for the full production treatment. 

I've recorded my last five CDs here.  Thus far I've produced over 142 projects this year.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: tekrytor on December 08, 2012, 06:55:35 AM
IMO, if you're doing any serious recording, you don't want to be online or even have your network connections active, thus updates disabled, regardless of which platform is used. Mac, Windows and Linux can all work well and all have advantages and disadvantages. IMO, if you're making money making music or just have a lot of money, go Mac and ProTools... It's the industry standard. If you're a total Greek and can tweak all the bits and bytes, go Linux for absolute control and enjoy writing your own drivers. Otherwise, Windows is the "Everyman" software platform with the most hardware options too, and priced in the middle. But it always like arguing religion... No winner, never ends, etc. 20 years on and we're still squabbling over OS wars... Having both hardware platforms gives you all options' and buying year old ones saves a lot on the cost of doing it. Buying the newest is usually a waste.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: szilard on December 08, 2012, 11:32:00 AM
I built a DAW a couple months ago and I'm happy with it's performance. If you go the PC route ...

i7-3770k (3.5 GHz), ASUS P8Z77 V LE Plus, 16 gig RAM (1600MHz), Antec Sonata IV case, Samsung 256 gb SSD, 1 tb Velociraptor HDD, Liteon Blu-ray, and Firewire card. Win 7 Pro 64 bit OEM. Total cost was around $1600.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Toby Krebs on January 05, 2013, 10:06:45 AM
I agree with Elantric. Windows update blows...
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: kenact on January 05, 2013, 11:16:28 AM
Quote from: Toby Krebs on January 05, 2013, 10:06:45 AM
I agree with Elantric. Windows update blows...

Computer support is my 9-5 gig and I have seen more people have their computers compromised because they didn't install Windows Updates, than I have seen computers crash because they did install the updates.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: germanicus on January 05, 2013, 11:26:17 AM
You can schedule it so it checks for updates at a certain time and wont otherwise both you. Set it for 4am on monday morning or something.

I enjoy building my own PC's. You can get alot more value by doing it yourself and end up with a very more powerful system this way.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: musicman65 on January 05, 2013, 06:01:00 PM
I develop and sell mission critical software solutions and will not warranty a system with automatic updates enabled. I've seen updates break an application and it may take months for the manufacturer to develop a patch to allow the app to function.

If your DAW is dedicated to the task and not used for typical internet use, turn off updates. If it's a daily driver and is used for everything, leave updates on, use an anti-virus, and firewall. Expect your PC to be somewhat less responsive but very usable....just not optimal.

My DAW is an old XP Pro box that just works and works. It's dedicated to the task and has a minimal custom install of the OS with all unnecessary services disabled. It is very responsive, boots in 20 seconds. It needs updating but it works flawlessly....so I let it run.

bd

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on March 06, 2013, 01:10:23 PM
Since earlier posts in this thread talk about Macs with Thunderbolt ports - just wanted to inform that an important Belkin Thunderbolt™ Express Dock adapter will be shipping soon, and adds many important missing functions to many Thunderbolt equipped Macs

http://www.belkin.com/us/thunderbolt (http://www.belkin.com/us/thunderbolt)



Introducing Belkin Thunderbolt™ Express Dock
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.belkin.com%2Fresources%2Fimg%2Fcustom%2Fthunderbolt%2Fthunderbolt-angleView.jpg&hash=d4b4315e177663878241458a7bf097e1934e27db)
Thunderbolt is a quantum leap forward. Suddenly everything is faster, easier, better. Thunderbolt moves data on two bidirectional 10Gbps channels. That's 20 times faster than USB 2.0, 12 times faster than Firewire 800. And it means an entire

HD movie transfers in 30 seconds. A whole year of continuous music? 10 minutes.

Life on your laptop is about to be very different. In a very good way.
Easy is beautiful.

With Thunderbolt™ Express Dock, all your drives, networking, input and output devices connect to the 8 ports on the back. It in turn connects to your laptop through 1 Thunderbolt port. In short, eight cables become one cable.

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.belkin.com%2Fresources%2Fimg%2Fcustom%2Fthunderbolt%2Fthunderbolt-backView.jpg&hash=f6f2d75c441633fd461e9149e21b027ef0d7abf7)
So taking your laptop when you go, and bringing it home when you return means dealing with a single cable. Which connects you to a very brave new world indeed.
Beautiful is beautiful.

We thought that a technology as brilliant and beautiful as Thunderbolt deserved a dock that not only performs at the highest level, but looks the part as well. So we designed The Thunderbolt™ Express Dock with an elegant, low profile. Simple is beautiful, and Thunderbolt™ Express Dock is a shining example.
Download HD feature film: 30 seconds.
Sync a year's worth of continuous music: 10 minutes.
First Quarter, 2013: Thunderbolt™ Express Dock will be here fast


Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mbenigni on March 07, 2013, 05:49:04 AM
QuoteBelkin Thunderbolt™ Express Dock adapter

That is cool.  I wish MS had gone with a Thunderbolt port on the Surface instead of a Mini Display Port.  I can't much see the benefit of Display Port vs. HDMI, but Thunderbolt opens up a lot of possibilities.

I am surprised, though, that the Belkin adapter doesn't include a full sized HDMI output, for owners of non-Thunderbolt monitors.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on March 07, 2013, 06:42:35 AM
The similar Matrox DS1/HDMI Thunderbolt Docking Station has either HDMI or DVI
http://www.matrox.com/docking_station/en/ds1/press/ (http://www.matrox.com/docking_station/en/ds1/press/)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=897995&Q=&is=REG&A=details (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=897995&Q=&is=REG&A=details)
http://www.matrox.com/docking_station/en/ds1/ (http://www.matrox.com/docking_station/en/ds1/)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matrox.com%2Fdocking_station%2Fmedia%2Fimage%2Fds1%2Fds1_dvi_hdmi_connections.jpg&hash=514c4bc24f6fbf61316b5897680eadcb1cd86666)
Basically you choose the model that fits your thunderbolt expansion needs.

I'm looking for expanding my 2011 iMac. Earlier proto versions of the Belkin Dock had eSATA, but now they have three USB 3.0 ports.

http://www.macrumors.com/2013/01/07/ces-2013-belkin-drops-esata-support-for-upcoming-thunderbolt-express-dock-cuts-price-back-to-299/ (http://www.macrumors.com/2013/01/07/ces-2013-belkin-drops-esata-support-for-upcoming-thunderbolt-express-dock-cuts-price-back-to-299/)


Im now looking at this DIY Thunderbolt to eSATA adapter
http://camerarentalz.com/diy-thunderbolt-esata-adapter/ (http://camerarentalz.com/diy-thunderbolt-esata-adapter/)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on March 08, 2013, 02:10:29 PM
http://news.aesshow.com/2013/03/focusrites-popular-saffire-firewire-interfaces-fully-compatible-with-thunderbolt-ports-on-mac/ (http://news.aesshow.com/2013/03/focusrites-popular-saffire-firewire-interfaces-fully-compatible-with-thunderbolt-ports-on-mac/)
Focusrite's Popular Saffire Firewire Interfaces Fully Compatible with Thunderbolt Ports on Mac
QuoteFocusrite's Popular Saffire Firewire Interfaces Fully Compatible with Thunderbolt Ports on Mac
March 8th, 2013 Posted in News, newsletter
Bucks, UK — Since the introduction of the first Focusrite Saffire interface in 2005, FireWire (Apple's trade name for IEEE 1394) has been a firm favorite among Focusrite interface users with its high speed and reliability. In particular, FireWire and USB represent a great partnership – by having your audio interface on one type of bus and your hard drives on the other, you get the highest possible performance from your computer audio system, and the fewest problems.
Now, on the latest Apple computers, FireWire 400 and 800 ports have been superseded by Thunderbolt – a new, high-speed serial interface developed by Intel and Apple. Happily, it's easy to connect your Saffire interface to a Thunderbolt-equipped computer.
All you need to connect the two is a FireWire 400-800 cable (included with all new Saffire interfaces later this year) and the Thunderbolt to FireWire 800 adapter, available inexpensively from Apple and third parties. Simply plug this into the Thunderbolt port on your computer and connect the FireWire interface – it's as simple as that. Saffire interfaces are 100% compatible with Thunderbolt using this adaptor.
The adaptor provides up to 7W of DC bus power as well as full signal connectivity: this should be sufficient for most interfaces but Focusrite always recommends using the included power supply with your interface for best results.
Focusrite will continue to fully support the Saffire range for the foreseeable future, and will fully support the use of Thunderbolt/FireWire adaptors. If you upgrade your computer to one with Thunderbolt, you can continue to use your Saffire interface as before, and if you buy a new Saffire interface it will work perfectly with your Thunderbolt-equipped computer, whichever model of Saffire you choose.
Focusrite Saffire interfaces, with their precision digital conversion and acclaimed clean, transparent mic preamps, deliver excellent performance and functionality for all kinds of recording applications in the studio and on the road.
Novation is a division of Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited which is a company incorporated and registered in England and Wales with company number 2357989 whose registered office is Windsor House, Turnpike Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP12 3FX, UK. If you have any questions please click here or call +44 01494 462 246 to contact us.
www.focusrite.com (http://www.focusrite.com)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kevin M on March 08, 2013, 02:28:16 PM
Quote from: Elantric on March 08, 2013, 02:10:29 PM
http://news.aesshow.com/2013/03/focusrites-popular-saffire-firewire-interfaces-fully-compatible-with-thunderbolt-ports-on-mac/ (http://news.aesshow.com/2013/03/focusrites-popular-saffire-firewire-interfaces-fully-compatible-with-thunderbolt-ports-on-mac/)
Focusrite's Popular Saffire Firewire Interfaces Fully Compatible with Thunderbolt Ports on Mac

I think I would rather wait for true Thunderbolt connectivity in an audio interface rather than having multiple cables for one connection.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on March 08, 2013, 02:45:39 PM
Its just good to know one prominent Audio Interface manufacturer (Focusrite)  has qualified and recommends the Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire 800 adapter for its Safire Firewire interfaces.
Those start at $249
http://us.focusrite.com/saffire (http://us.focusrite.com/saffire)


I understand MOTU FireWire Interfaces also work with Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire 800 adapter.
http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/showflat.php?Number=1005282 (http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/showflat.php?Number=1005282)



Thunderbolt Audio interfaces do exist, but it will be awhile before I consider one, since those are running over  $2K
http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/namm-2012.php (http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/namm-2012.php)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.apogeedigital.com%2Fimages%2Fsymphony64-thunderbolt.jpg&hash=07781e6c531b0d012aac7cf3ba2ce94c2942b9c7)
http://www.uaudio.com/apollo (http://www.uaudio.com/apollo)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uaudio.com%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2Fapollo%2Flanding-monitor.png&hash=ad4e3e459f70ecfe74e31044f838e52b04949d24)

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on April 04, 2013, 11:36:02 AM

Sonnet announces 15-port Echo Thunderbolt dock with built-in HDD/SSD & optical drive options

Sonnet-Echo-15-Thunderbolt-dock-station

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F9to5mac.files.wordpress.com%2F2013%2F04%2Fsonnet-echo-15-thunderbolt-dock-station.png%3Fw%3D704%26amp%3Bh%3D298&hash=6a19f53ee7659db0c3c3627811c2423056af49d1)
The much-anticipated Belkin Thunderbolt Dock appears to be delayed once again unfortunately, missing its planned Q1 launch, despite taking pre-orders for the device in February after missing its original September launch date. While we've been recommending the popular Matrox Thunderbolt Docking station in the meantime, today Sonnet announced a new competitor in the space with the Echo 15 Thunderbolt Dock.

The 15-port dock includes many of the ins and outs you'd expect: Two thunderbolt ports, four USB 3.0 ports, 3.5mm audio in and out (front and back), FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, and two eSATA ports. However, there are two features this 15-port Thunderbolt docking station has that most others do not: extra space to install a 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA HDD or SSD and your choice of a built-in DVD or Blu-Ray drive:

    the Echo 15 Thunderbolt dock has you covered—it includes your choice of DVD±RW drive, or Blu-ray Disc™ player (BD-ROM/8x DVD±RW). If you are a Mac user, you'll also find that the included Blu-ray player software for OS X® is very handy, enabling you to watch Blu-ray movies on your computer or attached monitor.

    The fast 6 Gb/s SATA interface supports an HDD at its maximum speeds, and an SSD at up to 380 MB/s... Best of all, the drive sits inside the Echo dock, so you don't have to clutter your desk space with an external hard drive and its power brick and cable clutter to add more storage. Don't feel like adding a drive yourself? Sonnet also offers the Echo 15 Thunderbolt Dock equipped with a 2TB HDD, available exclusively through the Sonnet online store.

The Sonnet Echo 15 Thunderbolt Dock is available to pre-order now in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico starting at $399 for a DVD drive and no built-in drive. The next model up comes with a built-in 2TB HDD for $499, while a Blu-ray drive and 2TB HDD brings it up to $549. Other options are also available through Sonnet's website, and most models are expected to ship in Summer 2013.


http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echo15thunderboltdock.html (http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echo15thunderboltdock.html)

$399.95 (Pre-order; Ships Summer 2013)
http://store1.sonnettech.com/product_info.php?&products_id=455 (http://store1.sonnettech.com/product_info.php?&products_id=455)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on April 12, 2013, 10:31:48 AM
I have to agree with this article
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerkay/2013/04/12/the-pc-industry-is-digging-its-own-grave/?partner=yahootix (http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerkay/2013/04/12/the-pc-industry-is-digging-its-own-grave/?partner=yahootix)
The PC Industry Is Digging Its Own Grave
By Roger Kay

This week, the PC community turned in its worst performance since IDC and Gartner started counting.  Worldwide shipments were off by 14% year on year, according to IDC.  Gartner says the decline was 11%.  The two differ slightly in methodology.

Those of us who have been following the industry since its inception have reason to be dismayed as to the causes.  Yes, the market has shifted to high mobility devices (i.e., smartphones and tablets), but much of the pain among PC suppliers is self-inflicted.

Of course, a fish can't become a bird just because flying is in fashion.  There are some limitations to a company's ability to change what it does.  But Apple proves the point that a computer company can become a high-mobility company.  And, in fact, particular vendors' degree of pain maps almost perfectly to the degree to which they have been able to make this transition.

For example, Samsung has been making notebooks for years, but is now right in the middle of the Google-fed Android revolution in smartphones and tablets.  Lenovo, an amalgam of IBM's old PC company and the first major Chinese PC maker, has been moving into phones in China, India, Philippines, and Vietnam.  Lenovo also offers a variety of tablets in developed markets.

Dell and Hewlett-Packard (HP), on the other hand, have nearly non-existent positions in high mobility.  Dell, with its emphasis on computing for businesses, has reacted to organizations' slowness to adopt new technologies by being slow to introduce them.  HP bought Palm, intending to use the smaller company's webOS for both phones and tablets, only to abandon the project and sell off the assets after a relatively short period.  Both hardware makers are working to expand their high-mobility portfolios, but Dell is more focused on enterprise solutions, and HP has indicated that these products will not be rushed to market.

However, the real responsibility for the current situation lies with the main suppliers: Microsoft and Intel.

Although Intel, under CEO Andy Grove, was able to abandon the memory business and focus on microprocessors at a time when Japanese firms, backed by generous government subsidies, were driving their American rival out of the memory market, the company has not been able to pull a similar trick when it comes to the architectural transition from x86 to ARM.  Not that the company can't make the transition technically.  It is philosophically against such a move.  Orthodoxy has calcified the place since Mr. Grove's tenure.

The problem is mostly cultural.  And here, I depart from the usual disclosure practice to note not who Endpoint does have consulting contracts with but who it doesn't.  Both Microsoft and Intel terminated their relationships with my company in the past year or so.  And the reason?  Because they don't like independent analysts, who have to tell it like it is even when the picture isn't pretty.  They want "message force multipliers," tame hacks who will help their public relations efforts.  Tell them what they don't want to hear, and you're shown the door.

Microsoft didn't like a study we ran that showed that its InTune offering was badly priced.  The company wanted marketing support, not real information.  Intel was angry that Endpoint wasn't supporting Ultrabooks enough.  Neither program has been particularly successful in reinvigorating the industry.

This bull-headed attitude is causing these suppliers to take the whole market down with them.  They refuse to see the pixels on the screen.  A contributing dynamic is the old Zen adage: "your strength is your weakness, and your weakness is your strength."  The very profitability of Windows and x86 has kept Microsoft and Intel from looking beyond these technologies.  At Microsoft, anything that might hurt the Windows franchise is instantly killed.

But here's the thing: the concept of the product cycle — in PCs, the three-year cycle (now four or five) — is entirely a fabrication.  The industry is only 35 years old.  The founders just made this stuff up to sell more product.

About five years ago, Intel had a program for explaining to companies how PC failure rates rocketed after three years and how productivity could be greatly improved by changing out the whole fleet on a regular basis.  But in today's world, a PC's local content can be mirrored to the cloud instantaneously, and if the machine itself craps out, it can be thrown away and replaced with no loss of productivity.

Hard drives, which themselves are being replaced by even more robust solid state drives, have a design life of five years.  This is the specification that drive suppliers like Seagate and Western Digital meet to sell them to PC hardware OEMs like Dell and HP.  And the drive's moving spindle represents the most friable part of the machine.  A PC can last for a decade.

When Microsoft first shipped DOS, it did so under license.  Essentially, you bought the right to use it, but didn't actually own the bits.  However, a version would ship, you paid for it, and it more or less worked.  Point releases (the numbers that increment after the "." — as in, version 3.1) came out, but buyers could opt not to install them.  The process was pretty mechanical.  But every few years, Microsoft came up with a new product.  The transition from DOS to Windows did great things for the company.  And early Windows versions, with numbers like 1, 2, and 3, gave way to Windows 95, arguably the company's most successful product ever.  Somewhere along with way, the software became stickier.  Microsoft educated buyers that it had the right to enter their machines over the network and change the bits with "updates."  So, now, users not only didn't own what they paid for, but didn't really control it, either.  The rationale was bug removal, virus protection, compatibility fixes, and so on.  But the effect was increased dependence of Microsoft and its sometimes arbitrary whims.

With transitions being so profitable, can we really blame Microsoft for wanting to do it over and over?  Well, yes.  Resistance from the installed base has been detectable for years, with CIOs grousing about having to qualify an entirely new image just because Microsoft wants to turn its base over again.  Evidence of this phenomenon is how support for Windows XP, which Microsoft really wanted to cut, has been extended again and again.  Neither Microsoft nor Intel has ever accepted that some computing is "good enough," to use a common industry phrase.

With Windows 8, Microsoft entirely screwed the pooch.  A badly conceived OS, designed to compete with Apple's iOS and yet remain a traditional PC, did neither.  It only confused and repelled users.  Windows 7, a decent replacement for Windows XP, finally, could have sustained the industry easily for a decade.

The dilemma facing the industry is familiar to anyone who knows the children's "cookie jar" story: if you drop half the cookies, you can take your hand out of the jar with some cookies and then go back for another modest handful.  Instead, we have the stupid industry, sitting there on the stool with its hand in the cookie jar, fistful of cookies unable to pass the rim, red-faced, crying, and looking like a fool.

Disclosure: Endpoint has consulting relationships with the PC hardware OEMs mentioned in this story.

Twitter: RogerKay
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kevin M on April 12, 2013, 11:25:17 AM
These reports are interesting and troubling, but it seems like they're coming from every direction as if there is some zeal from the writers in the notion that the PC is dead. My immediate thought is that it's not....I can't do software development, record music to the extent I can, setup a database server, etc, etc, etc without a machine with the equivalent horsepower of a PC. So, if the PC dies, I can see two possible scenarios - tablets and smart devices become significantly more powerful with much more storage capabilities and the apps they support grow exponentially in capabilities; or all applications move to a cloud computing architecture. The first scenario is just a continued miniaturization of the PC. The second scenario scares the hell out of me.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: rolandvg99 on April 12, 2013, 12:12:01 PM
PCs have had their prime. Every household have/had one, they take up real estate, waste power and are somewhat awkward for the older "newcomers". A tablet is a much more intuitive and ma nagable device which doesn't require a 1KW PSU to do some surfing and pay some bills. Which is why PCs are domed to lose the race for maximum profit. The PC as a phenomena started as a device for advanced users and has soon completed it's circle.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kevin M on April 12, 2013, 12:22:42 PM
Quote from: rolandvg99 on April 12, 2013, 12:12:01 PM
PCs have had their prime. Every household have/had one, they take up real estate, waste power and are somewhat awkward for the older "newcomers". A tablet is a much more intuitive and ma nagable device which doesn't require a 1KW PSU to do some surfing and pay some bills. Which is why PCs are domed to lose the race for maximum profit. The PC as a phenomena started as a device for advanced users and has soon completed it's circle.

I think you may only be considering casual users in your statements. Advanced users, while a relative minority, make up a very important class of users and can't be excluded from the equation.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on April 12, 2013, 01:23:39 PM
What it really comes down to is this: computers are more expensive and last longer.  Tablets are new, exciting to consumers and most importantly cost less for the price of entry.  For the average consumer who just needs to read email and use a web browser and do the occasional videogame a tablet makes sense.

Guys like me, though, who do more with their tech - well, they'll want a computer.  AND a tablet.

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on April 12, 2013, 01:31:55 PM
The big issue here is that as Artists and Musicians - we represent only a small insignificant market segment to Dell and Hewlett Packard  - and I will go ahead and say it these days for Apple too.

Apple maintains strong market dominance to creatives out of love and corporate culture to supply the tools for those with an imagination. (its dying trait in society)

This is part of the reason Avid is having problems today. Back in 2003, Avid purchased M-Audio for $80 Million, banking on the emerging "pro-sumer" Musician market for Protools
http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_avid_adds_maudio/index.html (http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_avid_adds_maudio/index.html)
 
The problem is, "prosumers" represent a VERY small population, and Avid's sales numbers did not pan out, thus Avid's recent restructuring and sale of M-Audio to NuMark
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/07/avid-sells-off-consumer-side-numark-avid-akai-m-audio-becomes-new-giant/ (http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/07/avid-sells-off-consumer-side-numark-avid-akai-m-audio-becomes-new-giant/)


While the iPad remains the top mobile platform for music makers, in today's world there are orders of magnitude more "non-musician" folks who only need a computer for Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and these are driving current hardware sales in 2013. And today you can do all that with your SmartPhone, Ipad, KindleHD, Nexus 7, ChromeBook,  or HDTV and a $129 BluRay Player and a USB Keyboard / Mouse at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-BD-E5900-Blu-ray-Player-Black/dp/B0076R7F1M (http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-BD-E5900-Blu-ray-Player-Black/dp/B0076R7F1M)
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-BDP-S5100-Blu-ray-Player-Wi-Fi/dp/B00AWKC0JM/ref=dp_ob_title_ce (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-BDP-S5100-Blu-ray-Player-Wi-Fi/dp/B00AWKC0JM/ref=dp_ob_title_ce)
or less
http://www.amazon.com/MK802-Android-Google-Player-Allwinner/dp/B008BFXOZE (http://www.amazon.com/MK802-Android-Google-Player-Allwinner/dp/B008BFXOZE)

Just as several here view the GR-55 as a "dumbed down / striped down" VG-99 - I figure in 5 years most of us here will reminisce about "the good old days of 2012 when we used to be able to AFFORD to build 16 core tower PCs with multi-terrabyte drive arrays and 32Gb RAM that drove LARGE 27" 2560x1600 IPS monitors.

The way the world is headed, by 2017 only Government and Hi Tech fields will be able to obtain and maintain this Class of machine. We will probably have to pay a "Carbon Credit tax with our utility bill and our monthly personal operating expenses for our home studios will go through the roof, forcing us into Lower energy consuming Tablet PC's / iPads for music making.

Reminds me of the principal reason why  by 1968, most Pro Recording Studios dumped their old Tube gear and went with the new Solid State Transistor gear that ran cooler. The climbing Electric Bill due to running the Air Conditioning in the Hot Studio filed with Vacuum Tubes were killing their profits.

   
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: rolandvg99 on April 12, 2013, 04:22:23 PM
I don't think PCs are doomed, but any financial believes in that PCs bring the big bucks are. Me, I'm a computer man, but I use my IPA for mail, surfing, paying bills and laying down ideas.

