New Computer for Live 9 - Win 7 or 8 ??

[CancerRidden]

To the original poster.

get a mac call it a day and start writing music.


building a PC? thats a bad idea, this aint 1993, there is nothing to learn with building a clunky PC that looks hideous. i mean unless you enjoy putting parts together... i mean it sounds like your time is better servedwriting music. i mean you're here on the ableton board.

a windows is better served doing cubicle type of work, like spreadsheets... that kind of stuff

mac is better with creative projects

this is coming from a guy who bought his first mac 2 weeks ago. I've been windows all my life. at some point you have to take a leap of faith and make the investment.

get a mac start writing music. I mean all the hardware talk i hear is just crazy, we're not computer building hobbyists here, the point is to write music. thats just me i dunno

[pencilrocket]

Responsiveness. Left is faster.
8>>7>>OS X 10.8
You would be astonished at the responsiveness if you compared them.

[David_R]

Just to bring in another point of view:

I need to do sound and video. for video I need a very fast machine. what i don't need is a fancy (glossy!)display. I have a lenovo w530 with a fast i7-ivy-quadcore, a 2GB-vram nvidia pro video card, 16gb ram and a 500gb ssd. its very fast and rock solid. I have it for one year now and had around 50 live performance situations with sound and video and no crash during a performance. a macbookpro with the same specs would have cost more than 2000 €. I got my setup for 1500€. for me thats a lot of money (a Push extra). I'm not a windows-fan I really would love to have more money and just spent 2000 or more for a mac. but if you're not looking for design and a thin aluminium-case a pc will do it. but don't buy a "consumer" laptop or pc and be aware that some hardware runs smooth (rme interfaces) an some will make you trouble(motu).

I'm running on win7 and won't upgrade because it's runnng very well and win8 needs 1 or 2 service packs until everything is smooth I guess.

[The Carpet Cleaner]

Have you looked at windows 8? It's windows 7 with the metro interface slaped on top of it. It's not even working well together! For example, Internet explorer metro and IE desktop don't communicate. Isn't it ridiculous?

So surely a company that create software with such an awkward interface, + the registries + the no start button + UAC + virus everywhere + no proper backup solution = you can't trust / follow this kind of company.

[tecgen]

Most annoying thing on Windows 7 is that you need to power on all your FireWire & USB devices before you start Live. Quite often my APC40 & APC20 were not recognised by Live 8 even when I switched them on before. On OSX I am able to switch my devices on after Live has been started and I can simply use them. Thats why I installed Snow Leopard on my self build studio PC.

[ian_halsall]

go for win7 - win8 is a turkey

what feature in win8 do you want to use that makes you want to use it over win7?

if the answer is nothing then go with win7 of course.

also the midi refresh issue has allegedly been fixed in live 9 win7

[Donnie]

Just to bring in another point of view:

I need to do sound and video. for video I need a very fast machine. what i don't need is a fancy (glossy!)display. I have a lenovo w530 with a fast i7-ivy-quadcore, a 2GB-vram nvidia pro video card, 16gb ram and a 500gb ssd. its very fast and rock solid. I have it for one year now and had around 50 live performance situations with sound and video and no crash during a performance. a macbookpro with the same specs would have cost more than 2000 €. I got my setup for 1500€. for me thats a lot of money (a Push extra). I'm not a windows-fan I really would love to have more money and just spent 2000 or more for a mac. but if you're not looking for design and a thin aluminium-case a pc will do it. but don't buy a "consumer" laptop or pc and be aware that some hardware runs smooth (rme interfaces) an some will make you trouble(motu).

I'm running on win7 and won't upgrade because it's runnng very well and win8 needs 1 or 2 service packs until everything is smooth I guess.

Yep, pretty much the same configuration I have...couldn't ask for a better machine.

Most annoying thing on Windows 7 is that you need to power on all your FireWire & USB devices before you start Live. Quite often my APC40 & APC20 were not recognised by Live 8 even when I switched them on before. On OSX I am able to switch my devices on after Live has been started and I can simply use them. Thats why I installed Snow Leopard on my self build studio PC.

Fixed in Live 9

[redglass]

Most annoying thing on Windows 7 is that you need to power on all your FireWire & USB devices before you start Live. Quite often my APC40 & APC20 were not recognised by Live 8 even when I switched them on before. On OSX I am able to switch my devices on after Live has been started and I can simply use them. Thats why I installed Snow Leopard on my self build studio PC.

Win7 here: I can start Live 8 or 9 and switch on my Firewire Interface later. No Problem. With Midi-Controler: Live 8 needs to be switched on after the controller.
Live 9: This problem is solved. You can start Live and Midi-Controller later!

[redglass]

I'd say go for a Mac too. Finding comparably spec'd Mac's and Window's machines are not that far off in price, and OSX is optimized for audio right out of the box. Typically more reliable too, both hardware and software. Not hate on Windows though, there's a time and place for each OS, and everyone has their own preferences, of course.

If you're set on Windows, Windows 7 is probably the best bet right now. Currently more stable and proven to work well for audio purposes. And you can always upgrade to 8 when it's more stable.

