Pro Tools and buying a new computer

[rytaddress]

I'm trying to get started with Pro Tools the right way (and hopefully the 'simple way,' as well). I've read so many forum posts written by people who are struggling to make Pro Tools 'dance nicely' with their computer systems. Ok, so could someone please advise me: (I admit I'm on a bit of a budget and no computer expert either!) Which computer should I buy to be relatively secure that I can simply load the Pro Tools 8 software and have things work? Some of you claim to have had this happen for you (even with Vista Premium!? and 64 bit, too??). I would be grateful for any good advice. Thanks!

[richiebee]

ProTools is not 64 bit yet. Digi needs to pull their finger out, but whether they will or not is anyone's guess. That's the problem with proprietary. No real incentive to get stuff done. If you are not in the slightest bit technically minded, and it has to be ProTools, go with a Mac. Still 32bit, but there aren't separate versions of the OS like there are with Windows. Only problem is it means buying doubly into proprietary and that sucks.

R.

[garageband]

Welcome.

Which computer should I buy to be relatively secure that I can simply load the Pro Tools 8 software and have things work?

A Mac. Betcha didn't want to hear that. BTW, do have to have Pro Tools? Is there any way to avoid doing so?

[JezzDrums]

Macs are the best for pro tools but they are pretty much double the price of a windows os lap top.

I had this issue last week as I went through the exact same situation you. I bought my new lap top without looking at the digidesign site and realising that it says that vista business and ultimate are supported. It also says other versions of vista are not tested.

My new lap top is a toshiba. 2.0 ghz processor, 4g ram and 320 hard drive. I also really wanted pro tools, and now that I have bought it I am slo glad that I did. I asked the guy in the shop about pro tools and vista and he said he had no issues with pro tools and 32 bit vista premium.

I have installed pro tools le 8 and it has been running fairly smoothly. Some occasional errors come up about the system trying to hold off interruptions for too long but I think that has somthing to do with my buffer size, since I have it set at two which was the default, think it uses more power or something (im not too computer minded either).

Anyway I have not really had any problems that have made me wish that I had never bought my new compuer or pro tools. I am lovin pro tools but that also comes down to personal preferance. I looked at cubase on a DAW before and found the interface much more confusing. Yet others are the other way round so all this is just my opinion.

I would say though that if you had the money, a mac would be awesome.
Good luck!!

[garageband]

I have installed pro tools le 8 and it has been running fairly smoothly. Some occasional errors come up about the system trying to hold off interruptions for too long but I think that has somthing to do with my buffer size, since I have it set at two which was the default, think it uses more power or something (im not too computer minded either).

I run DP on a Mac for well over a decade. This is like a foreign language to me. I (thankfully) never have issues like this, having to consult both the Digi and the Microsoft oracles for positive signs concerning my computer's specific fate.

[rytaddress]

Thanks for all the responses. OK, so now you all have me rethinking (again!), which is great. The truth is that I am NOT beholden to Pro Tools. I only 'wanna go there' because I'm fairly familiar with it, as a friend has it, and we've worked with Pro Tools together. If someone could (PLEASE) recommend a different product for fairly simple 'music making' (I play guitar and keyboards and do vocals..pretty old-fashioned way to make a song, I know!), PLEASE let me know. I have heard of things like "Fruity Loops," Cubase, Garage Band, Audacity, but have no experience with any of them except for Audacity (briefly..and I couldn't get my keyboard to record with it..too much distortion). So, PLEASE advise if there's something else I could use besides Pro Tools. Thank you!

[patovg]

you can always do something not so fancy. Cubase or Audition 3 could work for making decent recordings. Remember that the first step for good recordings (hardware wise) are decent mics and good pre-amps, and obviously a whole lot of creativity.

For the drums you can always try out EZ Drummer. That's really nice and easy to use. I highly recommend it. Since my band split up I am doing all the recording and the drums are my achiles' heel, so I am using EZ Drummer for "programmin" and Superior Drummer for playback. It makes life sooooo much easier.

You don't have to go all out on Pro Tools even though I prefer to use it 100%.

Good luck,

PV

[garageband]

I am not not usually the "Here's a link" guy, but:

Music sequencer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Really good list of those out there.

[coney123]

Try Reaper, cheap, easy to use, is constantly updated, can run on any system (unlike PT), runs using no resources, and has a growing userbase.

[mindundermatter]

I run DP on a Mac for well over a decade. This is like a foreign language to me. I (thankfully) never have issues like this, having to consult both the Digi and the Microsoft oracles for positive signs concerning my computer's specific fate.

And you gotta love the fact that MOTU throws in a hard copy of their manual rather than a .pdf file. That thing was my bible for a while.