MOTUnation.com

hello everybody!
my first post

i am a proud owner of a motu 896. i was using it on a windows system, the computer is now dead. im considering a used mac. what im thinking is a powerPC G4 dual 500MHz running "audio desk 1" that came with my 896 on an OS version suited for this. my reasoning for using older "stuff" with an older OS is simply money. if i can use what i have an spend very little extra, im kinda stuck here. So i guesse my Q. is with only 5-700 bucks to spend on a compter and all the "Fixens"
1) up to OS what? is audio desk "1" supported?
2) how easy is it to get outdated OS
3) how commen is this theory?
4) what do you think?

thanks for any help, it is greatly appreciated

ALSO, WILL AUDIO DESK 1 BENEFIT FROM THE DUAL PROCESSER?

zywot66 wrote:ALSO, WILL AUDIO DESK 1 BENEFIT FROM THE DUAL PROCESSER?

no

zywot66 wrote: 1) up to OS what? is audio desk "1" supported?
2) how easy is it to get outdated OS
3) how commen is this theory?
4) what do you think?

I think this is a good theory.

Per MOTU site, Audiodesk 1.02 works with system 9

If I were you, I would look for a G4 Digital Audio on ebay. This is the machine I mean:

http://www.lowendmac.com/ppc/g4-133.shtml

This is a good machine, but it has a slightly slower system bus. But it would do what you needed:

http://www.lowendmac.com/ppc/g4mp.html

If you don't like ebay, this site tracks the best used G4 deals from dealers:

http://www.lowendmac.com/ppc/deals.html

Single processor machines are cheaper than dual. You can add a dual processor upgrade later if need be. Example here:

http://www.macgurus.com/productpages/cp ... s/Giga.php

Get as much ram as it will take. It has 3 slots. Here is what I am using in mine:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820223038

OS 9 should come with it. If not,

http://www.megamacs.com/v1/index.php?cat=15010

Or ebay for OS 9 as well.

GOOD LUCK and have fun!


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zywot66 wrote:hello everybody!
my first post

i am a proud owner of a motu 896. i was using it on a windows system, the computer is now dead. im considering a used mac. what im thinking is a powerPC G4 dual 500MHz running "audio desk 1" that came with my 896 on an OS version suited for this. my reasoning for using older "stuff" with an older OS is simply money. if i can use what i have an spend very little extra, im kinda stuck here. So i guesse my Q. is with only 5-700 bucks to spend on a compter and all the "Fixens"
1) up to OS what? is audio desk "1" supported?
2) how easy is it to get outdated OS
3) how commen is this theory?
4) what do you think?

thanks for any help, it is greatly appreciated

My opinion only, and it's a biased one, to be sure:

If you're talking about running this in OS9, and you've never used a Mac before, you're going to be in for trouble. There are few support sites left for OS9, and few people want to be bothered to remember how they set up FreeMIDI and made things work. Yes, there were tricks to getting everything to work right in those days.

AudioDesk is a freebie app included with some of MOTU's interfaces. It's not really "the audio half of DP." Many DP features are left out of AudioDesk. It's just a basic audio app, based on DP's audio features. It has its own quirks, and very few people really are familiar with the app, whether with OS X or OS9, but certainly you'll have more trouble with OS9.

I'm not saying it can't be done, or even that you shouldn't do it, but that you'll be swimming upstream in a downstream environment, and you'll be working a lot harder to do what others are doing easily. This will very possibly bias you against MOTU and DP unnecessarily.

A 500 MHz machine--even a dual--is not a good platform for OS X and Digital Performer. Some use it, some get great results because they know their limits and work within them, but it will not give you any freedom. You may be getting all this stuff cheap or free, but you're paying for it in the long run with extra work and frustration, not to mention limitations. I'd save up a little money, get at LEAST a 1GHz Dual Quicksilver, perhaps on eBay, and try to make a go of OS X and DP. You'll be much happier there.

But do not let me dissuade you if your mind is made up. Just be aware of the uphill climb ahead.

Shooshie

thanks for the help folks.