Mac Pro 2.66 quad or MacBook Retina 2.7 quad for Logic Pro?

Hi Guys,
It has come time to replace my ageing Mac Pro in my home studio, and I am in a quandry as to what to choose.
Up until now, the sensible choice has always been a Mac Pro, because it allows a number of hard drives (separate drives for audio, and for virtual instruments) to stream at high-speed, which was not possible with a laptop using external USB or firewire drives.
Thunderbolt changes all this, and I'm now wondering whether to replace the Mac Pro with a MacBook Pro 15" Retina, and connect two external drives via Thunderbolt for my audio and virtual instruments...
The alternative is to get a newer Mac Pro, and I've noticed a demo 2.66GHz quad at a great price at my Mac dealer.
I'm really not sure which way to go. On the one hand, I like the idea of just one computer (the MacBook 15") for both studio and non-studio work, as it would mean I no longer need my 13" MacBook for non-music related tasks. I also like the idea of the main drive being SSD in the Retina. The MacBook 15" can be specced with 16GB of RAM, letting go of the previous RAM limits of earlier MacBooks. The downside is that external Thunderbolt hard drives are still incredibly expensive, and I'd need two!
On the other hand, the Mac Pro is brilliant in that it can house all the hard drives I need, is expandable port-wise (although is that really such a big deal these days?), and it would mean I have a dedicated computer in the studio just for music, and can keep my non-music stuff separate on my 13" laptop.
I'd love some thoughts on what will do a better job for me in the studio. Perhaps I've missed a key benefit of one of the approaches above, that actually puts one option significantly ahead of another!
Keen to hear people's thoughts, perhaps from people who have had experience running DAWs on both machines I'm looking at.
Thanks guys!
Mike

What are you using for an audio interface? It's not just disks...
I have a similar question, currently 8-core MacPro, and a couple of 17" MBPs for live rig and general use.
There's another option, the non-retina MBP...
There's supposed to be new MacPro next year. I would hope it's a serious rethink of the architecture. Internals via thunderbolt connectors for starters? No version of SATA will keep up with that... So... I keep my supposedly long-in-the-tooth MacPro, feed it memory, swap out eSATA card for USB 3, so I can transition external drives to something faster and get away from eSATA connectors - hate those things! OWC has a bootable SSD card that goes in a slot, which is supposedly. Much faster than any version of SATA. It's pricey, and... If I didn't think they'd be doing away with expansions slots as we know 'em, I'd score one of these, but it's a lot of cash for something that may not go over to the nextgen MacPro. I have *no idea* what it's going to be, just looking at a machine today and wondering about what they could leave off a new version, while giving the kind of power and expansion we want in-the-box as opposed to hanging off of it.
I would personally *not* buy a new MacPro today, because I have hopes for what the next one will be.
Laptops, MBPs. Love the power of the new machines! C'mon. Those geek bench scores are ridiculous, so I would score one in a sec, but have to have a strategy for my live rig. Audio interface is FireWire and I run an eSATA card in the express slot for streaming samples (rack mounted drive from Glyph). Oops, the FW audio interface can't connect and there's no express card slot so my streaming performance falls back to usb2 speeds (my Glyph has a quad interface, but not USB3). The non-retina MBP gives a FW port but doesn't have the sexy screen... Assuming cost is not an issue (not true), hanging an SSD off one of the USB3 ports would surely bring good to great sample streaming rates, but still have to get another audio interface, and then strange as it sounds, probably something over USB...
So... I ultimately decided to wait for the market for peripherals mature for the new connectors, usb3 and thunderbolt.
End of story. MacPro=next year and... Pull the trigger on a retina MBP once I'm sure my peripherals are all in place. The MBPs do go out live, so they're in Speck protective cases. Adds bulk, probably ugly bulk to a rMBP, but it beats trusting the roadies at the venue. MBP, audio interface and streaming HD all in a nifty rack case the size of a carry-on bag, even wheels and a trolley handle!
Not really a 1-2-3 answer, but these are my thoughts on the pieces of kit you seem to be considering too...

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An Intel iMac AND a MacBook Pro for Logic Pro?

