OK, then please quote ONE major soundtrack composer in LA who works on a laptop on nothing but a laptop. I know pretty much all of them and all of their studios.
There are plenty of “serious” soundtrack composers who would or could use a laptop as their master machine
Well, they don’t. And if they have to use it as a master machine, it implies that the laptop isn’t capable of handling an entire soundtrack and needs at least a slave. Which proves my point. But then again, a SERIOUS DAW machine has at least three internal large-capacity drives, which kinda excludes laptops. Also, mobile processors aren’t as fast as desktop CPU’s.
- You say, “Logic Pro is the only valid reason to use a mac, for anyone who just starts.”
My response: This is simply incorrect. Logic Pro is of course not the “only valid reason” to use a mac, not to mention macs are not just “for anyone who just starts.” Not sure where to begin on that one. But I’ll simply start with this fact: a major “valid” reason why people choose one platform or another is simply personal preference. Some people simply prefer to use a Mac, some people simply prefer to use Windows, and there is nothing wrong with that either way. That is one of my main points of prior posts in this and other threads.
Why would anyone want to deliberately use an overpriced and underperforming machine that can’t even be overclocked? Allegiance to a cult is the only explanation. “I’ve got to use a mac because that’s what celebrities use! And I want to be just as cool!” Yeah, that explains it…
Additionally, a recent-gen Mac with a quad-core CPU or better is perfectly capable of running professional audio applications and generating professional results.
Like I said, people who use macs generally don’t have high requirements. Those who do have PC slaves that handle the heavy loads. And that includes virtually all major soundtrack composers.
there are many other “valid” reasons why one person might choose one platform or the other:
a) easier compatibility with friends, collaborators or clients
b) TCO - total cost of ownership (this can be complex calculation that goes far beyond a single computer)
c) business requirements
d) contractual reasons
e) support contracts
f) familiarity of specific hardware/software
g) requirement to use a specific piece of hardware or software
h) client preferences or even client requirements
i) availability
j) pre-existing software/hardware infrastructure investment
k) project workflow
l) performance of a specific application or plugin
m) etc…
a) again, it goes back to using Logic. Because files from other DAW’s are perfectly cross-compatible.
b) yeah, that’s the typical fanboy argument who believes that Apple machines actually cost less. It makes absolutely no sense.
c) such as?
d) such as?
e) another fanboy myth. If you buy a BUSINESS windows machine, it likely comes with an EVEN BETTER WARRANTY than what Apple gives you. My HP laptop came with a 3-year on site warranty. It’s an extra $350 if you want that with a MBP.
- You say that a “macbook is a consumer-grade machine that would never ever pass military standard testing, like most business laptops do.”
My response: Assuming you are referring to a MacBook Pro, not an old MacBook, your point is irrelevant.
It’s not irrelevant at all. I can drop my HP Elitebook three feet on a hard surface and it won’t break. And if it does, HP will give me a brand new one. Now try that with your MBP and then tell again that it’s irrelevant…
MacBook Pros are built very well, and perfectly capable of handling the rigors of day-in day-out professional use. “Military standard testing” is of course not required.
Not by you maybe, but if I accidentally drop my laptop, I’m happy to know that nothing broke inside. No such luck with a MBP. To you it might be irrelevant, but that’s because all fanboys see Apple’s shortcomings as “features”…
There are also plenty of Windows machines that do not have “military standard testing”
Now THIS is a truly irrelevant point. Because when you get a windows machine, you can CHOOSE to buy one that is rugged enough. Again, with a Mac you have no choice. But if you are a devoted member of the Apple cult, then you always try to rationalize Apple’s shortcomings as something that isn’t really need. Until Apple decides to copy from other manufacturers. In that case not only that feature automatically becomes of vital importance, but Apple invented it…
the ADK laptops are not as well built or as well designed as my MacBook Pro.
Subjective fanboy statement, which you cannot support with anything objective.
- You say that “There’s nothing you can do to improve a mac…You cannot tweak a mac because Apple won’t let you.”
My response: That is incorrect. There are plenty of things you can do to both improve and tweak a mac
Minor and largely useless. The truth is, you can’t even overclock a mac. And that’s the kind of MAJOR tweak that actually makes a difference.
And on top of all that, Macs run Windows very well via Boot Camp
Yeah, that’s the ONLY tweak that can bring dramatic improvements. And that totally proves my point.
- You say, “plugin count isn’t everything (granted, it depends on how you work…)”
Well, if we’re talking about soundtracks and orchestral mockups in general, then plugin count is quite important.
- You say, speaking of James Horner, Trevor Rabin and James Newton Howard using Macs, that “They use mac because they’re old and not very tech-savvy and they can’t get accustomed to another OS.”
My response: I can’t speak for James Horner, Trevor Rabin and James Newton Howard, but I think you can’t speak for them either.
And you’re wrong there, since I know these people.
In any case, they are professionals using Macs and doing fine, which simply supports the fact that there are plenty of pros of a high order that use Macs for this specific class of work…
Again, they ALL use PC slaves, which once again proves my point.
The post production industry in the US is dominated by Pro Tools, mostly running on Macs, in my experience, as I am sure you know. We could talk for hours about various sub segments of various entertainment industry professionals that use Macs in large majority to Windows. In any case, the platform is irrelevant to the level of work produced. Users of both platforms are limited only by their own skills and talents.
Again, for the reasons I mentioned before. Studios don’t change computers every year and many still use MacPro’s from circa 2006. In a decade or so, things will be completely different. 10 years ago, we were all using macs (myself included), if you have to change a machine today, you’d be hard-pressed to get a mac. And the new MacPro makes this choice even more absurd, as it’s a computer designed exclusively for 4k video editing. Why would anyone want to buy a machine with monster GPU’s (which you don’t need) that has no PCIe ports? Again, the answer is the same: rationalization and being a member of the cult. But most real pros aren’t cultists and that’s why they won’t keep buying MacPro’s.
My general position is that the platform wars are over.
I don’t think so. Apple cultism is very much alive, and that’s what drives the “wars.” I’m platform agnostic, I use what MAKES SENSE to use, and if tomorrow it made sense to switch to Linux or another OS, I would do it in a nanoseconds, no regrets and no second thoughts.
It’s no longer relevant what platform you are running on, other than mainly workflow and personal/business preferences.
Of course it’s relevant, because the mac offers lousy performance for the price. You can say the price is irrelevant, but again, that’s just rationalization driven by fanboysm.
Performance is of course better on Windows
And that’s what my point was all about. It makes no sense to spend more money for less performance. And I’m sorry but deciding to work with an overpriced and under-performing machine just because you like Apple’s icons better (or the styling of the case) makes absolutely no sense outside of fanboysm.
But the delta between Windows and Mac performance is smaller than ever, based on tests I have run myself, having been a heavy Windows user and follower of TAFKAT’s excellent DAW Bench work. While there is no doubt a Windows machine of the same price as an Apple machine will give you more plugins and better lower latency performance, the difference in price, amortized over the total cost of ownership in a business lifecycle is not that much
Yeah, that’s what you read on “cult of mac”, but it’s complete BS. Because it assumes that all PC’s are cheap machines that break down after 6 months. In TRUTH a PC can be anything you want, and since you can SELECT your own components, you can buy much better ones that what Apple tells you it’s the best (but it isn’t…)
And thank heavens for VE Pro, which makes working with both platforms better than ever.
VEP runs MUCH better on windows. But hey, I’m sure you accept a performance penalty because Apple’s icons are so pretty and the design of the case is so trendy… 