Btw. I just repaired my Creamware Pulsar II PC after 6 years of gathering dust. New mobo, i3 530 CPU and just 4 GB of RAM. Running XP and it just screams in Sonar 5. More power means more possibilities and way more bloat.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 06, 2013, 12:29:03 PM
http://www.gizmag.com/intel-thunderbolt-2/27801/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=bcf90e8191-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-bcf90e8191-89715209 (http://www.gizmag.com/intel-thunderbolt-2/27801/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=bcf90e8191-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-bcf90e8191-89715209)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.gizmag.com%2Fgallery_lrg%2Fthunderbolt-2.png&hash=6f9545602dcaffdccfd7cffef7553f30efbe7e7d)
Intel has released further details of the next generation of Thunderbolt, the high-speed hardware interface it originally developed with Apple. Thunderbolt 2 doubles data transfer rates to 20 Gb/s which, with the incorporation of DisplayPort 1.2, will allow the transmission of raw 4K video as well as data.

The current Thunderbolt standard has two separate 10 Gb/s copper channels: one for data and one for video. But 10 Gb/s is insufficient for streaming 4K video. For Thunderbolt 2, Intel has combined the two into a single two-way channel cable of devoting necessary bandwidth to video, and using the rest for data.

Intel says that, by daisy-chaining hardware, it will be possible for users to simultaneously view and back up 4K video files on an external storage device via a display. "Backing up terabytes of data will be a question of minutes, not hours," the company says. And it appears that Intel is already thinking about Thunderbolt 3. "
  • ur labs aren't stopping there, as demand for video and rich data transfer just continues to rise exponentially," says Intel's Thunderbolt Marketing Director, Jason Ziller.

    Thunderbolt 2 will be backwards-compatible, so Thunderbolt hardware will continue to work when connected to or through Thunderbolt 2 connectors and cables. Production is scheduled to begin before the year's end.

    Source: Intel[/i]
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 10, 2013, 01:56:46 PM
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2013/06/from-apple-no-lack-of-commitment-to-the-mac-pros-creation/ (http://createdigitalmusic.com/2013/06/from-apple-no-lack-of-commitment-to-the-mac-pros-creation/)

Jun 10 2013
From Apple, No Lack of Commitment to the Mac, Pros, Creation [WWDC]
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcreatedigitalmusic.com%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F06%2Fmacpropreview-640x503.jpg&hash=04e3660ee5922f3e6acf95a577ef9d684d0601ad)
by Peter Kirn
And you thought Apple was just going to turn everything into an iPad. Instead, they make something that looks like a home appliance designed by Master Control Program, covered in ports.

And you thought Apple was just going to turn everything into an iPad. Instead, they make something that looks like a home appliance designed by Master Control Program, covered in ports.

Here's a quick way to sum up the revelations in today's Apple event: "Oh, so that's what was keeping them."

It's certainly true when it comes to OS X and the long-awaited Mac Pro.

Critics of Apple and concerned loyal users have worried that the growing success of iOS and consumer platforms would erode support for the company's pro users. But evidence of a strategic shift has been largely absent. Sure, Apple has added cloud features, an App Store, and iOS apps to the desktop platform – significant changes. But those are all essentially no-brainer updates, and need not conflict with the needs of pro users or the creative community. The desktop is still a platform on which you can install software from any source you like – app store release or not. Desktop is still the place for high-performance I/O like Thunderbolt. Desktop OS X is still centered around mouse and keyboard. In fact, for all the worries about Apple blurring its tablet with its desktop, it's been Microsoft and the PC ecosystem that has done that more than Apple – for better and for worse.

It almost seems like Apple is unwilling to walk away from the lucrative ecosystem that allows it to sell high-end, high-profit hardware, huh? That should surprise no one. Apple themselves point out their computer sales have grown while the PC has sagged, and they earn #1 spots for desktops and laptops and in customer satisfaction. This formula is working for them as a business. The Apple you know – what you love, what you love – is the Apple on desktop you're going to continue to get.

If you like the Mac the way it is, Apple's WWDC keynote today ought to calm fears. Apple updated the MacBook Air, but focused on extended battery life rather than rethinking the UI or functionality. You can't fold a MacBook into a tablet; Apple will sell you an iPad for that. And there are major advantages to that strategy. It's hard to imagine Apple ever selling you a laptop that will make your arms numb or leave you frantically tapping through UIs designed for a mouse, fat fingers struggling to make a menu open.

In fact, for blurring lines, look instead fo Microsoft and OEMs. It's on Windows that you're seeing tablets and laptops blur, for better and for worse (see: fat finger problems). (We'll return soon to a review of what the PC world is offering after our visit to Acer and Computex last week in Taipei.)

So, yes, you can sync your Maps app with your iPhone. But otherwise, Apple touted greater performance, new technology for coaxing speed out of memory and disk access, and "high-end" usability features like better multiple display support. Apple even acknowledged that video editors and musicians demand high-end machines with a sneak preview of the Mac Pro. That upcoming cylindrical machine will focus on loads of I/O (four FireWire ports, multiple USB3, and an enhanced Thunderbolt 2), and the latest CPU and GPU tech from Intel and AMD, respectively. This is pro stuff, creator stuff. It's a Mac that's even more focused on the high-end user.

There are some question marks. Apple mentioned "energy-optimized audio buffering" in a slide, but it's not clear what that is or if it will have an impact on audio latency. And "inter-app audio" is back on an iOS slide, even more confusingly than last year. (In the past year, Apple unveiled nothing, and third parties created not one but two tools that do the job.) We'll find out about these and other changes when we can, and all bets are off until there's something real to test.

But the overall story is clear. The Mac in the age of the iPad is getting smarter, not more dumbed down.
Just Don't Ask About Logic

So, musicians need not worry about the health of the Mac. Of course, this brings us to a certain flagship music production tool called Logic, and there, I don't think you can be quite as confident.

WWDC is not the place you'd expect Logic news, but is a reminder of ... the absence of Logic news.

Apple is both a hardware and platform company and an app developer. Parsing the two can be tricky. Apple referred to musicians by name in the keynote as a target audience for Mac Pro – the hardware. But not one instant in today's keynote mentioned music production. Final Cut Pro X made an appearance, with expanded multiple monitor support and the guts to take advantage of the Mac Pro's new horsepower. All that absurd I/O bandwidth and more powerful GPUs seem to make sense for the video market. It's the music side that was absent. That may or may not be meaningful, but it means we still don't know what's going on.

Final Cut is safe; that's clear. GarageBand is unique and a showpiece both on iOS and OS X. But Logic is a complex, niche DAW with a presumably large codebase that extends back to Emagic days. It's hard to put yourself in Apple's shoes and know what you would do with it, let alone read Apple's mind.

And apologies to Logic and GarageBand fans, but Mac audio pros don't need Apple making apps for the Mac to remain a viable audio platform. (Ask, in alphabetical order, Ableton, Avid, MOTU, Native Instruments, Propellerhead, or Steinberg, for starters.) So, the motivation for Apple to be in the DAW business may be waning.

Logic's absence of updates – even recent maintenance updates – is also cause for concern. It seems to indicate either a lot of work on Logic, or none – making any sort of speculation maddeningly useless.

I think Logic as we now know it is almost certainly dead. What we don't know – and this is fundamental – is whether it's dead in advance of a genuinely new version, or truly being put out to pasture.

All Logic users can do is wait. The Mac Pro announcement today is a reminder that Apple sets its own pace. Logic fans can only hope that, like the stuff in today's keynote, there's something great that's taking some time.

But either way, fears of the iPad hurting the Mac as a music platform are clearly unfair. Apple isn't your only choice in music platforms. But it remains in an enviable position in desktop, tablet, and phone – and there's no reason to think that position is going to change any time soon.

Addendum: Apple, if the reason Logic Pro X is taking a long time is that it's because there's some ridiculous new version of Sculpture written entirely in OpenCL optimized for the new Mac Pro, oh, yes, all is forgiven. I shouldn't be writing that here, as it'll get Logic users' hopes up. Let's keep it between us.



COMMENTS:

Frankie wrote>
As a long time mac pro user i now know i can safely switch to iMac. IMac has no needed PCI slotts and multiple hd bays, but now mac pro has neither. Yes, please bring us more ports for usb, tb and fw external devices. That is what we all want. Loads of expensive boxes to fill the tables. Thank you apple for being forward thinker!

It is seriously amazing why would anyone even think of removing expandability from desktop machince that has no screen or is portability. We have, imac, macbook pro and mac mini for that.
RB wrote>
Ok... I see Audio I/O, (2) Ethertnet, (4) USB3, an HDMI, and (6) Thunderbolt ports. No dedicated FW800 ports. (I know you get FW over TB w/ an adaptor). Phil made an error in speaking during the Keynote, and it appears it was echoed in your article (unless of course I've overlooked something).


Sequadion wrote>
I was somewhat relieved by the Mac-related announcements, but secretly I hoped for an update for the non-Retina MacBook Pro line. Perhaps it's just the engineer in me, but I prefer my hardware to be user-upgradable; sadly it looks like Apple has a different direction in mind.


shelf-index wrote>
It's gonna be tragic if they revamp logic into something like final cut x, and losing the leadership
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: rolandvg99 on June 10, 2013, 02:10:08 PM
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-fEAsy5428DU%2FUVIWtb1kCjI%2FAAAAAAAAMYM%2FLVHezBmXjoU%2Fs1600%2FEdet%2BTorky%2BFlexible_2.jpg&hash=3570e4edc6bbe7240a2989c81663c7e1807e2b39)  ;D

Appart from that I like the new design.

Also: Be aware of housewifes trying to plant and water things in their households new "vase"...
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on June 10, 2013, 04:57:44 PM
The specs and performance are massive.  I suspect it will be more expensive than a Kemper by a good bit.  It actually looks alien.    I want to get my hands on it to try it out.  I bet I could out-do my previous "tracks per project" record by a good bit.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kevin M on June 10, 2013, 09:58:46 PM
I suspect that the Mac Pro will remain a very overpriced computer. In my opinion the 'entry level' model should be at about $1800 USD instead of its current price of $2500.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Toby Krebs on June 11, 2013, 05:59:12 AM
Just a general question. Those of you who do record with PCs' or Mac I would like to know how many of you purchased a separate computer  for recording purposes only. I am thinking about finishing some things and releasing an instrumental album but I don't want to tie up my personal PC for recording. I have heard that dedicating another computer to recording tasks is the way to go. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,

T.C.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 11, 2013, 06:49:19 AM
It's always best to have a dedicated computer to run your DAW, and be sure it never gets connected online to the Internet. Tends to be more reliable and less  prone to breaking after an automatic software update goes awry, and since it never gets connected to the net, you remove Antivirus apps and set up the system for pure speed.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on June 11, 2013, 07:16:00 AM
I record using my main mac machine.  I have other computers but they're not really fit for recording anymore.

That being said I just realized I probably won't be able to upgrade to OS X Mavericks: with the VG-99 "discontinued" they're likely not to produce a USB driver for it anymore.

So that means I'll either:
-Have to have an external boot drive with Mountain Lion on it just for doing VG-99 programming sessions.
-Pray Roland releases an update (doubtful since it's out of production).
-Or get a VG-99 replacement (gasp).
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: rolandvg99 on June 11, 2013, 07:38:56 AM
The VG-99 fortunately has both +4 db outs and SPDIF so I wouldn't be too concerned about lack of drivers as long as one has another soundcard.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on June 11, 2013, 08:00:37 AM
It's just that the guitar-to-midi performance is the best using the USB out.  Significantly better than with the MIDI ports.

I don't use guitar-to-midi a ton, just when doing soundtrack work.

I could always get a music specific computer.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kevin M on June 11, 2013, 08:40:15 AM
I use a dedicated computer - in my case a Lenovo Thinkpad. Outside of music software I have a very minimal bit of software on it - Cygwin and Firefox - and keep the network adapter disabled most of the time.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Toby Krebs on June 11, 2013, 09:51:19 AM
Thanks all of you. I think a mid- priced laptop and Propellerhead will be fine for what I need to do. Good enough for Todd Rundgren and more than good enough for me!
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 11, 2013, 10:56:05 AM
Both kmaus10 and I own a Lenovo W520, and in my case, Im very happy with the results so far - and its tough to locate a more powerful computer that has the same mix of important I/O ports, power and stability. I installed a Samsung 840 Pro 500GB SSD in mine and love it .

Details at the top of this thread.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kevin M on June 11, 2013, 01:35:03 PM
Quote from: Toby Krebs on June 11, 2013, 09:51:19 AM
Thanks all of you. I think a mid- priced laptop and Propellerhead will be fine for what I need to do. Good enough for Todd Rundgren and more than good enough for me!

If you wind up buying a new PC-based laptop, you might benefit from spending some time limiting or removing the annoying bloat-ware that typically is installed on them. That stuff is no better than malware in my opinion and can definitely affect system performance.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Toby Krebs on June 12, 2013, 05:34:14 AM
I will have my 15 year old son do that. He loves to kill computer bloat and taught me to run my personal laptop with no virus protection BS which is why it works so well. Love the younger generation for stuff like that!
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on July 24, 2013, 08:18:42 AM
Since I talk about iMac on this thread - thought I would post this info here:

http://www.yohng.com/software/imacsoundfix.html (http://www.yohng.com/software/imacsoundfix.html)

iMac Sound Quality Driver for Windows 7

iMac computers, when used with Windows operating system - have very bad quality of sound playback (tube-like resonance). This is because Mac OS X operating system contains adjustment filters to compensate for speaker response, while Windows does not.

This driver aims to provide these correction curves and improve sound quality on Windows.

If somebody from either Apple or Realtek would agree to embed this technology into Windows soundcard drivers, I would gladly supply the source code and assist in all ways with the driver integration free of charge. Since Realtek drivers already have some sort of sound panel with the equalizer, which utilizes very similar principles to this correction driver, this integration should be relatively a minor task and should be a minor extension to their LFX effect code.



Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on July 28, 2013, 07:26:23 PM
I ordered one of these last week.


Google's Chromecast A Brilliant Play For The Living Room -- Especially With $35 Price Tag
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2013/07/24/googles-chromecast-a-brilliant-play-for-the-living-room-especially-with-35-price-tag/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2013/07/24/googles-chromecast-a-brilliant-play-for-the-living-room-especially-with-35-price-tag/)


http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrymagid/2013/07/25/chromecast-could-be-the-beginning-of-googles-domination-of-tv-delivery/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrymagid/2013/07/25/chromecast-could-be-the-beginning-of-googles-domination-of-tv-delivery/)


(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fb-i.forbesimg.com%2Fjasonevangelho%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F07%2Fchromecast1.png&hash=bb54a95e6925555d74266c8b0fa3bdf055060b89)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottallison/2013/07/28/my-experience-with-google-chromecast/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottallison/2013/07/28/my-experience-with-google-chromecast/)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fb-i.forbesimg.com%2Fscottallison%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F07%2F9366309711_6a1522eb2f_m6.jpg&hash=2070b955297a7e62ab43de478b1161f5903aa2f6)

My Experience With Google Chromecast

A benefit of living a few miles from an Amazon distribution centre: my Google GOOG -0.26% Chromecast arrived on Friday night, just a day after the product was announced. (That in itself is amazing, keeping a new product launch so secret is something usually only Apple has been able to do.)

The Problem with computers and TVs:

For years I've messed around with connecting my laptop to the big screen in the living room, and yes, it works, but it's always been a lot more fiddly than I'd like. Whether it's the inconvenience of cables (which are never long enough), getting the screen resolution set right, making the audio come through TV's speakers instead of the computer's, or just lack of a remote control, it's a never-ending world of hassle connecting the computer to the television.

So, $35 to solve even some of this, is money well spent in my opinion.

Installation:

Installation was a breeze. Plug into the TV, connect the USB cord for power, either to the supplied power adaptor or a spare USB port on your TV. Then switch on the TV, and follow the on screen instructions from the Chromecast itself, which directs you to the setup website from your computer, phone or tablet. That did two things: installed the Chromecast application on my computer (to configure the device) and then installed the Chrome browser extension required for casting from the computer to TV. All of this was really easy and took just a few minutes.

In Use:

Now I can cast any tab from my computer's Chrome browser, whether on a PC or a Mac. And it works! The picture and sound quality is great so whether it's a regular web page, or an online video site, I can stream it to the TV. I can even run Spotify's web app and play music easily through the TV. I frequently sit on the couch using my laptop but wanting to use the home cinema speakers instead of the tinny (and tiny) speakers on the Macbook Air.

I've not tested the Chromecast with services like Netflix NFLX -0.14%, Amazon Instant Video and Hulu as my TV already has those apps built in; sorry, but it's still much more convenient to use a single device, or an optimised device like a Roku. But while Netflix, Amazon and Hulu are an awesome way to watch stuff on demand through my TV their coverage isn't complete. I've been missing an easily watch content from networks like CBS CBS +1.92% and PBS, both of whom restrict a lot of their content to their own websites or apps. So if I want to watch Craig Ferguson on the TV, the Chromecast gives me an easy way to do so. Same with Mr Selfridge, Endaevour, Downtown Abbey or other British shows on PBS. Result!

My TV also has a YouTube app but it's a bit more fiddly to search for content via the TV's remote control when you're only watching a 60 second video of lolcats. With the Chromecast I can now use YouTube from my computer, iPad or phone and press the button to play through the Chromecast on the TV. Very convenient.

Buying a Chromecast was an easy decision to make. For $35 I get a wireless dongle that plugs into a spare HDMI port on my TV, and allows me to simply "cast" video and audio to it. That has "impulse-buy" written all over it!

The Problem with computers and TVs:

Some other reviewers have noticed problems with delays or glitches with picture and audio reaching the Chromecast, but in my setup the computer, TV and router are all in the same room which I think overcomes the main culprit, a poor wifi signal.

Conclusion:

It's $35, and delivers HD video and audio to my TV, direct from my browser and some apps too. It doesn't do everything, but value for money wise, this is a bargain and I'm sure it's only going to get more useful as more apps start supporting it.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: tekrytor on August 15, 2013, 01:22:27 AM
And if you like that, check out the FREE CheapCast app at the Google Play store that does much the same thing to any android device. I can now stream from my phone to the big screen with a Rikomagic or to my 10 in tab, etc. Anywhere to anywhere, Android that is. Pretty cool!

Sent from my TAB-1030 using Tapatalk 2
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: musicman65 on August 15, 2013, 05:34:31 AM
"CheapCast"....lol. That's pretty cool. I'll check it out. Thanks.

bd
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on November 08, 2013, 11:56:42 AM
I suggest read this site for answers on Apple IOS / OSX 10.9 Mavericks

http://www.imore.com/ (http://www.imore.com/)

and I'm very happy using this alternative to MS Office / iWork on both Win /OSX
http://www.libreoffice.org/ (http://www.libreoffice.org/)

http://opensourcemac.org/ (http://opensourcemac.org/)


I took the plunge - 3 weeks ago i purchased a slightly used 2012 15" Macbook Pro Retina (8GB Ram, 256GB SSD) for $1400

Last week I purchased a 768GB SSD from Sputnik systems on ebay for $730, and did my own SSD swap today. Works great
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281175879186?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/281175879186?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2Ft%2FApple-Samsung-768GB-SSD-for-MacBook-Pro-15-and-13-Retina-Display-2012-Models-%2F00%2Fs%2FMTYwMFg4NTE%3D%2Fz%2FWhEAAMXQsoNRhI1H%2F%24%28KGrHqZ%2C%21l%21FFy%2CVkCGEBRhI1H%28r3w%7E%7E60_57.JPG&hash=539c251d844a0775f873309e445b9960339c0599)


I also got a  Macbook pro 2012 Mid retina SSD to sata3 Enclosure Case for $23 -
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2Ft%2FMacbook-pro-2012-Mid-retina-SSD-to-sata3-Enclosure-Case-%2F00%2Fs%2FMTA1OFgxMjAw%2F%24T2eC16FHJH8E9qSEUdQcBQk2VZt3WQ%7E%7E60_57.JPG&hash=02bd831b8e03c3620dd323a8463963a71a676c56)

and installed the old SSD in a Seagate GoFlex Thunderbolt Sled $87
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=925738&is=REG&Q=&A=details (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=925738&is=REG&Q=&A=details)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.bhphoto.com%2Fimages%2Fimages500x500%2F925738.jpg&hash=683b03e7cbda169654f9adcb3f6b2f18d6f66b9c)
So now i use the original Apple drive as  an external 256GB Thunderbolt drive

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on March 22, 2014, 09:46:51 PM
I'm updating my 2011 Mac Mini Server This model has a Quad core I7, and Dual 500GB Mechanical HDDs.

I will update the Boot drive to a 1TB SSD  - Most Mac Mini SSD Upgrade kits include a Drive cable and mounting hardware, - but my 2011 Server came from the factory with dual drives already - so I will swap the boot drive, and use the factory cables and mounting hardware   
Tools needed
http://www.amazon.com/iFixit-54-Bit-Driver-Kit/dp/B008KOTNVA/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3JGOE00MHF9QZ (http://www.amazon.com/iFixit-54-Bit-Driver-Kit/dp/B008KOTNVA/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3JGOE00MHF9QZ)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F81XdBNHrofL._SL1500_.jpg&hash=b6717870f611c441eb4a44e04831e8bef2ca2ea0)

This is the drive
SAMSUNG 840 EVO 1TB 2.5" SATA III TLC Solid State Drive (MZ-7TE1T0BW)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261426110310?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/261426110310?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649)

And here are "How To" videos I found on YouTube :

http://youtu.be/eCb7J7hCctM (http://youtu.be/eCb7J7hCctM)

http://youtu.be/6EuLjQiNT4g (http://youtu.be/6EuLjQiNT4g)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on July 09, 2014, 04:36:38 PM
Originally posted by elantric View Post
http://www.harmonycentral.com/forum/forum/Forums_General/acapella-50/31197851-anyone-here-using-the-new-r2d2-mac-pro-or-mac-mini/page2 (http://www.harmonycentral.com/forum/forum/Forums_General/acapella-50/31197851-anyone-here-using-the-new-r2d2-mac-pro-or-mac-mini/page2)


I suggest head to the Apple online store and look at "refurb"

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac (http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac)

I have Mac Mini Server - I highly recommend

Still has Firewire 800 and Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 - a good mix for supporting legacy gear
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FD...th-oS-X-Server (http://store.apple.com/us/product/FD...th-oS-X-Server)


Get third party 16GB DDR3 RAM upgrade ($140 Amazon)
http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-12...dr3+sdram+16gb (http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-12...dr3+sdram+16gb)

the Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire Adapter works great - allows me to use my old MOTU 828MK2 Firewire with my MacbookPro (Retina)

But not needed since this MacMini has Firwire800 and (Firewire 800>400 adapters are cheap.


Last edited by gdoubleyou; 07-07-2014, 07:41 PM

Currently the quad i7 Mini is the best bang for the buck, from Apple.

Kits are available for adding a second drive.

It's the last Mac that is user upgradeable.
Still contains FW800, Ethernet, room for a second hard drive.

Some who have large orchestral templates are using multiple minis and VEP5 for hosting plugins.

