Using Mach 5 with Macbook pro

[rmack]

I'm a DP user who is awaiting a new Macbook Pro (2.5 GHz, 4GB RAM, 7200 RPM HD) to arrive and I was wondering if this will be able to run Mach 5 reasonably well.

I have never used Mach 5 but I have been wanting to get a sampler for years and I'm contemplating taking the plunge.

I see many posts with differing opinions of system requirements but I was wondering if anyone out there has had any success using this configuration.

Also, I was hoping to keep the sample library on an external Firewire 800 or USB 2.0 drive. I am currently using an mkIII with my firewire 400 port. Can anyone forsee any problems doing this?

Thanks everyone in advance

[rmack]

Judging from lack of responses -I probably asked either too many questions or some dumb ones (sorry I'm a Mach5 newbie)

I'll try one question at a time:

Can Mach 5 run on a Mac Book Pro? Some posters on Sweetwater complain that it can't because it has a dongle. I don't know why a laptop couldn't use the dongle.

Thanks for replies.

[bjornln]

I'm a DP user who is awaiting a new Macbook Pro (2.5 GHz, 4GB RAM, 7200 RPM HD) to arrive and I was wondering if this will be able to run Mach 5 reasonably well.

I have never used Mach 5 but I have been wanting to get a sampler for years and I'm contemplating taking the plunge.

I see many posts with differing opinions of system requirements but I was wondering if anyone out there has had any success using this configuration.

Also, I was hoping to keep the sample library on an external Firewire 800 or USB 2.0 drive. I am currently using an mkIII with my firewire 400 port. Can anyone forsee any problems doing this?

Thanks everyone in advance

I guess that depends...
But I would recomend the following..
1. Don't go USB 2.0 for samples, you need speed...
2. I Believe there is only one FW-bus (internally). so if you have a FW800 (and no FW400) it will run at FW800 speed. If you add a FW400 peripheral, the bus drops to FW400 (including the FW800 stuff)

Then it's up to you what you can live with.... If you on the road, do you bring the FW800 drive too, or just the computer ? Then you need to decide what you need the most..


/B

[bjornln]

Judging from lack of responses -I probably asked either too many questions or some dumb ones (sorry I'm a Mach5 newbie)

I'll try one question at a time:

Can Mach 5 run on a Mac Book Pro? Some posters on Sweetwater complain that it can't because it has a dongle. I don't know why a laptop couldn't use the dongle.

Thanks for replies.

I guess that depends on what else you have hooked up to your USB-bus. I don't think there is a technical reason for it.... I've heard something about one of the USB busses don't supply enough current if you have a lot of stuff connected. But otherwise, why not ?

I would check with motu before you buy M5...


/B

[rmack]

Thanks for your responses bjornln.

I will definitely check with Motu before I buy. I use a bus powered keyboard controller so I'm hoping this won't be an issue with power.

I am using a Motu Mk3 for my external audio so I guess that will limit my FW800 down to FW400. I'm thinking that I probably should just install the sample library on the internal drive and deal with it. Pretty huge though.

cheers,

R

[gsalad]

I'm a DP user who is awaiting a new Macbook Pro (2.5 GHz, 4GB RAM, 7200 RPM HD) to arrive and I was wondering if this will be able to run Mach 5 reasonably well

....

Also, I was hoping to keep the sample library on an external Firewire 800 or USB 2.0 drive. I am currently using an mkIII with my firewire 400 port. Can anyone forsee any problems doing this?

Thanks everyone in advance

I'm currently doing exactly that. Here's my setup:

MacBook Pro 2.16 GHz, 3 Gb RAM
FW800 OWC Mercury Elite Pro 750 Gb (it also has eSATA, USB2, and FW 400 ports - just in case!)
MOTU Ultralite
M-Audio Keystation 88 (Oxygen8 for the road) - both bus powered

I keep the sound libraries on the FW800 drive, the Ultralite on the FW400, the dongle and the keyboard on the USB ports. WHen I'm home, I use a PC Card for additional USB and FW400 ports, and chain other external HDs and such off of it.

I'm currently working on a large wind ensemble/concert band project running a full ensemble of samples from the external drive in MachFive, inside DP 5.13, and it's great. I can feel I'm pushing it to the limit, but it's hanging in there. This is a LOT of samples, btw.

So, to answer your question, it's completely doable, and I say go for it! The drive is a bit heavy, but worth it. I just brought it to Europe for the summer - pack it well and you'll be fine.

Hope that helps.
Steve

[rmack]

I'm a DP user who is awaiting a new Macbook Pro (2.5 GHz, 4GB RAM, 7200 RPM HD) to arrive and I was wondering if this will be able to run Mach 5 reasonably well

....

Also, I was hoping to keep the sample library on an external Firewire 800 or USB 2.0 drive. I am currently using an mkIII with my firewire 400 port. Can anyone forsee any problems doing this?

Thanks everyone in advance

I'm currently doing exactly that. Here's my setup:

MacBook Pro 2.16 GHz, 3 Gb RAM
FW800 OWC Mercury Elite Pro 750 Gb (it also has eSATA, USB2, and FW 400 ports - just in case!)
MOTU Ultralite
M-Audio Keystation 88 (Oxygen8 for the road) - both bus powered

I keep the sound libraries on the FW800 drive, the Ultralite on the FW400, the dongle and the keyboard on the USB ports. WHen I'm home, I use a PC Card for additional USB and FW400 ports, and chain other external HDs and such off of it.

I'm currently working on a large wind ensemble/concert band project running a full ensemble of samples from the external drive in MachFive, inside DP 5.13, and it's great. I can feel I'm pushing it to the limit, but it's hanging in there. This is a LOT of samples, btw.

So, to answer your question, it's completely doable, and I say go for it! The drive is a bit heavy, but worth it. I just brought it to Europe for the summer - pack it well and you'll be fine.

Hope that helps.
Steve

Perfect. That's exactly what I needed to hear.

I'm sold!

Thanks for your help,

-R

[grey]

Thats the answer I was looking for too...

I want 1 keyboeard and a laptop live

what other VI's do you run live succesfully?