Power Macintosh G4 (PCI Graphics) - Pro Tools | 24 Requirements

Power Macintosh G4 (PCI Graphics) - Pro Tools|24 Requirements

With Pro Tools 5.1.1 & 5.1.3 for Mac OS 9

G4 (PCI Graphics) Processors of all speeds supported

See Apple's tech archive for more info on how to differentiate between AGP Graphics and PCI Graphics G4 models at: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n58418

Power Macintosh G4 version history available at www.everymac.com

Mac OS 9.0.4 required (OS 9.1 not tested with these models)

QuickTime 4.1.2 required with Pro Tools v5.1.1 (included with Mac OS 9.0.4, Pro Tools installation CD, or download the standalone QuickTime 4.1.2 Installer from Apple)

Power Mac G4 ROM 1.8.1 Update required
Available from Apple at: http://asu.info.apple.com/swupdates.nsf/artnum/n11533

ATTO ExpressPro-Tools v2.3.2 required (supplied on Pro Tools v5.1 and 5.1.1 CD-ROM)

External Floppy Diskette Drive

Although not required with Pro Tools installation, an external floppy diskette drive may be required for some Plug-Ins installations. The following external USB diskette drives are currently supported:

  • Imation SuperDisk
  • NewerTechnology uDrive
  • SmartDisk USB Floppy Drive (model FDUSB-M, Color Kit Edition, formerly VST) Note: Information on VST brand products from SmartDisk can be found at: www.smartdisk.com

Links to software and drivers are available in the Digidesign Support/Downloads/Utilities Section:

  • SmartDisk (VST) Floppy Drive (model FDUSB-M)
  • Imation SuperDisk
  • NewerTechnology uDrive
  • PACE USB Floppy Enabler

Apple's revised USB support allows for booting from a USB drive, therefore you should not boot up your system with an authorization disk inserted in the USB Drive.

Firewire Drives:

Built-in Firewire ports on the PowerMac PCI Graphics G4 are not recommended with firewire hard drives due to poor performance.

SCSI HBA Cards:

For maximum track count, the G4 requires the use of a qualified SCSI HBA (Host Bus Adapter) card.

The following cards are officially qualified with the PowerMac G4 desktop models listed above with Pro Tools 5.1.1 & 5.1.3 for Mac OS 9 and Apple G4 desktop models:

Digidesign SCSI|128 Kit

Digidesign SCSI64 Kit

ATTO ExpressPCI DC

ATTO ExpressPCI UL2D

ATTO ExpressPCI UL3D

* The 66MHz version of the ATTO EPCI-UL3D (model # EPCI-UL3D-066) is not supported for use with Pro Tools systems, regardless of whether your Pro Tools system is installed on a 33 MHz or 66 MHz PCI bus. The 66 MHz version is tuned for performance on a 66 MHz PCI bus. However, when Pro Tools is installed in a 66 MHz PCI bus, it reduces the speed of the PCI bus to 33 MHz. As a result, you will receive superior performance with the 33 MHz UL3D (model # EPCI-UL3D-000), because it is tuned for a 33 MHz PCI bus.

Recommended ATTO settings for approved SCSI Host Bus Adapters:

  • From the Sync Rate pop-up menu, select "20 (10)" (20 MB/sec at 10 MHz)
  • From the PCI Burst Rate pop-up menu, select "32"

Notes:

  • Adaptec 2940UW and 3940UW cards with G4s are unsuitable for full Pro Tools performance. Due to PCI bus related issues the Adaptec 2940UW and 3940UW SCSI HBA cards are unable to provide full Pro Tools performance. Additionally, Adaptec has discontinued these cards, and as a result there will be no future engineering support from Adaptec.
  • Optional SCSI HBA cards bundled (by Apple) with some G4 computers are not compatible with Pro Tools due to the lack of NVRAM to store the desired SCSI transfer rate.

MIDI: Both USB and serial MIDI interfaces work effectively with Pro Tools. Serial MIDI interfaces require either a Mac serial port or a qualified modem-to-serial port adapter. Digidesign currently supports the GeeThree Stealth Port or Griffin gPort installed in the modem port (thereby not using a PCI slot).

When using the GeeThree products with OS 9.0.4, version 1.0.3 or higher of the Stealth Port extension is required, available here: http://www.geethree.com/download.html

DSP Farm and SampleCell II Support: The PCI Matchmaker chip on a DSP Farm must be rev QC or QE (check the end of the line directly below "PCI Matchmaker" on the chip) to be compatible. Cards with rev Q chips can be upgraded.