Two maxed out Minis cost less than a quad i7 iMac, and a system with eight cores for a higher plugin count.
.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on July 09, 2014, 09:13:18 PM
Thanks for the info on that toolset - very nice.  I should mention one of the reasons I was scarce around here recently was my i7 16 gig iMac was down in the repair shop..  They basically replaced the power supply for about $100 and I was back online.  So my machine is good for at least a few more years and I'll likely look at replacing the internal boot drive with a SSD at some point. 
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on August 04, 2014, 02:23:44 PM
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2014/08/apple-macbook-refresh-makes-13-retina-great-sweet-spot-music/#more-34299 (http://createdigitalmusic.com/2014/08/apple-macbook-refresh-makes-13-retina-great-sweet-spot-music/#more-34299)

Apple MacBook Refresh Makes 13? Retina a Great Sweet Spot for Music
BY PETER KIRN
macbooks
The laptop is such an obvious part of music making today, it's almost easy to understate its importance. But here's the bottom line: for many musicians, it's the most important gadget they'll haul around with them. The glowing Apple logo may be the butt of some jokes, but it's there for a reason. It's tough to beat the versatility of a laptop for music making – and it's tough to beat Apple on value.
No, I really said that. On paper, Apple's machines are pricey. But while OS X, like any OS, is a complex beast and far from perfect, it's still in my experience the easiest to maintain for music making. (And I've spent a lot of time with Linux and Windows, too, and I know many developers working cross-platform who tend to agree.) And so you buy this hardware to run that OS. Now, that said, Apple's value equation isn't so hot when it comes to desktops. The Mac Pro bests machines configured similarly, but Apple doesn't have desktop offerings across the whole range of what you can build in a full-sized enclosure on the PC. (Let's leave iMacs out of it for the moment.) I think there's a reason some have turned to "Hackintosh" solutions when it comes to desktop builds.
But when it comes to the slim, battery-conscious confines of the laptop, it's another story. What Apple gives you for that premium price is excellent support for high-speed devices (FireWire and Thunderbolt), a ridiculously fast SSD, great-feeling, thin hardware, long battery life, and a ridiculously nice display.
I'll admit, when it came time to replace a MacBook Pro, I gulped a bit at pricing – especially here in Europe, where we pay both an import premium and added tax. MacBooks' internal storage is especially pricey; sure, you can use external drives, but you don't want to run out of internal space.
After a few weeks with a 13? Retina MacBook Pro, I've changed my mind. The SSDs from Apple are so expensive partly because they're high-end spec drives. Macworld's benchmarks have consistently shown that (and likewise showed when Apple skimped on the MacBook Air); you can even read those benchmarks alongside PC World benchmarks and determine that, Mac or PC, you want a fast drive. Fortunately, this isn't just a benchmark thing – the difference in real-world usage is astounding. Apps are responsive. Sample-heavy music apps (including clips, as in Ableton Live) purr. Multitrack audio is never an issue. The machine boots faster, loads software faster.
Recent CPU changes make a huge difference, too. Forget what people have told you about the end of the CPU: just a difference of a couple of years in Apple models has an enormous impact on CPU load using modern synths and other processor-intensive music tools.
Performance makes a difference in creativity. It means not having to worry about running out of horsepower, not losing the flow as you wait for your machine to start up or your music tool to load or a plug-in to start responding.
And then there's the display. It's been over a decade since I used a 13? display in day-to-day work, and the Retina Display on the 13? MacBook Pro makes it all possible. Unfortunately, most music apps haven't caught up yet: Ableton Live and most of my plug-ins actually look blurry, and it took some time before I could actually feel comfortable using them. But they'll get there soon, partly because all these new Retina machines (and similar PCs) are making their way onto the desks of developers, who are just as appalled at what they see as you are.
Battery life and mobility matters, too. Carrying a MacBook Pro around is now as easy as bringing an iPad – you get the same forget-about-it battery life and thinness and lightness that's reminiscent of a tablet. (The MacBook Air would be even better, but it's not as good a buy, because of an inferior display, one fewer USB port, and a slower CPU, at roughly the same price. Just get the Pro; you won't regret it.)
I'm not going to say here get a Mac and not a PC, only that if you have been on OS X, there's reason to feel comfortable about the price. A MacBook Pro is still a great machine to run Windows (though spend extra to make space on your internal drive to dual boot). The PC laptops wading into the same territory tend to cost the same or, most often, slightly more, if you want extended battery performance and a great display. One exception is if you want a powerful GPU; there, Apple's premium is fairly painful, and there are fewer options. But that's a niche application even for people doing live visuals; you have to have really intensive 3D needs (or an addiction to gaming, which doesn't matter much at CDM) to want that GPU.
Why does this week's "speed bump" refresh matter? Well, I was already set to recommend the 13? Retina Pro machine as the best bang for your buck. But I was going to have to point out that you absolutely wanted 8GB RAM and not 4GB, and the bigger SSD. Now, Apple's made that job a little easier. New this week:
1. If you're on a budget, and mostly use your laptop with an external display attached, the non-Retina 13-inch MacBook Pro is just US$1099. It still has 4GB of RAM (ugh), but you could spend all the money on the upgrade.
2. The Retina 13? machines all have marginally faster processors and come standard with 8GB of RAM. You should still have a look at refurbished computers or open box units of the most recent generation – that's how I managed to afford my machine. But otherwise, US$1499 gets you the 256GB internal drive I'd consider a minimum, and represents the best price.
3. If you do have a little extra to spend, you can now get a quad-core i7 and up to 16GB of RAM in the 15? models.
In my studio, I've opted for the 13?. Even without 16GB of RAM or an i7, it's plenty fast – I've been editing HD videos in Final Cut on it with no issue, and it's tough to max out the processor with music apps. But at least the 15? does also give you some power for your added cash investment. And with both, refurbished models can get you a bargain.
Also, Thunderbolt is a revelation. Well, it's first a painful revelation when you realize how much cables will cost you. (Fortunately, your existing video adapters from the previous generations of Mac will plug right into the same port; the connector is the same.)
But then, you use something like Universal Audio's Apollo Twin, and you have a compact, rock-solid audio box that can add DSP with zero latency and stream audio from the computer with low latency. Or you try out one of the excellent new video capture tools for this bus. (This is really a topic for another article, so I don't mean to gloss over the potential of USB and FireWire for similar applications. But in the meantime, there are certainly plenty of uses for this connection. And I will say this: even if Thunderbolt performs exactly the same as USB does, you don't have a dedicated USB bus for each USB device. Just being able to move to that separate bus is already an advantage.)
Yes, you'll need to buy a USB hub. But all in all, these are great machines.
On the PC side, honestly, I'm less sure of what to recommend than I was fairly recently – I haven't been as impressed with Lenovo as I once was, for instance. I'd be curious to know what you're using. But even for Windows, if we're talking a laptop (key word, not desktop), I think the Mac is an easy box to recommend, and you have the option of running another OS if you need.
Now, there's just one problem: we need a better way of masking out that Apple logo so it doesn't distract when we play. Until then, I'm sticking with the 13? MBP and a roll of gaffer tape. Done.
I realize I've opened a potential platform war on a weekend, but I am curious what people think. I'll stay out of it; I'm reasonably confident in my experience with different platforms. Do have at it.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on January 09, 2015, 12:58:35 PM
For expanding my latest Macs - I'm awaiting the release of this Caldigit Thunderbolt Station 2

Specifically for its eSATA ports

http://www.caldigit.com/thunderboltstation2/ (http://www.caldigit.com/thunderboltstation2/)

2 x Thunderbolt™ 2 Ports
1 x HDMI Out ( 4K Compatible)
1 x Gigabit Ethernet
3 x USB 3.0 (1x Front, 2x Rear)
2 x eSATA 6G Ports
1 x Headphone Out
1 x Microphone In
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.caldigit.com%2Fimages%2FCalDigit-store-Hero-TS2.jpg&hash=7c56b1bf196d3635a9678e08cfb5d2aac62d3503)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.caldigit.com%2Fthunderboltstation2%2Fimages%2Foverview.jpg&hash=cb7bcb0dd0c260583c35dfe4162ea37072a72f1a)

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on January 09, 2015, 06:24:57 PM
That TS2 looks awesome.  I definitely need a TB compatible Mac first though!
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on January 16, 2015, 02:16:37 PM
I posted this before

But I see the 768GB SSD upgrade price has dropped to $450 - this is for 2012 Macbook Pro Retina http://www.ebay.com/itm/281563602737 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/281563602737)

1TB SSD is now $565
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OWC-OWCSSDA12R960-1TB-Aura-6G-SSD-for-2012-Early-2013-MacBook-Pro-with-Retina/161509861455?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27673%26meid%3Da557150ff6364e6ab782eb7c3ee80cc6%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D281563602737&rt=nc (http://www.ebay.com/itm/OWC-OWCSSDA12R960-1TB-Aura-6G-SSD-for-2012-Early-2013-MacBook-Pro-with-Retina/161509861455?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27673%26meid%3Da557150ff6364e6ab782eb7c3ee80cc6%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D281563602737&rt=nc)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F152015%2F1421446930_1060909223_OWC_1TB_SSD.PNG&hash=e5fc44f9162b11205f06075cc7fa745db2dc4a0d)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2F00%2Fs%2FMTYwMFg4MzQ%3D%2Fz%2Fc40AAOSwQiRUnJm7%2F%24_57.JPG&hash=4137b45fe3e01f8b4b92a16d192c28b1130751a6)
---------------
I took the plunge - 3 weeks ago i purchased a slightly used 2012 15" Macbook Pro Retina (8GB Ram, 256GB SSD)

Last week I purchased a 768GB SSD from Sputnik systems on ebay for $730, and did my own SSD swap today. Works great
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281563602737 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/281563602737)

I also got a  Macbook pro 2012 Mid retina SSD to sata3 Enclosure Case for $23 -
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2Ft%2FMacbook-pro-2012-Mid-retina-SSD-to-sata3-Enclosure-Case-%2F00%2Fs%2FMTA1OFgxMjAw%2F%24T2eC16FHJH8E9qSEUdQcBQk2VZt3WQ%7E%7E60_57.JPG&hash=02bd831b8e03c3620dd323a8463963a71a676c56)

and installed the old SSD in a Seagate GoFlex Thunderbolt Sled $87
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=925738&is=REG&Q=&A=details (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=925738&is=REG&Q=&A=details)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.bhphoto.com%2Fimages%2Fimages500x500%2F925738.jpg&hash=683b03e7cbda169654f9adcb3f6b2f18d6f66b9c)
So now i use the original Apple drive as  an external 256GB Thunderbolt drive
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on January 16, 2015, 03:47:05 PM
The new USB Type-C connector standard promises to revolutionize many types of equipment, and industry leaders are releasing the first products that utilize this technology in mid-2015. This new standard enables:

Up to 100W of power for faster charging and support of new devices
Small reversible connector that improves ease of use
Blazing fast 10Gbits+ of bandwidth and the flexibility of video alternate modes
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on March 03, 2015, 12:22:58 PM
I'm exploring Touch Screens for live use at gigs

I will test several options

* Run Audio apps on a recent MS Windows Touch OS

* Run Audio Apps on Mac OSX, but remote controlled by a Windows Touch interface, using a Remote desktop, VNC connection


Win 10 is way too premature for real Audio work - since zero Win 10 WHQL USB drivers exist for the gear i intend to use
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff553976%28v=vs.85%29.aspx (https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff553976%28v=vs.85%29.aspx)

QuoteThe GeChic On-Lap 1502i is the Touchscreen monitor I selected. It's a full 1980 x 1080 IPS projected capacitive touch screen unit, usb powered, vesa mountable, and weighing just 3 lbs. It wasn't exactly cheap at $399
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GeChic-ON-LAP-1502i-15-6-IPS-LCD-16-9-1920-x-1080-Touch-Screen-Monitor-/271649024624?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item3f3f8b2a70 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/GeChic-ON-LAP-1502i-15-6-IPS-LCD-16-9-1920-x-1080-Touch-Screen-Monitor-/271649024624?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item3f3f8b2a70)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2F00%2Fs%2FMzc1WDUwMA%3D%3D%2Fz%2FPuUAAOxy4t1Sn5ae%2F%24_12.JPG&hash=a7ae30b60fb1e36eb291dddf638cc92507f4f501)


I located a used Acer R7 ( i5 CPU for $420 on Ebay
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcreatedigitalmusic.com%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F06%2Facer_r7_ezel-640x480.jpg&hash=a6c9751be928d5bfd8ea272331549a1ef1be09dd)
I'm upgrading the Acer R7 with:
* $49 8GB SODRAM stick for 12 GB Ram total
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006YG8X9Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006YG8X9Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

* $25  INTEL-7260-AC-DUAL-BAND-WIRELESS-AC-MINI-CARD-7260HMW-AC-WIFI-BT-4-0-COMBO - solves the poor WiFi connection, allows Intel  and improves BlueTooth 4.0 LE Performance
http://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/product-briefs/wireless-n-7260-bluetooth-brief.pdf (http://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/product-briefs/wireless-n-7260-bluetooth-brief.pdf)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F51Cak6O52iL._SY300_.jpg&hash=6fa3860cfc4d969e3225853f74b37ef8a9f5cdda)

Plan on installing above upgrades, upgrade the OS to Win8.1, install SensoMusic Hollyhock and ASIO USB drivers for my audio interfaces - plan on my own "Windows Audio Interface latency Shootout" as I test my MOTU 828MKII, Focusrite 2i4, 18i20, Boss GT-100, GP-10

Then upgrade the boot drive to * Samsung 840 SSD



At work we use Dell Inspiron One 2330 23" Touchscreen All -in-One "PC
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Inspiron-One-2330-AiO-Core-i5-2-7GHz-8GB-1TB-23-Touch-IO2330-5911BK-/111454948891?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f33b8e1b (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Inspiron-One-2330-AiO-Core-i5-2-7GHz-8GB-1TB-23-Touch-IO2330-5911BK-/111454948891?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f33b8e1b)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2F00%2Fs%2FNTI2WDY0MA%3D%3D%2Fz%2FOHQAAOxyOMdS6AfC%2F%24_12.JPG&hash=5ac7245d7342dddb2e437acd8a1733c236383529)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Chumly on March 04, 2015, 11:08:29 AM
Very interesting, I use an HP Envy Touchsmart, Model: M7-J178CA for my home studio. I've installed two internal 1 TB SSD's in addition to the existing internal 1 TB HD. I added two external monitors, one of them is a touch-screen monitor (in addition to the existing HP Envy Touchsmart monitor of course) and one is a conventional monitor.  All is well.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on April 01, 2015, 12:35:38 PM
For Thunderbolt Mac users

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB2DOCK12P/ (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB2DOCK12P/)
OWC Thunderbolt 2 Dock $249
Thunderbolt 2  | USB 3.0 | FireWire 800 | HDMI | Gigabit Ethernet | Audio In & Out
Unite Your Peripherals. Plug in to Your Possibilities.
12 Ports of incredible connectivity
Dual Thunderbolt 2 ports for daisy-chain support
Ultra-HD 4K and multiple display support
Five USB 3.0 ports, including two high-powered charging ports
FireWire 800 for connecting external storage and legacy devices

(https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/XYwrf8A0s9-xS4XYGh24IQR7k7xxAddmldjZ_oO0fDnbXR6XwNzFqLdnVo-x2I6m-V4QjeqpFBvyu2XMl13I5hfkIQ9fZ3p87z_qqpolDCHAMeSf2A=s0-d-e1-ft#https://newslettersi.creativecow.com/sponsors/images/370/1.jpeg)

(https://img2.macsales.com/Customized_Pages/thunderbolt2_dock/imgs/ports.jpg)

OWC Thunderbolt 2 Dock
Thunderbolt 2  | USB 3.0 | FireWire 800 | HDMI 
Gigabit Ethernet | Audio In & Out
12 Ports of incredible connectivity
Dual Thunderbolt 2 ports for daisy-chain support
Ultra-HD 4K and multiple display support
Five USB 3.0 ports, including two high-powered charging ports
FireWire 800 for connecting external storage and legacy devices
Finally, a Thunderbolt Dock Done Right
12 Ports of phenomenal flexibility, all united to your Mac with just one lightning-fast Thunderbolt 2 cable. OWC Thunderbolt 2 Dock is the new foundation for your perfect workspace. Awesome performance meets incredible connectivity, the OWC Thunderbolt 2 Dock offers the ultimate in convenience and flexibility to streamline any workflow. With just one Thunderbolt cable, connect up to five USB 3.0 devices, Gigabit Ethernet, a FireWire device, HDMI, audio in, and audio out.
The Amazing Performance of Thunderbolt 2
Capable of an astounding 20 Gbps of throughput, the OWC Thunderbolt 2 Dock utilizes this phenomenal bandwidth to eliminate data bottlenecks, and effortlessly supports direct connection of up to ten devices, as well as daisy-chaining five additional Thunderbolt devices.
Thunderbolt 2 Dock
Gallery Pic 1Gallery Pic 2Gallery Pic 3Gallery Pic 4
Connect More Displays
Configure the ultimate display setup to meet the needs of your workflow. Add a dazzling ultra HD 4K display, two high definition displays, or one 4K display and one high definition display. Even connect a VGA, DVI, or DisplayPort monitor utilizing the Thunderbolt 2 Dock's built-in HDMI and Thunderbolt ports.*
More Power to Work
The Thunderbolt 2 Dock's side-mounted, high-powered USB 3.0 ports provide up to 1.5 amps of power and are perfect for charging iPhone, iPad, tablets, smartphones, and other USB-charged devices, as well as powering bus-powered hard drives, SSDs, or optical drives.
Everything You Need in a Dock. And More.
The OWC Thunderbolt 2 Dock is the unmatched expansion platform for your Thunderbolt-equipped Mac, with exceptional connectivity, and dependable performance. Whether adding USB 3.0 to an older Mac, Gigabit Ethernet to a newer MacBook Pro, or ensuring backwards compatibility with your existing FireWire 800 peripherals, the Thunderbolt 2 Dock keeps you connected.

*Dual monitor support requires the use of at least one Thunderbolt display. DVI, VGA, DisplayPort, or other connection requires the use of a mini DisplayPort adapter.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on April 01, 2015, 12:41:15 PM
eSATA to USB 3.0 Adapter $19


http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/ADESATA6USB3/ (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/ADESATA6USB3/)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg2.owcnow.com%2Fimgs%2Fndesc%2Fnwt_esatatousb3%2Fesatatousb3_hero3.jpg&hash=52ad282f9f62353139cad4b0878cef2ec4615b13)
Already have an external drive with an eSATA port? Take advantage of high-bandwidth USB 3.0 performance and experience data rates up to 5Gb/s from your external drive with the NewerTech eSATA to USB 3.0 Adapter. It's Plug and Play easy to add...simply connect your eSATA drive enclosure to the adapter and then plug the adapter into your computer's USB 3.0 port. No drivers, no hassle, just maximum performance and ultimate use of your existing eSATA equipped external storage units.

Easy Three Step Set-Up
Power on your eSATA equipped external drive.
Connect the NewerTech Adapter to the external drive via a standard eSATA cable.
Connect the NewerTech Adapter to the USB 3.0 port on your computer via included USB 3.0 cable. USB 2.0 also supported.
Once you're set up, use your drive like any other external storage device but now with the speed advantage of USB 3!
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on April 20, 2015, 10:09:16 AM
Just took delivery of one of these to allow my 2011 iMac 27" and 2011 Macmini Server (via Thunderbolt) to access all my USB 3.0 drives and E-SATA drives ( with a cheap adapter cable)

And it has the best mix of features for my needs  - just needs OSX 10.9.4


http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB2DOCK12P/ (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB2DOCK12P/)
OWC Thunderbolt 2 Dock $249
(https://img2.macsales.com/Customized_Pages/thunderbolt2_dock/imgs/ports.jpg)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on May 06, 2015, 12:09:48 PM
I get PMed frequently on what is the best Windows laptop for music?

(Myself - I'm currently getting very good results from my Acer R7 15" Touchscreen (intel i5, 12GB RAM) Win8.1 laptop)  - runs rings around my Lenovo W520
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcreatedigitalmusic.com%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F06%2Facer_r7_ezel-640x480.jpg&hash=a6c9751be928d5bfd8ea272331549a1ef1be09dd)
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=8917.msg64020#msg64020 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=8917.msg64020#msg64020)

Its a bit like recommending what type fish to buy this Friday? ( its  a moving target) 

I typically Do a google search  on:
"RECOMMENDED WINDOWS COMPUTER FOR DAW" (DAW = Digital Audio Workstation)

- but then restrict the search results to the past year

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F1252015%2F1430939484_2133839530_DAW1.PNG&hash=bc11d6512f96f4b9ac8d8482915e4e04ab25378f)

http://techtipsinfo.com/top-spec-daw-workstation-pc-build-for-recording-musicians/ (http://techtipsinfo.com/top-spec-daw-workstation-pc-build-for-recording-musicians/)

http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-computer-platform-to-run-audio-and-midi-DAW-programs-like-Pro-Tools-and-Digital-Performer-Mac-or-PC (http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-computer-platform-to-run-audio-and-midi-DAW-programs-like-Pro-Tools-and-Digital-Performer-Mac-or-PC)

http://thehub.musiciansfriend.com/tech-tips/tech-tip-optimizing-windows-for-daws (http://thehub.musiciansfriend.com/tech-tips/tech-tip-optimizing-windows-for-daws)

http://mscgr.com/best-windows-recording-laptop-211414220 (http://mscgr.com/best-windows-recording-laptop-211414220)


===
http://mscgr.com/best-windows-recording-laptop-211414220 (http://mscgr.com/best-windows-recording-laptop-211414220)

The Best Windows Recording Laptop
ASUS Zenbook UX303LA-DB51T
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmscgr.com%2Fwordpress%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F08%2Fasus-zenbook-best-home-recording-laptop.jpg&hash=c4cf53007c05957d3935e6935f80263a88f4031e)
DON MAKOVINEY  LAST UPDATED: APRIL 14, 2015
After 20-plus hours of research, user feedback, and hands-on testing we were blown away by the ASUS Zenbook. While it may not have the simple elegance of the MacBook Pro, the Zenbook takes many design cues from it, and is a workhorse that will be hard to beat for the price.

The Best Windows Recording Laptop
ASUS Zenbook UX303LA-DB51T

The Best Windows Recording Laptop
Important Specs

Display   13.3" FHD touchscreen (1920 x 1080)
SSD Drive   128GB Solid State Storage
RAM   8 GB DDR3L SDRAM
USB Ports   3 (QTY)
Processor   1.7 GHz Intel Core i5
View Activity Log    more specs
Synopsis:

After 20-plus hours of research, user feedback, and hands-on testing we were blown away by the ASUS Zenbook. While it may not have the simple elegance of the MacBook Pro, the Zenbook takes many design cues from it, and is a workhorse that will be hard to beat for the price.

Where To Buy:

Buy from Amazon $849.99
Who Should Buy This?
Musicians, songwriters, and producers shopping for a dedicated laptop to record that won't stutter, pause or crash from a large audio workload should use this. If that is you, the ASUS Zenbook is the one to get.

What Makes A Good Recording Laptop?
A good laptop for recording will be powerful enough to run just any Digital Audio Workstation. The two biggest things you should keep in mind are RAM and hard drive disk speed. Processor speed is also important, but even most budget laptops have plenty of processing power these days. The audio card doesn't really matter, as you will be using the sound drivers that come with your audio interface.

Choosing Which Laptops To Test
As you can imagine, the list of contenders for best windows-based recording laptop could end up being pretty long. So we narrowed down the field using the following criteria:

15? or larger display.
Anything smaller can make it difficult to view your project. Even 15? is pushing it, but we want to be mobile and lightweight, so we'll allow 15? contenders.
More than 4GB RAM
4GB will work just fine, and is the minimum requirement for most DAWs currently. If you are plugin, VST, and/or synth-heavy you should consider more. To give musicians more headroom, we are only evaluating laptops with 6-8GB RAM out of the box. If you are looking for the bare minimum, buy something from the Best Budget Windows Recording Laptop options.
Solid State Drive.
Most DAWs will handle recording flawlessly at a lower speed, like 5400/7200 RPM, but getting SSD will ensure your laptop will grow with your studio. My current recording laptop is a 5400 RPM drive, and handles multiple audio inputs, monitoring and all the FX plugins I need without batting an eye. If you need to go faster, SSD is an option, but you should read this first.
The processor should not conflict with any of the major DAWs.
Sometimes a computers processor (i.e. Intel, AMD, etc.) has issues with certain DAWs. This is becoming less of a problem in recent years, but something we have taken into consideration for our recommendations to save you headaches.
It needs to be generally available with plenty of inventory.
What would be the point of recommending a laptop you should get for audio production if you can't get one?
How Did We Choose?
One of the first places we stopped was DAW companies. We wanted to make sure the models we review have some manufacturer support.

Avid, the maker of Pro Tools has a list of recommended laptops from early 2014, which are compatible with the new Pro Tools 10.
http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_US/compatibility/en422315 (http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_US/compatibility/en422315)
Problem is, they're almost all generally unavailable. The specs, however, are a good place to start, as Pro Tools – especially version 10 – is one of the most resource intensive DAWs on the market.

Next, I hit the online forums for recommendations and tales of real world experience. There are numerous music gear forums and groups online, and even more dedicated solely to professional and home recording. Navigating these forums can be tricky. While there are plenty of recommendations, there is a often plenty of contradictory information and anecdotal evidence. This can make getting definitive answers a bit challenging.

After that, I gathered various reviews from CNET, Engadget, Gizmodo, and most importantly, some of the premiere recording forums like HomeRecording.com and Recording Review. Then I looked at the major DAW manufacturers to see if there were any known incompatibilities with our finalists. Finally I looked at general availability, and found plenty in stock at Amazon and the manufacturer.

Contenders
Readers recommended the ASUS X750JB-DB71. We were initially impressed, but noticed quickly there were many concerns about the display, battery life, and we were unable to find a SSD option. In fact, we couldn't even find a generally available version with a 7200RPM HDD.

The Lenovo Thinkpad W540 was another finalist – but the really bad touchpad and a few other hiccups. Complaints about build quality. We would like to recommend this laptop but we can't.

We really liked the Toshiba Tecra Z50-A1503, but it's not available anymore.

After all that research, easily the laptop I would get for home recording is the ASUS Zenbook UX303LA.

