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Howdy

A new day, new moderators and a new topic for the Mac forum.

So, what do y'all use your Mac for? Are you tracking? Composing? Mixing? Re-mixing? Double secret re-mixing? Mastering? Video Post?

What do I do with my Mac? Well, I'm a bit of a hydra. My main thing is doing content for Musical Instrument Manufacturers so I do a lot of hardcore MIDI-nerd stuff with it. From ringtones to patterns to synth demos (you know, the ones you hear a millions times in the music store and grow to hate? I make those!). I also do voicing, sound design, all that stuff.

I also record and mix bands. Not a lot of stuff but I probably work on about 3 CDs a year.

For all this, I use Logic.

Comments

SonOfSmawg Tue, 01/28/2003 - 11:34

I have a G4-400, which I purchased new in 2000. I also have a Quadra 840AV, which I purchased a couple of months ago.I believe the Quadra to be about 10 years old. I bought the whole system ... tower, monitor, keyboard, mouse, scanner, lazer printer, and two external SCSI harddrives ... in mint condition ... for $30. This entire system sold for over $5000 when it was new. It has a 40Mhz processor and 32Mb RAM. I'd like to put more RAM in it, but I'm not sure how much it can support, as I haven't really looked into it yet. It's capable of being updated as far as OS 8.1, but I've not been able to find OS 8 for sale anywhere, and I've searched for hours for it. I signed an online petition asking Apple to release OS 8 for free download, though.
I use my G4 with Digi001. The system is pretty much a dinosaur by today's standards, and I really never did like it. I spend way too much time trying to make-up for it's shortcomings. I've never been really satisfied with the results for my own personal music, but perhaps my expectations are too high given my (lack of) experience with DAW recording in general. I tend to get frustrated easily when recording myself, and using this system adds to my frustration. It's a catch 22, but probably more my fault than the system's.
I also use the G4 for making and editing icons and desktop wallpapers. It's great for designing business cards, fliers, and things like that. I'm also dabbling in webpage-building on it. I really like OS 9.2.2, which I'm very comfortable-with, so I really enjoy doing "creative" stuuf on it.
Tomorrow, I'm going to attempt to install Mandrake 8.2 PPC on the G4. I'm hoping it will go more smoothely than it's peecee counter-part. I'll let you know how that goes.
The Quadra is just sitting there for the time being. I really want to do some upgrading on it before I really mess with it. It hasn't been a priority, but I'm definately going to use it for *something*. LMAO

Nate Tschetter Tue, 01/28/2003 - 13:30

Howdy

Is it a Sawtooth G4/400? That's what I'm running and although I'm reaching the end of its capabilities, I'm sill able to do (to me) remarkable amounts of work with it. I can get around 30-40 tracks of playback in Logic with reasonable amounts of plugs running. Its not a bad machine at all.

I use my previous Mac, an 8500/120 (now a 233 with a Newer Tech upgrade) as a Hotline server. This is how I run all my remote projects and archive old projects.

There are new Macs out. I'll post another topic. Looks like good performance / price.

anonymous Mon, 02/17/2003 - 01:10

I use to have an old school G3 400 powerbook - which I ran VST and Pro Tools Free on. Mainly for editing and mastering. Although at one point I did have my HD24 sync'd to VST for MIDI duties.

Anyway I now use it to prop open the studio door :D , as it died a rather gruesome cache related death. I may bring myself to sell the parts - so if you know of anyone with a bronze keyboard powerbook who needs a cd/dvd-rom, zip drive, spare battery or power adaptor (uk version) send them my way.

I now have a 12.1" iBook 700Mhz 128MB 20GB - which I rather annoyingly purchased just before Xmas last year - annoying because I would have definately been a contender for the 12.1" powerbook. Oh well you can't win 'em all :p

I've got it dual boot at the moment, running PT Free under OS 9 boot and everything else unse OS X boot - my next purchase will be more 512MB more RAM and an M-Box as soon as it ships with PT 6.0 for OS X - then it's goodbye to dual boot once and for all...

Cue the OS X (r)evolution. :cool:

anonymous Sat, 02/22/2003 - 18:50

mario c, you may have seen this already but i think apple is offering replacement power supplies on the hairdryers. this should quiet it down a lot.

i use a tibook 800 w/ logic 5 for doing some electronic music as well as recording/mixing my band. i'm in the process of getting an older g4 400 powermac to use with my delta 44 card as well.

anonymous Sat, 02/22/2003 - 22:50

I use my new Mirror Door dual 1.25 G4 for everything, now that Cubase SX is up, running and playing nice with my old midi gear.

One thing it does exceptionally well is an accurate impression of a 1942 Hoover Upright slugging its way through a 70s shag carpet.

I need to quiet the beast and my silencer cab is coming along slowly -- but Apple is now in the game with a $19.95 exchange program for a more efficient power supply and a quieter fan. They have a nice .pdf install document -- looks pretty straightforward -- standard R&R stuff.

I'm going for it; every little bit helps.

toms

Hoover Upright Mirror Door Mac G4s only.