Microsoft Surface Pro 4

[foresttones]

I've just purchased a Hapi and believe that I quality for the promotion that includes a copy of Essentials.

Given that I do very minimal editing, editing with includes at most a few filter adjustments on no more than 4 tracks, I've not really considered Pyramix. But now, I'm giving it some thought and wonder about how efficient it is as a program.

Basically, will I be well served with the low end Surface Pro 4 with Core M and 4GB Ram? Or does Pyramix require a more robust configuration?

[phaseboy]

It will work, but even with only 4 tracks the entire thing will be sluggish at best on a Core M processor. I have tried this on a few different machines to use as quick way to make changes while I'm travelling, and while it works in a pinch is not a viable (or pleasurable) way to work imo.

Regards,

Mark

[foresttones]

Thanks very much, Mark.

So I guess even with the latest Skylake iteration, the Core M will be underpowered. I'll look into the i5 or i7. I guess this is where the Surface gets really expensive: I was hoping to pick up a tablet that would also run Pyramix, but it's looking now like I'm getting a laptop.

With best regards,
Benjamin

[foresttones]

Any thoughts on the new Surface Book? Would the i7 Model be preferable to the i5? I'm looking at Merging's recommended hardware configurations. They suggest 8GB RAM as a minimum, should I opt for 16?

Given that I'm new to Windows and PMX, I'm having trouble determining how well the new Surface Book stacks up. They have the recent skylake iteration, but are only dual core and have a lower TDP.

Are they underpowered for v10?

Incidentally, I've had a chance to check out a SB and despite the software issues, it's really nice. I find the screen really lovely and am really taken with the way Windows renders fonts. Going back to OS X, I find the text really blurry. I've turned off font smoothing, but still think MS nails fonts.

The trackpad doesn't come close to the ones on the MBP, but I say this having not tried the recent 17 December update which apparently sorts out some lag and unresponsiveness.

[foresttones]

Oh, that's encouraging.

But, really, my needs are so light that I'm wondering if I should forego PMX altogether.

I'm only considering it because it's included for free in my recent Hapi order.

I purchased a Hapi with a DA8P card for playback and editing. After demoing it, I found the DAC superior to anything I had ever heard. There was no going back. Plus, after dealing with some issues with USB and Core Audio, I was sold with the ethernet route.

For now, I do very, very minimal editing of nature recordings. This includes cutting, cuing two tracks with the occasional filter. Reaper plus fabfilter has served me well so far.

I'll need to look more into what PMC might offer me. DXD/DSD? This would mean picking up the AD8P card sometime and taking the Hapi out with me in the woods. I'm crazy for bird calls and tree creaks, but probably not that crazy. I guess I'd get better SRC and dithering, and full integration with the Hapi.

I'm up for the challenge of learning PMX, but I wonder if its features are so deep that I'll end up experiencing not only diminishing, but inverse returns.

[fl]

Pyramix can do a lot of things that are simply not possible in other DAW software, but it comes at the expense of being a complex program with a pretty steep learning curve. Toss in almost unlimited configuration options, and it can seem like you can't get started for getting started. I remember my first day - and I had the benefit of a live coach. After eight hours, I had done one edit. The next day, I did eighty-seven. The initial hump is daunting, but perseverance is rewarded. The manual has its issues, particularly of the "The Frunobulax control is the control used to adjust the amount of Frunobulax" variety, but nevertheless the answers are in there, so get yourself a PDF reader with a good search function. Questions of use and application posted to this forum will - usually - receive answers, just not immediately. The more specific you can be, and the inclusion of system details and configurations will make it easier for people to help, although there are some system specific questions which are best directed to support@merging.com.