I am torturing myself over this issue lately so any input you guys could offer would be welcome!
This is the situation:
After 3 months of serious debating whether to purchase a 20" Intel iMac or a MacBook Pro for Logic Pro, I went ahead about 3 weeks ago and got the iMac. My reasoning behind this was that even though I found the portability of the MBP very desirable, the iMac simply represented a better value with the big screen and bigger hard drive. Since getting it, I must say I love this machine and I have not had one single problem with it. Logic 7.2 runs like a dream on it. By the way, aside from maintaing my iTunes Library, occasional iLife stuff and web surfing with Safari, this iMac is for music production only.
But here's the problem:
Still, I can't seem to shake the desire for OCCASSIONAL portability. Keep in mind, I am only a "serious" music hobbyist; I create instrumental hip-hop, trip-hop, electronica style of music mainly with software instruments, loops and breakbeats. So needless to say, I don't tour or do a lot of travelling. But the prospect of being able to compose tracks or make beats in Logic anywhere is DESIRABLE to say the least. I could compose while sitting on the couch watching a game or laying in bed - even though I have no idea of how often I'd actually do that, just having the ability to do it is VERY APPEALING to me. Throw in the fact that the iMac currently shares deskspace with a PC that my wife uses - meaning that I often have to stop what I'm doing to let her use the space. With a laptop, I could move and still continue my flow. Lastly, I unfortunately have bad knees and a bad back so after a couple of hours (or 3 or 4) of sitting at the desk working on Logic, I am seriously hurting. Not comfortable at all. At least owning a MacBook would give me the option to move around to some place more comfortable if I desire.
So...
Even though I recently bought a wonderful iMac that works great, I'm seriously considering getting a 1.83 MBP with at least 1GB of RAM and the 100GB/7200 RPM drive to accompany it just for the portability factor. Sure, I could get a used G4 PowerBook or iBook, but all I own is the Universal Binary of Logic Pro; I would have a hard time accepting the decrease in speed I've gotten use to on the Core Duo. Besides, I inherently have a problem buying something (even used) that I know is old and out of date when the latest and greatest is available.
So here is the $25,000 question: Am I nuts for even considering this? Am I placing too much of a premium on the portability as I would use it?
This could easily be justified if I was a working musician on the road, but that ain't me. And you can believe that I'm definately not rich and thus don't have money lying around.
But I have obsessed over this so much lately, I feel that I almost have to get it just to put my mind at ease! I even briefly considered putting the iMac on eBay and just buying a MBP to replace it, but I love the screen real estate I get with the 20" iMac and I question if I'll be truly satisfied with a 15.4" screen FULL TIME. 17" might be better, but I doubt if I can wait until June for them to arrive. In addition, everything would connected via my wireless LAN and .Mac so file sharing should not be an issue.
Help!!!
What would you do? Sell the iMac or just get a MBP as cheap as I can?
Opinions, Please!
20" iMac Core Duo, 2GHz, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB HD, 128MB VRAM Mac OS X (10.4.4)

I love the portability my powerbook gives me. You can use a PB in your setup. You can run an external monitor for either PB or MBP. You can node. Universal Binary menas it is an application which has the components written for both PPC and Intel chips-so you don't need to do conversion. Nodes won't require you buy a nother license. so the answer is down to how much the 2 upgrades and 1 crossgrades will set you back vs how much use you'll get out of them. IMO the iMac is inexpensive (I mean that in a good way-worth hooding on to). Maybe just look at a refurb PB unless you really have the extra cash.

New Mac Mini or iMac (late 2012) for Logic Pro?

Between these two specifically, which would be better for Logic Pro, and why?
The new Mac Mini (mid-tier) has a 2.3gHz i7, and the low-end iMac which has a 2.7GHz i5. Both are quad-core. The i5 is faster in clock-speed, but the Mini sports the i7, which has hyperthreading.
Can anybody offer any insight on which of these two computers would be better for Logic?

While this is not quite the answer you be looking for...
The 2011 Mac Mini Server, is in many ways the better bet for use with Logic because...
It has a 2.0Ghz i7... so slightly slower than the 2012 models..but it is the i7 version with 8 Cores.. so it still flies..
It comes with 2 x 500GB 7200rpm Hard Drives built in (Compared to 5400rpm Drives in the 2012 model)
Memory easily upgraded to 16GB for about $90 via Amazon..
..and yoi get a free copy of OS X Server, if should wish to use it at some point in the future... (The MMS comes with the Standard OS X installed and you have to run the add on server program to install OS X server so if you don't need the server stuff, don't run the Server installation software and you'll be running standard OS X as normal)
USB2 instead of USB3 is about the only other important difference that matters for AudioExt Drive use but using the FW800 and Thunderbolt ports, via Tbolt to FW adaptors on the 2011 MMS removes the need for USB3 I find..
Othert than that the 2011 and 2012 models are pretty much the same...
But.. the real kicker is that Apple are currently selling refurbished ones (with full warranty) at $759..... down from $999 originally...so they are quite the bargain..
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC936LL/A/refurbished-mac-mini-with-lion-serve r-20ghz-quad-core-intel-core-i7
I bought two of these originally and have never regretted it.. So much so that i just picked up another as a spare...
Got to be worth consideration... and at that price.. You could buy two... and use Vienna Ensemble Pro 5 to sync them together..
A Basic Guide to VEP5 and Logic info that i wrote, can be found here...
http://www.logicprohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=78956http://www.logicprohe lp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=78956
...add a screen and still save money conpared to buying a mid level iMac.... and you would be getting one **** of a punchy system for your buck.
Other than that suggestion..
In regards to the original question... Always go for the i7 models as hyperthreading adds 4 more (virtual) cores and that can really make a difference in performance compared to the 4 cores of an i5...

