Mac user questions

Nappy · Post by **Nappy** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:22 pm

Can anyone tell me how they are using Scope on a Mac?
I have a old B&W G3 that I would like to use for Scope.
I have a audio only DAW(Emu-Ensoniq PARIS)and would
like to intergate a Scope system on another computer to handle
My need for MIDI,sampling,synths and more effects.

respect
Nappy

Post by **hubird** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:40 pm

only OS9!
works perfect then.
Connection with pc DAW should work perfect via ADAT outs of the (right) card to ADAT card in pc (F.e. RME Hammerfall HDSP serie, also Midi).

Lima · Post by **Lima** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 10:19 am

Hub, just out a curiosity (and a bit off topic), I've found on a shop a Power Mac G4 at 500 Mhz 348Mb Ram and OS9. Is it usable with our boards or it's a bit slow? Is it in your opinion a machine with that specifics fast enought to make some decent mixing and recording? (16+ tracks , a couple of reverbs some vincos etc...)

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:33 am

this has been one of the preferred boxes for ProTools for years...

the hardware is rock-solid (whatever model of the 3 versions it is)
Beware of those cute Apple 17" TFTs (w acrylic border) in case one comes with it - they are at the end of their lifetime (the transformers on the inverter board die).
It's a pity that there are no replacement parts, as it was a nice display.
I'm afraid you have to do a Masterverb test to be sure about the PCI performance - it's extremely difficult to estimate. Imho the machine processes faster than it visually appears.

cheers, Tom

Post by **hubird** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 6:53 am

me also thinks it's workable, if you don't use demanding VST(i)s!
The more you do in SFP the better it is, only samplers, reverbs and delays could spoil the party, but I don't know how seriously

You can also use it in cooperation with a powerfull pc, via ADAT

Lima · Post by **Lima** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:50 am

Thanks a lot Tom And Hub for your responses

And about the graphics? Actually I work with a P3 800 and when I open the channel strip of the stm2448 and few other pages the framerate drops to less than five fps (estimated) so expecially with compressors it is quite unuseful.

Could be the same with that mac?

djmicron · Post by **djmicron** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:03 am

i would not buy a used mac to improve the performance with creamware cards.
For solving your issues It is more useful to increase your system's ram and video memory.

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:14 pm

well, first of all it's a question of price and 'workload' the G4 has been through.
it's a mechanically solid case, easy to service and doesn't get hot at all, it depends on taste, but imho it's quite good looking either.
some of those boxes are in exceptionally good condition, considering their age.

if it will have a 'nice' visual response or not, depends on the type of AGP card and if the GUI interface lib (WXWidgets) makes use of the G4's Altivec engine (I have no idea).
In the latter case, it can compete with a Pentium that has 4 times the clock rate.

cheers, Tom