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[G40]

I've recently started getting interested in getting hold of a TDM setup. As it turns out it didn't take me too long to find a system which I've now agreed to buy!   

I've never used Pro Tools Mix - I was aware of it back in the day but it was entirely out of my reach. I had Pro Tools free on my first audio capable PC but it was limited compared to other software I used. I dug into Pro Tools a bit later having recorded an album at a studio with an HD setup which I later mixed at home on a PC using M-Powered. I was probably using version 7 at the time. I'm hoping the older TDM setup won't feel too limited by comparison. I'd imagine it will make up for it in other ways! I'm also wondering what the practical differences are likely to be between PT 5 and 6 - instinctively I'd prefer to stick with OS9...

The setup I'm buying is apparently a working system with spares - the seller has offered to demo it. I'm wondering to what extent I need to be careful about buying in terms of hardware issues/reliability and also software in terms of the presumably licensed software that it will come with versus potentially reinstalling with downloaded "abandonware" from here or elsewhere.

There seems to be enough in the package that I could potentially create a second set up on another mac with a fresh install of downloaded PT software? To what extent are TDM plugins etc available these days? Also what is the requirement re HDs for audio - do I need SCSI drives or will secondary IDE or Firewire drives do the job? And are there any cables or other essential bits and bobs that are hard to get hold of these days?

The basic setup is a Mac g4 (dual boot) pt 5 & 6 with core and farm card installed.
Deal includes another core card, and 2 more farm cards.
Also comes with :
USD
ADAT Bridge
5 x 888/24
2 x digidesign quiet drives.

As you can tell, I'm a bit of a noob with this - when it was contemporary I had no interest in it because it was completely unattainable! Even a basic G4 (or G3) was the stuff of dreams for me... so any advice gratefully received.

[smilesdavis]

and now this entire setup can be had for 150 eur

[G40]

and now this entire setup can be had for 150 eur

Unfortunately not quite that cheap...

[Architecture]

I recently went full bore into Pro Tools MIX TDM (7 Mix Cards, 2 SampleCell Cards). 4x ADAT Bridge plus 888/24 for Sound Manager Apps. Also have a secondary Mix setup in a G4 QS with Mix Cubed setup with an 882/20 for playback.

SCSI did seem to help with system stability when working past 32 channels of audio. Noticed it when I had 32 channels in playback and recording 16-32 more channels how well it performed. The biggest lessoned learned is you want fast disk access but throttled bandwidth so you don’t starve the PCI Bus.

Happy to answer any additional questions.

Here’s my livestream of the setup https://www.youtube.com/live/ORPrUb7_f8c?si=3On4PoYmZBvLX_XG

[smilesdavis]

I recently went full bore into Pro Tools MIX TDM (7 Mix Cards, 2 SampleCell Cards). 4x ADAT Bridge plus 888/24 for Sound Manager Apps. Also have a secondary Mix setup in a G4 QS with Mix Cubed setup with an 882/20 for playback.

SCSI did seem to help with system stability when working past 32 channels of audio. Noticed it when I had 32 channels in playback and recording 16-32 more channels how well it performed. The biggest lessoned learned is you want fast disk access but throttled bandwidth so you don’t starve the PCI Bus.

Happy to answer any additional questions.

Here’s my livestream of the setup https://www.youtube.com/live/ORPrUb7_f8c?si=3On4PoYmZBvLX_XG

thats nice, bit too modern for me but im also running a marathon racked G4 1.8ghz sonnet hooked up with a mix chassis.

if your travels ever take you to the real ancient systems (and im not referring to your ibm in the background) drop me a line

[Architecture]

I am also running a 4 Channel Pro Tools setup on the Mac Quadra 700.

https://youtu.be/N4ED1R7fah4?si=omlEXsvBa6Zdq3QA

[smilesdavis]

I am also running a 4 Channel Pro Tools setup on the Mac Quadra 700.

https://youtu.be/N4ED1R7fah4?si=omlEXsvBa6Zdq3QA

seen that!

you on discord?

[Architecture]

I have a few discord servers that I help run. This one is my live-streaming Discord: https://discord.gg/V9Q2C2zT

[G40]

Thanks for weighing in guys, I’m looking forward to digging in to this. I’m adding this link for my own reference - quite a useful contemporary description of the system.

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/pro-tools-24-mixplus

[G40]

The kit is here... been sorting through it and looking forward to having a play.

First question: Will Cubase VST 5.0 run on the TDM hardware? Wondering whether having an ASIO card installed too is a good idea.

[smilesdavis]

last official cubase audio xt for dae/tdm and vst is 3.5x, v4.1 (unreleased) is around but people are scared to share it due to legalities.

[G40]

last official cubase audio xt for dae/tdm and vst is 3.5x, v4.1 (unreleased) is around but people are scared to share it due to legalities.

Thanks, good info.

[smilesdavis]

last official cubase audio xt for dae/tdm and vst is 3.5x, v4.1 (unreleased) is around but people are scared to share it due to legalities.

Thanks, good info.

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steinberg_Cubase&wvprov=sticky-header

[G40]

last official cubase audio xt for dae/tdm and vst is 3.5x, v4.1 (unreleased) is around but people are scared to share it due to legalities.

https://www.macintoshrepository.org/2535-cubase-vst-24-4-0

any good? 4.1 seems to be there.

[smilesdavis]

thats simple VST, possibly VST/24, TDM 4.1 is unreleased

[G40]

thats simple VST, possibly VST/24, TDM 4.1 is unreleased

Ah, OK. Wikipedia page you linked to suggests TDM support built in.

[Knezzen]

Ah, OK. Wikipedia page you linked to suggests TDM support built in.

Yeah, It should have. Install it and give it a go. Report back your findings

[G40]

Ah, OK. Wikipedia page you linked to suggests TDM support built in.

Yeah, It should have. Install it and give it a go. Report back your findings

Will do, haven't yet got round to trying it.

In amongst the bundle of equipment is a small stack of authorization floppies, for plugins etc...

Are these still relevant? I have just downloaded a huge folder of plugins - none seem to require authorisation. Do the floppies have any use or value today?

[smilesdavis]

please make fotos of them! totally relevant. applesauce allows to copy them with licensing intact. so future generations can install as intended

[Architecture]

The kit is here... been sorting through it and looking forward to having a play.

First question: Will Cubase VST 5.0 run on the TDM hardware? Wondering whether having an ASIO card installed too is a good idea.

The only working configuration I had for Cubase XT TDM was on my 68K Nubus Pro Tools setup. Did not work with MIX TDM sadly.

If I could weigh what my impression of it was, it was terrible sounding. Opcode was my no 1 pick for that era of workflow.