New MacBook Pro Powerful Enough ?

[lorper]

Hi there. I recently purchased a MacBook Pro for the sole purpose of recording music. I hope I got the correct model and specs for what I want to do. Ill be using Logic. The Specs of my MBP are as follows,

 

13" Retina MacBook Pro

Intel i5 2.7ghz processor

16gb Ram

256gb SSD

 

I bumped up the RAM and SSD because apparently these MacBooks are non upgradable after purchase. Im hoping the processor and ram will suffice for music production. Can some of you tell me if this computer will serve as a good recording computer ?

 

Also, I had to have a MacBook because I have to remain portable. For my house computer when I upgrade that I will go with a iMac for sure . Now that I see how nice a mac runs, my wife and I are in love with it.

[Eric Cardenas]

It's a very good machine.

You don't have to worry.

[lorper]

Will the Dual Core limit my machine much in terms of recording ? Should I have went Quad core ?

Yesterday I got an error that my CPU was overloaded while using logic but I installed "Fender Fuse" and "Microsoft Silverlight" right before this so I kind of figured this had something to do with it. I uninstalled both applications and havent had the issue since. Beofre I installed that program I never had that issue. I also only had a bass track and a drum beat in the project I was working on so nothing strenuous. When I open my CPU level monitor in logic its usually abou 1/3 to 1/2 used from what I can see when everything is running.

[triplets]

Will the Dual Core limit my machine much in terms of recording ? Should I have went Quad core ?

 

Logic likes more cores, so in theory you should go with the best computer you can afford.

 

Go to http://www.everymac.com and look at the geekbench scores of your laptop.

 

Powerful machines are above 12000 in the MC (multi-core) scores.

[lorper]

Logic likes more cores, so in theory you should go with the best computer you can afford.

 

Go to http://www.everymac.com and look at the geekbench scores of your laptop.

 

Powerful machines are above 12000 in the MC (multi-core) scores.

 

Hey so I looked on there but I can't really understand all the numbers. Theres 6 different geek bench results. Also, it looks like its giving results for the base model of my Macbook. I have upgraded ram and SSD space. Im not sure if either of those variables would change the outcome of those scores or not. Also, theres 32 and 64bit scores I'm guessing and I'm not sure which my mac is. Any help ? Either way I don't see any #s in the 12,000 range. I wish I had of known this when I purchased this a couple months ago. I just hope I didnt spend $2400 Canadian for a Macbook that won't handle recording.

[Eric Cardenas]

Recording audio is really not a CPU intensive task and your SSD will take care of a huge amount of bandwidth without even flinching.

 

Using software instruments are the biggest culprit regarding CPU cycles.

Good audio interface drivers will also help you out here. Using generic drivers at low buffer sizes can often generate CPU error.

What buffer size do you use at the moment?

[Wolfie2112]

You might get by ok, but personally I would have gone with the 15" 2.8GHz Quad-core i7, along with 16GB Ram. Mine doesn't flinch.

[triplets]

You might get by ok, but personally I would have gone with the 15" 2.8GHz Quad-core i7, along with 16GB Ram. Mine doesn't flinch.

 

Yeah, dual cores in Logic is a little weak.

 

If you look at the Geekbench 3 MC 64-bit scores, the dual core is around 7000. Not too high.

 

The quad-core 2.2 i7 15-inch has a score of 13000, almost double.

[Eric Cardenas]

Of course multiple processing threads is better but it is also more expensive ($700 comparing the cheapest 13" and the cheapest 15").

Then there's the issue of singel threaded performance which mostly is the culprit of the dreaded CPU error messages due to Logic's live thread.

[lorper]

Using generic drivers at low buffer sizes can often generate CPU error.

What buffer size do you use at the moment?

 

Not sure Eric. How would I find this out ?

 

Of course multiple processing threads is better but it is also more expensive ($700 comparing the cheapest 13" and the cheapest 15").

