Premier Rock Forum

Just need to vent about computers for a sec.

Apple killed firewire backwards compatibility with the new OS update, which means my two RME fireface 800 + dongles setup is now parked at... sequoia? whatever the next to latest OS is called.

I have an M1 macbook air which has been absolutely rock solid for the past few years and never blinked at any of the multitrack recording I've thrown at it. Thinking I might just leave that laptop where it is for time eternal, until something dies and then deal with doing a full-on upgrade. I turn 50 this year, so honestly I'll probably be out of the "recording drums with 12 mics" era at that point and hopefully existing in the rarefied air of pure vibes, one mic.

More pressing is my 2018 i9 mac mini which is seriously struggling to keep up with DAW sessions, which is nominally my work computer. I use a UAD arrow (abandonware!) which has a very nice tactile user interface but I think every other aspect of the interface is awful, and I've come to hate that company. I have a decent-sized cheque coming from a job and I think it might be time to upgrade my desktop with an M4 and look at getting an rme babyface or maybe an audient unit to replace the UAD. With that I could at least run the two firefaces as ADAT expanders.

Computers suck, though I guess I can't really complain about having to replace a desktop after 9 years.

Kniferide wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 1:19 pm

cakes wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 12:01 pm I went down a rabbit hole of resonance filter plugins, using Soothe2 as the baseline, since it's everyone's favorite. Really, I was having trouble removing a really nasty snare ping from a recording and the transient designer and compressors I was using just were ruining the snare sound too much before removing the ping. I even tried dynamic EQs, which is similar, but still having trouble with it. Maybe that's just me and I don't have the skills to really carve those out, but anyway, I was able to remove it completely and with very little effort using a resonance plugin, particularly Smooth Operator Pro. I ended up getting a license for it, because something about it just felt as utilitarian as Pro-Q or Kirchoff.

Anyway, I ended up using it on a few other things, like acoustic guitar, guitar busses and the mix bus. With very little effort, and using some excellent presets, I got some of that 5% juice that just put all my mixes over the top. I love finding tools that are intuitive and easy to use. It can be so easy to get lost in the weeds--like removing an annoying resonance--that having a tool that can get you in and out quickly with good results is a must-have.

Anyway, count me in on the resonance control train. Has anyone tried any plugins like these and if so, has it changed the way you mix or master?

I have Eventide Split Eq and have played around with Soothe. On the fence. When they work thy definitely do a thing but it is so so so easy to push it too far and make stuff sound weird. I've have better results just using Dynamic points in Fab Filter, Nova Eq, or Izotope. Actually "Better" isn't the right word, just maybe mor subtle. Soothe gets really weird and plasticy when over worked. Dunno. all of these things usually sound best in bypass to me, but I know it is because I'm doing it wrong. They take finesse. I am super digging the ProQ 4. I upgraded from V1 so it feels like a lot of new stuff and it is nice to get like3 plugins worth of functionality in a single insert of ProQ. It can do it all.

I assume you could do a lot of this if you know what you're doing in Split or ProQ. Nova is often touted as a real alternative, if you have the patience to set it up. I don't have the stomach for that. I've never been able to get any thing real that I can tell out of a dynamic EQ. I mean, I use it when I think I need it, but ultimately I end up removing it, because was it really doing anything noticeable? I can't tell, to be honest. I would still like to find the sauce in that, but maybe I never will.

I really liked how on the mix bus, Smooth Operator was controlling the low subs, without really losing them. The kick drum really started popping out more, but that could probably be solved with some expert EQing. In the guitar bus, the fizziness in the top end of the guitars got mellowed out in a more pleasing way. With the acoustic, every strum was exposed. Again, all of this could have been done with some expert EQing, but the fact that I can reach similar results with less effort using a different technique is the point of interest here. I find it to be a really useful tool, and looking forward to learning how to use it more. I've been watching some videos on how others use it. I am thinking I could reach for it before reaching for an EQ in some instances.

Dynamic EQs, resonance filters, spectral EQs, transient designers... aren't these all very similar, but with different approaches?

mdc wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 2:26 pm Just need to vent about computers for a sec.

Apple killed firewire backwards compatibility with the new OS update, which means my two RME fireface 800 + dongles setup is now parked at... sequoia? whatever the next to latest OS is called.

I have an M1 macbook air which has been absolutely rock solid for the past few years and never blinked at any of the multitrack recording I've thrown at it. Thinking I might just leave that laptop where it is for time eternal, until something dies and then deal with doing a full-on upgrade. I turn 50 this year, so honestly I'll probably be out of the "recording drums with 12 mics" era at that point and hopefully existing in the rarefied air of pure vibes, one mic.

