Hi, I'm considering converting from PC to MAC, despite two PC computers over the last decade having been deliberately and expensively spec;d up for audio both have proven to be rubbish, just not able to deal with multiple USB ports being used for audio. anyway i won't bore you with details, but i;m going to take the plunge and go for a mac, but need to know is it possible (and if so how) to transfer the contents from a PC (including cubase 5 project files) to a mac and simply open them as was within a mac? what would need to be done to achieve this? reinstall the programme's various vst instruments etc then transfer one hard drive to another and re-open them?

pls respond with some sound comments / advice / suggestions etc

cheers

The Cubase projects should be completely portable.

Do let us know if the Mac is any more successful with your multiple USB devices.

I moved a huge folder of Cubase projects from PC to Mac for a mate making the same move as you.
The only thing I would say is, if you intend to move a hard disk and keep on using it, it is better to copy the drive, then repartition and format for Mac.

The reasons for doing this are :
PCs format HD and loose space ( ? )
EG - a typical 500gig HD is 460gig formated for PC
On a Mac you get 500gig.
So where's the 40 gig gone then, Microsoft ?

The other issue is writing to the drive - Macs can't write to NTFS HDs, without software like Paragon.
( You can read from NTFS )

Back to Cubase, you will find the odd plugin is simply not available on Mac.
Not sure why, but all the important ones are multi platform and there are plenty of alternatives, given the Macs' status in the pro end of the music industry.

Overall, its a relatively painless transition.

You've posted the same thread twice so I'll reply twice.

I'd have a go at letting someone fix your USB issue first, could be a very easy fix and there are plenty of knowledgeable people on here.

As for Cubase, yes you can transfer any project between OSX and Windows, just copy across your project folders, you will need to have the same plugins etc installed on the mac to have the projects run exactly as before. Also Cubase cannot open project files that have been created in later versions.

I'd make a list of all your software and hardware then see if it is possible to run it on OSX bearing in mind that the latest version is Lion and soon to be mountain lion unless you decide to buy used (same rules apply).

But, first why not tell us what your USB issue was?

--------------------
http://www.williammorrismusic.com

+1 with Will.

I work on many different machines, DV, Carillon, Scan, 'made-for-audio' Windows desktops and laptops. I have a Macpro in the studio and often also work on other Mac machines. I haven't noticed myself any significant differences in the way multiple USB performs.

If you have other reasons to move to a Mac then certainly spend the money. However, if USB really is the issue then I'd suggest you explore the problem a little more.

Can you give us more information, or have you already decided to change maybe?

Loopy

Hi guys,

thanks v much for the responses. It's not a case of wanting to go mac for the sake of it, if anything it's inconvenient- I'll lose software bits and bobs purchased for PC over the years, or at least downloaded for PC format, and then the reinstalling authorisation palaver. The problem is my set up often doesn't sound properly. I have a windows PC, cubase 5.5, numerous USB ports and a firewire (with a useless / defunct/ not working "liquid mix" box- another highly-rated-in-the-reviews little box that ground to a halt thru time <<is it the computer or the box>>??)), an old UAD card, virus TI plugged in via USB where virus is the soundcard, two dongles, and mouse+keyboard+motif. that's it. problem is every time i try to boot up a project these days the virus TI itself does not sound (the rest of the project does) so i have to go thru this painful procedure of turning everything off, unplugging cables, removing plug from wall, replugging everything in, rebooting ti, relaunching cubase and opening up project sometimes as much as 6 times before the virus TI signal sounds. i've been toggling back and forth with their support on this for quite some time, and even reinstalled the virus to another USB port as recommended and nothing has done the trick. i emailed them the USB tree what it looks like, pasted below, but still no joy. One comment the other year (from a technical support dude) was that it could be a poor windows installation (no idea how that could / would work) but i cannot help but think that the motherboard or whatever simply cannot handle the USB ports- it's weak. Also sometimes when i boot up i get a sign saying something to the effect of "the system part of the registry has reached its capacity- further requests will be ignored" (what does that mean?? not exact words, but to this effect). Also sometimes trying to play the omnisphere sample based instrument i get a "ran out of memory" equivalent sign and cannot play it, so wondered is there enough RAM (or whatever). Another thing that narks me is i thought i'd specc'd it up and paid for it (3.24 GB of RAM) yet the enjoyment of playing sample based instruments is often blighted by the project appearing to max out. So i wonder if i was ripped off, dodgy PC, or just windows is the weak link. i haven't taken the plunge yet, but the unplugging-and-replugging-and-rebooting-to-get-the-signal-to-sound-procedure is painful and vexxing to the point where i'm thinking it could simply be time to move on.

thoughts? i've pasted the USB tree below if that helps? my first PC audio was actually a carillion and to be fair i never had any problems with it, was solid, but that quickly turned legacy -didn't have a lot of power and RAM and authorising software via another internet-abled computer was a bit too painful to go there again.

thoughts? what is the significance of the registry notice when i boot up? could they be linked? anyway below pasted the USB tree ...
Thanks again for the responses, any suggestions on what might be causing this?

Ubtt View
File Options Help
My Computer
&���
B-
Intel(R) I CHS Family USB Universal Host Controller � 2937
% RootHub
|.....[Portl] NoDeviceConnected
;.....[Port2] NoDeviceConnected
IntelfR] ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2938
-SS RootHub
[Portl] NoDeviceConnected
[Port2] NoDeviceConnected
IntelfR] ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2939
-SIS RootHub
[Portl] NoDeviceConnected
[Port2] DeviceConnected : Virus Tl USB 2.8.45
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293C
-�� RootHub
[Portl] NoDeviceConnected
[Port2] NoDeviceConnected
[Port3] NoDeviceConnected
[Port4] NoDeviceConnected
[Port5] NoDeviceConnected
[PortG] NoDeviceConnected
IntelfR) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2934
2i� RootHub
^ [Portl]NoDeviceConnected
[Port2] NoDeviceConnected
IntelfR] ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2935
SiS RootHub
[Portl] DeviceConnected : eLicenser
[Port2] DeviceConnected : iLok
IntelfR] ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2936
�2 RootHub
tg* [Portl] DeviceConnected : USB Composite Device
[Port2] DeviceConnected : Microsoft USB Wheel Mouse Optical
IntelfR] ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller � 293A
RootHub
[Portl] NoDeviceConnected
[Port2] NoDeviceConnected
[Port3] NoDeviceConnected
[Port4] NoDeviceConnected
[Port5] NoDeviceConnected
fPnrtfil NoDeviceConnected

I'd open a new topic for this in the PC Forum, it's unlikely to get an answer in here and is rather off topic for the Mac Forum. I'll post back in there if you like.

--------------------
http://www.williammorrismusic.com