PowerMac G4/1.25GHz Dual cost More then G5

[Demetrious]

I've been looking for a G4 for a ProTools Mix Plus system.

I called a shop the had them advertised on their web site for £850.00 this was for a ex demo PowerMac G4/1.25GHz Dual. When I called them and asked is that the lowest price they would except for it, the sales men told me (with a chukle) \"err there actually going up, theres kind of a bidding war going on for them\".

I was like , and thinking was this really Blue Systems UK I called, or has ebay now got support lines and sales reps.

He conitnued with, \"The mac sales guy is late, you know how it is with the snow. I can get him to call you back, are you interrested?\"

Me: \"If there around £850 then yes, if you mean a bidding war, then no 8) \".

Salesman: \"ok, whats your number, and when he gets in he'll give you a call\".

That was around 11:00 now it's 15:07. whats the bets on no 1 calling :wink: .

 

[Demetrious]

Another quote: £1,950 + 17.5 VAT.

I just want 1 for a ProTools Mix Plus system.

Does anyone know if using a Maga with a G5 sorts out the track count problem with the Mix Plus and G5?

 

[MPC]

I'm pretty sure you still have the track count issue.

 

[Demetrious]

So, a G4 it is then,

I think I found 1 @ an ok price, but I'll have to travel to get it :roll: .

 

[giles117]

One of the many reasons i left protools back in 2000 and switch over to DP.

Now I keep a PT system around for transfers and conversions ONLY. I Mix exclusively in DP matter of fact I just mixed a song with 96 tracks on a Dual 867 G4 in DP with my UAD-1's and a few other internal plugins

 

[Demetrious]

I was thinking about switching my MOTU for the Mix Plus so that I could use TDM plugs along with UAD-1 and AU.

 

[giles117]

I didnt realize that DAE supported Audio Units. Protools is a tad closed end. RTAS/TDM/AudioSuite. even UAD plugins have to be converted from VST to RTAS

Matter of fact here is a direct quote from digi.

\"Pro Tools|HD-compatible plug-ins take four forms: TDM, HTDM, RTAS, and AudioSuite.\"

So if TDM is older than HD systems I doubt you will find any Audiounit support. Time to convert your plugins

 

[Demetrious]

Can't the TDM Plug-Ins be used in another environment like say, Logic Pro or D P4.5?

 

[giles117]

Nope, with PT you cannot interwork formats.

Pro-tools Audio Engine is the DAE (Digidesign Audio Engine) so you cannot run Audio Units or MAS plugins concurrently with the DAE.

I wish you could cuz the Focusrite Forte' is appetizing, but I dont want to use the DAE as it is Fixed point math and MAS is floating point math. So of course MAS sounds warmer than the DAE (long old argument. But this is My Opinion as I have both PT, DP and Logic) I Only use PT for transfers cuz I hate the DAE.

So I live in DP for mixing and Logic for sequencing.

I grew up using PT TDM Mix 24, and I have used HD. HD to me is just not worth the 8grand entry price, neither is a used MIX+/24 system. Limited track counts blah blah blah.

DSP is the onlky thing, but Magma Chassis and all these UAD and powercore cards have dealt with that issue. CPU's are way faster than the old G3 I was using back in 2000 so your G5 has plenty of juice to run all that we need.

I have mixed 30 Albums so far in DP and aint stopping the train

 

[Demetrious]

So your saying that I can't use TDM Plug-Ins within Logic Pro or DP 4.5?

 

[giles117]

No, you can use tdm in the Logic/or DP system 9under DAE Mode. In DP you select your audio Engine) BUT.....

You cannot use TDM/RTAS/AudioSuite Plugins concurrently with MAS/Aundiounits Plugins.......

you have to change audio engines which means you lose your plugins for the other audio engine.

So for me there is enuff stuff in AU/MAS format to eliminate the need to mix in protools, there might be 7 plugins in PT format I desire... Eventide/Princeton/Focusrite after that we have great version of just about everything else. Which in some cases sound better to me outside of the DAE environment.

