Optimize a Mac for Audio

[Vanity]

Ez guys, i know that there has been a lot off discussion online about whether or not there is a lot you can optimise on a mac. As there are no official ways that you can optimise a mac for audio performance, i thought that we could use this thread to share any tips that you've picked up along the way to bring the best out off both you're Mac and you're D.A.W.

Here's a few that i've found online, as well as experience.

Turn bluetooth off if not needed.
Turn off screen saver when recording.
Turn off file sharing, printer sharing, and screen sharing unless needed.
Turn off airport.
Clean up your desktop, don't fill it with icons. Each icon on the desktop is treated differently in the system than a regular icon.
Make sure you have matched RAM pairs (up to 5% increase in speed).
Minimum of 10% (preferably more) free hard disk space. I.e a 100 Gb hard disk should have at least 10 Gb of free space at all times.
Don't activate Widgets (Dashboard). Once activated it'll use resources in the background until you log out or restart your Mac.
Don't install shit you don't really need. Especially nothing that works in the background such as MSN, Skype, etc.

[Mason]

go to pawn shop/cash converters/ebay sell mac then buy a pc

[Gribble]

go to pawn shop/cash converters/ebay sell mac then buy a pc

Bad advice, you'd lose a lot of money by selling a Mac in a pawn shop. And there would be no advantage to changing to windows, especially windows 8 which is a tablet operating system and is awful!

To the op, a mac is already pretty well optimised but thanks for the tips! Logic is probably the most efficient daw i love it.

[Huts]

go to pawn shop/cash converters/ebay sell mac then buy a pc

Logic Pro

[3rdeye]

tbh my Macs have always run smoothly without paying attention to any of those on the list

[titchbit]

how does skype run in the background? if you quit the application, then it's no longer running, correct? I always quit applications when I'm no longer using them.

[Crimsonghost]

go to pawn shop/cash converters/ebay sell mac then buy a pc

No.

[Crimsonghost]

go to pawn shop/cash converters/ebay sell mac then buy a pc

Bad advice, you'd lose a lot of money by selling a Mac in a pawn shop. And there would be no advantage to changing to windows, especially windows 8 which is a tablet operating system and is awful!

To the op, a mac is already pretty well optimised but thanks for the tips! Logic is probably the most efficient daw i love it.

Yes.

[Crimsonghost]

how does skype run in the background? if you quit the application, then it's no longer running, correct? I always quit applications when I'm no longer using them.

Yeah, a lot of random shit runs in the background unless you actually go the file or right click the app and quit. Pita really. But oh we'll.

[Electric_Head]

I thought Macs were supposed to be perfect 100% of the time.

Go figure.

[Crimsonghost]

I thought Macs were supposed to be perfect 100% of the time.

Go figure.

Only 99.99% perfect.

[Electric_Head]

It's that 0.1% that tells me to stay away.
Not a fan of those odds.

[wub]

The day ImageLine release FLStudio on Mac, that day I'll consider switching. Until then, it's a no brainer.

[fragments]

especially windows 8 which is a tablet operating system and is awful!

It's not like Windows 7 is on it's way out and it runs fine. I've had zero issues with it.


Seems like a good list you came up with OP. One reason I've stayed away from Mac is because there is less you can do to customize your operating system.

I guess if it comes down to it you can freeze tracks and bounce things to audio if you are having issues.

[Crimsonghost]

One reason I've stayed away from Mac is because there is less you can do to customize your operating system.

I think thats one of the nice things about it. Dont get me wrong, ive used PC's for 27years until i got my first mac and i understand what you can do with them, but i really like how streamlined the mac is with its os and accessibility. And from what ive noticed they do seem to have a longer shelf life then a PC. About 5-7 years vs a pc 3-5 years. Only really drawback is after your pc gets outdated you can easly rip it apart and rebuild it. Not so much for a mac.

The day ImageLine release FLStudio on Mac, that day I'll consider switching. Until then, it's a no brainer.

Theres talk about it. But when they actually decide to go through is anybody's guess. IL says they have a fairly stable 32 bit theyve gotten to run on mac, but its still using a wrapper. Personally, im looking for a second DAW and would love to give FL a shot.

[fragments]

Granted there are a lot of shit PCs built with crap parts, but the desktop I built 4 years ago shows now signs of giving out in the next year (knock on wood). But if you are talking your average PC from a big box store versus buying a Mac it's not contest on quality.

PCs are like cars used to be...now you need a computer science degree to work on a fucking car, lol.

[titchbit]

FL on mac would be amazing. Everyone I know that has used FL absolutely loves it. I would probably at least give it a shot.

[fragments]

^I've thought about switching over. All my friends keep trying to convert me to Ableton...but with each FL update I find myself more and more comfortable staying where I am...

[Sonika]

ooh this is handy, i didnt know a couple of These

cheers