Microsoft Uses Intel Based Macs in its own Pro Tools studios

Lee Kanne · **Voice Talent** Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 129

I'd rather reload Windows 95 on my machine than Vista..

Michael Rhys · **Voice Talent** Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 67

Trey Thomas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Posts: 27

Mike,

While I am aware of Boot Camp and the ability to dualboot (run OS X & Windows) on an Intel Mac, that's not what I am referring to here. According to the Digidesign rep I spoke with, Microsoft Studios is using Intel Mac Pros to run OS X exclusively to power Pro Tools. So they are using neither Microsoft approved hardware or operating system to run the professional DAW standard that is Pro Tools. This is how they're choosing to run Pro Tools at Microsoft Studios. The implication is that their own products, Windows XP and/or Vista, are not sufficient, stable or powerful enough to run Pro Tools. As far as Microsoft developing software for Apple Computers and investing in the company--that's just good business. MS began making Office for Apple computers because no one else was making a compatible office suite that could trade files freely with the millions of business PCs on the market. That is simply meeting an end-user need. MS is also covering its basis in the event of a substantial loss in the OS market share. It's sometimes called a rainy day plan. But as far as Boot Camping a Mac is concerned--it's probably how I will handle my next major computer purchase. That way I can have the best of both worlds--OS X & Windows in one complete package.

Trey

Allen Brown · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008, 04:20 (GMT) Post subject:

Trey Thomas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Posts: 27

Allen,

Now that is certainly a possibility. Especially considering that from what I understand Digidesign coded Pro Tools for the Mac format to begin with. But if it were simply a case of sloppy programming you would think that MS would put the thumbscrews on Digidesign to properly code its product for Windows. Instead they choose to run a competitors product. I know I keep coming back to this. But I just can't shrug off the fact that MS is running Pro Tools on OS X. To me that's tantamount to Ford putting a Toyota engine in a Mustang. Just my .02.

Trey

Allen Brown · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008, 05:19 (GMT) Post subject:

Why would MS have to apply thumbscrews to make someone's software compatible with the most popular OS in the world?

This is what it really comes down to -- Ford vs Toyota. Bayliner vs Searay. Honda vs Harley...and on and on and on. Nothing here speaks "volumes" to me as the original post states. It's just companies trying to make money, that's all.

Use what works for you. Whatever system you use should help you generate revenue. The bank doesn't ask what OS you used when you deposit your checks.

Trey Thomas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Posts: 27

Allen,

That is my point. At the moment, Pro Tools is not running reliably for me on Windows XP or Vista. It's why I went to the Digidesign event on Microsoft's campus in the first place--to get advice on how best to run Pro Tools on windows. So imagine my surprise when I couldn't find anyone (even at MS Studios) who used Windows. That's all I'm saying. Right now using a Windows based PC is what I can afford. I just wish I could get Pro Tools to run comfortably on it. I repeat this is not an attempt to flame the boards or troll on behalf of some rabid fanboy loyalty. I've made a considerable investment into the Windows platform. I am also a computer enthusiast who lives to build and repair his own PC. I really want PT to run well on Windows. It just hasn't worked for me so far.

Cheers,

Trey

Ed Gambill · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 585

When you consider all the great software that runs only on PC or on both PC and Mac and do so in a stable manner, this seems like a stalking horse debate.

With Nuendo, Cuebase, WaveLab, Sound Forge, Vegas, Audition, Samplitude, Sequoia avaliable why would any one want SLOW TOOLS.

None of Sony Media's product runs on MAC and Bias Peak has never ported to PC. Maybe PT should have stayed on its side of the tracks. And maybe just maybe Microsoft years ago should have not invested in Apple, then this kind of debat would have ended years ago.

As for me, Give me liberty or give me Nuendo. Don’t ever force ProTools on me. I would rather have my Nagra, tape and a razor blade instead.

Chris

Count me lucky, I have Nunedo, Sound Forge, on my lap top (dual core Gateway) with Vista and I be damned if it doesn’t work well. Like on multitrack sessions. I have Nunedo, Sound Forge, Vegas and Cuebase on my desk top Compaq (AMD 64) and no problems. I produce a weekly radio program on the Compaq AMD. I used my Toshiba lap top on many live gigs recording using Sound Forge with out any glitch. It was to noise for VO work so I gave it to my daughter and got the super quite Gateway running Vista. Still havn’t hade any problems with the Vista OS. The rack mounted computer in my edit suit (I built that one AMD 64) works right good on audio and video long form.

Oh if it matters, I taught production sound for film and TV. I am ex Navy ET, studio engineer TV, location sound mixer and multi-track session audio engineer. May be it's not luck after all but good recording practices.

Trey Thomas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Posts: 27

Ed,

Point taken. I could use some of your expertise or just plain 'ole luck using PCs for recording. There are alot of other Windows based programs that I haven't tried yet. Audition seems to work fine, however. And I haven't even installed the Tracktion 3 software that came free with my Mackie mixer. I guess I need to tinker some more.

Trey

Chris Clementson · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 216

Trey -

I think you're reading too much into this. From your description of the event it was Digidesign that put on this show, not Microsoft, and it may be that the Digidesign travelling road show is already set up on Macs and simply travels from venue to venue. That makes it more a matter of logistics than spurning the MS operating system. Yes it is ironic that they were using OS X on the MS campus, whatever.

What exactly are your ProTools maladies?

Ed -

I have said several times already that if Windows works for you I couldn't be happier. Just a couple of weeks ago I chatted with a guy in Australia who took his Windows laptop on a paid gig and his recording was spoilt by pops and clicks. I immediately suspected that he had wireless networking enabled and sure enough, he did. There was no way he could have seen that problem coming at home but when he got to the venue it was a different story -- too many wireless networks around. I have also posted about a latency-checking program in another thread. Compare your Vista latency to your XP latency with this program and you will see what I mean. Windows may work for a large number of users and that's great, but the underlying engineering is becoming a house of cards IMHO.

All of this hand wringing is nothing compared to what Linux users go through. Read some Linux audio forums and all you hear is "I upgraded from Ugumu* 1.234 to 1.235 and now I can't record audio at all. Waaaah!"

My brother is a manager for Digidesign but I don't think this issue warrants hounding him over, sorry. If I happen to find out anything in casual conversation when next I see him, I'll pass it along.

*Ugumu = fictitious Linux distro so I don't get sued.

Trey Thomas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Posts: 27

Specifically, my system is plagued with lockups and crashes in both Win XP & Vista. I am also getting the familiar clicks and pops you refer to. But I don't have a wireless card installed in my desktop. Go figure. For the record... I will troubleshoot the issue and eventually solve it. It's just beginning to bug me that I even have to. And I'll probably always continue to use Windows on some level because I like to build my own machines. I just wish things would work out of the box. Everything else on my PC works just fine. So maybe it is Pro Tools and not Windows. Who knows.

Trey

Chris Clementson · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 216

Trey -

Somewhere on the Digidesign web site is a set of hardware requirements for their products. All I can think is that your system doesn't conform to those requirements. Pops and clicks during recording you might be able to tweak out. If your system locks up and crashes, who knows what it could be? Try calling Digidesign technical support.

David Oxford · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 505