Originally posted by natan666:
i am seriously considering buying a G4 dual 533 (will definitely as soon as nuendo is released on MAC) but i have NO experience whatsoever with MAC OS of any type. is there a way (or need) to optimize a MAC as windows needs to be? and, is it safe to run other non-audio apps as well?
one final question: i see that OSX has a function to run OS9 apps from directly inside itself, in a 'classic, mode. will this run cubase or other OS9 applications?
thanks

In short, basic form: no optimisation is needed. The most you'll need to optimise is to maybe make a separate set of "extensions" for when you record audio. And, of course, you'll want to turn off virtual memory, and boost the application's memory usage. All in all, it'll take you about half an hour if you have no clue what you're doing, and less than 5 minutes if you do.

It's safe to run non-audio apps, especially if you have multiple extension sets. Once you get your Mac, check out an application called Conflict Catcher.

Also, Apple is limiting its continuence of dual-processor machines, and as such, there will probably be limited improvements/updates made by audio manufacturers. You may be happier with a single-processor unit, but YMMV. I don't know Nuendo's support of dual processors for Mac, so this may not even apply. =D

Answer for final question: RE OSX--don't. Stay away from OSX until at least a second-generation application has been released specifically for OSX. In other words, say Nuendo V1.0 comes out for OSX...wait for at least V1.1. OSX is a great OS, but it's very preliminary right now, and Apple released it before many developers made their products OSX compatible. If your machine comes with it installed, heavily consider wiping the harddrive clean and installing 9.1 (which comes bundled with OSX--it's what OSX switches to when it goes 'classic'). Pretty much the only people using OSX right now are those who just want to check it out. There are very, very few OSX native applications, and the ones that exist are generally just fixes for the interface and substitutions for features/applications foound in OS9 and lower. Uh, did I ramble on enough on that subject? Heh. Sorry.

--Gabriel!

that helps alot. but no more dual processor systems? thats pissy. well while im at it, what sound card goes best with a G4, and provides a nice low (very low) latency? i see that RME has released a hammerfall for the Mac, and its advertised to have the same performance as its PC counterpart.

Originally posted by natan666:
that helps alot. but no more dual processor systems? thats pissy. well while im at it, what sound card goes best with a G4, and provides a nice low (very low) latency? i see that RME has released a hammerfall for the Mac, and its advertised to have the same performance as its PC counterpart.

Yeah. It's pretty iffy territory...who knows, they may do more dual processor stuff later on, but I'd still be wary of development in the near future; especially with developers having to already move over to OSX.

As far as sound cards...I wish I could help you more. I've been looking at (and hearing good things about) MOTU's interfaces, as well as the Paris system.

--Gabriel

Solfatio is right about optimising a Mac..it's very very easy...trim your exetnsions and you are golden..but then again watch out for what you trim out!! somethings need to be there..things you dont need of course are the silly Sprocket extensions for video games and joystick adapters for games..modem sprockets too!! Usually people have a different extension set for each "role" they want to boot up in..one for audio..one for internet..one for games..etc etc..you get my point..
One thing that I have found out that the Conflict Catcher causes more issues than you could want!! DONT INSTALL IT!!! Also you really should get Nortons as well to do the Speed disk and Disk Doctor, this is important for maintanence reasons.
Yes Dual processors would be nice but as Solfatio has mentioned Apple is steering away from that until further testing has gone thru and they deem it ready for the "real" world!!
OSX is not ready for the audio world and definately should stay away from that OS as well..yes it boots in a 9.x emulation...key word there "emulation"..it has not been proving a good thing to do..stay with 9.04 or 9.1 to maintain a good audio machine..whether Nuendo will support dual processors on a Mac I do not know but would not doubt it since it does on the PC side of it..I am very curious to see Nuendo on a mac as well..
As far as audio cards go, that is an entirely different argument
There are many reasons to get one card over another..one can not say this is the best..it may be best for me but for you it may be different..ask some specific questions and you will get specific answers
Cheers

Opus :p

Opus, reading your posts, great to have you here!

:D

Question,
I have a mac 9600 with a newertech G4 450. Do you think it will work with OSX?

audiokid

audiokid
I'm glad to be here..it's an awesome thing being a part of a forum that is potentially a major rise in the industry and getting one's name out there..
also glad to help anyone out with an issue with their system or just general questions..

Hmm...9600..upgraded..how much RAM? what type of drives do you have? theoretically it "could" work but I'll have to look into OSX's main requirements..
I wouldnt go with OSX at the moment for audio apps tho..there's no supported music apps and the so called 9.1 emulation mode isnt cutting...so I've heard..I havent gotten a copy of OSX yet so I have yet to dive into it!! Looking forward to it I might add!!!
Peace

Opus :D