I've just defected from the Windows side from an aging dual core Pentium laptop to a shiny bottom-of-the-range Mac Mini. Already got most of my software installed. A bit gutted that Cakewalk Rapture won't install on Mountain Lion, but hey-ho I expected a few such things.

Anything that a new Mac user should know gratefully received!

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Choose a computer that runs the software you want to run. If a Mac doesn't, take it back.

Basically, just have fun. A tool such as Macaroni to run the Linux housekeeping routines daily, weekly and monthly seems to be a good thing, and your'e done. Stay clear of MacKeeper.

And don't worry!

G

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PA stuff on FB

All my core tools run in OSX, I wouldn't have bought a Mac if they didn't!

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Quote Hairy Ears:

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All my core tools run in OSX, I wouldn't have bought a Mac if they didn't!

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"...A bit gutted that Cakewalk Rapture won't install..."

:-)

Note the qualifier "a bit". Always planned to get into Rapture but never got round to it so I haven't really lost anything from my arsenal.

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Quote Hairy Ears:

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Note the qualifier "a bit". Always planned to get into Rapture but never got round to it so I haven't really lost anything from my arsenal.

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You're wriggling! Has going Mac opened doors? Or closed some? It's a serious question. Do you want to play in a walled garden, no matter how pretty the gardener's selection of flowers?

Well, as my principle tools are StudioOne, T-Racks and Korg Legacy and all are running fine then I would suggest that this garden wall isn't terribly well built since I have already escaped into the world of non-Apple software.

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The lack of replies....cept from exalted...who doesn't seem to really like macs....kinda give you a clue

Be prepared to switch on the machine and open your programmes of choice (cept for cakewalks synths) and record your "musings" whilst connected to the Internet without the virus issues....

Then shut down when you've finished

Get used to an easy workflow and lack of blue screens of death

And....it's just a computer....but this one, just works......kinda like you expect, rather than hope for in a windoze machine.

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http://soundcloud.com/seaapes

Had a BSOD once about four years ago due to a bad driver so my Windows experience has been relatively benign. Never had a virus, and one would be deluding oneself if your were to think that any computer is completely immune from malware, and was always online whilst recording (which for me isn't such a great thing as I am perhaps a little too compulsive when it comes to the internet

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Quote Wease:

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Get used to an easy workflow and lack of blue screens of death

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Oh yes, a Mac crash or lockup looks a bit different, doesn't it :-)

Biggest boost you can give your new machine is installing more RAM.
Shop around, it's cheap.

And for recording, use an external firewire drive so the apps and OS can go about their business without interrupting the streaming of music data.

Quote Exalted Wombat:

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Quote Wease:

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Get used to an easy workflow and lack of blue screens of death

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Oh yes, a Mac crash or lockup looks a bit different, doesn't it :-)

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Honestly never seen the lockup screen in all my years using macs, so I wouldn't know. Its not a blue screen though from what I've read about on the internet..

Hey Hairy, don't worry about Exalt's comments, he's a PC fanboy - very rare breed, so we accept his rantings as expected entertainment around here.

It's been said, more RAM the better. I use time machine for instant backup, actually very happy with the Time Capsule set up I have, but it's not cheap.

And if you're using the Mac for admin have a wade around the App Store, lots of good utilities to choose from. I've just downloaded MailHub a plug in for Mail which revolutionises (well for me) email management.

But most of all enjoy!

Bob

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Quote Bob Bickerton:

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Hey Hairy, don't worry about Exalt's comments, he's a PC fanboy...

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No, I hate the bloody things! Much prefer pianos, or electric keyboards if absolutely necessary. But I don't hate Macs any less, and I hate the hype.

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Quote Bob Bickerton:

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Hey Hairy, don't worry about Exalt's comments, he's a PC fanboy...

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No, I hate the bloody things! Much prefer pianos, or electric keyboards if absolutely necessary. But I don't hate Macs any less, and I hate the hype.

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Fair enough - just winding you up!

Bob

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Quote Exalted Wombat:

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Quote Bob Bickerton:

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Hey Hairy, don't worry about Exalt's comments, he's a PC fanboy...

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No, I hate the bloody things! Much prefer pianos, or electric keyboards if absolutely necessary. But I don't hate Macs any less, and I hate the hype.