More pressing is my 2018 i9 mac mini which is seriously struggling to keep up with DAW sessions, which is nominally my work computer. I use a UAD arrow (abandonware!) which has a very nice tactile user interface but I think every other aspect of the interface is awful, and I've come to hate that company. I have a decent-sized cheque coming from a job and I think it might be time to upgrade my desktop with an M4 and look at getting an rme babyface or maybe an audient unit to replace the UAD. With that I could at least run the two firefaces as ADAT expanders.

Computers suck, though I guess I can't really complain about having to replace a desktop after 9 years.

The best advice I heard regarding this was from JSP: treat your computer like an appliance. Remove the internet, don't update anything (unless it has to be). Keep using it until it breaks. Really, no reason that your computer you had 10 years ago for recording couldn't do it today, unless the parts need to be replaced. There might be limitations doing it this way, but it seems like the most rational position. Personally, I don't do it because it does help to have my computer online and I don't rely on things like Firewire or needing intel-chip support for old plugins. I regularly update Reaper, not so much with the OS. I'm using a Mac M1 mini.

mdc wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 2:26 pm More pressing is my 2018 i9 mac mini

We have a bunch of Intel Mac Pro towers at work that in the last year have become snail paced paper weights. They were like 14 grand each! Heathers Intel based iMac have become useless in the last year. I'm positive Apple is just update murdering all Intel Macs. They have done it before. Apple sucks. Maybe the worst.

cakes wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 2:34 pm
Dynamic EQs, resonance filters, spectral EQs, transient designers... aren't these all very similar, but with different approaches?

All of it is just compression/expansion (which is just compression reversed phase added back into the dry signal). Smoothe I think just uses DSP to focus on compressing harmonic resonances rather than "areas" of your bandwidth. It's smart. The ill effects can be real gross, but when used correctly it can be useful. I find it is usually over doing it and usually like it better when I remove it. Split EQ too. It is all cool shit though.

Kniferide wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 3:45 pm

mdc wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 2:26 pm More pressing is my 2018 i9 mac mini

We have a bunch of Intel Mac Pro towers at work that in the last year have become snail paced paper weights. They were like 14 grand each! Heathers Intel based iMac have become useless in the last year. I'm positive Apple is just update murdering all Intel Macs. They have done it before. Apple sucks. Maybe the worst.

Makes sense.

We currently use a 2011 Mac mini as our “tv” so at least the i7 will be useful for a few more years in that role.

Psyching myself up to spend a thousand dollars on an M4 fml. Linux looks better every week.

mdc wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 5:36 pm

Kniferide wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 3:45 pm

mdc wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 2:26 pm More pressing is my 2018 i9 mac mini

We have a bunch of Intel Mac Pro towers at work that in the last year have become snail paced paper weights. They were like 14 grand each! Heathers Intel based iMac have become useless in the last year. I'm positive Apple is just update murdering all Intel Macs. They have done it before. Apple sucks. Maybe the worst.

Makes sense.

We currently use a 2011 Mac mini as our “tv” so at least the i7 will be useful for a few more years in that role.

Psyching myself up to spend a thousand dollars on an M4 fml. Linux looks better every week.

Having used Linux for music production, I can give you a ton of advice. I eventually left it because Debian was moving away from pulse to pipewire and it was very unstable, making it difficult to create music. Obviously, that was a non-starter for me. This was about 2 years ago. I'm guessing that a lot of the issues with pipewire have been solved. As far as plugins are concerned, your pool of available plugins just got way smaller. However, there's some great plugins available, that is if you are looking for things beyond what is offered in Reaper.

Also, what comes with Linux is the requirement to be able to use a terminal, finding the right kind of computer that can run the flavor of Linux you are intending to run, and what's under the hood of that Linux flavor. I've only had experience with Debian, using Ubuntu, Xubuntu and Pop_OS!. Ubuntu is probably the biggest bet in terms of share of Linux builds, though I really loved Pop_OS!. I've built more than a few custom PCs for Pop_OS! and also System76, who maintain it, make computers for it, which I've also owned several of.

Don't hesitate to reach out with questions. There's also a valuable subreddit for linux audio.

cakes wrote: Tue Feb 03, 2026 10:02 am
Don't hesitate to reach out with questions. There's also a valuable subreddit for linux audio.

