Since SSDs do not have moving parts, they are more durable and reliable than HDDs.Ĭonsumer level HDDs come in two different speeds - 5400 RPM (revolutions per minute) and 7200 RPM. The disk is spun, and data is read by “read-and-write heads,” SSDs store data on flash memory, similar to USB flash drives. Mechanical hard drives stores data by magnetizing a thin disk of magnetic material. The two major differences between these two types of hard drives is speed and durability. In the past few years, solid state drives (SSD) have become more common in higher end computers. The traditional mechanical hard drive (HDD) is the more widespread option. The hard drive is your internal permanent storage, and there are two major varieties. Unfortunately, the latest models do not allow for RAM upgrades, so it’s important to make a decision when purchasing.
Depending on the model of your MacBook, it may also be possible to upgrade the RAM. Luckily, 8 GB is the standard on all the current MacBook Pros. How much RAM is enough? While that largely depends on the types of sounds you plan on using, our minimum recommendation is 8 GB. In most cases when sample attacks aren’t loaded into RAM, the computer can’t keep up with streaming directly from the hard drive, resulting in clicks and pops. Programming tons of sounds without the proper amount of RAM will lead to glitches. So now you see why more RAM may lead to better performance in MainStage. The reasoning behind this method is that modern sound libraries are too large to be completely loaded into RAM. While the initial attack of the sound is streamed from RAM, the rest of it is being prepared to stream from the hard drive. When you load up an instrument in MainStage, the initial attack of the sound is loaded into RAM for instant recall. It’s mainly used for temporary storage of data that needs to be recalled quickly.Ī healthy amount of RAM is needed for MainStage to work at peak efficiency. RAM, on the other hand, offers temporary storage at super fast speeds. This means data won’t be deleted unless you decide to delete it. Hard drives and USB flash drives offer permanent storage. When you hear the word “storage,” what immediately comes to mind? You’re probably thinking of your hard drive or perhaps the USB flash drive attached to your computer. Almost any current MacBook excluding the 11” MacBook Air is capable of running MainStage reliably. Fortunately, you don’t need a degree in computer science to choose a suitable computer for running MainStage. You’ve probably seen marketing terms like “Core i7” or “Core2Duo,” These simply refer to the architecture of the CPU chip. It is constantly performing billions of mathematical functions, and is in charge of internal data flow. CPU & RAMĬPU (central processing unit) and RAM (random access memory) are the two most important components that affect MainStage’s performance.
Users with older Macs may not be able to install OS X 10.8, and therefore will not be able to use MainStage 3. Luckily, most of the Macs currently available from the Apple Store will exceed these requirements.
If that’s the case, feel free to skip this section.Ĭlick here for our keyboard recommendations.
In fact, you might already know how to use your keyboard with MainStage. If you’re reading this book right now, chances are you already own a keyboard. At the end of the chapter, we’ll take a brief look at how keyboard rigs are set up on Broadway shows. In this chapter, you’ll find out exactly what to look for when shopping for gear. A basic keyboard rig consists of a keyboard and associated pedals, a computer, and an audio interface.