The Zenbook also sports a large number of USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, has a SSD drive that will appeal to high performance recording.

If you need more USB ports, check out our picks for best USB hub for audio production,

http://mscgr.com/best-powered-usb-hub-16100128 (http://mscgr.com/best-powered-usb-hub-16100128)

our favorite $100 studio headphones, and digital audio workstations.

http://mscgr.com/best-usb-digital-audio-interface-28154722 (http://mscgr.com/best-usb-digital-audio-interface-28154722)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 25, 2015, 11:38:27 AM
If you need a decent touch screen Windows computer for Audio Editor / DAW for $350
http://discounts.aarp.org/bestbuy/item/id/2121011/tab/reviews (http://discounts.aarp.org/bestbuy/item/id/2121011/tab/reviews)

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/desktops/lenovo/b-series/b50-30/ (http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/desktops/lenovo/b-series/b50-30/)
Drivers
http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/products/desktops-and-all-in-ones/lenovo-b-series-all-in-ones/lenovo-b50-30-touch-all-in-one (http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/products/desktops-and-all-in-ones/lenovo-b-series-all-in-ones/lenovo-b50-30-touch-all-in-one)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.bbystatic.com%2FBestBuy_US%2Fimages%2Fproducts%2F2121%2F2121011_ra.jpg&hash=95ac36f0a2b4c21afa3cb31b163a645d512e360f)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.bbystatic.com%2FBestBuy_US%2Fimages%2Fproducts%2F2121%2F2121011_ba.jpg&hash=ed03d45ae37a4fcaa33afee2adaed4004076f072)

has HDMI In and HDMI Out! (Works as a 10 point multi touch HDMI Monitor too)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww6.pcmag.com%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2F383841-lenovo-b50-rear-ports.jpg%3Fwidth%3D630&hash=83e8cdfef4623b301b221b4b6070b9c2d27c247d)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww4.pcmag.com%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2F383839-lenovo-b50-left-side-ports.jpg%3Fwidth%3D630&hash=b7a0958fa387908319451489499be594061e9cd1)

CowBoom has the pre-owned Lenovo B50 (F0AU008FUS) 4th Generation Core i5 Quad-Core Full HD 23.8" Touchscreen All-in-One Desktop (Black) for $475 - $125 off with code Lenovo10115 [Exp 10/1] = $350 with free shipping.

Intel Core i5-4460S 2.9GHz Quad, 8GB DDR3L, 1TB 8GB SSHD
23.8" touch (1920x1080), 2GB NVIDIA GeForce 840A, 802.11ac


http://www.cowboom.com/product/1620233?utm_campaign=LS&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_source=isIkAyUyNbM&siteID=isIkAyUyNbM-Dwt9lkI9tJ5xVoSi4M.uMw (http://www.cowboom.com/product/1620233?utm_campaign=LS&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_source=isIkAyUyNbM&siteID=isIkAyUyNbM-Dwt9lkI9tJ5xVoSi4M.uMw)
QuoteLenovo B50 F0AU008FUS 23.8" Touch-Screen All-In-One Desktop i5 2.9GHz 8GB 1TB   8GB SSDDVDRW WiFi - Black



Experience games, movies and streaming media in 1920 x 1080 resolution with this Lenovo B50 - F0AU008FUS all-in-one computer, which features a 23.8" high-definition touch screen for sharp images. Built-in Wi-Fi lets you access online content.

Product Features
4th Gen Intel Core i5-4460S processor
Features an 8MB cache and 2.9GHz processor speed with Turbo Boost up to 3.4GHz.
Intel Core i5 processor
Features smart 4-way processing performance with a speed boost.
Intel Turbo Boost Technology
Delivers extra performance when you need it and increased energy efficiency when you don't.
23.8" LED-backlit high-definition 10-point multitouch display
With IPS technology, 250 cd/m brightness and 1920 x 1080 resolution showcases media in brilliant clarity and makes navigation simple.
All-in-one design
Features 2 JBL stereo speakers and Dolby Home Theater v4 for crisp, detailed sound.
8GB DDR3L memory
For multitasking power, expandable to 16GB.
Multiformat DVDRW/CD-RW drive
Create custom DVDs and CDs.
1TB hybrid hard drive (7200 rpm)
Incorporates an 8GB solid state drive as a cache to offer fast start-up times plus plenty of room to store pictures, videos, music and other important files.
Nuance Dragon Voice Assistant voice recognition software
Allows you to control the all-in-one by simply speaking commands.
NVIDIA GeForce 840A graphics
Feature 2GB dedicated video memory for lush images with rich, lifelike detail. HDMI output enables simple connectivity.
Built-in 1080p webcam
Makes it easy to video chat with loved ones in high-definition.
Digital media reader
Supports select card formats.
2 USB 3.0 and 3 USB 2.0 ports
For fast digital video, audio and data transfer.
Built-in high-speed wireless LAN (802.11ac)
Connect to the Internet without wires.
Bluetooth 4.0 interface
Easily link with other Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as a cell phone or MP3 player. NFC (near-field communication) technology simplifies wireless pairing.
Built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN
For quick and easy wired Web connection.

MFG: LENOVO
MFG Part: B50 - F0AU008FUS


Review
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2477729,00.asp (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2477729,00.asp)
QuotePROS
Speedy day-to-day performance. HDMI-in and -out. Discrete 3D graphics. 12GB of memory. 2TB 8GB solid-state hybrid drive (SSHD). 802.11ac Wi-Fi. In-Plane Switching (IPS) display.
CONS
Some bloatware. Wired keyboard and mouse.
BOTTOM LINE
The Lenovo B50 is a midrange all-in-one desktop PC that's made to keep even enthusiast-level users happy for a few years. If you've been waiting to buy a Windows 8.1 PC to replace that aging Windows XP system, look at this one.

Easy access rear door for hardware upgrades ( RAM  / SSD)
http://ws.cnetcontent.com/afe75039/page/chp/CCProductExplore/?mf=Lenovo&pn=F0AU008FUS&lang=EN&market=US&host=localhost&mode=inline (http://ws.cnetcontent.com/afe75039/page/chp/CCProductExplore/?mf=Lenovo&pn=F0AU008FUS&lang=EN&market=US&host=localhost&mode=inline)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcc.cnetcontent.com%2Finlinecontent%2Fmediaserver%2Flen%2F2e1%2F402%2F2e1402a381144351b54ab677f8735465%2Foriginal.jpg&hash=d0c8377d031297dca26d8f5b83bbf492a0490abb)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 28, 2015, 12:07:26 PM
I got my tracking number today for above computer

This Hardware is  a basis for a Touchscreen controlled Music Controller, with enough horespower for a full DAW  - its upgradable to 16GB DDR3

Not bad for $350 
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mbenigni on September 28, 2015, 01:38:22 PM
Quote from: Elantric on September 28, 2015, 12:07:26 PM
I got my tracking number today for above computer

This Hardware is  a basis for a Touchscreen controlled Music Controller, with enough horespower for a full DAW  - its upgradable to 16GB DDR3

Not bad for $350

Not sure how long that deal will last, but please post again to let us know what kind of condition it's in when it arrives.  I've been looking for a computer like that for a while now (I use a very similar Dell at work) and $350 is an amazing price, but the "Fair" condition description kind of scared me off.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 28, 2015, 02:25:12 PM
This will be used for music and I will put these scratches on it myself in the 1st month of use

Because I got in early - I had my choice of 6 available - and I ordered one with a minor screen scratch in upper left corner of display

the remaining ones have scratches in the middle of the screen

These were Best Buy floor stock 2 months ago, and pulled when Win 10 was released 

and they are now sold out
http://www.cowboom.com/product/1620233?utm_campaign=LS&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_source=isIkAyUyNbM&siteID=isIkAyUyNbM-Dwt9lkI9tJ5xVoSi4M.uMw (http://www.cowboom.com/product/1620233?utm_campaign=LS&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_source=isIkAyUyNbM&siteID=isIkAyUyNbM-Dwt9lkI9tJ5xVoSi4M.uMw)

Some are un-aware how valuable and hard to locate  any "new" Windows computer in 2015 that still has older USB-2.0 port ! (required for most "pro" windows USB Audio Interfaces!
and the Lenovo B50-30 Service Manual reveals this can be user updated to a Quadcore i7 and 16GB RAM

https://download.lenovo.com/consumer/desktop_pub/lenovo_b50-30_hmm_20141202.pdf (https://download.lenovo.com/consumer/desktop_pub/lenovo_b50-30_hmm_20141202.pdf)

Drivers
http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/products/desktops-and-all-in-ones/lenovo-b-series-all-in-ones/lenovo-b50-30-touch-all-in-one (http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/products/desktops-and-all-in-ones/lenovo-b-series-all-in-ones/lenovo-b50-30-touch-all-in-one)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kenmac on September 29, 2015, 08:25:15 AM
Elantric, seeing as how this is a touch screen computer I thought I'd give you a heads up on a DAW that is specially designed for touch screens. It's called "Stagelight" and it's available for Windows and Android. I've been trying it out for the past few days. It's pretty intuitive and normally it costs $9.99 but the great thing is you can get the Windows version free if you go to this website:  https://www.indabamusic.com/opportunities/open-labs-stagelight-sample-competition/details (https://www.indabamusic.com/opportunities/open-labs-stagelight-sample-competition/details) 

Scroll down a bit to this part where it says: "Click HERE to download a FREE copy of Stagelight ($9.99/USD Value). Not required for contest participation." then enter the promo code and your e-mail address. If you do download it and install it on your touchscreen computer let us know what you think of it. If you'd rather stick with another DAW that's fine as well but I just thought I'd pass this along.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 29, 2015, 08:58:19 AM
Thanks

more Touchscreen DAWs  here
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov14/articles/windows-multitouch-software-2014.htm (http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov14/articles/windows-multitouch-software-2014.htm)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mbenigni on September 29, 2015, 10:44:06 AM
Quote from: Kenmac on September 29, 2015, 08:25:15 AM
Elantric, seeing as how this is a touch screen computer I thought I'd give you a heads up on a DAW that is specially designed for touch screens. It's called "Stagelight" and it's available for Windows and Android. I've been trying it out for the past few days. It's pretty intuitive and normally it costs $9.99 but the great thing is you can get the Windows version free if you go to this website:  https://www.indabamusic.com/opportunities/open-labs-stagelight-sample-competition/details (https://www.indabamusic.com/opportunities/open-labs-stagelight-sample-competition/details) 

Scroll down a bit to this part where it says: "Click HERE to download a FREE copy of Stagelight ($9.99/USD Value). Not required for contest participation." then enter the promo code and your e-mail address. If you do download it and install it on your touchscreen computer let us know what you think of it. If you'd rather stick with another DAW that's fine as well but I just thought I'd pass this along.

Woah - where was this when I was trying to find something useful to do with my Surface Pro??  (Long gone now...)  :)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 29, 2015, 10:47:34 AM
QuoteWoah - where was this when I was trying to find something useful to do with my Surface Pro??  (Long gone now...)  :)


Ah - the pain of being tooo far ahead of the curve?


https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=82eb447b64f01beb5ef2b1a59a907c59&topic=1067.0;nowap (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=82eb447b64f01beb5ef2b1a59a907c59&topic=1067.0;nowap)

https://youtu.be/Mn7E0-n2sMw (https://youtu.be/Mn7E0-n2sMw)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mbenigni on September 29, 2015, 10:49:25 AM
QuoteAh - the pain of being tooo far ahead of the curve?

LOL story of my of life.

...excepting the opposite extreme where I "snooze and loose" as with the Lenovo deal above.  ;)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on October 02, 2015, 01:44:46 PM
My Lenovo B50 arrived  - good shape  - only a minor nick on the top left glass outside the viewing area
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F2742015%2F1443818494_479649309_IMG_2288.JPG&hash=ada7a57de885fce208bcd43734cac62b869561b6)
More good deals here
http://www.cowboom.com/ (http://www.cowboom.com/)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on December 05, 2015, 08:18:59 AM
I got a refurbished Asus Q551LN laptop ( i7, Nvidia 840M graphics, 15" 1920 x 1080 screen, keypad on the keyboard ( a must for my PCB cad work).
followed this Youtube video (same machine)
http://youtu.be/UOuSVMyhUaQ (http://youtu.be/UOuSVMyhUaQ)


I installed an 8GB DDR3 1600 SODIMM 1.35V (took the machine up to 12GB total), and swapped out the DVD drive for a Panasonic UJ272 Blu-Ray Burner, and swapped out the factory HDD for a 1TB SSD drive.
I've been waiting for the 1TB SD drives to drop below $300 and i got a Mushkin Reactor 1TB SSD, and a Crucial MX200 1TB SSD, and had some hurdles. I'm targeting using Win 8.1  - but i lack install discs
Initially I used the instructions here to migrate to SSD 
http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid-state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows (http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid-state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows)

They suggest use  EASEUS ToDo Backup - but the resulting SSD proved to have anomalies, within 6 minutes after boot up, Windows  would just shut down the com ports and ethernet and freeze. 1st suspected a bad RAM module, but ended up using MiniTool Partion Wizard free  (recommended by Mushkin)
http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html (http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html)

and used MiniTool Partion Wizard to migrate my other Win8.1 machine (Acer R7) to the Crucial MX200 1TB SSD, while I ran CHKDSK /F on the Asus Q551 factory drive - which proved to have issues as a source disk.

Finally used MiniTool Partion Wizard to migrate the Asus Q551 Win8.1 machine to the Mushkin Reactor 1TB SSD,

http://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/partition-align-for-ssd.html (http://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/partition-align-for-ssd.html)
And now I have a decent  / fast laptop, to install all my software updates and Protools 12 ( which has a Dec 12 deadline to download the content - as they follow Adobe's lead and change Protools to an to annual fee model.

I think this is the third December in a row where I have spent an all nighter on  a Friday night installing software on my machines, and taking advantage of 50% off holiday sales.     

Earlier this week I purchased JamStix - only to have the developer contact me why i wanted a 2nd copy - as i had already purchased this last December 2014 ( I had totally forgotten!)

But I did qualify for a discount upgrade to StudioOne 3 Producer  and that was became a very capable DAW and looks and runs great on the Asus Q551LN  Win8.1 laptop ( Cowboom.com for $425 - on sale last week
http://www.cowboom.com/product/1543273 (http://www.cowboom.com/product/1543273)
)

and installed
http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvdhd.html (http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvdhd.html)
and
PotPlayer
https://potplayer.daum.net/ (https://potplayer.daum.net/)

and Bluray movies play and sound magnificent.

Hope you all survive the end of the year holidays and get to spend it with family ! 
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on January 05, 2016, 11:47:52 AM
Past few months Ive been installing SSD drives (Migrating Win 8.1 OS to a new SSD drive) in my computers and this cable proved the most functional across all operating systems



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011M8YACM/ref=gbps_img_s-3_0842_b4ee43ff?smid=A29Y8OP2GPR7PE&pf_rd_p=2338600842&pf_rd_s=slot-3&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=gb_main&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0FKJT0DBZMR2EA1MC1NC (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011M8YACM/ref=gbps_img_s-3_0842_b4ee43ff?smid=A29Y8OP2GPR7PE&pf_rd_p=2338600842&pf_rd_s=slot-3&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=gb_main&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0FKJT0DBZMR2EA1MC1NC)

Sabrent USB 3.0 to SSD / 2.5-Inch SATA Hard Drive Adapter [Optimized For SSD, Support UASP SATA III] (EC-SSHD) $7.99
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F81tf45CfzJL._SL1500_.jpg&hash=9b0b3659773f1a3838add440d36e7191f0e8efce)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on January 11, 2016, 11:13:53 AM
http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails/GX30H55793/460/E808F36CDAF64836BAE635B9140F0849#GX30H55793? (http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails/GX30H55793/460/E808F36CDAF64836BAE635B9140F0849#GX30H55793?)

Lenovo has the Lenovo 500 Wireless Combo Keyboard & Mouse, 2015 model (Black, GX30H55793) for $50 - $15 off with code USP1JA165793 [Exp 1/31] = $35 with free shipping.

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lenovo.com%2Fshop%2Famericas%2Fcontent%2Fimg_lib%2Faccessories%2FImg%2FGX30H55793%2520-%2520lenovo%2520500%2520wireless%2520combo%2520keyboard%2520%2526%2520mouse.jpg&hash=1af0639270c445072e680f4c452d46e79948f483)


perfect for the Lenovo B50 All in one with 10 point multi-touch display, Intel I5 Quad Core Win8.1 PC
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F2742015%2F1443818494_479649309_IMG_2288.JPG&hash=ada7a57de885fce208bcd43734cac62b869561b6)

http://www.cowboom.com/product/1620233/ (http://www.cowboom.com/product/1620233/)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on January 17, 2016, 03:44:35 PM
http://www.computerworld.com/article/3023533/microsoft-windows/microsoft-support-windows-10-new-hardware-itbwcw.html (http://www.computerworld.com/article/3023533/microsoft-windows/microsoft-support-windows-10-new-hardware-itbwcw.html)


http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/01/15/apple_irish_apple/ (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/01/15/apple_irish_apple/)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mchad on January 18, 2016, 06:25:28 PM

Is there a current PC DAW build spec doing the rounds? My comp is 6 years old and I was thinking of slowly gathering the components and building one again. When researching the last one I pretty much followed the popular and proven component list at the time and have had a trouble free run.

Times have changed though.

What hasn't changed though is my use of Sony Acid Pro as a tracking tool. I know...I know...not really on any serious DAW radar but for my particular circumstances it helps me create. It's draw tool and ability to audition loops as the project plays, regardless of pitch or tempo, is cool.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on January 18, 2016, 06:42:32 PM
Here are a few DAW Build links

http://blog.ultimateoutsider.com/2015/06/building-new-computer-for-music.html (http://blog.ultimateoutsider.com/2015/06/building-new-computer-for-music.html)

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2858658/audio-daw-build.html (http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2858658/audio-daw-build.html)

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=435022 (http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=435022)

http://www.mixedbymarcmozart.com/2015/04/21/guide-to-buying-a-daw-computer-for-mixing/ (http://www.mixedbymarcmozart.com/2015/04/21/guide-to-buying-a-daw-computer-for-mixing/)

http://forum.cakewalk.com/New-PC-build-up-and-DAW-upgrade-m3203750.aspx (http://forum.cakewalk.com/New-PC-build-up-and-DAW-upgrade-m3203750.aspx)


Myself - Ive been getting great deals on gently used 6 month old powerful computers at www.Cowboom.com (http://www.cowboom.com) ( read posts in this thread above) and they currently are running  a 20% off code now

CowBoom is offering 20% off sitewide with coupon code SAVE20 [Exp 1/19]. Excludes Deal of the Day, Auctions, and items sold/shipped by Best Buy.


http://www.cowboom.com/Computers (http://www.cowboom.com/Computers)

This was $325
Lenovo B50 All in one with 10 point multi-touch display, Intel I5 Quad Core Win8.1 PC

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/desktops/lenovo/b-series/b50-30/#tab-tech_specs (http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/desktops/lenovo/b-series/b50-30/#tab-tech_specs)

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/desktops/lenovo/b-series/b50-30/ (http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/desktops/lenovo/b-series/b50-30/)
http://www.quill.com/desktop-computers/cbs/51627309.html?cm_mmc=SEM_PLA_T_51627309&mcode=SEM_PLA_T_51627309 (http://www.quill.com/desktop-computers/cbs/51627309.html?cm_mmc=SEM_PLA_T_51627309&mcode=SEM_PLA_T_51627309)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F2742015%2F1443818494_479649309_IMG_2288.JPG&hash=ada7a57de885fce208bcd43734cac62b869561b6)

I upgraded to 16GB RAM by adding another 8GB SODIMM stick ($35) , and upgraded the boot drive to a Mushkin Reaktor  1TB SSD for another $235

$595 total

I use my Focusrite 18i20 Audio interface and run Ableton, Protools 12, Studio One, and also does video editing with Sony Vegas Pro 12
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on February 13, 2016, 02:06:45 PM
Low End Mac's Compleat* Guide to the 17″ MacBook Pro
http://lowendmac.com/2014/low-end-macs-compleat-guide-to-the-17-macbook-pro/ (http://lowendmac.com/2014/low-end-macs-compleat-guide-to-the-17-macbook-pro/)



Dan Bashur - 2014.02.16

The 17″ MacBook Pro has seen its time come and go, as sad as that reality may be. Apple stopped making its largest sized flagship portables after 2011 in favor of smaller 15″ class Retina Display units that pack more pixels along with more graphics and processing power into a smaller package.

This progression may be a good or bad thing, depending on what features you crave in a portable Mac, but there are only two words that can describe the 17″ MacBook Pro that can't be replicated no matter how hard Apple tries, without bringing back things that are now missing from their modern machines (internal optical drives for physical media, internal expansion bays, etc.) and those words are "portable workstation."
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flowendmac.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fmacbook-pro-17-uni-512.jpg&hash=7c5218ac39f2d90f28450334d70538d9827b13df)
The 17″ MacBook Pro indeed is a portable workstation, and from the beginning it was created to be a designer's and multitasker's best friend. You can literally have two or three full pages of text side-by-side or two browser windows open simultaneously on models with 1920 x 1200 displays and still get the full picture without too much difficulty or squinting from zooming out. All 17″ models had an internal optical drive and an ExpressCard34 slot, providing more expansion and storage options than Retina Display machines.

From its inception with the original 2006 2.16 GHz  Core Duo model to the final unibody versions released in late 2011, there has been a wide variety of features and capabilities added, but only one thing has always been there to immediately turn heads and grab attention – the massive 17″ display. Without further delay, witness the progression of Apple's largest MacBook Pro, beginning with the mid 2006 models:

Mid 2006 (Core Duo)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flowendmac.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fmbp17-240.jpg&hash=ce2f15bcafc7e758aae73f90b098ccb2b1cd8706)

Important facts for the Mid 2006 17″ MacBook Pro:

* The Mid 2006 17" MacBook Pro
http://lowendmac.com/2006/17-in-macbook-pro-early-2006/ (http://lowendmac.com/2006/17-in-macbook-pro-early-2006/)
was a continuation of the 17" PowerBook G4,
http://lowendmac.com/2005/17-powerbook-g4-hi-res-late-2005/ (http://lowendmac.com/2005/17-powerbook-g4-hi-res-late-2005/)
first introduced in 2003 when Apple transitioned from Titanium to Aluminum as the metal of choice for their laptop cases.

* The case style remained largely the same as the 17″ hi-res PowerBook G4 that it replaced, with the only clear difference being the slightly thinner case, IR port for Apple Remote, and iSight Camera integrated into the bezel, centered above the LCD panel, the notable changes in ports from CardBus to ExpressCard technologies for expansion, and the omission of the built-in fax modem connection (in favor of an extra USB 2.0 port).

* MagSafe technology was introduced, which allows the computer to both safely charge from the power supply and aids by preventing damage to the unit if the cord is tripped over or suddenly pulled (since the connection is magnetic it can be disconnected/dislodged as easily as it is connected).

* Battery runtime was noted to be the same as the Hi-res PowerBooks at around 5.5 hours, and all USB ports could accommodate high-powered devices simultaneously.

* The color depth of all non-unibody MacBook Pro models was actually a step down at 18-bit color from the full 24-bit color previously offered on the late model PowerBooks. These 18-bit color panels would remain constant throughout the 17″ MacBook Pro line until the unibody models were released in early 2009.

* The LCD panels of these early models was 1680 x 1050, equal to that of the 17″ hi-res PowerBook G4. The matte display was standard at this time, with a glossy display as an option (this would be the reverse case with the unibody machines introduced in early 2009).

* The Mid 2006 models shipped with Core Duo processors (soldered) and thus are limited to Mac OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard. http://lowendmac.com/2009/mac-os-x-10-6-snow-leopard/ (http://lowendmac.com/2009/mac-os-x-10-6-snow-leopard/)

* The optical drive retains a PATA connection, which will be retained throughout all non-unibody MacBook Pros, while the hard drive is on a SATA bus.

* You can only achieve SATA I (1.5 Gbps) throughput on this MacBook Pro, although SATA II and SATA III drives are backwards compatible.

* Max RAM (667 MHz PC2-5300 DDR2) is 2 GB. Always look for verified Mac compatible RAM when upgrading.


