Mini mac for pro tools

**OrangeHopper** · 8 April 2010, 20:56

Don't know anything about Pro Tools but I personally wouldn't get a Power PC based Mini. They are supported by Leopard but not Snow Leopard. My Intel based Mini is also significantly faster than my Power PC one.

**minestrone** · 8 April 2010, 20:58

Cheers, that is something I did not know.

**OrangeHopper** · 8 April 2010, 21:06

I've just been checking and I think only the more recent models support dual monitors. The newer one in front of me certainly has two video outputs while the older one upstairs - hold on a minute - only has the one output.

**Scrag Meister** · 9 April 2010, 09:01

Go for an Intel based newer version as you can then still run Windoze within the Mac OS if you need to.

**Cliphead** · 9 April 2010, 09:10

It's not so much being able to run Pro Tools but what you're going to throw at it. Audio recording, samplers, MIDI plugins, softsynths etc.

**Durbs** · 9 April 2010, 10:57

Originally posted by minestrone View Post

My thoughts are to get a second hand mini mac and it seems that you can pick a second hand one up for abut 100 quid. like a "Mac Mini G4 1.25GHz 1GB RAM 40GB HDD" on ebay just now

As has been said dont even consider a Power PC based Mini. The Intel based ones are the way to go.

Even the lower end Core2 ones are pretty nippy so bung in an extra gig of memory (had to upgrade mine recently, not a fun job cracking those things open!) and it'll be fast enough i'd say.

I've got a Mini 1.83 Core2Duo and its plenty quick enough for most things so that or higher would do the job.

Also helps if running Snow Leopard, I upgraded from Leopard --> Snow Leopard which cost a few quid from Amazon and its noticably quicker.

**minestrone** · 9 April 2010, 11:24

Originally posted by Cliphead View Post

It's not so much being able to run Pro Tools but what you're going to throw at it. Audio recording, samplers, MIDI plugins, softsynths etc.

I pretty much exlusively use my roland synth module with a couple of expansion cards ( orchestra and keys). Won't be tanking the thing.

I'm wanting to get away from my XP box as the latency makes it unworkable now and I have not done anything in ages.

**minestrone** · 9 April 2010, 11:27

Originally posted by Durbs View Post

As has been said dont even consider a Power PC based Mini. The Intel based ones are the way to go.

Even the lower end Core2 ones are pretty nippy so bung in an extra gig of memory (had to upgrade mine recently, not a fun job cracking those things open!) and it'll be fast enough i'd say.

I've got a Mini 1.83 Core2Duo and its plenty quick enough for most things so that or higher would do the job.

Also helps if running Snow Leopard, I upgraded from Leopard --> Snow Leopard which cost a few quid from Amazon and its noticably quicker.

There are a few of that kind of spec kicking about ebay. can't get on in clientco though

Read somwhere that I should be getting 2 gig min of ram

Seen one chap say that he put more memory in and now the case does not line up quite right anymore so it sounds like it's no fun getting them open.

**Durbs** · 9 April 2010, 11:43

Originally posted by minestrone View Post

Seen one chap say that he put more memory in and now the case does not line up quite right anymore so it sounds like it's no fun getting them open.

Aye, they are not the easiest things to strip. Had to do mine 3 x because the first time i put it back together i could hear the fan, whereas before the thing was completely silent.

On the third time of rearranging the packing to cure this hum i realised i'd disconnected a tiny black cable that i assume controls the fan so the bios was just whacking the fan up to full speed

By that time though, I could strip and reassemble it super speedy.

Mini mac for pro tools