MacStudio Ultra Maxed Out Session in a M1 Native DAW and Plugins with Heavy Automation

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[@MixedbyToryG]

Good analysis. I think I’d buy the ultra so I can either mix in 96khz, or take advantage of the processing power in oversampling.

[@rano12321]

Try M1 with Reaper.

[@aipsong]

Thanks again for pushing the limits - it may seem extreme, but I am sure that the software people are already thinking about how they can refine their plug-ins for better sound, using this new horse power of the Ultra. I see buying the Ultra as a way to give myself room for whatever they cook up in the next 5 years or so.

[@CarcPazu]

What I would like to see (if you haven't done it yet) are low latency recording tests with various DAWs with a full mix going on. Meaning, a normal mixed-production with plug-ins running on each tracks (even on the mix bus and master bus) and recordoring let's say a guitar in stereo with a guitar sim on each side both going into a guitar bus with plug-ins on the guitar bus, all running at a buffer like 32 or 64. I'm currious to see if it's possible or if I still need to use an Apollo's DSP for that.

[@kdelavirgen]

I just bought an M1 Pro Macbook Pro. Do you have an idea of what performance would be like for me since I record and mix at 96khz? I'd ideally need it at least to perform better than my i9-9900k, but obviously the more performance the better.

[@mrflynn01]

That certainly will not be a problem!!!

[@lisan_al-ghaib]

I think you should try a test with NI Guitar Rig Pro 6. That thing just wacks CPUs so hard and it's hard to track guitars with it.

[@EricMarinko]

The Ultra is a waste of money unless you're doing some seriously high end graphics rendering or scientific data analysis. You're really not getting any return on your investment (over the less expensive model) if using it only for music production and KZbin video production. I actually found it kind of ironic that you went with this model considering your various UAD rants because as far as this analog goes, it seems that you're not living by your own advice.

[@BarryJohns]

I actually own an M1 Mac mini, an M1 pro MacBook Pro, and I only bought the max studio out of curiosity and for testing. I agree with you, I will be returning the max studio, is I think it’s overkill for audio. An M1 Pro or M1 Max is the right spot today.

[@Javier-kh5mz]

Hi Barry! Greetings from Chile. your channel is great :) I have a query regarding MacStudio Ultra. Well, it's actually a very general question. either for macbook or mac mini By the way my English is not very good, I hope you can understand me and help me. But, for example. if I want to be a music producer, and I want to have many audio plugins, be it Synthesizers, libraries, Effects... to master and mix. In fact, I will make you a list... with the things that I would like to buy and which is the mac that you would recommend for my needs. I want to have in terms of synthesizers, the following. Komplete 6 Libraries (full) omnisphere Bundle output nexus massive Sylenth1 and as for audio processors. waves fabfilter acoustic-audio isotope If we had the example of having a very large session. nails on 40 tracks with synths running at the same time. and also on the same tracks with about 5 waves audio processors. and also with about 40 more tracks but only audio and with 5 Waves processors... this is either compressors, reverbs... whatever What is the Mac that you would recommend me?

[@anthemmakersmusic]

These companies are going hard to get early adapters and it's sheer one-up man ship

[@r3music534]

Studio ultra ! Studio Shmudio ) it doesn’t matter ) it’s the music !1stupid ! No offense intended ) I wish I still had my fairlight !

[@BarryJohns]

I can tell you that after 30 years of digital a audio, it has never been that simple. There are comparability issues, workflow variances, stability, performance. Agreed the final result is 1’s and 0’s, but the way you get there varies a lot.

[@tonyburzio4107]

Certain tasks really scream on the Ultra, such as C++ multiprocessing code. It's going to be a learning curve for programmers as this type of processor becomes the norm.

[@BarryJohns]

Looking forward to it!

[@Gongtopia]

One thing, if I was doing a session that large, I would most likely be bouncing tracks in place as I went along, which would even lessen the load on the CPU. One situation that might come close to this is film scoring and foley work.

[@BarryJohns]

The great thing about a powerful computer is you can leave your buffer low and do everything you want and never think about your CPU? For me, that’s the only way I’ll work. I hate distractions. That said, you don’t need a M1 Ultra for that, I do that every day on an M1 Pro MBP.

[@jmiller4559]

Great video as usual 👍🏾 So would recommend the Ultra over the Max if I’m usually mix 20-25 tracks? I’m curious how it handles plugins with heavy oversampling.

[@BarryJohns]

You’d be fine with the Pro. At this point I don’t see an advantage to the ULTRA over the Max. It’s not enough to justify the cost increase.

[@jmiller4559]

@@BarryJohns thanks

[@thesonicsolution1976]

I have the Max Studio. 32 g ram. It's more than I could ever need. And I run some pretty heavy sessions. Can't make it hiccup at all. It doesn't like changing buffer sizes during a session, but I think that's a pro tools problem, not the Max Studio's.

[@BarryJohns]

From all the testing I’ve done across all the various M1Max, I think the Mac studio max, is the best solution.

[@mrcgeraldes]

@@BarryJohns even compared with the ultra?

[@mrcgeraldes]

does it handle 96khz recording well? what is the buffer size you work on?

[@jamieremus277]

Finally a video that shows the plug-in load on the CPU done right! Thank you so much for getting it right and showing the true output of this M1 Ultra. 😀🇨🇦

[@humusiclab8974]

What are the specs on this ultra? Ram and storage? They matter. Thanks.

[@BarryJohns]

64gb ram, 2tb storage

[@humusiclab8974]

@@BarryJohns thanks. I know you said the M1 Studio Max was enough for pro audio. But some plugins are not native , like Altiverb which is a CPU hog! Wouldn’t the ultra help mitigate any Rosetta issues by simply having more horsepower ?

[@BarryJohns]

@@humusiclab8974 the Ultra will only give you benefits if doing heavy calculations used in scientific research as an example. This is well documented. Later as software is coded to take full advantage, maybe that will be different. If they do, that is years from now. Just my 2 cents.

[@anthemmakersmusic]

Were you doing different mixes to see how the stems sound or was it 105 actual tracks just to make that one song? Your printing a whole lot of stuff whoa.

[@BarryJohns]

It’s all the same song it’s 105 tracks. When I’m doing automation, I’m only doing half of that at least that’s what I think I remember, because automation was so straining. The whole purpose of this test was to do the maximum amount you can do.

[@anthemmakersmusic]

I say wait a bit longer to see what the final max desktop is going to look like...

[@anthemmakersmusic]

Track sounds really GOOD

[@d3vp131]

Are all the plugins M1 native? Don’t think so.

[@BarryJohns]

Yea they are. I even went back and looked again as you had me thinking. Which ones do you think are not M1 Native?

[@anthemsjam]

Thanks Barry!!!!!!’

[@jimmyjung6558]

How does it do 96k?

[@aviozstudio4903]

does logic pro has dual panning like pro tool does ?

[@BarryJohns]

Yes

[@mrflynn01]

Looks like the M1 Ultra is that deal!!!

[@BarryJohns]

It’s very good, but I think the Max is the best option.

[@mrflynn01]

@@BarryJohns, I also edit video. I’m trying to go all the way! #LetsGoAlltheWay

[@mrflynn01]

I love Logic Pro

[@BarryJohns]

I think it’s very good too!