Late 2006 (Core 2 Duo)

Important facts/changes introduced with the Late 2006 17″ MacBook Pro:

* The Late 2006 MacBook Pro
http://lowendmac.com/2006/17-in-macbook-pro-late-2006/ (http://lowendmac.com/2006/17-in-macbook-pro-late-2006/)
continued with the exact same graphics in its predecessor (Radeon X1600 with 256 MB GDDR3 VRAM) and the same case design, but began shipping with Core 2 Duo processors. As a result, those who held off and waited to upgrade a few months later can max their OS out another generation with OS X  10.7.5 Lion, http://lowendmac.com/2011/os-x-10-7-lion/ (http://lowendmac.com/2011/os-x-10-7-lion/)
rather than Snow Leopard, allowing for increased versatility (limited to 32-bit mode due to the 32-bit kernel of this model).

* Battery runtime was noted to be the same as the previous model at around 5.5 hours, and all USB ports could accommodate high-powered devices simultaneously (this would be the last model to support three high-powered devices as future models would only allow one).

* You can only achieve SATA I (1.5 Gbps) throughput on this MacBook Pro, although SATA II and SATA III drives are backwards compatible.

* Max RAM (667 MHz PC2-5300 DDR2) is increased to 3 GB (although it is widely known that 4 GB is possible using 2x 2 GB SO-DIMM modules). Always look for verified Mac compatible RAM when upgrading.

Mid 2007 (Nvidia)

Important facts/changes introduced with the Mid 2007 17″ MacBook Pro:
http://lowendmac.com/2007/17-in-macbook-pro-mid-2007/ (http://lowendmac.com/2007/17-in-macbook-pro-mid-2007/)

* The Mid 2007 MacBook Pro ushered in many important changes. The first was a switch in graphics from ATI to Nvidia's GeForce 8600GT 256 MB. Note that the GeForce 8600GT had a significant failure rate, which prompted a recall fully funded by Nvidia and facilitated by Apple, which is now expired and no longer listed on Apple's site. Late 2007 models that shipped with the 256 MB GeForce 8600GT seem to be much less affected than the Early 2008 units and as such, only the Early 2008 units were specified in the recall. The GeForce 8600GT supports OpenCL technology (allows the GPU to be utilized take on some of the computations typically reserved for the CPU).

* You can no longer attach more than one high-powered USB device, although battery life has reported to be slightly better at 5.75 hours.

* The architecture changed from the Merom to the Santa Rosa Intel chipset.

* These models were the first to offer a high-res 1920 x 1200 screen as a build-to-order option.

* These are among the oldest Macs that can run OS X 10.9 Mavericks, http://lowendmac.com/2013/os-x-10-9-mavericks/ (http://lowendmac.com/2013/os-x-10-9-mavericks/)
Apple's latest version as of this writing. Even more interesting, these were the last to ship with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.
http://lowendmac.com/2005/mac-os-x-10-4-tiger/ (http://lowendmac.com/2005/mac-os-x-10-4-tiger/)
This allows you to theoretically choose from six generations of OS X, the most possible of any Intel Mac.

* With Core 2 Duo processors rated at 2.4 and 2.6 GHz (on the built-to order configuration), these are among the fist Macs to meet official reqirements for iTunes 1080p video playback.

* A 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo processor is also the official recommendation for 1080p playback for Blu-ray discs on a Mac if you desire to install a Blu-ray equipped optical drive and enable playback through third party solutions. See Blu-ray No Longer a 'Bag of Hurt' for Macs
http://lowendmac.com/2012/blu-ray-no-longer-a-bag-of-hurt-for-macs/ (http://lowendmac.com/2012/blu-ray-no-longer-a-bag-of-hurt-for-macs/)

for general information on installing a Blu-ray drive and the software needed for playback in OS X as well as $90 USB 2.0 Blu-ray Drive also works inside a Mac mini
http://lowendmac.com/2012/90-usb-2-0-blu-ray-drive-also-works-in-a-pre-2009-mac-mini/ (http://lowendmac.com/2012/90-usb-2-0-blu-ray-drive-also-works-in-a-pre-2009-mac-mini/)
for information regarding the UJ-225, which can also be used to install in all pre-unibody 17″ MacBook Pros.
**   Note: The UJ-225 is a dual-layer BD-RW/DVD-RW drive that stands 12.7mm tall utilizes a PATA connection. This is a big advantage for the 17″ MacBook Pro non-unibody models, which are designed to both fit a 12.7mm optical drive and utilize the PATA optical drive connection.

* You can only achieve SATA I (1.5 Gbps) throughput on this MacBook Pro, although SATA II and SATA III drives are backwards compatible.

* Max RAM (667 MHz PC2-5300 DDR2) is increased to an official 4 GB (although it is widely known that 6 GB is possible using a 2 GB SO-DIMM and a 4 GB SO-DIMM). Always look for verified Mac compatible RAM when upgrading.

Early 2008 (Penryn)

Important facts/changes introduced with the Early 2008 17″ MacBook Pro:
http://lowendmac.com/2008/17-macbook-pro-early-2008/ (http://lowendmac.com/2008/17-macbook-pro-early-2008/)
* The Early 2008 17″ MacBook Pro models were the last to utilize the traditional 2-piece design (a new unibody design was issued with the next model in early 2009).

* Pushing through yet another architecture change with the Penryn Intel chipset, these models offered a significant increase in performance, but that performance came at a cost – battery life. It was clear that new technology was needed in the battery department, so this would be the last 17″ MacBook Pro to have a removable standard lithium-ion battery. Battery life is now rated at 4.5 hours, a drop of more than 20% from the previous 5.75 hours on Late 2007 models.
* Available for new build-to-order options were the impressive 1920 x 1200 LED backlit display and a 512 MB version of the GeForce 8600 GT. Note that the GeForce 8600GT had a significant failure rate, which prompted a recall fully funded by Nvidia and facilitated by Apple, which is now expired and no longer listed on Apple's site. Early 2008 models with the 256 MB version of the GeForce 8600GT were most affected and as such were the ones specified in the recall. The GeForce 8600GT supports OpenCL technology (allows the GPU to be utilized take on some of the computations typically reserved for the CPU).

* You can install the UJ-225 Blu-ray drive in this 17″ MacBook Pro and unleash its full capability as well, as these MacBook Pros also meet official reqirments for 1080p Blu-ray playback. This is the last MacBook Pro to be able to accept the UJ-225 for a Blu-ray upgrade, as the unibody models that follow are thinner and require a 9.5mm SATA optical drive such as the UJ-167 or UJ-267.

* You can only achieve SATA I (1.5 Gbps) throughput on this MacBook Pro, although SATA II and SATA III drives are backwards compatible.

* Maximum RAM is still 4 GB officially (6 GB unofficially) and remains the same 667 MHz DDR2 PC2-5300 used by prior 17″ MacBook Pros. The Early 2008 17″ MacBook Pro will be the last to use this type of memory. Always look for verified Mac compatible RAM when upgrading.



Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on February 13, 2016, 02:06:59 PM
Low End Mac's Compleat* Guide to the 17″ MacBook Pro (part 2)
http://lowendmac.com/2014/low-end-macs-compleat-guide-to-the-17-macbook-pro/ (http://lowendmac.com/2014/low-end-macs-compleat-guide-to-the-17-macbook-pro/)
Early 2009 (Unibody)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flowendmac.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FGlossy_Matte_17MBP-320x150.jpg&hash=908462675f062d462ae7b30ae26ec07af4383725)
Important facts/changes introduced with the Early 2009 17″ MacBook Pro:
http://lowendmac.com/2009/17-macbook-pro-early-2009/ (http://lowendmac.com/2009/17-macbook-pro-early-2009/)
* The Early 2009 MacBook Pro introduces many features that would carry on until the end of the 17″ MacBook Pro line. The first and obvious being the unibody design we are more familiar with today. The change to unibody was groundbreaking, since the entire unit is machined from one block of aluminum, creating a sleeker, seamless look. The bottom case is easily removed, providing access to memory, hard drive, and optical drive, allowing upgrades to be easily performed.

* The only constant from the prior model was the continued use of Penryn Core 2 Duo processors at 2.66 GHz or 2.93 GHz (build-to-order configuration).

* The optical drive connection was switched from PATA to SATA and a 9.5mm height optical drive must be used (this would be standard across all sizes of the unibody MacBook Pro). The UJ-167 (BD-ROM/DVD-RW) and UJ-267 (BD-RW/DVD-RW) are ideal optical drive upgrades for all unibody MacBook Pros.

* Multi-touch, glass touchpad introduced that allows for additional gestures such as swipes with 3 and 4 fingers and more (this new touchpad was exclusive to the 17″ MacBook Pro in early 2009 and introduced later in the 15″ and newly introduced 13″ models).

* 1920 x 1200 LED backlit display is now standard. Choices remain for the glossy display (illustrated above left) or a matte option (above right). The difference is seen with a black trim on the glossy display models and a silver trim that matches the rest of the case on the matte display units.

* Graphic designers rejoiced when Apple revealed that the displays on the new unibody MacBook Pro returned to true 24-bit color.

* Dual graphics card configuration that is selectable through power settings (integrated GeForce 9400M with up to 256 MB of VRAM shared with system memory and a discrete GeForce 9600M GT with 512 MB of dedicated GDDR3 SDRAM)

* SATA II is now standard, doubling throughput to 3 Gbps, allowing for faster SATA II hard drives and solid state drives.

* RAM is now PC3-8500 DDR3 1066 MHz and can now be maxed out at 8 GB. Always look for verified Mac compatible RAM when upgrading.

* The FireWire 400 port was dropped, but you can still connect to a FireWire 400 device courtesy of FireWire 800-to-FireWire 400 cables or adapters.

* The biggest change brought with the unibody design – and perhaps most important – is the new built-in battery. Although no longer easily serviced by the end user (in fact, removal voids warranty), battery life under typical use has nearly doubled to 8 hours of run time (when using the GeForce 9400M and 7 hours with the dedicated GeForce 9600M GT)!

Mid 2009

Important facts/changes introduced with the Mid 2009 17″ MacBook Pro:
http://lowendmac.com/2009/17-macbook-pro-mid-2009/ (http://lowendmac.com/2009/17-macbook-pro-mid-2009/)

* The Mid 2009 MacBook Pro includes all of the features of the Early 2009 models, but it was given a speed bump to 2.8 GHz on the standard model and 3.06 GHz on the build-to-order option. Every other feature of these remains the same, including the Penryn Core 2 Duo processors, RAM, SATA II bus, etc.

* This would be the last 17″ MacBook Pro to ship with OS X 10.5 Leopard.

* This would be the last 17″ MacBook Pro to ship with Core 2 Duo processors, as the 2010 and 2011 models incorporate Intel's newer Core i5 and Core i7 processors.

Mid 2010 (Dual Core i)
http://lowendmac.com/2010/17-macbook-pro-mid-2010/ (http://lowendmac.com/2010/17-macbook-pro-mid-2010/)

* The Mid 2010 17″ MacBook Pro brought forth much faster Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors. Overall performance at the same 2.66 GHz speed on the dual core Core i7 configuration compared to the 2.66 GHz Penryn Core 2 Duo processors found in Early 2009 models has improved by about 50%.

* This time three configurations were available: A base 2.53 GHz dual core Core i5; a 2.66 GHz dual core Core i7 and a 2.8 GHz dual core Core i7.

* Graphics solutions are significantly improved with a discrete GeForce 330M (also with 512 MB of VRAM), compared to the previous model that uses the GeForce 9600M GT, providing nearly double the performance. The integrated solution this time is Intel HD graphics. In some cases this was be a step back for light gaming when the GeForce 9400M provided excellent integrated graphics performance, but it was more efficient for normal use.

* The Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors are easier on battery life, increasing run time in discrete and integrated graphics solutions to 8 hours and 9 hours, respectively, under normal use.

* RAM remains the same at PC3 DDR3-PC8500 1066 MHz and a max of 8 GB officially. Always look for verified Mac compatible RAM when upgrading.

* These models are the first to ship with OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard as the pre-installed OS X and the last that can utilize a retail Snow Leopard disc to install OS X, as 10.6.3 would be the final retail version (also released in mid 2010).

Early 2011 (Quad Core i)
http://lowendmac.com/2011/17-macbook-pro-early-2011/ (http://lowendmac.com/2011/17-macbook-pro-early-2011/)

* The Early 2011 17″ MacBook Pro was the last to officially ship with Mac OS X Snow Leopard pre-installed and the last to ship with install media on optical disc. This was a special machine specific version (Mac OS X 10.6.6) on a gray disc.

* These machines provided users with another amazing boost of power, moving to quad core Core i7 processors at 2.2 GHz and 2.3 GHz (on the built-to-order option) versus the dual core models it replaced. Performance again was increased by roughly 50% compared to prior models thanks to quad core processing.

* Graphics saw another huge bump from the 512 MB GDDR3 GeForce 330M to a 1 GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon 6750.
These models also have the Sandy Bridge Intel chipset and the Intel HD integrated graphics were updated to the HD 3000, which allows for a future technology called AirPlay wireless display mirroring (introduced later with OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion), giving you to ability to stream your display and audio to a display connected to an Apple TV 2 or Apple TV 3.

* These were also the first 17″ MacBook Pros to ship with Apple's new Thunderbolt technology, giving you the ability to connect to an Apple Thunderbolt Display or facilitate incredibly fast data transfers with other Macs.

* These 17″ MacBook Pros were the first to incorporate full SATA III 6.0 Gbps throughput, giving you even more capacity to use the fastest storage devices available.

* Apple switched midway through the production of this model to having OS X 10.7 Lion pre-installed and excluding the OS X 10.6.6 Snow Leopard install disc, making it difficult for users who needed Snow Leopard (for access to Rosetta for PowerPC application compatibility) to downgrade. The only easy (and most logical) workaround is to use Disk Utility's non-destructive partitioning and create dual partitions, providing a blank destination to install OS X 10.6.6 on. You must then get a hold of the machine specific disc or a disk image of the 10.6.6 disc that shipped with the early versions of this machine (or it's smaller 15″ cousin).

* Battery life is now rated at a solid 7 hours, a slight step back from the prior model, but is now measured based on web browsing and a bit heavier usage than what was previously used to measure performance. In terms of real world use, you should expect similar battery performance compared to the prior model.

* RAM is now PC3-10600 DDR3 1333 MHz and can be maxed out at 16 GB with 2x 8 GB SO-DIMMs, future-proofing these models significantly more than the prior model. Always look for verified Mac compatible RAM when upgrading.

Late 2011

* The Late 2011 17″ MacBook Pro was essentially the same as the early 2011 models it replaced with a minor speed boost to a 2.4 GHz quad core, Core i7 processor on the base model and a quad core, Core i7 2.5 GHz processor on the build-to-order configuration. RAM is still the same PC3-10600 DDR3 1333 MHz used in the early 2011 models and still maxes out at 16 GB. Always look for verified Mac compatible RAM when upgrading.

* The graphics were slightly updated to the AMD Radeon 6770, still with a dedicated 1 GB of GDDR5 VRAM
OS X Lion came pre-installed on all of these machines, but as with the case of models that shipped midway through production on the early 2011 version, installing Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.6 is possible by obtaining a machine specific 10.6.6 install disc or disk image from the 10.6.6. install media that came with the original run of 15″ or 17″ early 2011 MacBook Pros.

* This was the final 17″ MacBook Pro, closing out a long line of Apple greatness that began approximately 8 years prior.

In Closing

The 17″ models provided some of the most versatility of any Mac ever made. Everything from the LED backlit 1920 x 1200 display (on such models that shipped with it or had it as an option) to ExpressCard 34, which remained throughout the line, provided power users, professionals, and enthusiasts with many options not possible on the 15″ and 13″ models. Every model is theoretically able to boot into OS X Snow Leopard, so you will never be without legacy applications if you pick up a 17″ MacBook Pro, courtesy of Rosetta compatibility. Every model has an optical drive, so you will never be without the potential to install software on the go or burn a disc when you need to.

The 17″ MacBook Pro is a true Mac user's portable workstation, and so much more can be said about its advantages versus smaller form factors and the Retina Display models that replaced it. Curiously, Apple released "traditional" Ivy Bridge models of the 15″ MacBook Pro with optical drive in 2012 that shipped with built-in USB 3.0, but omitted the 17″ model, which has not yet returned to Apple's lineup as of this writing and is unlikely to in the foreseeable future. The 2011 models have distinct advantages over all other models (SATA III, Thunderbolt, and AirPlay Mirroring in Mountain Lion and Mavericks), so if you are in the market for a 17″ MacBook Pro, consider a 2011 unit due to it having a strong mix of modern and legacy technologies.

* No, it isn't a typo. Compleat is a legitimate, albeit archaic, spelling for complete. As Kenneth G. Wilson says in The Columbia Guide to Standard American English: "This obsolete spelling of the adjective complete suggests an air of antiquity that seems to please some of those who name things...." We find that fitting for Low End Mac's Compleat Guides to "obsolete" hardware and software.
http://lowendmac.com/compleat-guides.html (http://lowendmac.com/compleat-guides.html)


http://youtu.be/K75-vEF3y1c (http://youtu.be/K75-vEF3y1c)

http://youtu.be/LF0PBUnoNOc (http://youtu.be/LF0PBUnoNOc)


2011 Macbook Pro 17" upgrades

Ruberized Case  / Cover
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019QUSI2G?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019QUSI2G?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F81q9Mg5ox2L._SL1500_.jpg&hash=9150fd5465e9cec8acec48c2b1ee4b1bcbc5624a)


USB 3.0 <> Expresscard 34 adapter
Sienoc 4 Port USB 3.0 HUB to ExpressCard Express Card 34 34mm Adapter Converter 5.0 Gbps FL1100 Chipest
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F87RP4O?redirect=true&ref_=ya_st_dp_summary (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F87RP4O?redirect=true&ref_=ya_st_dp_summary)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F61WDTikXiRL._SL1001_.jpg&hash=2b5235cdada686a38b183b7fa83bd1fb309d4b70)

HDMI Output Adapter
Sabrent Mini DisplayPort (Thunderbolt 2) to HDMI Adapter [4K Support Gold Plated] (DA-MDHA)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017NKIQ8M?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017NKIQ8M?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F81SDY5RsBGL._SL1500_.jpg&hash=e1e7ab1919a2757bdc8a66b2f9828bb7860cce78)
Internal Bluray Burner  -
Panasonic UJ267
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ICXRIWU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ICXRIWU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F61mACF8d5tL._SL1000_.jpg&hash=986da76211ffb9f951b77da4e0433bf945fd1618)


Internal 2nd hard drive caddy
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FY7JV0E?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FY7JV0E?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F612i3qszo3L._SL1300_.jpg&hash=815b84544485155723e5fc7cef2dc9f357922492)



Thats right - Here are my 2011 iMac Audio I/O options. ( note the S/PDIF Digital Audio I/O)- Sadly the new "thin"2013 imacs  and Latest Macbooks removed bulk of these options.
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi412.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fpp208%2Felantric%2FScreenShot2013-01-11at60101AM_zps47ed4631.png&hash=b8f3c69672ac768891ec049d9863320eaf5175b0)

iMac 3.5mm Audio Jacks also support S/PDIF Digital Audio I/O via optical cable - like this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1HE0H47078&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-_-pla-_-NA-_-NA (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1HE0H47078&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-_-pla-_-NA-_-NA)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages10.newegg.com%2FNeweggImage%2FProductImageCompressAll300%2FA1HE_129990655584843750o62JGp9xkN.jpg&hash=6755a2ffa4f0c4e392395bc6066d2595de50b1d3)

The iMac Headphone jack with the above cable can also feed the Dolby AC3 Optical input on Receivers and Powered Surround Speakers from Logitech.

All the above Audio I/O options also hold true for Most Apple Macs 2001-2011.

Lately the penny pinchers at Apple are removing all the External Audio Input path,

On the latest 2013 models. most simply use the identical Audio configuration as  iPhone Headset Jack- 


Which makes the late 2011 Macbook Pro 17" with i7 QuadCore still a very attractive Mobile DAW platform 


QuoteBluetooth Low Energy (Apple Bluetooth Low Energy MIDI specification compliant)

For those who dont know, Apple Macintosh's made after 2012 include "Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)" compliant Bluetooth chipsets 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth_low_energy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth_low_energy)



i have a 2011 macbook Pro 17" -
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6104.125 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6104.125)

and i was able to swap out the internal Wifi / Bluetooth Wireless communications board with a 

Bluetooth 4.0 AirPort Upgrade Card For A1278 A1286 A1297 #BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2Fimages%2Fi%2F281883889142-0-0%2Fs-l140%2Fp.jpg&hash=d2123dd2484002a42bd18b27815218c8ffa05aca)

and that added Bluetooth LE compatibility to my older MacbookPro 17"
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: whippinpost91850 on February 13, 2016, 02:34:23 PM
Very interesting read. Thanks for posting
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on February 18, 2016, 10:06:43 AM
http://www.fastestssd.com/featured/ssd-rankings-the-fastest-solid-state-drives/ (http://www.fastestssd.com/featured/ssd-rankings-the-fastest-solid-state-drives/)

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/06/latest-os-x-update-allows-you-to-enable-trim-for-third-party-ssds/ (http://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/06/latest-os-x-update-allows-you-to-enable-trim-for-third-party-ssds/)

http://blog.macsales.com/31619-how-to-execute-trimforce-command-with-your-owc-ssd (http://blog.macsales.com/31619-how-to-execute-trimforce-command-with-your-owc-ssd)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on February 26, 2016, 10:20:45 AM
http://www.idownloadblog.com/2016/02/26/how-to-record-part-of-mac-screen-quicktime/ (http://www.idownloadblog.com/2016/02/26/how-to-record-part-of-mac-screen-quicktime/)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on March 29, 2016, 11:16:15 AM
http://www.cnet.com/how-to/7-chrome-shortcuts-you-should-start-using-right-away/ (http://www.cnet.com/how-to/7-chrome-shortcuts-you-should-start-using-right-away/)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on April 19, 2016, 05:20:21 PM
http://mashable.com/2016/04/19/macbook-2016-sucks/#TplSZaR4aiqF (http://mashable.com/2016/04/19/macbook-2016-sucks/#TplSZaR4aiqF)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on April 21, 2016, 04:37:18 PM
Handy combo 2.5" SSD drive case  /USB 3.0 hub
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F1112016%2F1461281817_85895432_drive_case_hub.PNG&hash=1465b2108505b467a4c5151099fe9d86ac2288a0)
http://www.amazon.com/Inateck-Ports-Enclosure-Supported-Tool-Free/dp/B00T2ODFCU? (http://www.amazon.com/Inateck-Ports-Enclosure-Supported-Tool-Free/dp/B00T2ODFCU?)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F61BPjWzWD-L._SL1300_.jpg&hash=e42ffb854230ceb6d28ff676fe728bc5ee77cae4)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F81Wvi7njkvL._SL1300_.jpg&hash=106dd02c4e3d77121c277144b886e8c5b264e52a)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F81YAapE0zgL._SL1300_.jpg&hash=162059e04cd7d8a39abcd0f1a53e3413cbefd2db)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mchad on May 25, 2016, 09:47:45 PM

My current PC is getting on a bit. As such I get an itching to research the latest DAW build specs and go about pricing it up.

I did look at some of the links in this thread to get an idea of the main parts. 4 core i7 appears to be acceptable for audio work.

