Running audio software in classic mode

[moron]

Hi

I'm seeking a bit of advice, and I figure that someone here can help me!

I'm studying a Music Technology degree at the moment, which is Mac based. Among the software we have to use is a program called Max/MSP, which you may or may not be familiar with (www.cycling74.com if you're interested). Now, while I have access to this software in the studios, I'd much prefer to be able to run it on my Powerbook G4 in the comfort of my own home. I've found a student who finished the course last year who is willing to sell me his copy of the software, the only problem being that it's the OS9 version and I'm running OSX 10.2. Now I know that I could always upgrade the software to the OSX version, but because the uni uses the OS9 version still, I'd rather stick with this version (for the sake of compatibility), and also because another bit of related software, Pluggo, isn't yet available for OSX.

Anyway; to my question! How does audio intensive software run under classic mode, generally? Am I looking to have loads of problems? The reason I ask is that I've tried running another OS9 audio app called Metasynth under classic mode, and suffered occasional choppy sound, which just isn't satisfactory. Is this likely to be just this one program, or is classic mode not all that great really. If this is the case, is it possible to set up a dual boot between OSX/OS9, and if so, is it hard?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Cheers in advance,

Mike

 

[WinterMute]

It's generally impossible to run ANY audio apps succesfully under Classic, its an emulation and is too abstracted from the hardware to run well or at all in most cases, Max/MSP will certainly not run, nor will any of the integrated MIDI/recording apps such as ProTools or Logic.

Depending on the model of PowerBook you have, you should be able to dual-boot into OS9, none of the Alu-Books will do this, or the very last Ti revision, I believe.

The simple way to check is to open your Start-up Disk panel in the System Prferences and see if it offers you a system 9 folder to boot from, if it does, boot from that, and you should be able to configure Max to run. If you don't get a 9 folder, then you can't dual boot, or you don't have a System 9 folder (and I assume you do otherwise you wouldn't have Classic would you?)

I'd suggest you buy the OSX upgrade for Max/MSP anyway, as OSX handles audio much better than 9 with it's reliance on OMS Compatibility shouldn't be a problem, files go both ways.

Hope this helps.

Incidentally, where are you studying?

 

[moron]

I would love to run the OSX version (have tried the trial, and its far better than the OS9 version), but apart from the compatability issue (if there is one), the main thing stopping me from switching to the OSX version is the fact that I need to use Pluggo, which is currently OS9 only. You see, for my final year project I'm writing a virtual analogue synth (very much like V-Station or Z3ta+) in Max/MSP, then using Pluggo to run it as a VSTi plugin. I did, however, forget all about OMS and all that, and what a pain in the arse it can be to set it all up, so on second thoughts I might just stick with the OSX version after all. I'll just have to hope that either the OS9 version and OSX version are completely compatible, or that Pluggo gets ported to OSX asap!

In answer to your question, I'm studying a Music Technology BSc at the University of Hertfordshire, based in Hatfield, Herts. It's a good course!