My kid wants a used Mac Pro for Pro Tools...

[David S]

I've owned plenty of MacBooks, Minis, and iMacs, but I have no experience with Mac Pros. I remember seeing caveats here about early Mac Pros. I have a vague recollection that there is a certain cut-off point before which the Pros aren't particularly useful anymore (very limited expandability, incompatibility with modern OS, etc.).

Any useful rules of thumb?
Thanks!

[C(-)ris]

You need a 2008 or better model to run 10.8. However, Pro Tools requires newer hardware than that for the current version.

ProTools 11:
Mac Pro mid-2012, 2010 & 2009 5,1
Mac Pro early 2009 4,1

[JoeM]

You need to find out what version of Pro Tools they will use as there are different "flavors" of Pro Tools, software-based and software +hardware-based.

With that info you can check the requirements and compatability:
http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/compa...y/en436391

[Fritz]

I'd recommend PT 9 or 10 as iLoks (dongles) deals can easily be found for those versions.
Check http://duc.avid.com/forumdisplay.php?f=12 and the usual other places.

A 10.7.5 heater with PT 9 is fine.
PT 10 requires a 10.8 heater.

I ran 9 on my 1st gen Xeon (2006) until last year quite successfully.
If he is just getting underway, I'd go for the non HD or HDx version which can run a variety of 3rd party audio I/O.

Currently I run PT 9 with a UA Apollo on a 2011 MBA with 4G ram.
52 channels wide, 2 Waves plugs per channel, average.
Mail and Safari are almost always running in the background as well.

I work with many that are waiting out PT 11, simply because of added expense in HW changes and plugs.
The quality difference won't make the final result MP3s any much better.

[rz]

Why not use Logic instead?

[jdc]

Fritz wrote:
Currently I run PT 9 with a UA Apollo on a 2011 MBA with 4G ram.
52 channels wide, 2 Waves plugs per channel, average.
Mail and Safari are almost always running in the background as well.

So Fritz is running it on a 2 year old MBA -- so I would think any 2011 or better iMac/mini/MBP/MBA would be fine too?

Since we dont really know what hes trying to accomplish, (or budget?) not sure how to recommend any mac, MP or not.

[mattkime]

It all depends upon what specifically he wants to do but plenty of people use laptops for that sort of stuff.

[Fritz]

rz wrote:
Why not use Logic instead?

Logic is a popular option for many I know.
When I needed to learn PT it was for TV production, so I needed reliable sync lock.
PT (5 at the time) was the only option.
But I hear nothing but good about Logic. And for $200.
It would be an easier learning curve for a younger mind than mine, but if I could find the time I'd learn it.

[colonel panic]

Fritz wrote: A 10.7.5 heater with PT 9 is fine.
PT 10 requires a 10.8 heater.

PT 10 runs fine on 10.6.8

[Fritz]

colonel panic wrote:
PT 10 runs fine on 10.6.8

had no idea.