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Strange then, that Microsoft spend so much more money on hype, both in sales percentage and real terms.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ycharts/2012/08/02/who-spends-more-on-ads-appl e-or-microsoft-another-lesson-in-quality-vs-quantity/

Maybe they just are better computers to use. They certainly require a lot less maintenance, and this is very important for people without a lot of time on their hands.

I would rather stick hot knitting needles up my bum than go back to using a PC

Hope that helps

Quote _ Six _:

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I would rather stick hot knitting needles up my bum than go back to using a PC

Hope that helps

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Thank you for sharing that! But what have your sexual preferences got to do with choice of platform?

Quote Hairy Ears:

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I've just defected from the Windows side from an aging dual core Pentium laptop to a shiny bottom-of-the-range Mac Mini. Already got most of my software installed. A bit gutted that Cakewalk Rapture won't install on Mountain Lion, but hey-ho I expected a few such things.

Anything that a new Mac user should know gratefully received!

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Check with Cakewalk for an update, it could be the installer.
Older installers contained code for the Power PC CPUs.

The old solution was Rosetta a Power PC emulator. Support for Rosetta was dropped with OSX 10.7 and beyond.

Hopefully Cakewalk has a solution by now.



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G-Dub
Studio G-fx 15inch quad-core i7 Macbook Pro Logic913

Already did, no dice, at least not at the moment.

Like I said, I never really got into Rapture so I don't feel I've lost anything.

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And a general comment - stop the pointless platform wars already. I only wanted a few pointers to potential pitfalls/useful tips for someone switching platform.

FFS stop waving your willies around going "your platform's better than yours" and use what works for you.

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I like exhaulted.....always very honest, especially when I go into annoying apple fanboy mode......not so sure about his preference for knitting needles tho....

As for the original op.....there are some small operational workflows that you might encounter.....the way that you have to close programmes via the programme menu itself (rather than just clicking the red dot/cross on the window)....getting to know the search function....not having a windows icon to click and then scroll though your programmes, but using either the dock or launch pad....the very useful 'hot corners' facility for moving between apps.....but these are fairly minor and easy to get used too....

Your software....as you are not moving daw platform...should work as you expect.....I had to learn logic, coming from Cubase....and that was the most difficult (but not too difficult) element of my move from pc to mac....I still miss the better/easier midi functionality of Cubase...but prefer logic's mixer for example.....but I think you'll have a pleasant time with your new machine.....and you'll experience a big jump in performance....as you would have with a new pic to be honest!

Above all....you should have a fairly say ride with the technology.....and be able to get on with the making of music!

Have fun!

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http://soundcloud.com/seaapes

Quote johnny h:

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Quote Exalted Wombat:

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Quote Wease:

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Get used to an easy workflow and lack of blue screens of death

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Oh yes, a Mac crash or lockup looks a bit different, doesn't it :-)

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Honestly never seen the lockup screen in all my years using macs, so I wouldn't know. Its not a blue screen though from what I've read about on the internet..

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The mac equivalent is a grey screen of death. I've only seen this on my mirror door G4 and it is called a Kernel Panic.

It looks like this

http://km.support.apple.com/library/APPLE/APPLECARE_ALLGEOS/TS3742/TS3742_ 01_KP-001-en.jpg

But yes Macs just work generally, no silly tweaks need to be made, no checking of motherboard or chipset to see if an AI will work with it. I've never seen much hype about them, it seems to be something people have tried to conjure up to justify their hatred of things that are different.

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http://www.mixcrate.com/richieroyale

Be cautious of using the automatic software update to update your system software before checking your third party plugins and drivers have been made compatible.
They used to say the best way to update is to download the full combo update from apple website and install from that although I'm not sure that is necessary any more ?
Have fun

Quote Eddy Currents:

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Be cautious of using the automatic software update to update your system software before checking your third party plugins and drivers have been made compatible.
They used to say the best way to update is to download the full combo update from apple website and install from that although I'm not sure that is necessary any more ?
Have fun

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+1 on turning automatic updates off, especially if you have adobe flash installed (separate preference). The combo update thing I've heard as well, but I gotta say, never had a problem with manual updates through the Software update.

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I love technology; it complicates my life...