Can i run DP on G4 450mhz

dehromie · Post by **dehromie** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:08 pm

The specs on my G4 is 45o mhz, I can bulk my ram over to 2 gb i believe..My hardrive i will replace in a couple of days and I plan on getting a external firewire hardrive..Will this suffice with DP.. (getting the ultralite this weekend.

tommymandel · Post by **tommymandel** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:45 pm

I had one of those for a long time, but i upgraded the processor for $300, to a 1.2 Ghz G4 (single.) That worked very well with OS9 and DPv.3.11, but I don't think you will get very far with your configuration and the newer DP versions, especially since you will have to use OSX, whether it be OSX 10.3.8 or Tiger (10.4). If you are just using MIDI, and OS9 - great! but since you are contemplating a Firewire drive, that means you want to do Audio. How many tracks? The problem would be Virtual Instruments and plug-ins, especially third-party ones, in my opinion. My advice: save up, don't buy the Firewire drive, and get at least a used Dual Processor 1.25Ghz or 1.4Ghz G4, but better, some kind of G5. Just don't put too much money INTO the older 450 Mhz G4, because if you save that expenditure, you can get a newer Mac sooner.....
But you can't stick with OS9, unless you stick with DP v.3.11. If you do THAT, you'll get further.... Good luck. I'm sorry to make any assumptions about your finances - I know nothing of that - just what will work and what probably won't.

nickysnd · Post by **nickysnd** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:53 pm

I'm not sure if you mean DP5, but if so, in the specs they say textually: "Digital Performer 5 requires a G4/500MHz Power Mac with 512 MB RAM running Mac OS X 10.3.7 or higher."

So you seem to be slightly under the processor speed. Don't know if that would prevent the sequencer to run at all. Maybe someone else have tried DP5 with a G4/450MHz machine?

Or maybe ask directly MOTU, they should have tried it before writting that, I guess...

Nicky

dehromie · Post by **dehromie** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:03 pm

Thanks for the responses and yes assume my finances are short..lol
I have DP 3.11 installed on my computer now with OS 9.
See thats the thing..If i stay at 3.11 and didnt invest money into going into version 5 am i missing somethin..Ofcourse would be the answer, but cant miss what u never had being that im a new user all together..DP 3.11 was installed by my cousin who swears by DP. What sucks is I have a powermac G4 (silver) over 800-900 mhz speed, but it doesnt boot( thats a whole nother story

I wanted to sell my VS 1880 and begin with the DP format but if i dont have the hardware to begin with, I should wait to get a more stable machine it seems.

UprightJoe · Post by **UprightJoe** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:05 pm

I ran a G3 300 that was upgraded to be a G4 533 for a long time. I went from Audio Desk to DP 3 to DP 4.1 on that machine. I don't know if you'll be able to run DP 5 but 4 should work.

You'll probably be able to handle plenty of audio tracks but you won't be able to run many plugins or VI's. You'll have to do at least one of the following 3 things:

1) Upgrade the processor - http://www.macsales.com/ is a good site to order from.

2) Buy at least one UAD-1 card. (http://www.uaudio.com/)

3) Use Freeze Tracks like crazy - it'll be annoying and slow down your mixing but it'll get you through.

UprightJoe · Post by **UprightJoe** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:12 pm

I missed your last post. DP 3.11 on OS 9 is probably a good fit for this machine in its current configuration. You'll be missing a lot of features from 4 and 5 but DP 3.11 will run pretty well and you still have a very full featured piece of software.

tommymandel · Post by **tommymandel** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:15 pm

I agree with Upright Joe. If you have a working system, 3.11 and OS9 is really really good. The rest of the newer features? well I think Pitch Correction is the only super-big-one that you might miss, but having a smooth running machine is worth a lot, and VI's don't really make or break a system...well, actually they may break yours by making it slow down too much. Stick with OS9 and 3.11, and you'll get work done. Good luck!

dehromie · Post by **dehromie** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:20 pm

Upright,

Can you explain to me the main feature that comes to mind that i would be missing..Honestly as I posted in a previous topic my main concern would be getting all my MIDI equipment to sync up and play without me having to manually put in patches from my modules

. 2) record my audio into the software so I dont have to turn on every piece of equipment that supplies the sounds for that song.

3) definitely record vocals

4) mix down and just be able to click the play button and hear the song the same ever time..

Those seem like simple things to everyone but for me I never had the luxury...Im hoping along with the ultralite and this G4 for even starters until i can get something better, those task are not far fetch..Thanks again everyone

dehromie · Post by **dehromie** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:23 pm

didnt see the post before..Thanks

UprightJoe · Post by **UprightJoe** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:06 pm

DP 3.11 will do everything you just mentioned no problemo. Most of the new features that I use from versions 4-5 just make things quicker and simpler. They don't really allow you to do things you couldn't do before.

For example:
Freeze tracks allows you to bounce a track with its plugins to disk and bypass the plugins freeing up CPU space in one click. You can do the exact same thing in DP3, it just takes a little longer.

Voices are assigned to tracks automatically now - in DP3 you have to manage that yourself. Not a big thing but it makes the software a little more friendly not having to deal with it.

If you're using something like a UAD-1 card which introduces latency into your audio, DP now corrects for it automatically. Before you had to either nudge your audio or use a plugin to compensate.

None of this effects what you can do - it just makes doing it a little more user-friendly and saves you a little time here and there... You'll be fine with DP 3.11. You can always upgrade if/when you get a faster computer.

dehromie · Post by **dehromie** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 5:26 am

Thanks so much looking forward to becoming a DP user

emulatorloo · Post by **emulatorloo** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:32 am

dehromie wrote:The specs on my G4 is 45o mhz

good deals on processor upgrades here:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/specials/

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/bargains/

They have good ram too.

Also be aware that MOTU offers a competitive crossgrade to DP, either directly or thru some online vendors -- that will save you a few bucks too. Example:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MTUDPERFMAC

I don't work for any of these people.

--

hearttimes · Post by **hearttimes** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:06 am

we made tons of records on the rig you have

kraigmason · Post by **kraigmason** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 2:37 pm

One thing you check is whether the ULTRALITE will work in OS9.
I think there may only be OSX drivers for it.
But I don't know for sure.

dehromie · Post by **dehromie** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 2:57 pm

Theres a eveil force out there trying to keep me down.

MOTUnation.com

Can i run DP on G4 450mhz

Can i run DP on G4 450mhz

Re: Can i run DP on G4 450mhz