Question about VSTs

I'm currently transferring to a university that has a "music technology class". The class requires an "Apple" computer, and I was considering if I should buy a "Macbook Pro". The problem is that all my VST's are Windows based.

I checked "kvraudio.com" and discovered that all the VSTs I'm using are both for Windows and Mac. I'm not sure if this means that the VST's simply run on both, or that there are different versions of the VST for each operating system.

If I already have a Windows version of a plug-in, would it be possible to run it on a Mac version of a DAW (such as Ableton Live or Cubase)?

From my own research it doesn't look like you can, but I'm hoping I'm wrong. I have a PC desktop and I really can't afford to buy "Mac versions" of everything I use.

VSTs are platform-specific, mac version will not work with PC and vice versa

It is usually not terribly difficult for a company to produce a version for each, the question is whether your "VSTs" come with both a mac and a pc version or not. if they don't, you're probably SOL.

the answer is software piracy.

you're going to buy a mac for one music tech class?

dont get a mac

im getting a windows laptop as soon as i get paid this month so i never have to look at my shitty iBooks again.

also yes software piracy is th eanswer if you dont wanna spend hundreds of pounds on things you already own.

trouble is software cracks fo rmacs are much much scarcer than windows versions.

personally i think combining music with academia is a massive no no and you will regret doing a music technology class

when you could be doing a class in something useful and exploring the music thing on your own terms.

  LUDD said:

personally i think combining music with academia is a massive no no and you will regret doing a music technology class

when you could be doing a class in something useful and exploring the music thing on your own terms.

If I personally wanted to explore a Buchla Modular or a JazzMutant Lemur or a bank of Kyma processors. I wouldn't be rich enough for the downpayment. This is where music universities come into play. Any higher education will be whatever you make of it. If you're a lazy shit and just shuffle in and out of class, you'll get a piece of paper. If you're excited about what you're doing and the opportunities presented to you there, you will have more resources than you could possibly get on your own to pursue your projects, and industry contacts to go with it. Academia is not for everyone (myself included!) but it's not there for nothing.

do get a mac. but don't bother with the macbook pro unless you really need the extra power. normal macbooks are pretty powerful these days and will run everything you need unless you're doing some really mad, hundred tracks with multiple VST's kind of stuff.

anyway, I got a macbook and i love it and can run all the music apps absolutely fine...

Don't get a Mac if you aren't used to Macs, you won't get anything done. Either a PC or a Mac is fine for anything, but if you already have a PC and use PCs then just use the Macs in the schools lab for a semester.

  ten fingers ten toes said:

Don't get a Mac if you aren't used to Macs, you won't get anything done.

wtf are you on about?

that's like saying don't get a BMW if you've only driven Toyotas coz you'll never get anywhere in it.

Oh yes it's exactly like that lol

No I mean everyday dumb shit that you don't think about is different and it gets frustrating and annoying. Both platforms do the same shit and both are fine for making music so if your only reason for getting a Mac is one VST you need for one class, it's probably a better idea to just use a Mac in a lab for a semester instead of completely changing the way you do everything.

I know you don't know shit about computers so you think the Mac guy ads have told you all you need to know about operating them but you'd be surprised that both suck in their own ways, and either can be used for music just as well.

Funny that the class requires that "you" own an "apple" computer. how vague yet unreasonable.

Thanks for all the help. I'll contact the school and see if there's any way I could just stick with windows. The main reason why I want to take the class is because they teach Max/Msp, which is something I've been wanting to learn for a while now. It also looks like I can learn "Reaktor", though I'm not sure how much different that is.

I like the idea of the program "parallels" though, and I was wondering if that could actually fix this problem. Anyhow, I think I'm going to stick with PC unless switching turns out to be better for the price ect... (student discounts)

Well, after doing a bit more research it "may" be possible to run Windows VST's in a Mac program using "Parallels". I'm not sure how it would effect the sound, but there's a good chance that it may lower the quality.

I'd still appreciate any comments that you guys have, and I'm personally interested to see how the sound quality compares using parallels. If there is no difference...I don't know what's going to stop me from buying a Macbook with college discounts.

I wouldn't count on Parallels for audio apps.

Parallels is a virtual machine, so you would literally be booting a Windows machine inside of a window within OSX. For audio processing though, I can't imagine the overhead would be well worth it.

Doesn't your school have a lab? Can't you get your coursework done on a school run Mac and then go chillax at your dorm with your PC?

  ten fingers ten toes said:

I wouldn't count on Parallels for audio apps.

 

Parallels is a virtual machine, so you would literally be booting a Windows machine inside of a window within OSX. For audio processing though, I can't imagine the overhead would be well worth it.

 

Doesn't your school have a lab? Can't you get your coursework done on a school run Mac and then go chillax at your dorm with your PC?

That's a good idea. I'm actually not sure if it does since I haven't transfered yet. I'm planning on visiting soon and I'll look into it then.

After looking over it again, I think you're completely right about Parallels. I think I'll look into a decent PC laptop that I can upgrade to work the way I want it to.

  ten fingers ten toes said:

I know you don't know shit about computers

who me? why do you think that? fuck you you bitter motherfucker.

"Macs just work"

I know that.

You think that.

I am that.

lol

I don't understand why people playa hate on Macs. They are good fuckin computers.

they're just jealous.

*ducks*

well, you can run windows on a macbook. they didn't require you to run a specific OS :P

  Velazquez said:

I don't understand why people playa hate on Macs. They are good fuckin computers.

I'm not "hating" on Macs at all. I'm just mentioning that there is no magic to the Mac, it doesn't "just work" any better than a PC running Windows, it just does some things differently, and both are fucked up in certain ways. The reason you hear more about your buddies/mates/girlfriend's/cousin having trouble with windows is that there are literally 20 installed Windows desktops for every Mac.

So anyway, spending the price premium for a Mac and then having to deal with switching operating systems, thereby throwing your workflow and routine into a loop and having to re-install/find alternatives for everything you use, is it a bit much just because of one class for one VST.

I'm also just sick to death of BCM in these conversations because he proudly announces the fact that he doesn't know anything in depth about the situation at all, and just likes his Mac because to him it "just works".