I forget his name, but at a Nuendo demo with the UK producer Steve Levine, a UK 'Apple Mac rep' (????? I think it was an audio consultant actually, that just put on an Apple shirt for the day) was keen as mustard to say Apple wanted to make friendly deals with a lot of DAW makers - but not really Digidesign. He had a full house of folks 'all ears' how NOT to buy Pro Tools and how Nuendo would save the day - with Apple holding it's hand and it's megga new computers on the way.. however, I am sure he had some sort of personal gain to make with Nuendo sales.......

For myself - I am happy to continue with Pro Tools - as long as it works - I don't care much what computer it runs on..

As Renie highlights, I think we are in for an unprecedented phase of press / corporate manipulation about Mac & PC's...

Sour grapes, baffling spec's and trumpeted new "winning features" may abound. No doubt fairly transparently.

AES looks to be a fairly swashbuckling event with regards to DAW's... Who's to bet that Digidesign will make a GREAT show of a big PTHD Rig running on a PC?

I think they're just trying to get more PC customers.
Hopefully that's not wishful thinking.
I do NOT want to stop using ProTools or Macs.grudge

"I do not want to stop using ProTools and Macs"

Amen to that Paul....

Al.

Will Apple take that exact sentiment and use it as a rod for Digi's back?

the war between the mac people and the pc people is amazing....i have been using both for sometime....had my first apple in the days of the apple 2..i still use a mac for my pro tools rigs....but run all other software on a pc...its only a tool if for a moment i thought that a pc would run protools better off i would go...and get a pc for protools...but with os10 support comming with pt 6+ and dual processor support i think that apple will still have an edge....i don;'t think that dual prcessor support on pc will be comming soon ,and will not be able to have the same power to handle soft synths and rtas and htdm that the dual apples will.......

Well, all I can say is I'm shocked... :eek:
You know what... maybe it's time to start learning Logic...

Well when I went to PT, I ran it on a NT box for around a year.
Had no problems with it. Worked just as good as the Mac version, yeah there was no video support but hey I was recording bands.

Moved off it to Mac, what 2-3 years ago just because there were no plugins on the PC side. Digi was always if there is enough users then plugins will come, its sort of like the chicken and the egg thing. If they move back and I can get the plugs I like then it is just a box with a screen so I do not really care.

The whole PC vs Mac debate is kind of silly a well set up PC or Mac should not crash. As long as they do what you like then be happy. Of course it is easier setting up a Mac as there are less 3rd party hardware to deal with. Although if you get a good motherboard, video card etc. I do not see the hassle.

I still miss Wavelab, Spark and Peak are just not as good.

Same as the PT vs DP vs Logic vs Sonor vs Neundo vs VST debate.
If the product you use gets the job done without crashing all the time then that is what counts. Sonic capabilities are up to you, it comes down to convertors, pres, mics but the most important thing is the player and songs.

Digi Blurb:

Pro Tools 6.0 Software
Mac OS X Support, a New Look, More Organization, More MIDI, and More Control!

Pro Tools 6.0 software for Mac OS X adds a powerful set of new features and improvements that make this the next evolutionary step for Pro Tools software. With Pro Tools 6.0, you'll experience a completely new level of efficiency and effectiveness when working with Pro Tools.


Premier amongst new features is support for Apple's OS X operating system, providing improved, solid interaction between the Pro Tools environment and Power Mac G4s. You'll also notice a streamlined new look for the Mix, Edit, and Transport windows, making this the most user-friendly Pro Tools software environment yet. New multi-user login functionality enables individual users to save custom display, operation, editing, automation, processing, compatibility, and MIDI preferences, providing a new degree of personalization with the Pro Tools environment. But that's just the beginning.

Pro Tools 6.0 software also features the amazing new DigiBase file management utility, enhanced MIDI functionality (including hi-res groove templates!), additional Beat Detective features, new Import Session options, plug-in functionality enhancements, MachineControl additions, and much more!

Improved Organization
Often, the larger your Pro Tools session, the more difficult it is to get your head around all the elements it contains. Media files may be located on different drives, both internal and external; and if you're working on multiple projects with multiple media sources (external drives, effects CDs, etc.), the possibility of confusion increases dramatically.



To help you keep it all straight, Pro Tools 6.0 software includes a new file management utility called DigiBase. Functionally, DigiBase is similar to Mac's Finder or Windows' Explorer, enabling you to manage all of the files on your system. Moreover, DigiBase allows you to view complete file information including duration, timestamps, and two user comments fields. Display layouts can be customized to focus exclusively on the information you need.

You can also audition files and view their waveform thumbnails before importing into Pro Tools, regardless of file format or sample rate. When you've determined a selection, the one-step drag-and-drop process from DigiBase to your session timeline includes automatic file copy and conversion, guaranteeing compatibility with your project. What's more, Pro Tools 6.0 now handles many tasks such as copying, conversion, and fade creation in the background so that you can continue to record and edit without interruption. A new Task Manager feature also enables users to monitor and manage background processes.

With the additional functionality provided by the DigiBase Pro option (TDM systems only), file management options are further enhanced. DigiBase Pro provides for the creation and sharing of custom catalogs that reference files wherever they're stored, including on networks and offline media. You're also able to view, search and spot files from offline media such as sound effects libraries, CDs, etc. And you can pinpoint the files you need by searching on any combination of file information, such as file type, comment, and creation date.

