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Hey guys! Just wanna know if you have heard anything about whether the new Apple M1 MacBook is running the VSTs well. I am considering one and thinking if it would get problematic. I generally use my digital piano as a driver for the VST.
I would recommend contacting the developer of that software to confirm compatibility, and if they have plans to release updates that support the M1 processor directly.
Incidentally, I was watching this video (about Logic) yesterday:
A couple of weeks ago I was seriously considering building a Mac Mini clone using PC parts and OpenCore, however the arrival of these M1 Macs has completely changed my mind.
The performance from such a frugal processor with passive cooling in the Air (tonight) is insane. I think I’ll replace my useless MacBook 12” with a M1 Air.
I would wait for a year until all the VST software is compatible with the new Mac.
And among these three machines, Mac Mini is the one for VST. I just need it turn on all the time and I don't need mobility. I remember David B has a 2018 Mac Mini and it is really a great solution for VSTs!
Piano: Yamaha N3X VST(preference in order): VSL Synchron Pianos, Vienna Imperial, Garritan CFX, VI Labs Modern U, Ivory II American Concert D, Pianoteq
It will be interesting to see what goes into the more powerful computers, and how the performance compares with the current M1. For small light computers, the M1 is a huge step forward for those who are happy to use the software that runs well on it.
What will happen to existing Mac software? It won't run on the new platform, will it?
If not this will be Apple's third time changing platforms ... and giving its customers a reason to switch.
First was the 6800-to-PowerPC platform change 30 years ago. This opened the door to Windows domination.
Then the PowerPC-to-Intel switch. This allowed Apple to cut its costs ... but the customer still paid high prices.
Now Intel-to-M1.
If I were a Mac customer I'd be more than just annoyed that my vendor made all my software obsolete. Actually, worse than obsolete. Quite unusable, eh?
What will happen to existing Mac software? It won't run on the new platform, will it?
If not this will be Apple's third time changing platforms ... and giving its customers a reason to switch.
First was the 6800-to-PowerPC platform change 30 years ago. This opened the door to Windows domination.
Then the PowerPC-to-Intel switch. This allowed Apple to cut its costs ... but the customer still paid high prices.
Now Intel-to-M1.
If I were a Mac customer I'd be more than just annoyed that my vendor made all my software obsolete. Actually, worse than obsolete. Quite unusable, eh?
Don't worry, for the vast majority of it, any DMG run on the new Macbook M1 will use Rosetta 2 technology to translate the source code into ARM instructions, so all the previous softwares (except some that use propietary pilots) will run fine on new Macs
Some software runs badly or won't run at all on the new Macs.
You’re on the bleeding edge with the new M1s. It’s going to take years for all of the popular software packages to be rewritten to run natively on the chip but it’s a bold and brilliant move on Apple’s part, to build their own processor. It leverages the power of the apps in the App Store and unifies their architecture so that all apps will run on all hardware devices.
Most current softwares run not only well, but also better than on previous equivalent intel Macs with Rosetta 2. The translation impact of performance is more than offset by the 3 times more power of the M1. Unfortunately there have not been reviews of virtual pianos to check latency etc. My guess is however that they will run pretty well even before developers create a universal version of them
Roland FP-4F, Korg Kross 61, iRig Keys Pro, HD58X, HD598, Focal Spirit Pro, Shure SRH240A, RME Babyface, M-Track Plus, Roland DuoCapture, Presonus Eris E5, iLoud micro monitors, iPad Pro, HP Elite X2, Ivory II ACD, Korg Module for iPad, Garrital CFX full, Vienna Imperial, Ravenscroft, Kawai-Ex Pro
What will happen to existing Mac software? It won't run on the new platform, will it?
If not this will be Apple's third time changing platforms ... and giving its customers a reason to switch.
First was the 6800-to-PowerPC platform change 30 years ago. This opened the door to Windows domination.
Then the PowerPC-to-Intel switch. This allowed Apple to cut its costs ... but the customer still paid high prices.
Now Intel-to-M1.
If I were a Mac customer I'd be more than just annoyed that my vendor made all my software obsolete. Actually, worse than obsolete. Quite unusable, eh?
That's not the case at all. As I said above
Roland FP-4F, Korg Kross 61, iRig Keys Pro, HD58X, HD598, Focal Spirit Pro, Shure SRH240A, RME Babyface, M-Track Plus, Roland DuoCapture, Presonus Eris E5, iLoud micro monitors, iPad Pro, HP Elite X2, Ivory II ACD, Korg Module for iPad, Garrital CFX full, Vienna Imperial, Ravenscroft, Kawai-Ex Pro
Wait until you can run any App Store piano simulator on any small laptop, and not be confined to an iPad. That will be great.
My company is doing amazing things with the iPad and the computing power it packs, including the powerful machine learning chip. Things are better than ever and still people complain, it’s human nature, I guess.
Why would I tolerate a translation mode? That's a stop-gap. A low performer. It's not a proper solution.
I think the right fix is for the code to be rebuilt for the new platform. But will existing software users have to pay for that? That's the crucial bit.
Intel was smart to maintain strict backwards compatibility for decades. And AMD likewise. And for the operating systems running on those platforms, it's a smoother road.
These Mac platform changes are a big mistake. And this one seems to be quite avoidable. As in: if Apple was not satisfied with Intel, there's AMD ... with full compatibility.
I think the right fix is for the code to be rebuilt for the new platform. But will existing software users have to pay for that? That's the crucial bit.
There's no charge for Apple's own software, but not all of their X86 software is still supported. Some vendors may charge for the update.
Why would I tolerate a translation mode? That's a stop-gap. A low performer. It's not a proper solution.
I think the right fix is for the code to be rebuilt for the new platform. But will existing software users have to pay for that? That's the crucial bit.
Intel was smart to maintain strict backwards compatibility for decades. And AMD likewise. And for the operating systems running on those platforms, it's a smoother road.
These Mac platform changes are a big mistake. And this one seems to be quite avoidable. As in: if Apple was not satisfied with Intel, there's AMD ... with full compatibility.
Let's see how it plays out. That backwards compatibility has a cost, and Apple decided to stop paying it. Looks like it's paying off for them. These new machines are beating their Intel-powered predecessors (in some cases significantly) and they're not really breaking a sweat. Quite literally, they don't get particularly warm and I've not found a review that says the fan comes on on the mini.
I doubt it's enough to tempt me away from the PC&Windows/Linux ecosystem again, but it's the most tempted I've been by macs in over a decade.
FWIW, I owned a g4 iBook and then various of the Intel Macbook Pros (I jumped ship before unibody) and my experience of the migration last time was that Rosetta wasn't onerous.