That said, are there any off-the-shelf big vendor PC's worth looking at? I did build my last one but if the latest mass produced ones are good to go I'll look at those.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on May 25, 2016, 09:53:47 PM
Best to read this post above
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6104.msg122182#msg122182 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6104.msg122182#msg122182)
copied below:
======
Here are a few DAW Build links

http://blog.ultimateoutsider.com/2015/06/building-new-computer-for-music.html (http://blog.ultimateoutsider.com/2015/06/building-new-computer-for-music.html)

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2858658/audio-daw-build.html (http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2858658/audio-daw-build.html)

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=435022 (http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=435022)

http://www.mixedbymarcmozart.com/2015/04/21/guide-to-buying-a-daw-computer-for-mixing/ (http://www.mixedbymarcmozart.com/2015/04/21/guide-to-buying-a-daw-computer-for-mixing/)

http://forum.cakewalk.com/New-PC-build-up-and-DAW-upgrade-m3203750.aspx (http://forum.cakewalk.com/New-PC-build-up-and-DAW-upgrade-m3203750.aspx)


Myself - Ive been getting great deals on gently used 6 month old powerful computers at www.Cowboom.com (http://www.cowboom.com) ( read posts in this thread above)




http://www.cowboom.com/Computers (http://www.cowboom.com/Computers)

too bad CowBoom ceased operations this past February 2016

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/misc/outlet-refurbished-clearance/pcmcat142300050026.c?id=pcmcat142300050026 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/misc/outlet-refurbished-clearance/pcmcat142300050026.c?id=pcmcat142300050026)



Lenovo B50 All in one with 10 point multi-touch display, Intel I5 Quad Core Win8.1 PC
This was $325

https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6104.msg116373#msg116373 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6104.msg116373#msg116373)
http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/desktops/lenovo/b-series/b50-30/#tab-tech_specs (http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/desktops/lenovo/b-series/b50-30/#tab-tech_specs)

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/desktops/lenovo/b-series/b50-30/ (http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/desktops/lenovo/b-series/b50-30/)
http://www.quill.com/desktop-computers/cbs/51627309.html?cm_mmc=SEM_PLA_T_51627309&mcode=SEM_PLA_T_51627309 (http://www.quill.com/desktop-computers/cbs/51627309.html?cm_mmc=SEM_PLA_T_51627309&mcode=SEM_PLA_T_51627309)

(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F2742015%2F1443818494_479649309_IMG_2288.JPG&hash=ada7a57de885fce208bcd43734cac62b869561b6)

I upgraded to 16GB RAM by adding another 8GB SODIMM stick ($35) , and upgraded the boot drive to a Mushkin Reaktor  1TB SSD for another $235

$595 total

I use my Focusrite 18i20 Audio interface and run Ableton, Protools 12, Studio One, and also does video editing with Sony Vegas Pro 12 - works fine,

- however for real time audio processing for live use, Guitar to MIDI driving soft synths - I'm getting dramatically lower audio latency with my Macs - (see above) 
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6104.msg123734#msg123734 (https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=6104.msg123734#msg123734)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mchad on June 14, 2016, 05:22:44 PM

Thanks Elantric. I just noticed my earlier post from January where I asked basically the same thing.  :-[

Anyways, the more I research it the more I think a Thunderbolt enabled motherboard would be good. And we are up to Thunderbolt 3 now I think. Or USB 3.1. Or USB-C. Or some other 'standard'. There are some Thunderbolt audio interfaces so that's a bonus.

So core specs would be a quad core Intel CPU (an i5). Latest spec motherboard (Z170). Lots of DDR4 2133mhz RAM. An SSD C drive. A big fast audio drive. Onboard graphics as DAW specs don't warrant a PCi graphics card. And Win 7.

That spec there is getting close to a $1,000 Australian. Uggghhh.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 14, 2016, 05:57:10 PM
QuoteThere are some Thunderbolt audio interfaces so that's a bonus.

But very few with Windows Drivers


EDIT - that has changed as of November 2016

Most Thunderbolt Audio interfaces now have working Windows 10 Thunderbolt drivers
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mchad on June 14, 2016, 07:36:30 PM
Quote from: Elantric on June 14, 2016, 05:57:10 PM
But none with Windows Drivers

Terrific.  ::)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 14, 2016, 07:42:00 PM
But there's a few thunderbolt Audio interfaces that do work on Windows 8, 8.1, 10
http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2016/01/29/windows-10-announce-thunderbolt-support/ (http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2016/01/29/windows-10-announce-thunderbolt-support/)

http://www.residentaudio.com/t4overview/ (http://www.residentaudio.com/t4overview/)


http://motu.com/products/avb/16a/specs.html (http://motu.com/products/avb/16a/specs.html)

EDIT - that has changed as of November 2016

Most Thunderbolt Audio interfaces (Focusrite, UAD,RME)  now have working Windows 10 Thunderbolt drivers
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: bbob on July 12, 2016, 11:57:16 AM
I've been looking at these Acer Aspire R13 PC's to have a PC dedicated to running only FTP, Cantabile, Guitar Rig 5, S-Gear, Sampletank.  Using a Roland Duo Capture EX interface.  Not recording or using a DAW.  I'm just a low level user of this stuff.

http://us-store.acer.com/aspire-r7-371t-50ze-convertible-notebook (http://us-store.acer.com/aspire-r7-371t-50ze-convertible-notebook)

They appear to be new old stock leftovers.

Win 8.1
8 GB memory
256 SSD (I checked and what I have will load with room to spare)
Intel Core i5
13.3" screen (I need a laptop with a smaller form factor than my 15.6" Asus K55A)
1 USB 2.0
2 USB 3.0


Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on July 12, 2016, 12:03:55 PM
QuoteI've been looking at these Acer Aspire R13 PC's to have a PC dedicated to running only FTP, Cantabile, Guitar Rig 5, S-Gear, Sampletank.  .

Those "Real Time tasks" require a very high performance Laptop

QuoteUsing a Roland Duo Capture EX interface.

Thats going to be the limiting factor - the  Roland UA-22 ASIO USB Driver can be sluggish.

A new "Gen2" Focusrite Scarlet 2i4 will have lower latency and is recommended upgrade to the Roland Duo Capture EX


Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: bbob on July 12, 2016, 12:50:13 PM
Quote from: Elantric on July 12, 2016, 12:03:55 PM
Those "Real Time tasks" require a very high performance Laptop

Arghh...I thought I was onto something good
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on July 12, 2016, 01:16:28 PM
I'm sure the  Acer Aspire R13 will be OK

But for $600 consider a gently used MacBook Pro
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: bbob on July 12, 2016, 06:02:20 PM
Quote from: Elantric on July 12, 2016, 01:16:28 PM
But for $600 consider a gently used MacBook Pro

Most of the used 2011, 2012 MacBook Pros on our local Craigslist have been upgraded to El Capitan.

Is it possible to downgrade a MacBook to a prior OS?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on July 12, 2016, 06:06:47 PM
Typically no

Hold out for a used Mac with Yosemite
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on August 21, 2016, 06:35:57 AM
There remains a bloat with El Capitan
I remain on Yosemite and I never buy new - current fave is a late 2011 17" MacBook Pro with I7 ( the last good Mac IMHO because the user can upgrade the Ram to 16gb and install Dual SSD drives or one SSD and one BluRay burner still has built in SPDIF I/O and 24 bit stereo Line level I/O and a PCI Expresscard34 expansion port I use for proprietary A/V hardware (Matrox/ RME)

They killed that goose after the passing of Steve Jobs

Seek one of those  while you can

if you want to work and be productive a long time , use a dedicated DAW / Music Computer and never connect to Internet. That's what the remaining pro studios enforce with their Protools computer.

Always use a separate computer to try new things or connect to the net , but by design you accept the pre planned obsolescence that occurs when you apply the latest updates of your OS and Apps

They want to make you unhappy with the performance loss after the latest bloat ware is installed which forces you to buy a newer faster computer every few years. Its by design

A gently used 2012 Mac Mini is Good and fast and affordable

My 2013 15" MacBook retina ( like all new MacBooks ) has soldered down Ram and no ability to upgrade. I have 8gb but that's not enough ( need 16gb minimum which is around $110 , but compare prices of a new Mac with 16GB RAM , Apple is laughing all the way to the bank with the premium they charge for RAM

Get an i5 or I7 with ability to upgrade RAM and hard drive

That restricts you to a very expensive new Mac that will be buggy in  9 weeks when OSX 10.12 arrives.

That's why I sought out a used Mac and saved $$

Can't wait to go 100% Linux
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: chrish on August 21, 2016, 09:09:36 AM
Why do you say never conect a music daw computer to the internet? Is it because of malware or because that computer should be optimized for audio performance?
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: kenact on August 21, 2016, 09:14:51 AM
Quote from: chrish on August 21, 2016, 09:09:36 AM
Why do you say never conect a music daw computer to the internet? Is it because of malware or because that computer should be optimized for audio performance?

IMHO A music DAW Computer should only be connected to the Internet when it needs an update. When it's being used as a music DAW, you do not want the processor doing anything else.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on August 21, 2016, 09:26:31 AM
Quote
IMHO A music DAW Computer should only be connected to the Internet when it needs an update. When it's being used as a music DAW, you do not want the processor doing anything else.

exactly

also if you have paying clients for your studio, they want efficient use of time, and high reliability.
and because file sharing and co- production at different studios was required,  using Protools was non-negotiable ( I only own  protools to be employable as a guitarist, its still the dominant DAW app in union studios.)

All pro studios (or pro musicians working at home ) that I've been involved with have (at minimum) two computers or separate swappable main drives.


One that is 100% working as  main DAW ( digital audio workstation computer)

and another to test  / evaluate updates from the internet and try new software apps. only after rigorous testing do updates migrate to the 100% working DAW system.

There are many pro studios today that use an 8 year old MacPro running Protools 6, and they remain booked because they are efficient and know how to mic drums , guitar, vocals and have an array of pristine clean analog preamps in racks feeding the Digidesign Protools HD rack boxes.

My Macbook is faster  - but Im not as swift with protools editing as the guy who does it for a living on an 8 year old Mac Pro
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: alexmcginness on August 21, 2016, 09:37:26 AM
I use to build my own machines but the last upgrade for my studio I went with used. You get great machines at a fraction of the price.

I bought three HP Z series workstations. 2 of them are dual XEON hexcore machines and one dual quad core. Ive got them hooked together with ethernet and am using Vienna ensemble pro and FX Teleport to make two of the machines as servers for the main music machine. The servers are used for CPU hungry plugs and instruments freeing up the main machines horsepower for low latency tracking. When mixing down you have all the horsepower of the three machines for all the plugs you can throw at it as the latency doesnt have to be as low for mixing.
   The HP Z series machines are industrial machines and are built like tanks. Theyre not cheap new but as I said, buy used and save a bundle.
   One thing youll definately need to do is image your C drive. I use Acronis Drive image, but theres others out there. If you have a systems failure, you can be back up and running, even if you have to replace the drive, in about 15 minutes or less depending on how big the c drive is.
   Another must have app is Hard Disk Sentinel. It keeps an eye on the health of your HD and lets you know well in advance of an impending failure so you can save the info off of the drive before it dies and they all eventually do.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: gumtown on August 21, 2016, 08:24:47 PM
Any valuable "working" system should never be connected 'on line' unless it is necessary.

You don't want to see "WINDOWS IS INSTALLING 35 UPDATES !!" then have your D.A.W never work the same again. (usually clicking in the audio stream)

Your valued customer won't be happy to hear their recording has been hacked out of your system and broadcast to the world before you have finished it. (SONY)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: alexmcginness on August 22, 2016, 06:35:47 AM
Quote from: gumtown on August 21, 2016, 08:24:47 PM
Any valuable "working" system should never be connected 'on line' unless it is necessary.

You don't want to see "WINDOWS IS INSTALLING 35 UPDATES !!" then have your D.A.W never work the same again. (usually clicking in the audio stream)

Your valued customer won't be happy to hear their recording has been hacked out of your system and broadcast to the world before you have finished it. (SONY)

I am literally shocked at the number of people that dont image their system. WHY!!!!!!?????

On countless forums every day I see people cryin the blues that their computer got dinged by a virus or " the updates "  and my computer doesnt work the same now, blues. Hard drive space is so cheap now. Buy a 2 or three TB HD and use it for image backups.
   If youve just got a new computer, get Acronis drive image and make a backup of the clean install of windows. Once your machine is running right and all your drivers and software is installed ....IMAGE IT. Do images as youre setting up the machine. Before you do the Windows update image the machine as insurance. You can set it up so that this can be done daily either doing full backups or incrimental ones at a time of your choosing. Theres no excuse now for not getting the best insurance against the time consuming task of dealing with drive failure or viruses any more.
  Keep your audio machines offline as much as possible. If you have to authorize new software theres usually an option to authorize it from another machine. DO THAT.
   There should be a sticky with this information on every forum to tell members how to cover their buts so this doesnt happen to them.
   Image your machines. Get Hard Disk Sentinel to monitor your Hard Drives health. Remember the three most important words in computing: BACKUP, BACKUP AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE....BACKUP.
   
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: rolandvg99 on August 22, 2016, 07:13:49 AM
Backup image(s) on local USB and WD MyCloud, files on local HDD, NAS and JottaCloud. If I lose something there is bound to be a copy somewhere. The question is where. ;)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: alexmcginness on August 22, 2016, 07:37:56 AM
Quote from: rolandvg99 on August 22, 2016, 07:13:49 AM
Backup image(s) on local USB and WD MyCloud, files on local HDD, NAS and JottaCloud. If I lose something there is bound to be a copy somewhere. The question is where. ;)

  Theres an app called Where Is It. You scan your HDs and you can find what you need in a jiffy.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 08, 2016, 05:38:06 AM
http://tim.id.au/laptops/apple/

http://manuals-apple.9manuals.com

Add Bluetooth 4.0 LE support to your Mac
http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-software/get-continuity-handoff-airdrop-on-old-mac-3582632/

GMYLE Bluetooth Adapter Dongle, Ultra-Mini USB Broadcom BCM20702 Class 2 Bluetooth V4.0 Dual Mode Dongle Wireless Adapter with LED $8.00
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007MKMJGO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AWSTL9OR9CVRW
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 14, 2016, 11:17:02 AM
http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords=A1419
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-i7-4.0-27-inch-aluminum-retina-5k-late-2015-specs.html
http://maxcamera.net/computers/late-2015-retina-5k-imac-vs-2014-whats-new/


http://snazzylabs.com/article/skylake-mac-mini-hackintosh/

http://www.tonymacx86.com/buyersguide/august/2016

http://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/tonymacx86s-skylake-thunderbolt-3-test-build-ga-z170x-ud5-th-i5-6600k.199242/page-3


KVR Linux DAW Thread
https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=160807&sid=041d727a9572ea71a30d77f0451fc547&start=675
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 14, 2016, 11:30:12 PM
I had a bit of a scare this past week - my 2011 iMac suddenly died - and would not power up.

I purchased this as a "Refurbished" iMac 27" direct from Apple back in 2013 for around $1600

and of course i do not have "Apple Care"
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F2582016%2F1473972690_1033552005_IMG_0736.JPG&hash=83b320cc5c7df903e0aad3ae2b14795c6fcd0319)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F2582016%2F1473972693_1088637911_IMG_0751.JPG&hash=29570e92a26f93897c8fcf6d5f573b384fb72760)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snapagogo.com%2Fuploads%2Fsource%2F2582016%2F1473972696_1603912563_IMG_0752.JPG&hash=1037797027f6a786bf44f6f8bdf5b2d18d692b80)


Upon investigation, I determined the internal Delta 310 watt power supply had failed - a common issue for 2011 iMac's
http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1266261
Late last week I ordered a replacement Lite-On power supply on ebay for $50 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/252431601532?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2Fimages%2Fg%2FO%7EYAAOSwAKxWVpy5%2Fs-l1600.jpg&hash=4ff0aff96c7923e1aebc37febe5cf4510492d043)
and this evening I swapped out the power supplies and now have a 100% working iMac 27"  again following these instructions
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+27-Inch+EMC+2309+and+2374+Power+Supply+Replacement/1635
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHbx9IUW7eCeJsC4sBCTNBA
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: rolandvg99 on September 15, 2016, 03:00:45 AM
Nice to hear that you got it up and running. Good thing it was a 2011 iMac and not the new slim ones which are glued together like there's no tomorrow. (Apple REALLY don't want people to part upgrade their own computers...)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 15, 2016, 08:38:03 AM
I was looking at a late 2015 iMac , but it's true , the only user upgrade now is RAM , the SSD hard drive no longer user upgrade able , like current MacBook Pro retina they adopted a faster bus for the drive to provide faster throughput for rendering 4k video - but it's now soldered to the logic board

My next desktop Mac will be a hackintosh
or keep maintaining my "fleet" of 2011 era machines

https://www.macupgrades.co.uk/store/machine.php?name=macbook-pro17-uni

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Kenmac on September 15, 2016, 12:31:47 PM
Elantric, if you change your mind and want to go for a "pure" Mac, I've found that this place has pretty good prices on used Macs: http://www.macofalltrades.com/  BTW I didn't mention this before but one of the reasons I developed an interest in Macs is because I've been dual booting my Samsung laptop with Windows 7 and Mavericks for the past couple of years.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: pasha811 on September 15, 2016, 01:28:26 PM
Late 2013 'thin' iMac 21" here. Every day I scratch my head on why I bought the standard model with 5400 RPM drive. I will end up making an external SSD my boot drive to speed it up but to upgrade RAM you have to disassemble it completely.. and the problem is not to tear it apart but putting it back and glue the display (double tape).
I used to build my own Windows beige boxes in the past.. but I kinda lost my touch and I think it's not a good idea to tamper with it...Apple really it's all about form over function these days.. they are loosing their magic. So expensive.. no upgrade, you have to max them out since day one. I fear that the next iteration will have an USB-C port and nothing else.  ???
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: whippinpost91850 on September 15, 2016, 01:36:28 PM
Yep. It's getting Scary
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 15, 2016, 02:04:50 PM
QuoteLate 2013 'thin' iMac 21" here. Every day I scratch my head on why I bought the standard model with 5400 RPM drive. I will end up making an external SSD my boot drive to speed it up but to upgrade RAM you have to disassemble it completely.. and the problem is not to tear it apart but putting it back and glue the display (double tape).
This might help
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iMac_Intel_21.5%22_EMC_2638
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+21.5-Inch+EMC+2638+RAM+Replacement/28795
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+21.5-Inch+EMC+2638+Hard+Drive+Replacement/28781

but its not for those with weak knees
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7a/26/9a/7a269ad261244923fd70054d1e72b5a9.jpg)


QuoteApple really it's all about form over function these days.. they are loosing their magic.

I agree - I dont think its a coincidence that bulk of the magic died when Steve J died
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: ( . )( . ) on September 15, 2016, 02:06:59 PM
Sounds like it's time to start a hackintosh thread (if there isn't one already).
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 15, 2016, 02:15:36 PM

http://snazzylabs.com/article/skylake-mac-mini-hackintosh/

http://www.tonymacx86.com/buyersguide/august/2016

http://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/tonymacx86s-skylake-thunderbolt-3-test-build-ga-z170x-ud5-th-i5-6600k.199242/page-3
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on September 15, 2016, 03:35:12 PM
On the newer iMacs with thunderbolt ports you can at least have an external SSD if you go that route and get decent speed.  I've got the 27" i7 model (my wife ended up getting my older i7 iMac that I could have added an internal SSD to...).

I still miss the old tower case models where you could add a bunch of drives and extra ram (although my old G5 tower was maxed at 8 gigs, I have 32 on this iMac) and swap the video card.  I miss those days.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: rolandvg99 on September 15, 2016, 09:38:56 PM
I've been lurking around the Hackintosh scene for years, but I'm yet to take the plunge. I've always thought it seemed more like a "Hassletosh" (or maybe Hasselhoff) solution. Almost bought a Psystar, but Apple killed them off before they were half started.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mooncaine on September 15, 2016, 10:48:51 PM
Hasseltosh. Ha! Good one.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: pasha811 on September 15, 2016, 11:09:48 PM
Quote from: Elantric on August 21, 2016, 06:35:57 AM
There remains a bloat with El Capitan
I remain on Yosemite and I never buy new - current fave is a late 2011 17" MacBook Pro with I7 ( the last good Mac IMHO because the user can upgrade the Ram to 16gb and install Dual SSD drives or one SSD and one BluRay burner still has built in SPDIF I/O and 24 bit stereo Line level I/O and a PCI Expresscard34 expansion port I use for proprietary A/V hardware (Matrox/ RME)

They killed that goose after the passing of Steve Jobs

Seek one of those  while you can

if you want to work and be productive a long time , use a dedicated DAW / Music Computer and never connect to Internet. That's what the remaining pro studios enforce with their Protools computer.

Always use a separate computer to try new things or connect to the net , but by design you accept the pre planned obsolescence that occurs when you apply the latest updates of your OS and Apps

They want to make you unhappy with the performance loss after the latest bloat ware is installed which forces you to buy a newer faster computer every few years. Its by design

A gently used 2012 Mac Mini is Good and fast and affordable

My 2013 15" MacBook retina ( like all new MacBooks ) has soldered down Ram and no ability to upgrade. I have 8gb but that's not enough ( need 16gb minimum which is around $110 , but compare prices of a new Mac with 16GB RAM , Apple is laughing all the way to the bank with the premium they charge for RAM

Get an i5 or I7 with ability to upgrade RAM and hard drive

That restricts you to a very expensive new Mac that will be buggy in  9 weeks when OSX 10.12 arrives.

That's why I sought out a used Mac and saved $$

Can't wait to go 100% Linux

I am waiting for Linux as well. Although addicted to Ableton Live, this spinoff was doing Linux from day one and with Ubuntu Audio distribution pairs well. http://www.bitwig.com/en/bitwig-studio.html (http://www.bitwig.com/en/bitwig-studio.html). Of course no drivers for all of your hardware but you might find a way. If I reach a point where Apple pisses me off more than now.. I'll give it a try.

BTW, I have a Yosemite Image. Do I need to set my system date back to 2014 to install it?

Best
Pasha
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: aliensporebomb on September 16, 2016, 04:06:31 AM
Which is odd.  My first i7 iMac is actually faster under ElCap than under Yosemite.  The bench numbers prove it.  It's more efficient. 

I compared 10179 for multicore under 10.10 and 10268 under 10.11.  Just a bit snappier feeling UI.  I won't post all the numbers but they are all higher 10.11 than 10.10.

That's the 2.7 ghz 2nd generation i7 processor.

I haven't done a comparison with the more recent 4.0 ghz i7 iMac.







Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 16, 2016, 02:42:58 PM
QuoteWhich is odd.  My first i7 iMac is actually faster under ElCap than under Yosemite.  The bench numbers prove it.  It's more efficient. 

That may be - my issue is lack of El Capitan Drivers for some of my older hardware

on another topic

wanted to mention there are a few opportunities in the used / refurbished channel for 12.1" netbook size powerhouse windows laptop computers with intel i7 CPU and take 16GB ram and have SSD drive

This one is a highlight from 2014 (used to be $980) - often available now (2016) for $450-$550
https://www.manualowl.com/p/Dell/Latitude-E7240/Manual/201625
http://www.dell.com/support/manuals/us/en/19/latitude-e7240-ultrabook/LatE7240SFITS-v2/Latitude-E7240-%E2%80%94-Front-and-Back-View?guid=GUID-BE16A90B-76AC-4920-BC52-7FF22434A185&lang=en-us
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.notebookcheck.net%2Ffileadmin%2FNotebooks%2FDell%2FLatitude_12_E7250%2FDSC00542.jpg&hash=cca484ba51fcfbeaae67b6384ca656a2d2d0cc51)
DELL Latitude e7240 ultrabook with 1920x 1080 multitouch and m-SATA SSD
http://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/latitude-e7240-ultrabook_Owner's%20Manual_en-us.pdf

http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/latitude-e7240-ultrabook/pd
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-Latitude-12-E7250-Ultrabook-Review.135824.0.html
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2150502/dell-latitude-e7240-ultrabook-review-small-fast-and-elegant.html
(https://static.bhphoto.com/images/images750x750/1424451080000_1123187.jpg)



(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.notebookcheck.net%2Ffileadmin%2FNotebooks%2FDell%2FLatitude_12_E7250%2Fcsm_28_548588025f.jpg&hash=8369164817f3d8486257135647e55ef90c1cf8d8)
Has a docking port on the bottom  Supports the optional Dell PROE2X Plus expansion port replicator +1500 watt extrnal powersupply ($35 on Ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Docking-E-Port-Plus-replicator-for-latitude-0TYNR-0Y72NH-CY640-E6400-k09a-/261121566456?hash=item3ccc0ee6f8:g:NAMAAOSwGvhT8I4w
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2Fimages%2Fg%2FLmcAAOSw3xJXpP6A%2Fs-l1600.jpg&hash=13de4f01dc1f82dd95dc22bf0936a7cfcc91ae18)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71L%2BABrrmHL._SL1500_.jpg)
(https://cdn6.bigcommerce.com/s-r4tr0/products/162088/images/383597/PRO2X_Labeled__93347.1463009083.1280.1280__53351.1463009606.1280.1280__29202.1463010670.1280.1280.jpg?c=2)
2 x display / video - DisplayPort - 20 pin DisplayPort
2 x display / video - DVI-Digital - 24 pin digital DVI
1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
1 x serial
1 x parallel
1 x keyboard
1 x mouse
1 x USB
1 x USB / eSATA
1 x network - RJ-45
1 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5mm
1 x audio - line-out/headphones - mini-phone 3.5mm

and hackintosh-able
http://forum.osxlatitude.com/index.php?/topic/6073-latitude-e7240/

https://www.dell.com/community/Laptops-General-Read-Only/mSATA-SSD-in-WWAN-slot-in-e7240/td-p/4441260

(https://vjauj58549.i.lithium.com/community/s/legacyfs/online/en/communityserver.discussions.components.files/3518/dell_e7240_msata_1.jpg)


Recently upgrade with 2nd SSD drive.