More MIDI and Beat Detective


Pro Tools 6.0 software incorporates enhanced MIDI functionality, including full support for Mac OS X's Core MIDI Services. MIDI Time Stamping (MTS) support provides sample-accurate MIDI with Pro Tools-compatible software synths and samplers, eliminating the possibility of compromised sync and drift issues. Also, you can take advantage of up to sub-millisecond-accurate MIDI with Digidesign's MIDI I/O and other supported MTS-capable interfaces, rivaling any dedicated hardware sequencer.

Pro Tools 6.0 software's new MIDI capabilities also afford you extensive manipulation of rhythmic content through powerful groove creation and modification tools. The Groove Quantize feature incorporates intelligent Bar|Beat adjustment as well as support for the new 960 ppq DigiGroove templates.

Since its arrival, Pro Tools' Beat Detective tool has proven to be an extremely valuable resource for all kinds of production applications. Now with the new Beat Detective functionality (TDM systems only), you are able to extract and generate DigiGroove templates based on audio performances and utilize both the timing and the dynamics of passages elsewhere in your composition. These DigiGroove templates are also compatible with new Groove Injection templates from Numerical Sound.



Pro Tools 6.0's MIDI implementation also features a new Restore Performance function, enabling you to return to an original MIDI-based performance at any time. Working in this non-destructive manner, you can experiment unhindered with the assurance that you can always recover from adjustments made during the course of your project. Of course, if you've settled on changes, the Flatten Performance feature solidifies your edits and gives you a new, permanent basis from which to proceed.

Additional new features include a new Relative Grid option, a new keyboard shortcut for temporarily disabling Grid mode, and definable note duration when drawing notes (the Pencil tool now also trims notes). The Trim tool now trims notes in Velocity view, and MIDI Operations and Tempo/Meter Change are easily accessible floating windows. And in addition to more MIDI tracks than ever before (256), Pro Tools 6.0 supports DirectMIDI for plug-ins, enabling automatic tempo data broadcasting to select plug-ins to ensure that rhythmic delays stay in time without user intervention.

Increased Mixing Options


The mixing environment in Pro Tools TDM 6.0 offers new efficiencies to further your effectiveness. Premier amongst those is the ability to import any track attributes from one session into another (TDM systems only). Specifically you can choose to import any combination of track data including audio playlists, MIDI playlists, mixer automation, routing assignments, plug-in instances and settings, and plug-in automation. Plus, you can choose to replace or overlay the data in relation to your existing session. This new Import Session Data capability that can be used in a variety of ways: For instance, if you've perfected a set of drum tracks, or portions thereof, you can migrate only the channel attributes you want to another session's raw drum tracks. Or, if you need to scale down a mix to a smaller system, you can easily move sessions between systems with different I/O configurations by importing only the track data you choose on a per-track basis. And, analogous to changing tape out in a traditional analog environment, Pro Tools 6.0 supports the importing of audio/MIDI playlists while preserving the mixer layout, routing, and plug-in settings.

Other improvements include the Selector tool's (I-beam) ability to select across multiple tracks as well as a definable Zoom for toggling track heights.

More Control
MachineControl option enhancements (TDM only) are also included in Pro Tools 6.0, providing post professionals with an even higher degree of workflow streamlining. A new Machine Profile utility enables you to create deck configuration profiles for controlling any Sony 9-pin controllable deck, and includes support for custom track name entry in each deck profile, for even easier operation when remotely track arming. 9-pin deck emulation operation now includes a "Remote LTC Mode" allowing you to chase LTC while receiving 9-pin record and track-arming commands. The result: support for higher track counts and faster operation when in deck emulation. You are also able to generate timecode while emulating a 9-pin deck.

A new Offset setting for MachineControl, chasing timecode, and MMC enables you to compensate for minor differences in source tape versions. You can create a single session with multiple VOs and then quickly offset Pro Tools compared to the tape for each layback performed. Additionally, the Set Timecode Position function allows you to select a location in your timeline and re-enter its timecode position, relatively resetting the entire timeline.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Digidesign-approved Pro Tools TDM (Pro Tools|HD, Pro Tools|24 MIX, Pro Tools|24) or LE (Digi 001 and ToolBox) system running Mac OS X (support for Mbox and Digi 002 coming soon).

Pro Tools on Windows XP support of the new features, and OSX compatibility with AVoption|XL, Unity, and MediaManager are scheduled for Q2, 2003.

It's a lot to take in!!!

I'm still not 100% sure we've got PT6 OSX Mix and dual processor support but it's looking good...

lots of cool features and the usual expected omissions...

It looks so different. I find myself gazing at the Digi site pics of it in amazement- it's like a well known and loved face after plastic surgery..the adjustment is weird.
Will I still love it?
Yeah!

The mix window is sleeker than the edit which now looks busy, more like other sequencers. The audio regions bin looks a bit sad and neglected. The mix window has a nice padded cell feel to it.

Good to see midi improvements.

Can't wait to use it!

You got what you wanted Renie OSX uses Dual Processors (or how ever many are available) by default....
And we now know for sure it supports Mix too...

Go for it....

Al.

i have emailed all my plugin manufacturers...the only one that is even talking about os10 is mcdsp who will provide upgrades for free to registered users...i won't upgrade till all my plugins are ready and that may take some time...i made that mistake with hd...still don't have all the plugs i used in service....

Al

I did get what I wanted!! Like Gary I'll keep an eye out for plug-in readiness b4 I'll take the plunge.

Thanks for the party tip, the G3 range it is then! heh

Renie

LOL!!!!!!!!!!


Al.