Since most of us base our studios around computers, it makes sense to ensure that the computers we use are as capable as possible. In my case, my studio has been running on a faithful first-generation dual-G5 Macintosh for a number of years. It’s reached the time when I am compelled to upgrade my studio with a new computer, so I’m moving everything over to a state-of-the-art Nehalem-based (Xeon) 8-core Mac Pro. But even with a stout computer like the new Mac Pro, it makes sense to try to wring every cycle of performance out of the machine that you can – more power is always better in the studio.
Let’s take a look at some of the things we can do to maximize computer performance. Though the items we’ll be looking at are specific to the Mac Pro, the basic concepts we’ll be discussing apply to any computer you might be using in your studio.
As far as the Mac Pro goes, it is a well-appointed machine straight from the factory. It has loads of CPU power from eight cores on two processors, dual monitor outputs, three PCIe slots (plus a double-wide graphics slot), four FireWire 800 ports, seven USB 2.0 ports (counting the two on the keyboard), stereo audio in and out (which supports analog and digital/optical signals), a headphone out, two Ethernet ports, built-in Bluetooth, optional Airport wireless, and more. But even with all that power and connectivity, there are three areas I want to expand: RAM, monitors, and internal storage.
MEMORY
The Mac Pro I’m putting into my studio came stock from the factory with 6GB of RAM installed. This is a good amount, but given the manner in which memory is managed by some applications, plug-ins, and software instruments, I wanted more. (I’m a firm believer that the most effective way to increase computer performance is to add more RAM.) For example, the operating system requires a certain amount of RAM, and plenty extra should be available for best performance. Then, an application like Logic and its plug-ins and third-party plug-ins require another chunk of RAM. And some software instruments, such as Logic’s EXS24 sampler and Native Instruments’ Kontakt sampler, also require RAM outside the host application for sample storage use – and with the size of sample libraries these days, more RAM is definitely better!
While the 6GBs of RAM that came stock, or even smaller amounts, will function well, having plenty of extra RAM will make everything operate much faster. So, the first upgrade is to take the RAM up.
Apple’s Mac Pro computers feature four RAM slots per processor, but the best performance is achieved with the first three of those slots for each processor filled. The computer came with six 1GB sticks, three per processor. For my purposes, I wanted to go to 12GB of RAM, so I replaced the six 1GB sticks with six 2GB sticks. But, since I have six unused 1GB RAM sticks lying around, I decided to move two of the 1GB sticks into the remaining two RAM slots, for a total of 14GB. This should be more than enough memory for great performance with any music/audio application, plug-in, or instrument.
GETTING INSIDE THE MACHINE
One thing that Macs have had going for them for several recent generations is that they’re exceptionally easy to get inside of and to expand. Even given that tradition, the new Mac Pro computers are works of engineering elegance; adding RAM and other expansions to them is a piece of cake! Replacing the RAM in the new (Nehalem) Mac Pros is a simple process with just a few steps:
First, with the computer plugged in but turned off, discharge any static electricity your body may have accumulated by touching the metal case of the computer. Unplug all cables connected to the computer, including the power cable. (Text continues after photos, below.)
