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Hello,
My machine is old and definitely not the ideal tool for audio recording, but it's what I've got and I need to utilize every bit of of it (pardon the pun;) So, I have a plan and just want to verify a few things before I proceed. Please share whatever you know, even if it's only the answer to one question...

System & Software
OSX 10.3.9 (& OS 9.2.2) on a 450Mhz AGP Graphics Power Mac G4 with [2] IDE hard drives: [1] 80 GB; [1] 120 GB. My recording software is DP 4.6. Ableton Live 5.02 and Reason 2.5

Unless a better plan is suggested...

Master Plan, Part 1
Partition the larger hard drive [120 GB] into 2 partitions:
1) storage of finished audio projects
2) current audio projects that I can completely erase (reformat the disk) once completed.

Master Plan, Part 2
Partition the smaller hard drive [80 GB] into 3 partitions:
1) everyday use (internet, word processing, desk top publishing, etc.), on which I'll install the full version of 10.3.9
2) for OS 9.2.2 programs that won't run in Classic, on which I'll install 9.2.2.
3) for audio recording, on which I'll install the absolute minumum components of 10.3.9 needed to effectively record audio.

The Big Question?
What are the absolute minimum OSX components needed to effectively record audio? (please be specific)

By The Way...
Should either or both drives be journaled?

Thanks in advance for your time,

evk

i cant really answer all of your questions but somwhere i have heard that one should not partition a small drive more than once. As far as minumum OSX to install i ahve no clue.

I said this in your earlier post.

Don't partition your system drive more than once. If you need OS9, then have a OSX partition, and an OS9 partition.

As for OSX, install the basic package (can't remember what's it's called exactly). Don't install languages, and printer drivers. Tweaking your install more than that won't reap many benefits.

As for your audio drive, I wouldn't partition it at all, it's only 120GB. But if you feel the nned to, then again only partition it once.

Just a few thoughts on your post questions.

Master Plan, Part 1
Partition the larger hard drive [120 GB] into 2 partitions:
1) storage of finished audio projects
2) current audio projects that I can completely erase (reformat the disk) once completed.

Master Plan, Part 2
Partition the smaller hard drive [80 GB] into 3 partitions:
1) everyday use (internet, word processing, desk top publishing, etc.), on which I'll install the full version of 10.3.9
2) for OS 9.2.2 programs that won't run in Classic, on which I'll install 9.2.2.
3) for audio recording, on which I'll install the absolute minumum components of 10.3.9 needed to effectively record audio.

DO NOT partion. I've tried that route and it's nothing but grief when things go wrong. Although Apple sezs it is doable it's really not the way to go when you have more then one operating system installed on the same drive.

Now, according to mactracker ( www.mactracker.ca ) your machine ( if I've located the right mac ) can have 4 internal drives. That's the route I'd take since drives are relatively cheap these days.

Also you could set up two or more USER accounts within a drive that has PANTHER whereby one account is used strictly for as you want internet, word processing, desk top publishing, etc. and the other account used for audio work. Although if you have four internal drives setting up USER accounts would really not be necessary.

What are the absolute minimum OSX components needed to effectively record audio? (please be specific)

Not sure what you are asking albeit westla in his post reply has provide you with very valid information. I would just add that after you've installed PANTHER ( 10.39 ) you can go into Systems Preferences and do some tweeks there. When you are that point please post again.

Please keep us posted on what you decide to do and how it all pans out.

Check out this article on optimizing Panther for Audio. Very good tips for you:

http://emusician.com/mag/emusic_tracking_big_cats/

Tracking the Big Cats

By Jim Bates

See the part at the bottom on "New Cats in Old Cages" for older machine tips.

Even though he doesn't state it in the article, I have seen elsewhere on the net that he is a DP user. Maybe even a unicornation user, if I remember right thru the fog of memory.
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Make sure you have maxed out your ram for that machine. 512 will not cut it for DP and OS X. That machine takes 512 sticks of PC 100 memory, but will work w PC133 memory.

If you can swing it, a processor upgrade would probably help. I had a similar machine and I got decent work done w a 1.2 ghz upgrade. YMMV. No I don't work for these people it will give you an idea what is out there and might work for you:

Processor Upgrades for Your Apple PowerMac G4 AGP Graphics "Sawtooth" 450MHz (1999)
http://www.eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Upg ... w+Upgrades


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