I like the idea of using linux for audio but every conversation about it is a list of problems to overcome. No thanks. Firewire is long dead and it sucks to have to move from gear that works perfectly, but it is what I had to do when PCI cards went away and honestly... it was time. I also avoided any Thunderbolt based IO for the same reason as Firewire, and honestly it just isn't necessary for Audio. It's not fully backward compatible and not future proof in any way. I suggest moving to some reliable USB based IO. My Motu stuff has been bulletproof and even though it is 10+ years old it is still completely compliant and is fully functional (AVB included) with the newest IO Motu released last year. I'm running 64/64 in and out using AVB and USB 2. Not even USB 3! USB wins, despite its faults.
As far as Computers and OS. All of them have faults. Apple sucks for any video tasks where you need deep control of your video hardware or multi monitor support. They like to boat anchor you whenever they can and rob you with upgrade costs and support. Windows is like buying a 1973 Chevy Nova and promising that some day it's gonna be fucking bad ass, just gotta install that new carb and tweak the exhaust a little. At least it was cheap right? Linus is for people that enjoy reading about Operating Systems more than I do. They all suck. I've always been in the build my own PC tower and strip Windows down as slim as I can get it and I've found that to be the most predictable and reliable way to go but it's only because it is what I'm used to. My recording cpu is a PC Tower, and my Lappy is a Mac Air. I move Reaper projects between them all the time with little issues, and my IO is agnostic to OS.

Kniferide wrote: Tue Feb 03, 2026 12:35 pm

cakes wrote: Tue Feb 03, 2026 10:02 am
Don't hesitate to reach out with questions. There's also a valuable subreddit for linux audio.

I like the idea of using linux for audio but every conversation about it is a list of problems to overcome. No thanks. Firewire is long dead and it sucks to have to move from gear that works perfectly, but it is what I had to do when PCI cards went away and honestly... it was time. I also avoided any Thunderbolt based IO for the same reason as Firewire, and honestly it just isn't necessary for Audio. It's not fully backward compatible and not future proof in any way. I suggest moving to some reliable USB based IO. My Motu stuff has been bulletproof and even though it is 10+ years old it is still completely compliant and is fully functional (AVB included) with the newest IO Motu released last year. I'm running 64/64 in and out using AVB and USB 2. Not even USB 3! USB wins, despite its faults.
As far as Computers and OS. All of them have faults. Apple sucks for any video tasks where you need deep control of your video hardware or multi monitor support. They like to boat anchor you whenever they can and rob you with upgrade costs and support. Windows is like buying a 1973 Chevy Nova and promising that some day it's gonna be fucking bad ass, just gotta install that new carb and tweak the exhaust a little. At least it was cheap right? Linus is for people that enjoy reading about Operating Systems more than I do. They all suck. I've always been in the build my own PC tower and strip Windows down as slim as I can get it and I've found that to be the most predictable and reliable way to go but it's only because it is what I'm used to. My recording cpu is a PC Tower, and my Lappy is a Mac Air. I move Reaper projects between them all the time with little issues, and my IO is agnostic to OS.

The final nails in the coffin for me were the following:

1. Lack of audio interfaces. If the audio interface is USB compliant, sure it will work. There won't be anything extra if there's software involved. There have been a lot of advances in hardware units, where software becomes part of the experience, in some cases required to use the hardware. Most often, there is no linux driver. So you are limited to certain audio interfaces. I wanted to use an Audient, but it doesn't work on Linux. I really like the interface and it works great for my studio. If this is not an issue for you, and a basic USB compliant interface is enough, then you are fine.

2. Lack of plugins. There are some plugin makers that support Linux, but it's a small bag of toys. If this isn't an issue for you, and you just stick with Reaper stock or airwindows (which is completely fine), this really isn't a problem. I've invested enough into plugins that switching back to linux is just throwing my money away and forcing me to rethink my workflows.

3. Pipewire was unstable. I don't know what it's like today, but this was my biggest headache. CoreAudio is stable and easy to use, whereas in Linux, I had to use several open source tools to get me the same kind of control with ALSA and pulse audio, then pipewire. Depending on your linux build, results varied. You need to have an extra level of computer knowledge to manage your machine to do music. And while I'm no slouch when it comes to this, I want to spend my time making music, not fucking with my machine. This was really the last straw for me.

4. I could not find a linux alternative to something like Superior Drummer 3. This was a key part to my studio, since I have a vdrum kit and I don't have the space to record acoustic drums.

When I switched to Mac, it was like the world opened up. This isn't to say you cannot produce music on linux. Just understand what you're getting into and know you'll need to be ok with the limitations.

cakes wrote: Tue Feb 03, 2026 1:03 pm
The final nails in the coffin for me were the following:

All of those are what has kept me from even trying it. Especially the fact that I've paid for a lot of plugins that would just be vapor on Linux. Between Mac/Win I find them to both behave predictably and usually work just fine. Audio is easy for computers now.