[antiglobal]

I am getting my first Mac soon (see this thread for the lowdown), and naturally there will be a bit of a "get used to it" curve for me, especially when it comes to replacing the apps I'm used to running under Windows.

The only real program I use in Windows that has me concerned though is ACID Pro 4. I'm no music professional or anything, but I have many ACID Pro project files with specific VSTi, FX and at times 20+ tracks that I've been told I cannot be imported into Soundtrack or other similar programs, so I need to have it available.

That being said, I was curious as to whether or not anyone has used ACID Pro under Virtual PC and how it performed. I am aware that it will be significantly slower, but I wanted to gauge whether or not I should invest in VPC or not.

Thanks for your patience with a Mac "n00b."

[lenox]

I doubt it'd run acceptably at all. In fact, I'd put money on it.

[Finrock]

Yes, I've run it. It is painfully slow, even with the most simple of tracks. Don't expect to really be able to use it, not even on a G5.

Sorry

[antiglobal]

Man. I figured.

The likelihood of Logic or Soundtrack ever being able to import project files is just as grim.

[Thinine]

Garageband or Logic may not be able to import the project files, but they should be able to handle the source files you used to make the project. Granted, you'd have to redo the project, but it would just be arranging tracks like you had them before, instead of composing the song from scratch.

[antiglobal]

Originally posted by Thinine:
Garageband or Logic may not be able to import the project files, but they should be able to handle the source files you used to make the project. Granted, you'd have to redo the project, but it would just be arranging tracks like you had them before, instead of composing the song from scratch.

True, but there are volume envelopes, FX tracks, etc., which would make it quite time-consuming. But, it seems it's my only recourse besides keeping a PC around.

[Burke]

I've done it, using VPC and Win2000. It's noticeably slower than running it in Windows, but it's useable if you really need it. I understand about importing your project files, but I highly doubt such support will ever be added to Logic or similar apps.

It's tough work, but I bit the bullet and began redoing all of my music projects in Logic Express one at a time; the don't all sound the same and some of my FX envelopes are gone, but at least the ACIDized loops work just fine. I have 160 GB of loops and samples on an external drive, most of which are ACIDized, so that's a huge relief.

[DeathMan]

This is probably pretty obvious, but just mix down what you can, and bring things over as "destroyed" as possible yet still giving you the flexibility you need. Export your midi tracks, mix down your fx tracks, since you won't likely have the same effects, then re-export with the effects off.

I'm sure if you really try, you'll find an acceptable transfer solution.