Then theres the issue of singel threaded performance which mostly is the culprit of the dreaded CPU error messages due to Logic's live thread.

 

What is single threaded performance ?

 

Also, yes the difference was $700 before taxes so here in Canada you can add another $115 onto the $700 price tag. When asking around a few different forums I was told the macbook I was looking at was a powerful enough computer for what I wanted. It was suggested that I upgrade the HD and Ram, So I did that. I should add that I havent had any other issues with the Mac since that one episode after I restarted and uninstalled those two programs it went away.

 

All in all if I would have known that $850 extra is what I would have had to get I would have spent that at the time. Again Im just hoping that I didnt waste my money on something that will be obsolete for what I want to do. I was under the impression that the macbook pro I bought was a very good computer for recording music.

[triplets]

Not sure Eric. How would I find this out ?

 

Logic's Audio preferences. It will say either 32, 64, 128, 256 or higher.

 

.

What is single threaded performance ?

 

The CPU using only one core instead of all, which sometimes leads to system overloads

[fisherking]

i do my work on a 13" macbook pro, and love that (i backpack it around nyc, so the 13" works for me). but, better to ask these things in advance of buying a computer, not after. i would have recommended the i7 processor...more powerful.

 

still, i worked for 2 1/2 years on my previous 13" (2.4 i5), and got my work done. an occasional overload (you can freeze tracks, look into other ways to work if you run into problems). there's good advice in this thread, and you should be able to do what you want to do.

[Eric Cardenas]

What is single threaded performance ?

 

There are different benchmarks.

Multi core and single core.

 

If you double-click the CPU meter in the control bar you will open up a floating CPU/Disk monitor that has a bit more information.

Open this panel next time you run into an overload. You will now be able to see if it is one processing thread that is overloading or if it is all cores.

Most of the time it is 1.

 

Not sure Eric. How would I find this out ?

 

Chose Preferences > Audio > Devices and see the i/O buffer size.

Larger numbers will put less strain on your system but will also induce more latency.

Smaller numbers will cut the latency but will be more CPU intensive.

[lorper]

i do my work on a 13" macbook pro, and love that (i backpack it around nyc, so the 13" works for me). but, better to ask these things in advance of buying a computer, not after. i would have recommended the i7 processor...more powerful.

 

still, i worked for 2 1/2 years on my previous 13" (2.4 i5), and got my work done. an occasional overload (you can freeze tracks, look into other ways to work if you run into problems). there's good advice in this thread, and you should be able to do what you want to do.

 

Yea I understand that. Im new to all the technical stuff with a Recording Computer and I was asking lots of questions but for some reason the Dual and Quad Core Processor debate never arose. Just get the Retina MBP, SSD, and Up the ram. Either way I have it now can theres no way I could afford to get a 15" now after dropping all this cash for the 13". How many tracks and VSTS do you usually run in a project.

 

 

 

Chose Preferences > Audio > Devices and see the i/O buffer size.

Larger numbers will put less strain on your system but will also induce more latency.

Smaller numbers will cut the latency but will be more CPU intensive.

 

Its set to 128 at the moment. Would you suggest another value ?

 

There are different benchmarks.

Multi core and single core.

 

If you double-click the CPU meter in the control bar you will open up a floating CPU/Disk monitor that has a bit more information.

Open this panel next time you run into an overload. You will now be able to see if it is one processing thread that is overloading or if it is all cores.

Most of the time it is 1.

 

I was just playing back two of my projects and watching the meter. It looks like only one of the two is doing the work. It hasn't overloaded since all the same but is there a way to make the work balance out of 2 cores instead of 1?

 

 

All in all Do you guys think this MBP will handle recording within Logic or did I purchase a Lemon here.

[Eric Cardenas]

Its set to 128 at the moment. Would you suggest another value ?

 

It totally depends on your situation.

There is no right value.

The rule of thumb is low values when recording and high values when mixing:

 

Larger numbers will put less strain on your system but will also induce more latency.

