2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

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toodamnhip
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by toodamnhip »

Nice to watch James change his mind live and in real time. Sometimes this board is a true collaboration with everyone pitching in to help ...nice to see.
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wvandyck
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by wvandyck »

I've used the OWC Data Doubler in a 2010 i5 MBP for the past 3 years. Works great! Currently using an SSD for OSX and apps, and a 7200 rpm for projects. The heat build up is something to be aware of but otherwise hasn't cause any problems.
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by James Steele »

toodamnhip wrote:Nice to watch James change his mind live and in real time. Sometimes this board is a true collaboration with everyone pitching in to help ...nice to see.
Well, I'm already booting of a Samsung 840 EVO for my main studio computer, so I'm not closed minded to SSDs. I just didn't want to pound a wire brad with a sledge hammer if it wasn't necessary to spend the money. This is an older MacBook. :)
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by James Steele »

BTW, did we ever arrive at whether it's good or bad to enabled Trim for OWC SSDs? I think OWC said don't do it, but the consensus was to go ahead.
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rickorick
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by rickorick »

What's your buffer set at? If you are just using the Macbook to playback I would set it to 1024.
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by HCMarkus »

James Steele wrote:BTW, did we ever arrive at whether it's good or bad to enabled Trim for OWC SSDs? I think OWC said don't do it, but the consensus was to go ahead.
My research results: enable.
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by James Steele »

rickorick wrote:What's your buffer set at? If you are just using the Macbook to playback I would set it to 1024.
Naturally. That's what it was set at.
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by EMRR »

I'm about to do an SSD brain swap in an '08 2.4 MBP, watching with interest. It's just too slow with current OS and a spinning drive, hope to see improvements. It has the same 4GB RAM limit officially, you can go to 6 but it's stupid expensive for a machine of this age, more than buying 16GB for a current machine. But ya know, I'm soliciting donations of compatible used 4GB RAM just in case! RAM is always maxed and virtual memory is having to make do with spinner speed as it stands now.

With the MBP and the last-gen G5 I retired last year, I could increase the number of sequences in a new project (lacking VI's or plugs) to a point at which DP would cease to function. It could be parked and adding another sequence would make the processing meter rise with each addition, until it maxed and would be in the red with no activity. 6-8 sequences was about the max I could ever safely load in one project. This sounds similar to what you are seeing, I hope we both get improvements.
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by mikehalloran »

My earlier caution about replacing the battery applies. I will get pictures of both our dead soldiers uploaded. The 2008 isn't as bad as the 2010 but neither is pretty. My son-in-law tells me that some 5 year old iPads and iPhones are doing it, too.

I think I may have a pair of 2G RAM modules for a 2008. I know I don't have a 4G. Yea, talk about crazy stupid on the price.
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by EMRR »

At least the 2008 is the removable battery, it's ready for its 3rd if all goes well. Seems like it would have more headroom for battery expansion before problems occurred.
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by EMRR »

Update: the '08 2.4 MBP is noticeably faster than it was, usable in fact, and I could open a lot of apps and video files (stopped around 10 video, all in play loop, with a dozen apps) before there was any sign of stress. Previously opening anything at all was an exercise in patience. I haven't taken a spin with any DP projects yet, interested to see how that feels now. Lots of projects were too big to even open and play at all on this machine with the 7200RPM HD.

It's hard to imagine the battery expanding enough to impact the keyboard/pad above, but I can see it'a all much closer than I realized once it was torn down. Initial performance seems more than enough improved to justify battery expenditure.
Doug Williams
Electromagnetic Radiation Recorders
The Martha Bassett Show broadcast mixer
Tape Op issue 73

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dewdman42
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by dewdman42 »

coming a little late to this, but you might want to consider using simple MP3's for your backing tracks. Put a click track on one channel and the audio on the other. Hit play on a simple MP3 playback device. Done.

Using DP or any other host to play MIDI and audio tracks opens up a whole lot of complications. What it does give you is the ability to remix the tracks live at the gig, if you have more than one instrument recorded, which admittedly can sometimes be an issue. I have found its not often an issue though, as backing tracks tended to be pretty simple for me.

Glad to hear you made your macbook faster anyway, sounds like a worthwhile thing to do either way.
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by James Steele »

dewdman42 wrote:coming a little late to this, but you might want to consider using simple MP3's for your backing tracks. Put a click track on one channel and the audio on the other. Hit play on a simple MP3 playback device. Done.

Using DP or any other host to play MIDI and audio tracks opens up a whole lot of complications. What it does give you is the ability to remix the tracks live at the gig, if you have more than one instrument recorded, which admittedly can sometimes be an issue. I have found its not often an issue though, as backing tracks tended to be pretty simple for me.

Glad to hear you made your macbook faster anyway, sounds like a worthwhile thing to do either way.
I know a lot of people do it that way, however, I'm pretty much dependent on having the MIDI capabilities. I use the MacBook/DP to send patch changes to my MIDI Raider controller pedal that controls my guitar rig, so essentially my guitar rig is completely automated. I don't have to do the "tap dance" while I'm singing and playing guitar.
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by dewdman42 »

oh yea, I could see that being useful. If you're gonna play to a backing track anyway, then why not!
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Re: 2010 MacBook too slow for DP8 project??

Post by mikehalloran »

I got in from VT this morning. I'll try to get some battery pics posted this evening.
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