In Logic (unless I am wrong) the communication with Digi Hardware is via Coreaudio which does not support the use of TDM/AS/RTAS plugins, just Audiounits and the standard logic stuff.

TDM plugins REQUIRE the use of the DAE, no DAE, no plugins.....

SO back to what I was saying, when you are under DAE, AU plugs do not work. So if you really really like your AU's, stay where you are at until someone comes up (namely Digi or MOTU) with a way to use both audio engines concurrently.

Even Audioease had to write an HTDM version of altiverb to work in PT, and your VST's have to be converted to RTAS, which means you are no longer using PT DSP but your Host CPU resources, so why bother in the 1st place. The Hwole point is to use the PT DSP right?????

 

[Demetrious]

Thanks giles for all this usefull info, and for just to replying.

I wanted the PT for seamless droppins on takes when recording vocals, and for a few plugs (Crane Song, McDsp, URS S series & MIX EQs ....).

Is there a AU to RTAS wrapper (I wish)?

I'm going to buy a G4 tomorrow.

Still waiting for that Magma from Germany (the guy recons it will be sent out today).

I bought a another Magma yesterday, without the cable :roll: (see witch 1 turns up 1st, :? if any).

I should be paying for this PT Mix Plus system any time soon.

So I will have the option of runing the PT along with LP 7 using sync, I think :? (hope PT can use any MIDI interface). Hopefully when LP 7 gets Full PDC, I will be able to use outputs of LP 7 into the inputs of PT.

The Hwole point is to use the PT DSP right?????

Call me greedy , but I want to have access to AU and TDM. I want to share the load across all available DSPs (UAD-1, G4/5 AU and TDM).

Thanks once again giles for your valuable input.

 

[giles117]

Yeah I feel you, that is why i puchased an MBox, cuz all those PT plugins run in RTAs and the PCU is fast enuff in a g5 to hang with it

I should get a Digi002 for 96K, but I have only had ONE clinet bring in 96K stuff and I was able to convert the SDII files in DP anyway. LOL

Heck This is where my mind is at, they have Dual Core PPC chips on the way so in a DP G5 that means 4 processor cores. The speed increase will be SUBSTANTIAL!!!!!

so the old DSP way of doing things will eventually be nill (till thay bloat the software even more. LOL)

So Come WWDC 2005 I am sure we will see some goodies to make us DROLL.

Then Cell processorsare on the way and Apple is indicated to have signed up for that as well. TDM Yeech!!!.

Now we have to convince the plugin developers it is worth it to develop for DP and Logic. Storm the Email gates, unless Digi has done the microsoft.....

URS is breaking ways, but yess it would be nice to play with an SSL E Series EQ in your local DAW.

I do miss SSL EQ.

 

[Demetrious]

I got my G4 yesterday Daul Boot, DP 1.25 and 1Gb RAM for £700 boxed. It also came with an M-Audio Audiopile 24/96.

Still no sign of any Magma yet :roll:

When is the WWDC 2005, and do you think thats when Logic 7 update will come out with Full PDC?

 

[Disobedient]

I got mine in excellent condition for 730 quid. G4 dual 1GHz, 2GB RAM.

 

[Demetrious]

My 1 is in excellent condition too, still has the protective stickers on the drive bays, I came with loads of music soft synths pre installed (all Spectrasonics and NI to name a few) and a fat sample library.

I also noticed that it had the Apple heatsink upgade (copper). I'm wondering if this was standard on later G4s?

 

[giles117]

The Dual 1.42 had Copper Heat sinks standard.

 

[The Beatsmith]

yeah, the 1.25 didn't however

 

[Demetrious]

:? The thing that is strange is that the sticker with the Serial No. on the back of the G4, and the Box it came in says DP 1.42, but the guy swears blind that he has not tampered with it, and I kind of believe him. He bought it from a music retailer. The address of the retailer is on the box.

Anyway, I'm happy that it had this option already installed.

 

[giles117]

Hmmm si when you did an about this mac????

LOL