Just keep the pictures here - hope it helps guys out there.


mSATA SSD with screws


(https://vjauj58549.i.lithium.com/community/s/legacyfs/online/en/communityserver.discussions.components.files/3518/05_2014-07-03%2010.44.33.jpg)

(https://vjauj58549.i.lithium.com/community/s/legacyfs/online/en/communityserver.discussions.components.files/3518/WhatsApp%20Image%202016-09-02%20at%2016.15.53.jpeg)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 20, 2016, 07:33:28 PM
The Dell Latitude E7240  arrived  - its a nice 12.1" size and running Win7 Pro 64 its fast and powerful - retiring a HP mini 110 10" netbook
https://rutgers.forums.rivals.com/threads/ot-performance-and-windows-update-issues-on-windows-7-machine.108025/

Also it can be setup for OSX
http://www.ebay.pl/itm/Dell-E7240-Hackintosh-Laptop-8GB-256GB-SSD-Haswell-i5-4300u-2-5GHz-OSX-Yosemite-/121612244882
QuoteCurrently installed OS X Yosemite using Clover EFI.
Everything is fully functional including screen brightness and volume buttons.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on October 28, 2016, 01:14:05 PM

https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-turns-a-thrill-into-a-chill-relationship-on-rocks/

Apple turns thrill into chill and our relationship is on the rocks
Technically Incorrect: After Thursday's MacBook event, why does this Apple user's relationship with the company suddenly feel stale? It's complicated.

Tech Culture
October 28, 2016
7:05 AM PDT
Chris Matyszczyk mugshot
by Chris Matyszczyk
@ChrisMatyszczyk

Technically Incorrect offers a slightly twisted take on the tech that's taken over our lives.


A touch of complacency setting in?
CNET
When you've been in a long-term relationship, complacency can set in like mold in a Florida apartment.

It's rarely mean-spirited. It's just a sense of boredom, of finding each other less than inspiring. When you know too much, you start caring too little.

I fear that's happening between Apple and humans. (I've used Apple laptops for more than 20 years.)

It used to be that Apple would find the human mind and its quirks just as exciting as humans would find Apple and its brave, minimalistic pretensions. Cupertino would find surprising, entertaining ways of making its machines enticing.

Now, it dangles a promise and you end up feeling dongled. And when you're feeling dongled, you don't necessarily have the same expectations as you used to. You sense something's up, but you're not sure what it is.

These days, humans like me look upon each new Apple show and can't find the thrill.

We see what's changed. All too often, though, those changes look like the product of bored minds meeting a deadline rather than excited minds who want to have dinner with us and see our eyes light up at some new invention.

I know I'm supposed to be excited by the Touch Bar on the new MacBook Pro. I want to be. But the $1,799 price and the increased need for dongling this and dongling that make it seem a touch less deserving of my drool.

Apple tells me that it takes courage to remove a headphone jack on a phone and then keeps it on a computer. Did that take courage too? Or is the courage in the shilling, rather than the willing to excite customers?

I'm confused. I fear Apple's seeing someone else. And it isn't the customer.

Cupertino removes the MagSafe charging functionality that's both clever and useful and replaces it with something that to me is less clever, less useful and more annoying. Why? Does it have plans that don't include me?

Just like in any long-term relationship, it feels like Apple's stopped thinking about those who love it and has begun to think a touch too much about itself.

More dongles will get mislaid. More profits will be made thanks to the mislaid dongles.

And now you need so many dongles for so many different purposes.

If I want to upgrade my MacBook Air -- and mine is still a lovely thing -- I have to pay a minimum of $1,499 for a little more annoyance in the charging and the dongling. (Yes, I know the MacBook Air is still on sale, but the lower-spec MacBook Pro is supposed to be the upgrade.)

If Apple had at least added its Touch Bar to the Air that might have been something to make me believe it still cared. Now I'm thinking of going through Apple's things to see what's going on.


It's quite painful that, after all the years, I find myself moved by neither the newest Apple phone nor its newest computer. I can't even plug one into the other without dongling, adapting and cabling anew.

It all used to be so simple, our relationship. It just isn't anymore. It could be just a phase we're going through before we rediscover the excitement, each for the other.

Then again, you know what it really means when someone on Facebook says their relationship status is complicated, don't you? It means they're not happy.



--
You'll need $250 in dongles to upgrade to the new MacBook Pro
Jacob Siegal,BGR News Thu, Oct 27 12:26 PM PDT Comments  Like  Reblog on Tumblr  Share  Tweet  Email
(https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/GL6Cb07SjCzFuO3WVNu_hw--/YXBwaWQ9eW15O3c9NjQwO3E9NzU7c209MQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/News/BGR_News/macbook-pro-dongles.jpg?quality=98&strip=all)
Apple's new MacBook Pro is stunning. It's sleeker and smaller than any MBP in history, and it features an OLED touch bar that might make touchscreen computer displays obsolete. But there's one huge problem with the new MacBook Pro: It has four Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and nothing else.



You might be asking, "how am I supposed to connect my iPhone to my new MacBook Pro?" The answer is that you're going to have to buy a dongle.

Alright, no big deal, but you're also an avid photographer, and the easiest way to upload your photos is by sticking your SD card into the slot on your laptop. Unfortunately, there is no such slot on the new MacBook Pro, so there's dongle #2.

What about an Ethernet port, or an HDMI port or a VGA port or even a port for your old Thunderbolt 2 devices? You guessed it — you're going to need to pick up adapters with those ports if you want to connect devices that require them.

After searching through Apple's online store, I managed to find five different adapters that should get you back on track. There's the USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter ($69.00) with an HDMI port and a standard USB port. Then there's the SanDisk Extreme Pro SD UHS-II Card USB-C Reader ($49.95) for your SD cards. You might also need the Belkin USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter ($34.95), because wireless internet isn't always dependable.

Oh, and who could forget the Belkin USB-C to VGA Adapter ($39.95), for those who prefer to use other monitors. Last, but certainly not least, how are you going to connect your old Thunderbolt 2 devices without the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter ($49.00). And depending on what you want to do with your MacBook Pro, you might need even more dongles.

Adding all of those dongles and adapters to my bag at Apple.com, the total came out to $264.40. But hey, at least there's free shipping!


https://www.yahoo.com/tech/ll-250-dongles-upgrade-macbook-pro-192654999.html
(https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/GXJGjhTCuIopbQ.8H229pg--/YXBwaWQ9eW15O3c9NjQwO3E9NzU7c209MTtpbD1wbGFuZQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/News/BGR_News/apple-thunderbolt-3-dongles.png.cf.jpg)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on November 23, 2016, 05:19:55 PM
Apple touchscreen concept looks familiar
https://youtu.be/OrDqaQvOQqA
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/ridiculous-concept-shows-why-apple-never-made-touchscreen-201722185.html


(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.notebookreview.com%2Fattachments%2Facer-aspire-r7-ezel-hinge-modes-jpg.96700%2F&hash=617eaf2beb577664066dc1378c3eb0315c3022b4)
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcreatedigitalmusic.com%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F06%2Facer_r7_ezel-640x480.jpg&hash=a6c9751be928d5bfd8ea272331549a1ef1be09dd)
2013 Acer R7
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=8917.msg64020#msg64020
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on February 24, 2017, 12:21:20 PM
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-thunderbolt-dock/
Just an Update

I'm working with a 2016 Dell XPS 15 9550-1000SLV

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201758224169?rmvSB=true


Intel Core i7-6700HQ 2.6GHz Quad-Core, 16GB DDR4, 1TB SSD
15.6" UHD touchscreen (3840x2160), 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M
Thunderbolt, 2xUSB 3.0, HDMI, 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1, Windows 10



Discovered that the gap between Mac OSX and Windows 10 ( with the right machine) is getting very narrow - in 2017

The big hurdle Ive had with Windows is the lack of a "global Screen Zoom" that works in every app.

Just to be clear - For years there has been the "CTRL +" for Zoom In, "CTRL -" for Zoom Out - that works on Web Browsers

But Ive discovered that Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 computers with a recent NVidia Video GPU co-processor (GeForce GTX 960M) support the one thing Ive been seeking for years

In any Windows Application, I can press the "Windows key" and "+" and Screen Zoom In - centered on the current cursor Arrow position
In any Windows Application, I can press the "Windows key" and "-" and Screen Zoom Out - centered on the current cursor Arrow position

Yipee!!!

Just as I do with my iMac !

https://youtu.be/yR2jJ1zuB6Y


--


https://youtu.be/0U-mhEivvqE

https://youtu.be/PUSBm1KZZp8


http://blog.parts-people.com/category/dell-xps-repair-manuals/xps-15-9550/
http://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/xps-15-9550-laptop_Service%20Manual_en-us.pdf
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on February 28, 2017, 11:50:15 AM
https://thunderbolttechnology.net/products
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on March 02, 2017, 05:31:51 PM
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/music-computers/1055434-best-laptop-music-production.html
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on May 18, 2017, 04:31:22 PM
http://www.surfacedstudio.com/blog/best-computer-for-after-effects
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: shawnb on May 21, 2017, 09:26:09 AM
At the other end of the spectrum, I'll share a few thoughts on my computer... 

I bought one of the very first i7s in 2008.  8GB.  Win7 64-bit.  This remains my primary computer. 

I've had no problems ever running any of the FTP software.  I've had no problems running the synths standalone or in VST mode.  I use SONAR as my primary DAW with FTP - no real issues (once I figured out how to get it all running...). 

I have several hobbies, including photography and music.  It is not at all uncommon for me to run:
  -  SONAR, playing back our Friday night jams, 4+ tracks, about 20 VSTs
  -  While simultaneously editing raw photos (50MB each from my D800) in Adobe Lightroom
  -  While simultaneously uploading sports photos to Flickr.com in the background (https://www.flickr.com/photos/shawnbulen/)

I have always run anti-virus (Trend) and anti-malware (Malwarebytes) to keep it safe since it is always on the internet. 

My boys play League of Legends on this same computer (yes, I shudder in fear at the risk there...).  When they were younger, I set this same computer up to be a Minecraft server and they would play with their classmates over the internet using this computer as the host. 

If I need to, I can get 40 tracks & scores of VSTs in SONAR.  (Just don't run anything else...  Also, "freezing" tracks is your friend...)

I have far too many drivers installed - GR55, VG99, Darkfire RIP driver (still works - for now!), Edirol UA-101, etc.,etc., etc...   

Yes, I live on the edge, & have Windows Update enabled, mainly to stay current on security patches since it's on the internet. 

My latest hobby is contributing to open source software over on Github.  For test purposes, I use this same computer as a WAMP server, running Apache, MySql, PHP etc.  I am contributing to the next version of the SMF bulletin board software - the software that runs this forum.   (https://github.com/sbulen)

After 9 years, I'm starting to think about replacing my computer.  Once in a while, it's a little slow...   

I guess my point is that computers have been really, really powerful for quite some time now, with sufficient power to run any & all of the software we talk about on this forum.   
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mchad on June 07, 2017, 11:56:19 PM

What's the latest PC music comp spec? Home studio that is. Not pro.

I believe settling on a CPU then dictates the other components? I can only afford an Intel i5. And even then it wouldn't be the top spec of that line. Sooo...

- intel i5
- asus mobo
- 16g ram ddr4 2133
- ssd for OS and apps - Samsung?
- regular HD for audio content

Could possibly get a copy of Win7. Or is win10 now audio ready?

As for case and power supply I will pay attention to it but not over think it.


Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: alexmcginness on June 08, 2017, 05:59:55 AM
Why limit yourself as to this is what I can afford so I can only get an i5? How much do you have to spend on a computer? My last machine i bought was a refurbished HP z800 with two 3.05ghz hexcore processors and 48gigs of ram for $650 US. The HP machines are built like tanks and very easily up gradable and fixed if need be. Theres plenty of them on Ebay which is where I bought the first of three Z800s I now own. The second one I paid about $700 US for and it is also a dual  hex core with 72 gigs of ram.
  The real question I think is," how much horsepower can I get for X amount of money?"
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: HAMERMAN409 on June 08, 2017, 10:25:17 AM
>Just to be clear - For years there has been the "CTRL +" for Zoom In, "CTRL -" for Zoom Out - that works on Web Browsers
>
>But Ive discovered that Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 computers with a recent NVidia Video GPU co-processor (GeForce GTX 960M) support the one thing Ive been seeking for years
>
>In any Windows Application, I can press the "Windows key" and "+" and Screen Zoom In - centered on the current cursor Arrow position
>In any Windows Application, I can press the "Windows key" and "-" and Screen Zoom Out - centered on the current cursor Arrow position

Didn't know about that one. In a lot of applications CTRL+Mouse Scroll Wheel is a nice intuitive zoom in/out control.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mchad on June 13, 2017, 08:01:40 PM
Quote from: alexmcginness on June 08, 2017, 05:59:55 AM
Why limit yourself as to this is what I can afford so I can only get an i5? How much do you have to spend on a computer? My last machine i bought was a refurbished HP z800 with two 3.05ghz hexcore processors and 48gigs of ram for $650 US. The HP machines are built like tanks and very easily up gradable and fixed if need be. Theres plenty of them on Ebay which is where I bought the first of three Z800s I now own. The second one I paid about $700 US for and it is also a dual  hex core with 72 gigs of ram.
  The real question I think is," how much horsepower can I get for X amount of money?"

Thanks for your insights. It's a huge playground to play in and all sorts of scenarios to consider. In terms of my needs and budget I'm restricted in some ways so I'm going to research components see what that looks like. So far the motherboard has figured highly in the calculations. Looking for it to present with USB 3.1, Type C and M.2 SSD drive facilities. This is possibly technology not  required right now but I'll have to use the next comp for several years. Who knows which way the audio industry will go in future with regards to data connection types. Anyways, researching is fun and I get a PC parts knowledge update every few years. FWIW I've seen regular reference to Skylake CPUs, 100 series mobos, SSD drives (Samsung) and DDR4 2133 ram (16 gig?) is considered more than adequate for home studio workloads. Depending on what spec I end up with a budget DAW PC in Australia is gonna be getting up at $1000AUD. Which ends up being near $700US.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 13, 2017, 08:29:51 PM
I should mention that besides audio, I still edit a lot of locally shot video or work on the audio portion of the video, so I need a bit more performance than a typical audio only DAW
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on July 06, 2017, 02:58:07 PM
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12G1VTFWkTL5tb8nxUAtnDHwTLyya9I3Vw-OXXrIN4e4/edit#gid=934244290
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on July 25, 2017, 08:37:35 AM
http://cdm.link/2017/07/open-thread-backup-archive-work/
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on July 28, 2017, 10:21:59 PM
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072KLFBPW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://youtu.be/9CTpIpJXtvM

https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/how-do-i-install-macos-sierra-on-asus-g752vs.210451/
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mchad on July 31, 2017, 10:42:57 PM
Handy info if you're researching a PC DAW build.

https://support.image-line.com/knowledgebase/base.php?ans=214 (https://support.image-line.com/knowledgebase/base.php?ans=214)

In my PC parts procurement project so far I've gotten a motherboard (Gigabyte H270 Gaming 3), an SSD (Samsung Evo 960 250gb) and a hard drive (Seagate Barracuda 1TB). CPU (? maybe an i7 7700), RAM (16gb DDR4) and an OS (? Win10 Home retail) to come.


---
What computer should I get for music creation?
views: 407528
This article is to focus your purchases to provide the most performance for music production. Real-time audio processing and synthesis are key, a fast CPU and an audio interface that has a manufacturer supplied ASIO driver are your top priorities.

Laptop vs Desktop/Tower

Generally laptops offer less power/performance compared to desktops at the same price-point. Laptops also limit your options for expansion and upgrades. Of course, laptops can be used but you should have a specific requirement to be mobile with your music production/performance. If not, definitely go the desktop route. NOTE: By desktop we mean a 'full height tower' style case that will probably live under your desk (see Quiet PC below). The optimum case will fit full-height PCI/e expansion cards for greatest flexibility. You need room for at least - 2 x hard drives, a full size graphic card & a soundcard.  Suggestion: Buy a relatively inexpensive netbook for mobile computing, and basic FL Studio idea-sketching, and get a good desktop PC for music production.  The combined cost of these two will likely be similar to one laptop powerful enough to replace a desktop.

Operating System

FL Studio will work on Windows XP upward. We recommend Windows 10 64 Bit, Windows 8 64 Bit or Windows 7 64 Bit. Note: Windows 8 or 10 is required if you want to use more than the dual-touch available with Windows 7.

Specifications (in descending order of importance)

CPU: The CPU is the primary factor in your ability to run FL Studio with large complex projects. Yes FL Studio utilizes multi-core CPUs but more is not better. Read the section: 'The logic of audio processing' in the manual to learn why. In light of this, the best value for performance is usually to be had 2-3 levels down from the top models. As of 2017 these are Intel i5 and i7 Intel processors, specifically the i7-7700K, i7-4790K, i7-6800K, i7-6700K, i7-5820K, i7-4770K. i5-4960K or i5-5675C, i5-6600K, i5-4670K, i5-4670K or i5-4690. The overall winners are: i7-7700K &  i7-4790K (these CPU have: 1. Reasonable prices < $500, 2. Reasonable heat output - 88-95W TDP and 3. fast single-core performance, win-win-win). Moving to the 'top of the range' CPUs will increase prices by 200%-400% with no improvement in FL Studio performance. We don't recommend spending more than $500 on a CPU! Somewhere between $250 to $400 is usually the sweet spot.

Choose on your own - Search for your CPU's performance score on CPU Benchmark. Here's how we grade multi-core scores for CPUs with 6 or less cores - Weak: Less than 3,999. Medium: 4000 to 6,999. Strong: 7000 to 9,999. Very strong more than 10,000. HOWEVER fast single-core performance is still key when audio processing. So you should look for the fastest single-core performance scores, in a package with at least 4 or more physical cores. For example: An 8 core CPU (14,400) with a single core score of 1800 is less well suited to music production than a 4 core CPU (12,000) with a single core score of 2600, since much of what happens with audio-processing can't be computed in parallel.

Psychology - When comparing benchmarks, a 10% performance gain is 'just noticeable', you won't be impressed with this sort of improvement, so don't bother. 20-30% increases in speed are generally needed before a CPU feels noticably faster in use (for a while). Of course, the bigger the percentage jump, the happier you will be.

CPU Laptops:  The same principles apply as above. Aim for a CPU benchmark score of 6,000+ from a quad-core CPU. Two great laptop CPUs are the i7–4720HQ and  i7-4810MQ. Chose your CPU then go looking for laptops with that spec.

CPU performance reality check - Show respect for your CPU and don't throw 30+ high-cpu load plugins at it and then wonder why it chokes. Audio processing, as performed by DAW software, is one of the most CPU intensive tasks done in real-time on computers today. It's more CPU intensive than 3D games, that offload a lot of work to the video card GPU. Each audio stream needs real-time calculation of at least 44100 samples PER second multiplied by the number of plugins you are running multiplied by their own internal shenanigans. But, all hope is not lost, limitations breed creativity, work with what you have and rejoice in the democratization of modern music production.

Audio Interface (ASIO): Of almost equal importance to the CPU is that your soundcard / audio interface supports ASIO drivers. ASIO is a software device driver standard that allows FL Studio direct access to the soundcard rather than communicating via the Windows operating system (as with the standard Windows driver). This will mean a significant performance advantage when running FL Studio. Look for a sound card for which the manufacturer has written custom ASIO drivers (check the specifications for mention of ASIO or ASIO2 support). NOTE: ASIO is all about software to hardware communication efficiency and performance here has little to do with the capabilities of the underlying hardware.

Where possible, avoid internal/on-mother-board sound-chips as we can't guarantee that the ASIO4ALL generic driver will work with these (although it usually does). If you don't have the specific need to record external instruments / vocals (where you should buy a dedicated music production oriented audio interface), we suggest a Soundblaster Xfi Titanium (PCIe) OR the Sound Blaster Z PCIe  (make sure whatever you get has ASIO at 44.1 kHz 16 and 24 Bit). You may be surprised we are recommending a consumer soundcards, however the ASIO drivers are excellent, they have very wide compatibility from Windows XP to Windows 10 64 bit, plays nicely with the widest variety of Windows software and the A/D & D/A converters in it are excellent. See also 'Choosing a soundcard'.

RAM: 8 GB is a comfortable minimum, 16 GB is enough and 32 Gb is only necessary if you typically use lots of sample based instruments (each running Multi-Gb orchestral libraries & ROMpler style plugins for example). Installing more than 32 GB of RAM is unnecessary for almost all music production purposes, spend the money on your CPU, audio interface, video card or plugins. When installing 8 or 16 GB of RAM make sure you do so in a way that leaves a pair of RAM slots free for future upgrades (RAM usually installs in pairs).

Hard Disk Drive (HDD): SSD (Solid State Disk) vs Traditional (Magnetic disk)? SSD's are great for achieving fast boot times, initial program loading and with programs that thrash the HDD (FL Studio does not thrash your HDD). The biggest factor for music production HDD's is hosting audio files and sound libraries. For most users will need a 1+ TB HDD. While a SSD will load projects faster, you don't load/save projects all that often so we rank a SSD fairly low on this list of priorities. Any traditional 7200 RPM HDD should serve you well, given large SSD's are still prohibitively expensive. The smart solution for now is to have a ~250 GB SSD 'boot drive' (holding the OS + programs) and a 1 or 2 TB magnetic HDD for your personal data.

Video Card: Look for a video card with two DVI or some combination of DVI + HDMI + Display Port outputs (see also Quiet PC below). This will allow you to run two video monitors. Any modern Video card will perform similarly. FL Studio work-flow is significantly improved with two (or more) video monitors.

OS: Windows 7, 8 and 10 x 64 Bit are all known to work very well with FL Studio and, more importantly, peripheral devices. There is no performance or operational advantage for FL Studio by moving from the cheaper 'Home' editions to the 'Ultimate/Professional' edition. Windows 8 or 10 will be required if you want more than dual-touch as it delivers full multi-touch performance.

Quiet PC

Having a quiet PC is very important since you need to hear all the sounds in your mix. We recommend browsing the following sites, they have lots of useful information and can be used to specify components in your shopping list even if you don't build your PC yourself.

A comprehensive review site is - www.silentpcreview.com

The following commercial websites are provided for your information. Both offer pre-made and custom build quiet/silent PC solutions and have international shipping: www.quietpc.com (UK based with global shipping) and www.endpcnoise.com (USA based with global shipping)

Generally the main sources of noise are case fans, video card fans, power supply fans and the CPU fan. Mechanical hard drives will make clicking sounds, consider SSDs (Solid State Drive), although very quiet mechanical drives are available and represent much better value for money. Simply opting for low noise versions of each component in your PC need not cost any more money and can have a huge impact on the noise performance.

Setup

The FL Studio manual has a thorough section here on maximizing the performance of your Windows based PC when running FL Studio.

Reality Check - Please take responsibility for what you are doing!

1. OPTIMIZE: Make sure you really have worked carefully through the optimization settings posted here. 2. RESPECT: Don't throw 100's of plugins at your CPU wonder why it chokes. Audio processing, as performed by DAW software, is one of the most CPU intensive things done in real-time on computers today. It's often more CPU intensive than even 3D games, that offload a lot of work to the video card GPU. Each audio stream needs real-time calculation of at least 44100 samples PER second multiplied by how many plugins you are running multiplied by their own internal shenanigans. 3. FEAR: Not all 3rd party developers fully optimize their plugins and whatever plugin you are using may just be a nasty and or buggy CPU hog. 4. HISTORY: Your grandfather used a four-track tape recorder and made albums like A Hard Days Night and Aftermath that changed the face of modern music. Even the lowliest of modern PCs will put that 4 track to shame. Limitations breed creativity, work with what you have and rejoice in the democratization of modern music production.

Summary

Just in case it was not clear, the information above basically says. 1. Choose the fastest CPU you can afford (this is critical). 2. Make sure you have an ASIO Audio Interface and 3. Add at least 8 GB of RAM but no more than 32. Build your PC around those elements. 

