Ableton Forum

Sorry, I am sure this has been asked before (but could not find it quickly in the search): Is the small macbook a good platform for live and logic or should i take the 2.0 version (i cannot imagine why I should need the superdrive)
how much ram will i need?

Runs great; they're really fast. Just be sure to get at least 1Gb ram.

i would say 2 gigs and you're good to go.

cheapest prices on mem can be found here:

http://www.datamem.com/AMM12.asp

max out the ram and you'll be happy you did

im gona buy a powerbook or a macbook soon...

is a 1.6ghz powerbook with max RAM enuf coz i can buy it cheaper from a friend


or is it better to buy the new macbook then put 2gb RAM?


=)

im only running ableton 5 for dat=)

dude get the macbook. dont even waste your time with the powerbook. You'll be disappointed by its performance, and the macbook wipes the floor with the powerpc apple notebooks. Just get at least 1gb of ram.

$1099 on student discount...you cant go wrong!

BTW, I run Logic and Live on it, sometimes both at the same time, and I have yet to run out of processor power. On my 1.33ghz G4 iBook, the same tasks I do now would have brought the system to its knees.

White MacBook user here:-

Intel Core Duo 2.00gHz
512 GB RAM
60 GIG HD

If I were you, I'd try and save the extra money to purchase a 2.00gHz Core duo if possible. If not, and if you're truely unconcerned about the inability to burn DVD's, then I think the 1.8 will suffice. At the moment, my MacBook is running Ableton 5.2 with no problems at at, even with loads of synths running and tons of reverb units, I don't think I've exceeded 50% on the CPU limit.

Don't forget this is with only 512 MB of the standard Apple RAM. Suffice to say, these MacBooks are very quick indeed, I can't imagine what it will be like when I save up for 2 GIG's of RAM and a 160 GB 7200 RPM Hiatchi travelstar Internal Hard-drive.

With regards to Logic (I'm using the UB Express version), then this feels even faster than Ableton, I wouldn't like to say how many of the Logic instruments I could run if I tried, though I would presume it be a lot.

One thing to consider is that if you plan on using visual-intensive applications, especially the latest games, then you'll be disappointed with the Intel on-board graphics unit. If your only interested in audio, then the MacBook has actually bencemarked faster than the MacBook Pro's for general processing power. I presume this is why Apple might delay the processor change in MacBooks from Yonah to Meroms, whilst making changes to the Pro line immediately. I suppose they feel it necessary to articulate the difference between the alledged 'consumer' line and the 'professional' line beyond a larger moniter, a backlite keyboard and a decent video card.

I'm using a 1GB, 1.67Mhz Core Duo with live 6 beta (PC not MAC but performance should be similar) and it handles everything I can throw at it.(loads of vstis playing hundreds of notes simultaniously) . and performance will improve further when the debug tracing code is turned off in the final release. and this is with the notoriously CPU hungry M-Audio FW410.

muscleandhate wrote:I can't imagine what it will be like when I save up for 2 GIG's of RAM and a 160 GB 7200 RPM Hiatchi travelstar Internal Hard-drive.

It'll most likely be a white puddle of melted plastic on the floor.

Putting in a 7200rpm drive will start your macbook overheating, you'd be better off using an external drive. You should keep your audio files on a seperate drive to your system anyway, if you're really worried about performance.

reptar wrote:It'll most likely be a white puddle of melted plastic on the floor.

Putting in a 7200rpm drive will start your macbook overheating, you'd be better off using an external drive.

not true. 7200rpm drives are fine in the macbook.

reptar wrote:

muscleandhate wrote:I can't imagine what it will be like when I save up for 2 GIG's of RAM and a 160 GB 7200 RPM Hiatchi travelstar Internal Hard-drive.

It'll most likely be a white puddle of melted plastic on the floor.

Putting in a 7200rpm drive will start your macbook overheating, you'd be better off using an external drive. You should keep your audio files on a seperate drive to your system anyway, if you're really worried about performance.

Please get your facts straight before you speak. I noted the Hiatchi Travelstar in particular. This is because, despite bigger and faster than the standard MacBook drives, they actually run with lower temperatures and use less battery.

nosuch wrote:Sorry, I am sure this has been asked before (but could not find it quickly in the search): Is the small macbook a good platform for live and logic or should i take the 2.0 version (i cannot imagine why I should need the superdrive)
how much ram will i need?

Live runs very smoothly on my macbook

BUT

Be aware there are limited plugins that run on the intel mac at the moment. If you use guitar rig, for example, it's not available till later this year. Unless the plugin is universal it will not work with the latest version of live.

I say this after tryiing to port my set up from PC to mac and waiting for updates to various plugins to become available.

Stew

AdamJay wrote:max out the ram and you'll be happy you did

The ansewer to everything.

muscleandhate wrote: Please get your facts straight before you speak. I noted the Hiatchi Travelstar in particular. This is because, despite bigger and faster than the standard MacBook drives, they actually run with lower temperatures and use less battery.

I'm interested in this. Could you backup your info with some tech specs, comparison or link please? Thanks.

for all those mabook 2.0 users? can u still download free plugins online? like orange vocoder n other plugins?