Can i install logic pro without the cd because my dvd driver of my mac doesn't work . i have the key for logic pro

can i install logic pro without cd ? , i have the key for the logic pro but my dvd driver of my mac doesnt work ?

Buy an external USB2 DVD/CD drive..... (Amazon's Basic model works great)
Or..
Borrow someone else's Mac that has a DVD drive fitted and use that via Remote Disk
Note:
There is no legal means of downloading available for Logic Pro 9.. unless you originally purchased it via the App Store..
Therefore, in your case, you must install from the DVDs you have...

What's the best audio interface for Logic Pro and Mac?

What's the best audio interface for Logic Pro and Mac?

Depends on the computer model and if you have unlimited funds.

I have a redeemable voucher for logic pro x and i can't find the location on the apple mac store to download

i have redeemable voucher for logic pro x,,, cant find the location on apple mac store to download it,,,,

Mac App Store/Featured/Quick Links/Redeem

Need help on buying FIREWIRE/USB-compatible for Logic Pro 9.0.2 on my SL

Hi...Im in needs of help in my new OS Mac World.Had my Logic Pro 9(9.0.2) install in my Snow Leopard(10.6.3).Need help on buying FIREWIRE/USB-compatible for Logic Pro 9.0.2 on my Snow Leopard.Just a real basic audio interface that works with my Macbook pro Specification.You're help will be much more appreciated..
Best Regards:RatzyMazzy

In any case I would suggest to get an audio interface which is *Core Audio* compatible. This means that you just need to plug it in and it will work with OS X’s integrated driver. I once had an M-Audio interface which needed its own driver and it had latency problems because of them. I am currently using the EDIROL FA-66 with 10.6.3 on my MacBook Pro. It still works flawlessly and has worked without problems in the past with 10.4 and 10.5, too. Here is how it looks like: http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=731
I have also heard good things about the FireWire interfaces from Presonus, like the FireBox.
Björn

Where to download updates 1-6 for logic pro x

where todownload updates for logic pro 10

Apple menu.... Software Updates
or..
Run the Mac App Store Application and go to updates in there...
Note: Make sure your Logic Pro X app is named as such and resides in your Applications Folder... Also, and this has to be said... given you are asking this question when OS X would have normally notified you already about any updates if you have a legal version... If you are using an illegal version, you will not be able to update.

Creating User Icons for Logic Pro 8

I'm new to the Mac Environment - Just purchased a Mac Pro and Logic Studio. What is the best graphic editing package available for the Mac to create Custom Icons for Logic Pro 8? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Chuck Green

Adobe Photoshop CS3... but for what you need, owning this would be similar to owning a jet engine for use as a barbeque lighter.
There are plenty of freebies availble online... check at downloads.com
jord

Control surface for Logic Pro

Hi There
Any ideas- what is the best control surface to use with Logic Pro?I would like a controller with at least 16 or 24 individaul faders.
Does the Mackie X Bus emulate a controller for Logic Pro?
thank you
G4 1.25 gig Mac OS X (10.3.8) G4,

I'm using a Mackie Control Universal and absolutely love it. The integration with Logic is top-notch. It would be nice to add an Extender and have 16 faders, but I'm finding that for what I do 8 faders at a time is plenty.
The X Bus has a Mackie Control layer that gives you the same amount of control. I believe the MCU's buttons are all displayed up on the X Bus screens. I'm sure you can find out more in the owners manual: http://www.mackie.com/products/digitalxbus/pdfs/X200OM_Ver1_04.pdf
Good luck!

