Re: [ARSCLIST] AV to DV - PC or Mac?

[Scott Phillips <scottp@xxxxxxxxx>]

I purchased a new protools HD with a MAC G-5 about 4 months ago, and it
came with a windows protools version as well. I haven't loaded the
windows version to try it. The MAC was purchased only because it was
felt it would be more comfortable for the incoming clients who were
already used to MAC for this. Since Apple has for many years
concentrated on the educational and music market niche for a long time,
it is to be expected that the software base for music / recording tools
was, concentrated on Mac's (not that true any more I think). The simple
economics of the situation have changed. 

I use both platforms, and both have their good and bad points, but IMO,
as long as the software support you need is available, either is fine.
Quality PC's with late-model operating systems are reliable and stable.
Windows 95, 98, and ME are long behind us.


-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Angie Dickinson
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2005 12:44 PM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] AV to DV - PC or Mac?

I'm on your supervisor's side on this one.  Strictly on a cost basis the
PC wins out.

You'll find most of those that use Mac in the audio world claim Protools
as the standard also. Though system crashes can happen on either
platform, every Protools session I've ever been involved with has
included at least one crash during the session and lots of lost time
trying to restart it.  Then there are the costly updates.

On the other hand, it is very difficult to get my PC based SAWStudio
system to crash. This DAW was built for a fraction of what Protools on a
Mac will run you.  It performs and is more efficient at getting the job
done. With SAW in Live Mode, I can set EQ, compression, NR and any other
processing parameters I need *while* I'm digitizing.  This has cut down
on the time it take to do most restoration jobs substantially.

There are factors other than platform to consider.  Your choice of
soundcard (and decent AD/DA), video card, etc and the drivers written
for them is also important.  Your choice of recording software and any
plug-ins you may choose to use are important also.

I know several people who do the audio for video post on PC with great
success.
FWIW, I've recently been told that Avid/Digidesign has been working on
migrating everything to PC.  Whether that is now their recommended
platform these days, I haven't been able to confirm.

Angie Dickinson
www.avocadoproductions.com
Arvada, CO

Klara Foeller wrote:
> Dear Colleagues -
>
> I'm at war with my supervisor on the subject of Macs vs. PCs when it 
> comes to digitizing analog audio & video.  He has a bias against Mac, 
> while all my periodical & on-line research, plus many consultations 
> with colleagues in media archiving, broadcasting and production, 
> clearly indicates that Mac is the strongly preferred system.
>
> Please send ammunition.  Especially if you can quantify in $$$ and/or 
> lost productivity.  All apocryphal stories welcome.
>
> Klara Foeller,
> Curator, Moving Image & Sound Collections Missouri Historical Society
> 314 746-4513
>
>
>