Professionals mostly use Macs? Should I go Windows or Mac?
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WatchTheGuitar
- KVRAF
- 12120 posts since 30 Apr, 2019
"The Only Thing I Do Know Is That We Have To Be Kind. Please, Be Kind. Especially When We Don't Know What's Going On."
https://tidal.com/artist/33798849
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jamcat
- KVRAF
- 3972 posts since 2 Sep, 2019
Professionals tend to use Macs because there was a time when Pro Tools only ran on Mac. Many professionals were professionals back then, so they stick to what they know and what works.
Others got on Mac/Pro Tools for compatibility and simply because that was the “industry standard.” And it still is. Being able to open a project from another studio is crucial.
You can go into any real recording studio anywhere in the world and there will be a Mac running Pro Tools. And for this reason alone, you can go into any real recording studio anywhere in the world and there will be a Mac running Pro Tools.
Even though you haven’t needed a Mac to run Pro Tools for a couple decades, it’s still the norm, because Macs are uniform, and Avid is able to make sure Pro Tools is invariably rock solid on all Macs. And they do. Windows PCs have infinite configurations which can’t all be tested, and they don’t even try. And why would they, since professionals are all running Macs.
So Windows is always hit or miss, and usually some combination of both. Buying a Mac takes all of the guess work and uncertainty out of it, and Apple provides far better customer support to audio professionals than any PC manufacturer can.
Real professionals have a lot riding on them, and they can’t afford to have weird Windows compatibility issues pop up and then have to tell important clients to wait while they try to google the problem.
Others got on Mac/Pro Tools for compatibility and simply because that was the “industry standard.” And it still is. Being able to open a project from another studio is crucial.
You can go into any real recording studio anywhere in the world and there will be a Mac running Pro Tools. And for this reason alone, you can go into any real recording studio anywhere in the world and there will be a Mac running Pro Tools.
Even though you haven’t needed a Mac to run Pro Tools for a couple decades, it’s still the norm, because Macs are uniform, and Avid is able to make sure Pro Tools is invariably rock solid on all Macs. And they do. Windows PCs have infinite configurations which can’t all be tested, and they don’t even try. And why would they, since professionals are all running Macs.
So Windows is always hit or miss, and usually some combination of both. Buying a Mac takes all of the guess work and uncertainty out of it, and Apple provides far better customer support to audio professionals than any PC manufacturer can.
Real professionals have a lot riding on them, and they can’t afford to have weird Windows compatibility issues pop up and then have to tell important clients to wait while they try to google the problem.
THIS MUSIC HAS BEEN MIXED TO BE PLAYED LOUD SO TURN IT UP
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amyodov
- KVRer
- 9 posts since 13 Mar, 2023 from Coimbra, Portugal
Backing up the software/data is in fact much easier than “backing up” the hardware. Every member of the band may carry a copy of (encrypted) hard with the gig materials. Bringing two copies of gig-crucial Mac Pros instead of one – or even two laptops – already becomes inconvenient.
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vurt
- addled muppet weed
- 100796 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
some of the acts i worked with, had 2 trucks and a massive bus.amyodov wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:27 pmBacking up the software/data is in fact much easier than “backing up” the hardware. Every member of the band may carry a copy of (encrypted) hard with the gig materials. Bringing two copies of gig-crucial Mac Pros instead of one – or even two laptops – already becomes inconvenient.
pretty sure they had room for such things

i only brought it up, because id seen it happen.
computer fails, roady nips out to bus, comes back with second computer, minutes!
even macs arent always available without travelling to another city, here in the uk at least, they can often be on back order.
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amyodov
- KVRer
- 9 posts since 13 Mar, 2023 from Coimbra, Portugal
I mentioned Surface tablets several comments ago for a reason. The most recent Surface Pros, like Surface Pro 9, run “a regular Windows 11 Home or Pro”, but may contain either an Intel i5/i7 CPU... or a Snapdragon-based ARM CPU.WatchTheGuitar wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 6:48 am Yes Windows RT (and back in the day Windows CE) were never fully compatible with desktop Windows, but Microsoft didn’t force everyone to adopt them. And couldn’t.
Just like in those M1/Rosetta times...
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WatchTheGuitar
- KVRAF
- 12120 posts since 30 Apr, 2019
Surface is a tiny percent of the PC market so I’ll play my “don’t see how that is relevant” card
"The Only Thing I Do Know Is That We Have To Be Kind. Please, Be Kind. Especially When We Don't Know What's Going On."
https://tidal.com/artist/33798849
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kritikon
- KVRAF
- 7180 posts since 24 May, 2002 from Tutukaka, New Zealand
Is this still going on? Let's have a proper 1st world argument about something important instead of the usual shite about mac vs PC.
So...when you wipe your arse, are you a scruncher or a folder?
Obvs a folder gets more shit off their anus with each wipe, no argument could be possible about that. I admit it can be a bit harder on your piles, as you do more paper-to-skin scraping, but scrunchers just wodge a bunch of it between their crack in the hope some of it will stick. Talking of which, scrunching is way more likely to get shit on your fingers, and I bet you dirty bogans don't even wash your hands afterwards, eh?
So...when you wipe your arse, are you a scruncher or a folder?
Obvs a folder gets more shit off their anus with each wipe, no argument could be possible about that. I admit it can be a bit harder on your piles, as you do more paper-to-skin scraping, but scrunchers just wodge a bunch of it between their crack in the hope some of it will stick. Talking of which, scrunching is way more likely to get shit on your fingers, and I bet you dirty bogans don't even wash your hands afterwards, eh?

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kritikon
- KVRAF
- 7180 posts since 24 May, 2002 from Tutukaka, New Zealand
...though I suppose if you're a cheapskate who uses thin 2-ply, folding and wiping is more likely to get your fingers poking through the paper while you're wiping. And weirdly, you can buy 2-ply in every city. 

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Jac459
- KVRian
- 888 posts since 3 Jul, 2022
I think that's what you meant but to be clear the Surface 9 with arm hasn't the same windows and compatibility than the x86 one.amyodov wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:36 pm I mentioned Surface tablets several comments ago for a reason. The most recent Surface Pros, like Surface Pro 9, run “a regular Windows 11 Home or Pro”, but may contain either an Intel i5/i7 CPU... or a Snapdragon-based ARM CPU.
Just like in those M1/Rosetta times...
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WatchTheGuitar
- KVRAF
- 12120 posts since 30 Apr, 2019
Folder not a scruncher. I went into my office for the first time in ages recently and was disgusted to find that all the loos there have now got the paper in these weird little units that look like the world's saddest dugs where you pull the edge of the paper and have to drag it out pre-scrunched.


"The Only Thing I Do Know Is That We Have To Be Kind. Please, Be Kind. Especially When We Don't Know What's Going On."
https://tidal.com/artist/33798849
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WatchTheGuitar
- KVRAF
- 12120 posts since 30 Apr, 2019
question is do you fold or scrunch the swan’s neck?
"The Only Thing I Do Know Is That We Have To Be Kind. Please, Be Kind. Especially When We Don't Know What's Going On."
https://tidal.com/artist/33798849
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vurt
- addled muppet weed
- 100796 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
that's entirely up to the swan.
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WatchTheGuitar
- KVRAF
- 12120 posts since 30 Apr, 2019
That’s right, I was misremembering something I’d seen on QI
"The Only Thing I Do Know Is That We Have To Be Kind. Please, Be Kind. Especially When We Don't Know What's Going On."
https://tidal.com/artist/33798849