MOTUNATION (formerly UnicorNation) is an independent community for discussing Digital Performer and other MOTU audio software and hardware. It is not affiliated with MOTU.
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This forum is for seeking solutions to technical problems involving Digital Performer and/or plug-ins on MacOS, as well as feature requests, criticisms, comparison to other DAWs.
RJ Wade Music wrote:I recently purchased a Powermac G5, Dual 2.0 with 2GB Ram, 160GB HD and a 17" Apple Studio Flat Panel Display for $930.
That IS a good price. I just picked up one of those myself off eBay a couple of days ago, and paid a good bit more for it than that. Oh well, as long at it functions -- and arrives in one piece -- I'm happy.
I think you made a good decision. I have a fairly new Intel iMac and while it makes for a great little workstation, it is no substitute for a tower. And PPC is far from dead, despite what others may say.
As for myself, I specifically wanted an early 2005 Dual G5 2.0, as this is supposed to be one of the best models for using multiple UAD-1 cards. I did some research at various mac sites and this model was not on the "recommended list" because of its 4GB memory limit (only 4 slots) and its PCI only (not PCI-x) bus configuration -- but the latter is supposedly what makes it ideal for use with UAD cards.
Thank you for the comment. I was told by a friend that my purchase was a waste of money. Since I've had it, I've have thrown the kitchen sink at this machine. I am using Tiger 10.4.11, DP 5.01, and MachFive v1 with 16 parts, and 16 audio tracks and my processor has yet to reach 50%. I LOVE IT. My Powerbook G4 667Mhz died after 4 complex MIDI tracks and 2 stereo tracks.
I have TONS of software for PPC OSX & OS9. I've always wanted a QuadG5 but could not afford it at the time. Intel Macs are sweet, but not for me at this time.
You're welcome! No, I don't think you wasted your money at all. I just got into an argument with someone on another board over this very subject. This rather condescending jerk (in my totally unbiased opinion of course) accused me of giving bad advice to an innocent poster on a limited budget who was torn between a second hand G5 or a new Mac Pro. No one can deny that a Mac Pro is a VASTLY superior machine -- but not everyone NEEDS to have that kind of power NOW. I know I don't! Especially if it's going to cost me an arm and a leg.
I can't speak for everyone of course, but I happen to find two arms and legs rather useful when playing keyboards!
It really depends on what you want to achieve with the machine in question. In my own case, I do not plan on using a lot of CPU intensive virtual instruments. I'm a keyboard player, and over the years I've invested most of my rather limited funds in putting together a nice little collection of vintage analog keyboards, half of which don't even have MIDI. I am mostly interested in recording these instruments, and then processing them with UAD plugs. I do not plan on running 16 tracks of Arturia's virtual Minimoog with soft clip engaged! Nor do I plan on loading up any 256 track MIDI orchestra templates any time in the near future. My projects tend to be rather sparse... and because I first "learned the ropes" splicing reel-to-reel and recording to 4- or 8-track tape, I have no issues with freezing tracks, rendering complex sub-mixes, etc. I'm kinda of an Old School guy anyway, so an obsolete G5 suits me just fine. It's still a dream machine compared to that Atari I was working on back in the 80's!
