Parallels (Win on OSX) + Audio Workstation Experiences?

LanceMontgomery 🎙️ · 5th October 2021

Anyone have experience running Parallels on their Mac audio workstation? Last thing any of us need is another layer of under-the-hood uncertainty when we’ve already got complex synergies of daws and plugins and drivers. I’ve run into enough conflicting software issues in the past that I’m pretty anxious, but I am in a situation where I’m forced to use Windows for something. Any thoughts or experiences here?

Running a 2013 Mac Pro, 64GB RAM, Focusrite Clarett 18pre in 7.1, and precisely 3 billion plugins.

rACgear · 5th October 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by LanceMontgomery ➡️

Anyone have experience running Parallels on their Mac audio workstation? Last thing any of us need is another layer of under-the-hood uncertainty when we’ve already got complex synergies of daws and plugins and drivers. I’ve run into enough conflicting software issues in the past that I’m pretty anxious, but I am in a situation where I’m forced to use Windows for something. Any thoughts or experiences here?

Running a 2013 Mac Pro, 64GB RAM, Focusrite Clarett 18pre in 7.1, and precisely 3 billion plugins.

Yes. It was all bad. A iMac Pro with UFX connected by Firewire- never got it to work.

LanceMontgomery 🎙️ · 5th October 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by rACgear ➡️

Yes. It was all bad. A iMac Pro with UFX connected by Firewire- never got it to work.

Thanks for the response! What didn’t work the interface or Parallels or both? Did the interface require a windows-only driver or something?

rACgear · 6th October 2021

parallels worked fine - I still use it to run a couple of old windows 3 programs. RME (makers of the UFX) write their own drivers for both windows and macOS and have a good reputation for them (by way of example the UFX has Big Sur compatible drivers for it since about November 2020). Parallels couldn’t ‘see’ the UFX - after about three emails with support at Parallels (who are reasonably responsive) I decided that it was all too hard for the benefit I might get out of it.

js1 · 6th October 2021

If you're not running Parallels while you're running your DAW, you should be OK. I haven't seen any issues if Parallels isn't running.

Though, I use my Mac as a DAW only occasionally, and more as a portable rig rather than a "load it to the teeth with plugins" mixing platform - so take it for what it's worth.

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