NI Maschine or New PC

[Step Soprano]

Already got a macbook, and an mpd 24 and komplete 5/pro tools all that, so i'm question'n whether i need the maschine, as cool as it looks. Macbook is core 2 duo 2.16 ghz with 4 gigs of ram, and i run out of cpu power sometimes with enough vst's running.

I can get that, or a custom pc

specs:

Description Unit Price
bb-intel Barebones with Intel CPU
Complete Barebones w/ Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 (Quad Core)
Intel DG35ECB
Quiet Cooling Package
4GB DDR2 - PC6400 / 800MHz (Dual Channel Kit) High Speed / Standard Memory Capacity
250GB SATA2 U300 7200RPM Hard Drive
Samsung - 20x Lightscribe Double Layer DVD+/-RW
Standard Mid-Tower (Black)
Echo Star 680 Watt Power Supply (Dual & Quad Core Certified)
Standard - Build, Burn-in, Test & Ship Out in Approx 3 to 5 Business Days
3 Year Direct Replacement Warranty (With Free - Lifetime Tech Support)

no need for larger hardrive cuz I only run my software off the hardrive, all sounds/recording is via my externals. Already got a 22 inch widescreen lcd, and a 19 inch lcd, and a 42 inch lcd tv that im gonna hook up when i get new house this summer.

Cant afford both, so i gotta pick. What ya'll think best move?

 

[Bobby Ffitch]

My Gut reaction is neither. You seem to have more than enough power already, what kind of plugins are you running that max out 4 gigs with any regularity?

I prefer some limitations in my setup, Otherwise its too easy to spend all your time playing with gear and none making music.

 

[MagnaOpera]

^ cpu is not ram.... a 2.16 ghz processor sounds like it's a bit on the weak side.


what if you just upgraded that and got the maschine?

 

[Ash Holmz]

what do make beats in? if u make beats in pro tools, pt acts funny with NI stuff. that may be why u think u need more power. u prolly dont. if u use mad NI stuff, i would try making beats in logic or ableton and then just use pt for recording and mixing. i couldnt even run the kompete demo in my macbook but i can do mixes with mad plugs going on. NI+PT= problems IMO

 

[wrightboy]

i would just record the VST tracks to audio once you get them sounding like you want them, and then delete the vst track. no need to spend anymore, just an extra step in the process will save 100s of dollars.

 

[Step Soprano]

i bought the maschine and a mac pro instead... problem wasnt with just plug ins... it was when recording in a 40+ track session, shit was cuttin out all the time. Limitations on gear can be good... but not when it comes to cpu limitations... thats bad usually.

 

[mono]

^^ 40+ track sessions ? what the...you into classical music ?

 

[H&R]

I would have suggested bouncing everything down as vst + what ever effects your
running live on the 40+ tracks are definelty gonna be cpu hogs ...

 

[Step Soprano]

^^ 40+ track sessions ? what the...you into classical music ?

i track the beat out around the vocals, sound by sound so that i can have it arranged exactly how we want it... think bout it...

15- 20 tracks for the beat

vocals:

1-2 intro vocals

5 tracks for hook(with adlibs)

4-5 tracks for verse with(with adlibs)

4-5 tracks for verse two(with adlibs)

4-5 tracks for verse three(with adlibs)

2-3 tracks for adlibs over full track to fill it up some

thats 37-45 tracks right there... or so

and then add in 10+ aux channels for plug ins and shit


but the mac pro handles it fine now, at buffer of 32 with 3.2 ms latency

 

[MagnaOpera]

i track the beat out around the vocals, sound by sound so that i can have it arranged exactly how we want it... think bout it...

15- 20 tracks for the beat

vocals:

1-2 intro vocals

5 tracks for hook(with adlibs)

4-5 tracks for verse with(with adlibs)

4-5 tracks for verse two(with adlibs)

4-5 tracks for verse three(with adlibs)

2-3 tracks for adlibs over full track to fill it up some

thats 37-45 tracks right there... or so

and then add in 10+ aux channels for plug ins and shit


but the mac pro handles it fine now, at buffer of 32 with 3.2 ms latency

lolomg i can hardly wait to start laying vocals down... *sarcasm*