Win 7 performs better on short buffer settings compared to OSX following this:

http://dawbench.com/win7-v-osx-5.htm

The described research was done with Nuendo, StudioOne, Reaper and Protools.
But it says nothing about AL9 on Win7/8 compared to OSX. Disadvantage of Win 7/8 are virus & co but not low performing systems. Advantage of Win 8 compared to 7 and OSX are touchcreen based notebooks, that give you chance to start clips with a touch of your finger on your screen. Thats why I have a n eye on win8 tablet PCs..., you don't need a notebook & ipad anymore if it works!

[tecgen]

Live 9: This problem is solved. You can start Live and Midi-Controller later!

Cool, thanks for confirming that.

[agent314]

I have also confirmed that with my APC

It doesn't work with my MPK49 though. If you start with it plugged in and unplug it, it won't pick back up.
At least not on my Win7HP system.

[agent314]

Also:

building a PC? thats a bad idea, this aint 1993, there is nothing to learn with building a clunky PC that looks hideous. i mean unless you enjoy putting parts together... i mean it sounds like your time is better servedwriting music. i mean you're here on the ableton board.

Building a PC can often be cheaper than buying a stock system, plus you get to choose a motherboards with good USB handling/low DPC latency/etc. which isn't always the case with stock systems

a windows is better served doing cubicle type of work, like spreadsheets... that kind of stuff

mac is better with creative projects

Talk about being stuck in 1993

[yoda]

Hello everyone,

Wow!! Lots of response in 24 hours !

I'm not a "computer tech" and I don't have the time or the patience to build my own computer.

I've been using a PC since 1984 so I'm not about to pay twice as much to switch to a MAC. A decade or so ago, MAC for "creative work" and PC for "Office Work" was somewhat true. But today, such difference is only a faint memory.

After talking to some people locally and reading all your response here, I'm leaning towards Windows 7. I've been doing some research regarding "computers for audio". Everyone agrees to 2 things . . . as fast a CPU as affordable and as fast and as much RAM as affordable. Several friends "in the know" regarding CPU have all said "get the latest generation Intel Core i7, avoid AMD". My new computer will have the 3rd generation Intel Core i7-3770 with a motherboard capable of 32GB max.

I think I have a winner with the ASUS CM series with 3rd gen 3.4Ghz i7 with 16GB of 1600 Mhz Ram, 2TB HD from Tiger Direct for $849. A dam good start for an off-the-shelf unit. I just need to confirm the maximum RAM capability. I need a Fire Wire card for $25. It comes with WIN 8 . . . oh well, I suppose I can buy another copy of WIN 7. I live across the street from Best Buy so I can buy a copy there and they can set up a "double boot" when I power up . . . for "free" maybe.

Compared to my 8 year old 1.6Ghz Core 2 Duo XP machine I have in my studio, the new computer should be blazing fast.

Unlike some of you rich kids running on MAC, I have a limited budget. My friend that comes over to work in my studio is actually a MAC employee who works at the local Apple Store. He says I'll need over "2000 MAC bucks" to match the capability of the PC computer I am considering. He should know, he sells them. I am also going to buy the NI Komplete Ultimate, which is on sale for $699 until March 26. The price of BOTH my new computer and Komplete Ultimate is STILL LESS THAN a comparable MAC !! So you see why I can't even begin to consider a MAC. If I had time and money to throw away . . . I'll give MAC a try. McDonalds is the only MAC for me

I'm really going to try for the "dual boot" set up. That way I can gradually move on to Win 8 rather than be lost in it.

Thanks everyone
Ed

[Guillermo Barrancos]

Have you looked at windows 8? It's windows 7 with the metro interface slaped on top of it. It's not even working well together! For example, Internet explorer metro and IE desktop don't communicate. Isn't it ridiculous?

So surely a company that create software with such an awkward interface, + the registries + the no start button + UAC + virus everywhere + no proper backup solution = you can't trust / follow this kind of company.

So many uninformed clueless People regarding Windows 8. It's hilarious.

I have been using Windows 8 for over a year now, since Community Preview 1. It has been rock solid! Windows 7 was good, but Windows 8 is better! Much better when it comes to overall performance and responsiveness.

If you use a desktop PC or (non-touch) Laptop, you can completely ignore the Metro Interface and stick to Desktop mode!
You can still create shortcuts on the desktop or use the Metro menu to launch Applications.
I completely ignore the Windows Store (or so called Metro Apps), especially when it comes to Internet Explorer. The IE11 desktop Version is much better.

It's just hilarious that musicians here spend a lot of time memorizing shortcuts for their DAW software, but cannot be arsed to spend a little time Learning the various very handy "Windows key" shortcuts to make the Windows 8 experience even better!

/le sigh

[ian_halsall]

yeah - if you work in a kitchen design showroom get a Mac or at least get a Mac-like case with nothing in it and gather round it with nicely dressed members of staff pointing at the beautiful pictures while breathing foul coffee and fag breath all over each other