Smaller numbers will cut the latency but will be more CPU intensive.

 

All in all Do you guys think this MBP will handle recording within Logic or did I purchase a Lemon here.

 

It totally depends on what you are recording?

Are you planning to have a bunch of Omnispheres and Divas + other software instrument tracks?

Do you mostly record audio?

 

PS. I'm pretty sure the broadwell i5 support hyper threading.

Choose Preferences > Audio > Devices and set the number of Processing threads to 4.

[lorper]

There is no right value.

The rule of thumb is low values when recording and high values when mixing:

 

Do you think 256 May be a more balanced option while recording ? Is there anything I can read to understand what exactly latency is and how it effects things ?

 

 

It totally depends on what you are recording?

Are you planning to have a bunch of Omnispheres and Divas + other software instrument tracks?

Do you mostly record audio?

 

I don't know what omnispeheres and divas are so I'm gonna say know. Im recording audio yes. Mostly rock type songs. There will be a few guitar tracks, bass tracks, a drum track running from EZ Drummer or the built in drummer, and some vocal tracks. Maybe throw in some synthesizer or piano tracks every now and again. I don't imagine ever going over 20 tracks and id have to think a normal project for me would be around 10-12 tracks.

 

 

 

PS. I'm pretty sure the broad well i5 support hyper threading.

Choose Preferences > Audio > Devices and set the number of Processing threads to 4.

 

Cant figure out where this is. Am I looking for this in logic or in the system preferences of the OS. Either way this pathway doesn't seem to exist on my machine. I don't see a devices box within the audio tab.

[Eric Cardenas]

Do you think 256 May be a more balanced option while recording ? Is there anything I can read to understand what exactly latency is and how it effects things ?

 

It all comes down to monitoring.

Make sure software monitoring is on then set the buffer size to 1024 samples.

Try singing or playing something while listening on headphones. It will feel very awkward.

Now change the buffer to 64 and try the same thing.

 

I don't know what omnispeheres and divas are so I'm gonna say know. Im recording audio yes. Mostly rock type songs. There will be a few guitar tracks, bass tracks, a drum track running from EZ Drummer or the built in drummer, and some vocal tracks. Maybe throw in some synthesizer or piano tracks every now and again. I don't imagine ever going over 20 tracks and id have to think a normal project for me would be around 10-12 tracks.

 

Your Mac will handle this perfectly.

 

Cant figure out where this is. Am I looking for this in logic or in the system preferences of the OS. Either way this pathway doesn't seem to exist on my machine. I don't see a devices box within the audio tab.

 

Make sure to enable all the Advanced tools first.

Choose Preferences > Show Advanced Tools > Enable All.

[lorper]

 

Make sure to enable all the Advanced tools first.

Choose Preferences > Show Advanced Tools > Enable All.

 

Got it. Now I can see 4 bars and they seem more evenly distributed . Thanks bro.

[Eric Cardenas]

You're most welcome!

[lorper]

Hey guys. So I just got the message again. Current project has 10 tracks so far. I have 2 bass guitar tracks, 3 guitar tracks, 2 piano tracks and 1 synthesizer. The song is only about 1:20 in length so far as I'm just working it out bit by bit trying to familiarize myself with this program. I use a 3rd guitar track for recording into new parts and than I trim that recording and paste it into the left and right guitar tracks. I find when i try and record with the actual guitar track it creates an overlap and than i have to do a bunch of clicking in order to get rid of it so i find my 3rd track and 2nd bass track works pretty well.

 

My buffer size is 128 at the moment. I do notice that it seems like this happens when I'm recording and doing takes and Im wondering if the task of logic saving the things I'm doing has anything to do with it.Not sure if anything I'm saying is very clear but you know how I can always use the UNDO button to go back and fix things if i don't like something ? Well is that having anything to do with the overload ? Once I close the project and reopen it seemed to play through the song ok.