Best MacBook for Axe 3 and Protools?

S

stereotactic

Experienced
Hello, I’m buying a MacBook and looking for recommendations on which one to get, either used previous generations or new. I will be using it for recording overdubs and editing in Protools at home. So there won’t be a lot of inputs for now.

One disadvantage I see to the new MacBooks is the lack of a USB A port, with the Axe 3 using that connector for it’s USB interface. I will already be spending a lot of money, so of course I don’t want to buy an adapter/dongle if I can avoid it by buying a previous generation MacBook that has USB A ports.

But, that being said, are there any substantial advantages to the new MacBooks with USB C/Thunderbolt connections for use with Protools, other than data speed and future gear comparability?

Thanks in advance to anyone who has experience making this choice!
 
I have a MacBook Pro with USB - C / Thunderbolt 3, and it's fantastic. Yes, I do need to use an adaptor dock for USB - A peripherals, but that is a pretty minor thing. At home I have a Kensington dock with a bunch of connectors on it, and it just plugs into a single USB - C port on the Mac. On the road, I carry an inexpensive adaptor dongle with me at all times; it cost me about ten dollars and has multiple USB - A ports, plus HDMI and RJ45.. The performance of a more recent MacBook would make it worth the investment. Also, I do recommend the SSD / Flash drive version versus a regular HD. External HDs with USB - C are very affordable, and with the Thunderbolt transfer speeds, you'll have the ability to maintain your audio files in a repo that isn't on the laptop itself.
 
Just so you know they still work, I have a 2009 MacBook Pro that’s dedicated to the Axe-FX III and playing backing surround tracks, MIDI and synth plugins for live performance. I’ve switched the drive to an SSD, and patched it so it’s actually running Catalina – though as far as Apple is concerned, it was EOL with Sierra. It’s surprisingly peppy!

I have Logic Pro and Digital Performer installed, but except for recording guitar tracks, they’re for playback; all non-guitar production work takes place with my studio desktop. (The MacBook is in my living room, where I have more elbow room to play guitar.) I put the performance tracks on an external SSD in a Firewire 800 (!) housing from OWC; the Axe-FX gets the USB port.

Mine’s older than you’d like if you wanted to actually do production work with ProTools, but it goes to show you can still get a lot done with a less-than-current Mac.
 
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randyman said:
Just so you know they still work, I have a 2009 MacBook Pro that’s dedicated to the Axe-FX III and playing backing surround tracks, MIDI and synth plugins for live performance. I’ve switched the drive to an SSD, and patched it so it’s actually running Catalina – though as far as Apple is concerned, it was EOL with High Sierra. It’s surprisingly peppy!
Click to expand...
How did you patch it to run Catalina? I have a mid 2010 iMac that would be great if I could get Catalina running on it.
 
Isn't the USB side that plugs into the computer usb-B?

I imagine any higher spec 2014 or newer macbook pro shouldn't have an issue.
 
notalemming said:
How did you patch it to run Catalina? I have a mid 2010 iMac that would be great if I could get Catalina running on it.
Click to expand...

http://dosdude1.com/catalina/

Dosdude1’s earlier patches took some real seat-of-the-pants hacking, but the latest are refined to the point where things are much, much easier. Just be very sure that:

* your particular Mac is on the list of patchable Macs, and

* you’ve studied the process thoroughly, and have access to a printout of all docs if the Mac you’re patching is your only computer.

* backup first!

Study the docs for the earlier versions, too – they have a lot of useful info. http://dosdude1.com/software.html

If you’re successful, your Mac will scroll a bunch of raw code before the regular boot begins; it looks very cool. Amaze your friends … you’re Elliot Alderson! (Of course, Elliot would be running Linux, but you get the idea.)

30E4D0D5-633E-4BEF-9321-0B8738753547.jpeg
 
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randyman said:
http://dosdude1.com/catalina/

Dosdude1’s earlier patches took some real seat-of-the-pants hacking, but the latest are refined to the point where things are much, much easier. Just be very sure that:

* your particular Mac is on the list of patchable Macs, and

* you’ve studied the process thoroughly, and have access to a printout of all docs if the Mac you’re patching is your only computer.

* backup first!
Click to expand...
Thanks! I would definitely back up plus I would put Catalina on an unused partition.
 
Sleestak said:
I have a MacBook Pro with USB - C / Thunderbolt 3, and it's fantastic. Yes, I do need to use an adaptor dock for USB - A peripherals, but that is a pretty minor thing. At home I have a Kensington dock with a bunch of connectors on it, and it just plugs into a single USB - C port on the Mac. On the road, I carry an inexpensive adaptor dongle with me at all times; it cost me about ten dollars and has multiple USB - A ports, plus HDMI and RJ45.. The performance of a more recent MacBook would make it worth the investment. Also, I do recommend the SSD / Flash drive version versus a regular HD. External HDs with USB - C are very affordable, and with the Thunderbolt transfer speeds, you'll have the ability to maintain your audio files in a repo that isn't on the laptop itself.
Click to expand...

Thank you Sleestack for the good info, glad to know the dongles are not expensive. Sometimes they are...
 
Budda said:
Isn't the USB side that plugs into the computer usb-B?

I imagine any higher spec 2014 or newer macbook pro shouldn't have an issue.
Click to expand...

Yes, Axe side is USB B, the issue is whether a hub/dongle adapter is expensive, apparently it’s not, and whether the thunderbolt/USB C data speed and forward compatibility is worth the extra money...
 
Why not just use a USB C to USB B cable to conect the AXE to the Macbook Pro, its what I do and have no connectivity problems. I do not connect the AXE via a Hub, my Hub is used for power via USB C/Monitor, Cubase dongle and external time machine drive..
 
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Dukehunt said:
Why not just use a USB C to USB B cable to conect the AXE to the Macbook Pro, its what I do and have no connectivity problems. I do not connect the AXE via a Hub, my Hub is used for power via USB C/Monitor, Cubase dongle and external time machine drive..
Click to expand...

Didn’t know an adapter cable existed, thanks! I just assume all dongles are expensive and adapter cables are usually not technically feasible because standards change so drastically.
 
Since you mentioned you might be interested in a used one, I run PT on a 9,1 4 core i7. I like it because it has firewire, thunderbolt, kensington lock slot, optical drive, audio in/out, magsafe, USB-B, replaceable battery, etc. I replaced the drive with an SSD. I actually have 2 of them, one as a backup :).

On my newer macs, I have my dongle and my AxeFX both going through an adapter for USB-C, and that works fine for me.
 
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