Control Surface for Logic Pro 7.2

Hi Everybody !
I'm a newbie in Mac and Logic Pro. I want to buy a control surface for Logic Pro.
I found that Behringer B-CONTROL FADER BCF2000 Controller is compatible with Mac and Reason 3.0 but I'm not sure that it is compatible with Logic Pro. And it is within my budget !
Can anybody give some comments on this model ? Any suggestion other than this model ??
Cheers,
edtayin

Hi Everybody !
I'm a newbie in Mac and Logic Pro. I want to buy a
control surface for Logic Pro.
I found that Behringer B-CONTROL FADER BCF2000
Controller is compatible with Mac and Reason 3.0 but
I'm not sure that it is compatible with Logic Pro.
And it is within my budget !
Can anybody give some comments on this model ? Any
suggestion other than this model ??
Cheers,
edtayin
Just in case you buy one (and you should), I put a tutorial
on how to set it up with Logic. The manual is not really
clear on everything. Just go here
http://www.logicprohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=16210#16210
It should get you up and running.
P.S. the BCF also does let you control Plugin
parameters along with 32 presets you can customize
it to your workflow.
Duel Processor 1.8 G5, Duel Raptors drives, 2GB Ram Mac OS X (10.4.6) LP72,Reason,StylusRMX,Digitech,TCHelicon,BBE Sound Processors, JBL 4311 Monitors

Best hard drive setup for Logic Pro?..

Hi all,
I'm about to get a Mac Pro, and I was wondering a bit about the best hard drive set up for running Logic Pro.
1. Should I go with Western Digital Caviar SE ? Noise is a primary issue, I'd like them to be as silent as possible. Could anybody tell me their experiences with this disc?.. I also hear that Samsungs Spinpoint are almost silent. Any truth to this? (I want my discs in sizes of 500Gb.)
2. Is this a good setup:
D1: Mac OS, Logic Pro
D2: Audio for Logic Pro
D3: Sample libraries, including direct from disc streaming.
3. I seem to remember from another post that someone wrote that raiding discs could actually decrease performance when working with audio. Is this the case?
Thanks,
Curvebender.
Message was edited by: curvebender
Message was edited by: curvebender

curvebender wrote:
2. Is this a good setup:
D1: Mac OS, Logic Pro
D2: Audio for Logic Pro
D3: Sample libraries, including direct from disc streaming.
Yes, excellent way to go. One suggestion: on your sample or audio drive, or an external FW, install a basic system + Logic app only. This enables you to have another system to boot from in case of trouble, or you can use it as a test bed for future updates etc. without affecting your primary system. You'd only boot into this drive in case of problems or for testing. I currently have Leopard running on one drive to test it out as I don't want to move to 10.5.x yet.

Which is the optimal hard drive configuration for Logic Pro ?

hello people
i would like to ask your advices about possible hard drive configurations for Logic Pro
I have a Mac Pro and thinking to buy 4 x 500GB drives .
there are several combinations in my mind to configure , but first of all i would like to ask which is the best for an optimal system for Logic Pro
model 1 :
1 stripe Raid 0 array drive for ''System'' (500+500 = 1000)
1 stripe Raid 0 array drive for ''recording + sound banks'' (500 + 500 = 1000)
which means to using 4 hard drives as 2 drives
model 2 :
1 stripe Raid 0 array drive for ''System'' (500+500 = 1000)
1 Single drive for Sound banks (500)
1 Single drive for Recording (500)
which means to using 4 hard drives as 3 drives
Or , it is more healthy to use the drives as single , without raid , stripe sets but with its own capacity instead of combining .
and also if someone has an idea regarding to compare of Seagate and Westerndigital drives (which is the best for audio recording) , would be really helpfull
I am kinda rookie for these subjects :/
thanks in advance

heelo blayzay
thanks for the reply and assistance.
1) how can i create a back up set for the 4th HD to be make back up of the 2nd and 3rd HD
2) what about to make 1st HD for system and 2nd3rd4th (1.5TB) for audio recording, and an external drive for backups ?
For the back ups , is there a special process for the backing up HD (internal or external) ? Or should i just need a Clone software to make the back up
thank you again.

Where is the download area for Logic pro 9

where is the download area for Logic pro 9 on the apple site?

If you mean, you want to purchase Logic Pro 9, you cannot... as it has been discontinued... and is no longer sold.
If you mean you previously purchased it via the app store and want to download it again onto a new Mac, look under the Purchased Tab in your Mac App Store application.... making sure you have signed in using the same Apple ID you used to purchase it originally.

Where can I find the serial number for LOGIC PRO from the AppStore

Please help me:
Where can I find the serial number for LOGIC PRO from the AppStore?
I bought and downloaded the application, now it asks me for the serial number but I didn't not receive it or can find it.

My understanding is that if it was purchased throught the App Store, then there is no requirement for a serial number. At which point does it ask you for the serial?

Mac Pro 2.66 quad or MacBook Retina 2.7 quad for Logic Pro?

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