Inspiration
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on August 17, 2017, 06:56:10 PM
Backup test Compare
https://www.raymond.cc/blog/10-commercial-disk-imaging-software-features-and-backuprestore-speed-comparison/2/

http://www.todo-backup.com/products/


AOMEI Backupper
http://www.backup-utility.com/

http://www.drive-image.com/
http://www.drive-image.com/Drive_Image_Startup_Hardware.shtml
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on August 25, 2017, 05:26:52 PM
https://www.badcaps.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=8b1bdf622bd48db4c2c22840677d50d4&f=23

http://notebookschematics.com/category/schematics/compal/page/3/
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: chlorinemist on August 26, 2017, 03:39:26 AM
3 GHz, 10-core Xeon E5 trash can 2013 mac pro going strong over here. No complaints. I would note however that the performance boost I gained from upgrading the CPU from 4 cores is not as dramatic as I expected. It helps a bit with high track count DAW projects but I'm still more than capable of overloading the CPU if im not careful. And working in 96KHz is, perhaps most surprising of all (to me), still not realistic for anything except small projects
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 16, 2017, 06:26:15 PM
(https://des.gbtcdn.com/uploads/2015/201508/heditor/201508131720207765.jpg)

(https://gloimg.gbtcdn.com/gb/2015/201512/source-img/1448905369831-P-2951870.jpg)
(https://des.gbtcdn.com/uploads/2015/201511/heditor/201511261503418165.jpg)
https://www.gearbest.com/laptop-accessories/pp_229358.html

(https://gloimg.gbtcdn.com/gb/pdm-product-pic/Electronic/2016/09/30/source-img/20160930143659_60966.jpg)
https://www.gearbest.com/laptop-accessories/pp_229101.html

(https://gloimg.gbtcdn.com/gb/2015/201512/goods-img/1498121592348572820.jpg)
(https://des.gbtcdn.com/uploads/2015/201508/heditor/201508131720208805.jpg)
https://www.gearbest.com/laptop-accessories/pp_229356.html
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 17, 2017, 12:53:47 AM
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/migrating-new-music-pc

https://nofilmschool.com/2017/06/hackintosh-101-beginners-guide-to-building-your-own-4k-editing-machine
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 26, 2017, 09:58:55 AM
My arcane hurdle - trying to get Firewire audio interfaces to work on a decent Laptop PC running Windows 8.1.

Expresscard Firewire adapter are reliable, but Laptop PC's with ExpressCard slots are rare in 2017

an arcane adapter path that is supposed to work is using:


(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81ml16FfV2L._SL1500_.jpg)
Startech USB-C to Thunderbolt 2 adapter
https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Thunderbolt-Adapter-Compatible-DisplayPort/dp/B019FPJDQ2

(https://static.bhphoto.com/images/images1000x1000/1438708004000_1173741.jpg)
> Apple MD464LL/A Thunderbolt 2 to Firewire adapter

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41s3Fy634sL.jpg)
Firewire 800 to Firewire 400 cable

(https://img.audiofanzine.com/image.php?lang=en&identifier=id&size=normal&module=product&product_id=151993)
> Firewire Audio Interface ( MOTU 828MKII)   

With MOTU Windows Firewire Audio Driver
http://motu.com/techsupport/technotes/driverlog
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: vmarks on September 29, 2017, 11:21:09 AM
I was waiting to see if there was going to be a MOTU unit at the end of this chain.

I once saw a computer that had a stack of upgrade sockets on its CPU, originally a 286 equipped with adapters to make it accept a 386, that adapted to accept 486, and that adapted to accept a Pentium. Imagine, if you will, a stack of adapters as thick as a hamburger at the 9 Dollar hamburger joint. Unsurprisingly, it would not boot, but did get nice and warm, generating an awful smell in the process.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on September 29, 2017, 12:10:00 PM
Quote from: vmarks on September 29, 2017, 11:21:09 AM
I was waiting to see if there was going to be a MOTU unit at the end of this chain.



Other times I'm still capturing SD video from a  Firewire Sony VX-2100 
or connecting a Matrox Video system or Firewire Audio mixer or Gibson RIP Audio box for Dark Fire.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on October 27, 2017, 03:27:28 PM
Reference
http://blackaddr.com/build-a-live-software-rig/
http://blackaddr.com/build-a-live-software-rig/part-2/
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fblackaddr.com%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F01%2Fcase_front_num_1920x512.jpg&hash=16af5fb962a3801772d9d3439fb2b2adefb111c8)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: vtgearhead on October 27, 2017, 04:20:45 PM
Quote from: vmarks on September 29, 2017, 11:21:09 AM
I was waiting to see if there was going to be a MOTU unit at the end of this chain.

I once saw a computer that had a stack of upgrade sockets on its CPU, originally a 286 equipped with adapters to make it accept a 386, that adapted to accept 486, and that adapted to accept a Pentium. Imagine, if you will, a stack of adapters as thick as a hamburger at the 9 Dollar hamburger joint. Unsurprisingly, it would not boot, but did get nice and warm, generating an awful smell in the process.

I remember those from back in the day when desktop machines cost a bundle.  You were luck if even one level of adaptation worked.  No chance for that conglomeration.  But, I would like to see pictures!

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on November 16, 2017, 02:55:55 PM
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/best-laptops-for-music-production/

https://nofilmschool.com/2017/06/hackintosh-101-beginners-guide-to-building-your-own-4k-editing-machine
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on November 29, 2017, 03:04:09 PM
Samsung Chromebook Plus - $286 refurbished at BLINQ.COM

( its gone up in price

https://www.blinq.com/detail/electronics/laptops-tablets/pc-laptops-netbooks/samsung-12-3-chromebook-2ghz-4gb-32gb-platinum-silver-xe513c24-k01us/1360623?condition=like-new-open-box


(https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cySaD6jqmSiEPltqtb4RLryCZwc=/0x213:2039x1360/2070x1164/filters:focal(0x0:2039x1359):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53180543/vpavic_010217_1434_0249_v1.0.0.jpg)
(https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7951141/vpavic_010217_1434_0158_v1.0.jpg)

didnt think I would like it  - but its already proved its worth for email and general work / net browsing / Amazon Videos

I save my Google Docs in the cloud, and can access them anywhere  - on my LG V20 phone, or any computer with Chrome Browser

Even works with all the HTML 5 Music apps too.
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=4777.0


Runs Android apps, battery lasts all day, and its fast 
https://www.androidcentral.com/these-are-chromebooks-can-run-android-apps

and soon some Windows apps
https://www.codeweavers.com/products/crossover-chromeos/?utm_campaign=CHROMEOS-2017-1;utm_source=campaign;utm_medium=email


including RCF M18 GUI
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rcf.mixremote
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rLyigwa69Q26Tk--_3YdV8LioZpRDFcun5sc0DQ525KVZlDTWGwXI7CB474gq8doxg=h900-rw)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EvwxMkFANuKFUiX6S37JHOSYlnaIzvv0jOKWemC2Mt77lqHiHx9mI207y0eHrRZlUqE=h900-rw)
https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/10/14570480/samsung-chromebook-plus-laptop-review




https://www.reddit.com/r/chromeos/comments/5tprxm/under_the_hood_samsung_chromebook_plus_photo_in/?st=jalnmjhd&sh=95f8ef63
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/chromebook-central/Saf5dJE6ZCs

(https://i.redditmedia.com/pqo7cUAoyl3JJBptlGjGiSv_bQFhByXaWZbS89tFaEI.jpg?w=978&s=aacdb18f5956f5af9d6a18d4dcb1b450)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on November 29, 2017, 04:50:59 PM
https://www.techlicious.com/guide/the-best-cloud-storage-services/
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on January 03, 2018, 10:19:11 AM
Good up to date article by Peter Kirn  on life with a Windows 10 laptop
http://cdm.link/2017/12/long-term-hands-razer-blade-14-creative-laptop/
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on February 08, 2018, 11:09:55 AM
https://forum.hddguru.com/index.php?sid=ba5d585901bad20e8a8369bdce91f314
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on April 16, 2018, 09:45:14 AM
http://cdm.link/2018/04/adobe-dropped-quicktime-effects-vjs-looking-solution/

Adobe drops QuickTime support, as visual artists look for a solution
Peter Kirn - April 5, 2018  18 Comments     
The story: Apple leaves QuickTime securities unpatched on Windows; Adobe drops support in their product line. But that leaves creative people stuck – including live visual artists. And now they're looking for solutions.

First, here's the sequence of events – and if you've been watching the general mayhem in the US government, you'd be forgiven for missing what was happening with, like, QuickTime for Windows security.

First, from the US Department of Homeland Security (really, even if the headline looks more like Macworld):

Apple Ends Support for QuickTime for Windows; New Vulnerabilities Announced [US-CERT Alert (TA16-105A)]

And from a private security firm:

Urgent Call to Action: Uninstall QuickTime for Windows Today [TrendMicro]

To follow that advice, you can perform that installation on Windows as follower (macOS users aren't impacted):

Uninstall QuickTime 7 for Windows

That is, Apple had already dropped QuickTime for Windows development, including fixing security vulnerabilities – and this known one is bad enough to finally uninstall the software. It's a Web-based vulnerability, so not particularly relevant to us making visuals, but significant nonetheless.

Developers should already have begun removing dependencies on QuickTime some time ago. But because of the variety of formats artists support, this starts to break some specific workflows. So here's Adobe:

QuickTime on Windows [Adobe blog]

And before you get too smug, Mac users, you can expect some bumps in the road as cross-platform software generally tries to get out of QuickTime as a dependency. That could get messy, again, with so many formats out there. But let's deal with Windows and Adobe software.

What works: uncompressed, DV, IMX, MPEG2, XDCAM, h264, JPEG, DNxHD, DNxHR, AVCI and Cineform), plus "DV and Cineform in .mov wrappers."

What breaks: Among others, Apple ProRes (the big one), plus "Animation (import and export), DNxHD/HR (export) as would workflows where growing QuickTime files are being used (although we strongly advise using MXF for this wherever possible)."

Moreover, Adobe is dropping QuickTime 7 codec support on all April releases of their full CC product line:

Dropped support for Quicktime 7 era formats and codecs [Adobe support]

Adobe advises customers to move to newer codecs, but that isn't always an option. PC World have a tough appraisal of the situation (one I'm sure Adobe could live without):

Adobe on QuickTime: You're up the creek without a paddle [PC World]

That's by Gordon Mah Ung, the editor who has been around this business long enough not to mince words.

David Lublin of Vidvox writes CDM to let us know that in the short term, this also impacts Adobe software support for their high performance, open Hap format (plus DXV and many other legacy codecs VJs may tend to use). I also spoke with Mark Conilgio of Isadora, who said he was sad to see QuickTime support go, and that it would prevent cross-platform file support, Isadora 3 will remove QuickTime dependencies and work with native file formats on the respective platforms.

Hey, Adobe: Get Hap!
A silver lining: this may be a chance to "shake the tree" and convince Adobe to add native support for Hap, a high performance format that leverages your GPU to delivery snappy playback, ideal for live and interactive visual applications. And given that's an open source format, and unlike anything else available, that'd be great. There's already a proposal online to make that (hap)pen:


VIDVOX
@VIDVOX
It is probably a long shot, but it looks like someone started a petition to get Adobe to natively support the HAP codecs for export...https://adobe-video.uservoice.com/forums/911311-after-effects/suggestions/33853372-support-the-hap-codec ...

6:24 AM - Apr 5, 2018

Support the HAP codec
The HAP codec, which is massive in the live video industry, is no longer supported. Please bring it back? It would be very nice.

adobe-video.uservoice.com
22
See VIDVOX's other Tweets
Twitter Ads info and privacy
https://adobe-video.uservoice.com/forums/911311-after-effects/suggestions/33853372-support-the-hap-codec

Hap was built in collaboration with talented developer Tom Butterworth. And Adobe has incorporated his code before: in 2016, Character Animator added support for Syphon, the inter-app visual texture pipeline on Mac:
https://www.adobe.com/products/character-animator/features.html

Work with Hap right now
For Hap support – and you really should be working with it – here are some immediate solutions.

Encoding to Hap from the command line using FFmpeg

Converting movies to the Hap video codec

But I'd love to see Adobe support the format. It's just a codec; there's no real UX requirement, and the code is there and flexibly licensed.

Meanwhile, perhaps this is a nice illustration of how important it is that live visual art move to open, cross-platform de facto standards. It makes work and art future proof and portable, and removes some overhead for developers making both free and commercial tools. And given that computers are based on many of the same architectures, it makes sense for the ways we store video and express graphical information to be portable and standardized.

For Vidvox's part, there's a nice summary on their page of what they support – and a lot of the formats they're championing can be used by developers on Windows and Linux, not just macOS:

Open Source At VIDVOX


https://vdmx.vidvox.net/blog/opensource
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mchad on April 21, 2018, 04:57:31 PM

I may have asked this before or the answer is in this thread somewhere but...

what is the state of DAW software and Win10?

I imagine it would be nice and smooth given 10 has been around for a few years. I've still got a PC build to finish but I haven't bought an OS yet. You can still get Win7 on Ebay. I've done some research and Win10 Home or Pro will do but need to get the full retail version not OEM. I'm happy to keep researching (in fact it is vital) but need some sane (and sage) advice.

Thanks
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: rolandvg99 on April 23, 2018, 02:38:07 AM
Not much between Windows 10 and MacOS regarding audio performance. My 2014 ASIS TP300LA runs Ablteon Live 10, Cakewalk by BandLab, Harrington Mixbus32C or Reaper just as well as any MacBook AIR. Only thing is lack of thunderbolt, but my Motu 8M runs almost as fast connected to a regular USB 2.0 port. If you need to use multiple soundcards: try Dante VIA or ASIO4ALL.


If you can afford it: buy Windows 10 PRO. Easier to control the update regime.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mchad on April 23, 2018, 03:24:57 AM
Quote from: rolandvg99 on April 23, 2018, 02:38:07 AM
Not much between Windows 10 and MacOS regarding audio performance. My 2014 ASIS TP300LA runs Ablteon Live 10, Cakewalk by BandLab, Harrington Mixbus32C or Reaper just as well as any MacBook AIR. Only thing is lack of thunderbolt, but my Motu 8M runs almost as fast connected to a regular USB 2.0 port. If you need to use multiple soundcards: try Dante VIA or ASIO4ALL.


If you can afford it: buy Windows 10 PRO. Easier to control the update regime.

:)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on May 18, 2018, 12:18:05 AM
http://www.smpte-sbe48.org/oldnews/0311news.php
This is a picture from 1956; any guess as to what it is before you see the answer below?
(https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smpte-sbe48.org%2Foldnews%2Fnewsimages%2F0311roland8.jpg&hash=85d472f5937e973dfa57eab5c6f0cb53597fdbae)


A 5 megabyte "hard drive" storage unit, Jim writes: "this will make you appreciate your 4 gigabyte flash/thumb drive even more now!
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on June 20, 2018, 11:14:41 PM
https://www.rugged-portable.com/category/rugged-workstation/
(https://www.rugged-portable.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Portable-computer-C4ISR.jpg)

(https://www.rugged-portable.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MegaPAC_4K.png)


https://www.spartonre.com/products/
(https://www.spartonre.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/LPC-860-front2-web.jpg)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on October 01, 2018, 04:11:54 PM
https://www.everythingusb.com/mini-drives.html


What are the Best Mini USB 3.0 Drives in 2018?

(https://www.everythingusb.com/media/mini-usb-drive-benchmark.png)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on October 05, 2018, 11:51:11 AM
(https://guestpost.easybranches.com/uploads/2018/10/8acbcc894e2ce055b10f8c8ab1598953.jpg)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/apple-making-2018-imac-pro-160204816.html
Apple is making 2018 iMac Pro, MacBook Pro repairs even harder
Digital Trends  Arif Bacchus,Digital Trends 2 hours 47 minutes ago
Reactions  Reblog on Tumblr  Share  Tweet  Email

Apple is using new proprietary diagnostics software when repairing 2018 iMac Pro and MacBook Pro models. This locks out these products from repairs at third-party stores and forces owners with these models to get repairs at Apple.
Apple is locking down certain Macs from third-party repairs, according to a report from MacRumors. Impacted models include the iMac Pro and 2018 MacBook Pro, which have advanced security features, and must pass certain Apple Service Toolkit 2 tests for successful repairs.

Citing internal documents distributed to Apple's Authorized Service Providers, the report reveals Apple is using a new Service Toolkit 2 software lock. This essentially ends up making iMac Pro and 2018 MacBook Pro models useless if they are not repaired at specific locations approved by the company. The locking software impacts any repairs on the 2018 MacBook display assembly, logic board, top case, and the Touch ID board. Also impacted by the lock are any repairs on the logic board or flash storage present on the 2018 iMac Pro.

In both cases, if these systems are not repaired using the Apple Service Toolkit 2, the service will be rendered incomplete and the system won't boot. Considering the recent hardware-based hacks, this is reportedly meant as a security measure intended to protect the Apple T2 chip, which holds encrypted storage information and Touch ID authentication.

Per a separate report from Motherboard, only Apple's Authorized Service Providers will have access to Apple Service Toolkit 2, so this means these repairs can't be completed at independent repair shops.

"For Macs with the Apple T2 chip, the repair process is not complete for certain parts replacements until the AST 2 System Configuration suite has been run. Failure to perform this step will result in an inoperative system and an incomplete repair," explains the documentation.

When compared to HP, Dell, or Lenovo, Apple is known for putting up a walled garden of protection around its products, so this should not be too surprising. However, the news is a concern for consumers who may be looking to skip Apple and repair their devices solo without any help.

In fact, Apple and many other tech companies were recently involved in lobbying against right-to-repair laws, which aim to give consumers more rights and access to resources to repair their products free of any first-party intervention. Apple has yet to comment on the report, but considering the controversy inherent in this story, you might hear from the company soon.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on October 11, 2018, 10:57:02 AM
https://youtu.be/YNvmq5qDHFY
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on November 28, 2018, 10:13:13 PM
https://laptop-masters.com/product-category/laptopcomputer-parts/


Windows Optimization - Optional Settings

https://help.uaudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/207805936-Windows-Optimization-Optional-Settings


https://www.reddit.com/r/cubase/comments/9ykb7m/sick_of_windows_10_want_cubase_10_keep_windows/



How to create WINDOWS SYSTEM RESTORE POINT
https://www.dummies.com/computers/operating-systems/windows-7/how-to-create-a-system-restore-point-in-windows-7/
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on December 13, 2018, 12:42:21 PM
https://www.theregister.co.uk/
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/12/13/engelbarts_demo_at_50/
https://youtu.be/M5PgQS3ZBWA

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on January 06, 2019, 10:46:01 PM
https://youtu.be/zAMjdrUf9V4
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on April 11, 2019, 06:50:07 AM
https://youtu.be/-Zpv6u5vCJ4

https://youtu.be/fur2quOIufs
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on April 17, 2019, 10:42:39 AM
https://laptopblue.vn/
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on June 13, 2019, 09:56:23 AM
https://www.sam-mallery.com/2019/02/how-to-survive-the-macbook-nuclear-winter-with-a-siracusintosh/#more-7696
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on July 27, 2019, 01:11:00 PM
https://youtu.be/6b0JcNqkZrk
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on January 21, 2020, 06:35:44 PM
https://youtu.be/pPC4kl4qHbo
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on February 11, 2020, 05:10:46 AM
https://youtu.be/SmkUxr6XADM

https://youtu.be/KPaZhqCpTXw
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: kenact on February 11, 2020, 09:29:04 AM
Quote from: Elantric on February 11, 2020, 05:10:46 AM

https://youtu.be/KPaZhqCpTXw

I've been using Sysinternals for decades.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on February 14, 2020, 05:53:55 AM
https://www.virustotal.com/gui/home/upload
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Elantric on February 22, 2020, 08:18:54 PM
https://youtu.be/RNH2U78Vw8w
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on June 18, 2020, 03:36:40 PM
http://logiwiki.shinycomputers.com/index.php/Main_Page

http://logiwiki.shinycomputers.com/index.php/Board_Number_by_A_Number
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on October 10, 2020, 07:17:28 AM
https://youtu.be/ZH55iTNJXH4
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: Chumly on November 10, 2020, 05:17:03 PM
Suggestions for a good sized external SSD for a 2017 Apple MacBook Pro 13" suitable for real-time recording and sample streaming?
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on November 10, 2020, 08:50:27 PM
Quote from: Chumly on November 10, 2020, 05:17:03 PM
Suggestions for a good sized external SSD for a 2017 Apple MacBook Pro 13" suitable for real-time recording and sample streaming?

Costco - $120


(https://static.bhphoto.com/images/multiple_images/images500x500/1515002541_IMG_925062.jpg)
SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable USB 3.1 Type-C External SSD


https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1380214-REG/sandisk_sdssde60_1t00_g25_extreme_600_1tb_ssd.html

Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: mooncaine on November 10, 2020, 11:16:34 PM
Oooh, I like that. I've been using ADAT SD700 3D NAND 1TB drives, and I am well pleased. Just 9 bucks more, but, hmm, this one looks more convenient than mine because it's got the USB-C shaped hole. Mine have the wide ugly flat USB plug that seems delicate. I guess it's tough enough. I've gone through a few of those cables on my Samsung phones but the phone's USB jack has held up.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on April 19, 2021, 03:39:43 PM
https://synthandsoftware.com/2021/04/hakintoshes-still-viable-in-2021/
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on June 30, 2021, 11:02:38 AM
(https://oldcraporg.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dsc_0084.jpeg?w=2000&h=)
I had a clone of above - 16 shades of no lag orange plasma Screen
During bulk of 1990s all I used was "Luggable lunchbox" computers DIY builds from an importer in (BSI in  Alhambra CA) -where I'd swap motherboards/CPU for performance  upgrades every 2 years
https://www.bsicomputer.com/products/fieldgo-m9-1760

Here's a 2021 era version

(https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/i3luggable_feat.jpg?w=800)
(https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/i3luggable_detail.jpg)
https://hackaday.com/2021/06/28/a-modern-take-on-the-luggable-computer/

https://pcpartpicker.com/b/yjrV3C
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: gumtown on June 30, 2021, 01:49:24 PM
I remember the first laptop I used, can't remember if it was the PC Xt or the futuristic high spec'ed 286,
had a monochrome lcd screen.
But it was like a briefcase full of bricks.
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: kenact on June 30, 2021, 02:21:54 PM
Quote from: gumtown on June 30, 2021, 01:49:24 PM
I remember the first laptop I used, can't remember if it was the PC Xt or the futuristic high spec'ed 286,
had a monochrome lcd screen.
But it was like a briefcase full of bricks.

The first one I had, had a detachable screen, with an EGA monitor plug in it. This was around 1986. It also had a WLOC (Wang Local Office Connector) connector, that would allow you to connect it to a Wang mini-computer, and essentially use it as your office desktop.

The brick came in the form of the power supply.  :)
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on August 28, 2021, 06:12:54 PM
HOW TO OPTIMIZE YOUR WINDOWS 10 PC FOR MUSIC PRODUCTION

https://zoomcorp.com/en/jp/news/windows10/
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on November 02, 2021, 03:41:09 PM
Useful tool for file recovery
https://us.informatiweb.net/softwares/live-cd/hirens-bootcd.html
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on December 17, 2021, 11:52:06 PM
User Repairable laptop computers

Framework
https://frame.work/

Dell Latitudes are often easy to locate replacement motherboards and service manuals can be found
Other info on laptops which may be badged as Acer,  HP, Compaq, Dell, Asus, but may  share a common OEM board from Quanta, Compal, Wistron, Pegatron
https://youtu.be/hgCxEr7PPq0
https://youtu.be/lzeQhOfcWn8
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: kenact on December 18, 2021, 12:45:04 AM
Quote from: admin on December 17, 2021, 11:52:06 PM
Dell Latitudes are often easy to locate replacement motherboards and service manuals can be found
Other info on laptops which may be badged as Acer,  HP, Compaq, Dell, Asus, but may  share a common OEM board from Quanta, Compal, Wistron, Pegatron
https://youtu.be/hgCxEr7PPq0
https://youtu.be/lzeQhOfcWn8
In the late 1990s or early 2000s, I had a Dell Inspiron, that was unable to be used in a docking station like the equivalent Latitude. It turned out that you could flash the Inspiron with the Bios for a Latitude, and all of a sudden, it was a Latitude, supporting all the same hardware, running the same OS with the same user, and all the same installed software, and could be used in the docking station.

On a slightly different note, someone hacked the Dell Latitude D630, to allow it to install a Dell branded Windows 7 x64 OS. Which means, a laptop, built in 2007, can run Windows 10. It also supports twice the memory Dell claims.

I have 5 D630s, running 8gb RAM and running Windows 10. I use them to run lights for theater performances. The Firewire port still works as well, but the PCMCIA slot no longer functions under Windows 10. Which is a shame, since I still have an E-MU 1616. :(

The big brother, E-MU 1820, doesn't work either, and that uses a PCI card. :( :(
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on December 18, 2021, 06:12:40 PM
https://youtu.be/rXHu9OmLd8Y
Title: Re: Elantric's Computer
Post by: admin on January 23, 2023, 09:52:13 AM
https://youtu.be/HXP8IVUVJbg