hey guys, lately i've been told that my macbook spec cant run VSL smoothly, some said i got to get latest macbook or macbook pro with Nvidia graphics, some said need to upgrade up to 4 gb, and use external firewire..now i am confused..n i want to know wat's the most stable or mid range machines of macs that can run VSL smoothly..can someone tell whether my spec below can really support my VSL providing i use External HD with firewire...

and can someone recommend me few specs that compatible with VSL system..from low to mid til high-end specs..thank you!:)


Here's my early 2008 white macbook:

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - MB403LL/A 13.3" Screen
L2 cache - 3MB @ 2.4GHz (Shared)
800 MHz
2GB (two 1GB SO-DIMMs) of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory
160GB Serial ATA; 5400—rpm
2 SO-DIMM slots support up to 4GB
2 USB 2.0 Ports (480 Mbps)
1 FireWire 400 Port
Mini-DVI port - DVI output using mini-DVI to DVI adapter (sold separately)
VGA output using mini-DVI to VGA adapter (sold separately)
Composite and S-video output using mini-DVI to video adapter (sold separately)
Combined optical digital input/audio line in (minijack)
Combined optical digital output/headphone out (minijack)
13.3-inch (diagonal) TFT display,
1280x800
1920 x 1200 support on external display
Extended desktop and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 1920 x 1200 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors

I just set up a buddys MacBook, he upgraded to 4 gigs of ram, we increased his video buffer to 1.5 gigs in VSL, and took off VSYNC and he runs about 40fps with both decks going

There are plenty of people that will tell you that you can run VSL smoothly on a MacBook. I think you need a MacBook pro at a minimum for the better graphics card.

that means, 2 things related with VSL and mac are the graphic cards and also RAM right?

Hey LUQE,

There are 3 key parts to to getting Video-SL working smoothly. Your CPU, RAM and GPU are very important.

Your CPU does all the video decoding. That means it has to handle the playback of 2 video streams, extra audio streams and handling user input.

Your RAM is important as you want to have as much of the content in memory. The more RAM the better as always. If you lack ram you may find your system will start swapping unused portions of ram to the hard drive. You don't want that with real time stuff like Video-SL.

The GPU is responsible for visual side of things in Video-SL. It handles all the video mixing and applies all the effects in real time. The more powerful your computers GPU is, the more mathematically intense the effects can be. To quote our product page;



In your case, your GPU is probably the biggest limitation but it should work. I'd suggest downloading the demo of VSL to see how it performs before you decide to buy it.

Also this wikipedia article covers a bit of info about the Intel GMA chipsets;

en.wikipedia.org

Hope all this helps clear things up.

i've always used VSL with 2GB of RAM. My systems ALL max out at 2GB. I don't think you can improve on the 2GB performance.

thanks peter n a-swift..

i got the plug in about three months ago...and got all the required gadgets: M-Audio Uno midi usb and vga cable...ok picture this, i have already tried few times on VSL,
-first trial was ok, as i just load few mp4s just to test,
-second time it seems related some midi communications as in the faders; which is at times crossfaders dont cut the audio, n already checked the faders all good
-third time problem that happened was: while mixing in, to change from normal cd audio to VSL, suddenly video and audio gone..

and from that moment, i confused with a lil bit frustration ..:( hehehehe

my club set up: 2 x dvj-x1 + djm 800 + edirol v4 + my mac+m-audio uno+ vga cable

the other dj havent change to serato yet, still using cd and dvds, so from beginning of the club, we will put normal non-stop audio cd..n when i wana start VSL i took out midi cable that connects between djm 800 with edirol v4 (for dvd crossfades), and start mapping the mixer. first few videos was ok, then gone both mp3 and mp4..

my temporary solution:

-and one more thing i just found out yesterday that i'm using latest quicktime vers 9.6.4 or something, and u guys recommended to go lower..i will do that first..

-and another thing, i loaded about few gigs mp4 onto my internal HD, and i left about 15 gb in my internal..i'm planning to get external firewire HD to play video...so more spaces for my internal

does this help for time being? i mean just for the sake of running VSL for 3-4 hrs a night with basic features, without put much on video effects..coz i really want to start VSL, and planned to get new MBP in three months time, just cant wait to use VSL with my current mac..coz i have done so much on video converting and editing..
and still using dvds which known fact loading kinda of slow...


thanks guys..

a- swift urs using ddr2 or ddr 3? how about 4gb of ddr 2 and 2gb of ddr3? any differences?

Check out the specs of my macbook in my profile. I run VSL without issues.

Here you go:

Apple Macbook 2.0 GHz Dual Core
Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger
2GB RAM
160GB Hard Disk

I use a 1tb firewire external hard drive.

cool ...is it macbook pro or normal one?

coz i have options on gettin macbook with ddr 2 4gb with firewire port, or ddr 3 2gb w/out firewire port..both running nvidia graphic cards...

It's just a Macbook.

For videos.. its the graphics card that matters. Im using the Geforce 8600 GT 256mb. This is the card that serato recomends. If you have this or something higher than 8600, you are fine. Tha card is for the efffects..

I have been using the exact Macbook you listed for 8 months. I did upgrade the RAM to 4gb and install a 500gig hard drive. I use it for video 2-3 times a week, no problems.

yo rehab...any lag in output visual such like choppy graphics? coz ours dont have video card rite...i will try to upgrade to 4gb...and use lower version of quicktime...any other things dat u added , software or hardware ? and are u using ttm or 800?

I TELL PEOPLE A 2.4 GHZ OR HIGHER MACBOOK PRO AND YOU ARE GOOD!

I think having video files on external firewire is helpful when using a lower spec computer( I cold be wrong - but Mine is working great)

I have a 2007 macbook 2.16, 2 gig ram (with the crappy GMA 950 graphics card)
I also upgraded the HD to a WD 150 gig drive.
ALL my videos are on an external firewire drive
I've been playing with the demo for a few weeks and finally purchased VSL today.

SO far my frame rates are between 46-56 with a video buffer of about 300meg .
Output is set to good and looks really nice,
1.5 hours of playing and heavy scratching and effect use and no problems.
I'll be using it friday for a gig -

Woo hoo!

lofty , are using ttm or 800 with midi usb?

Current Set up
Macbook (as above)
SL1
Empath mixer
2 x 1200's
I have trigger finger, just haven't remapped it to Video SL yet,
I'll probably wait to map the midi and not do effects at my gig Friday.
As for the video fade, the auto video fade with the L/R arrow keys is fine.

lofty..wat's the shorcut key for auto video fade? left right key?

Left and right arrows. But caps lock is off.
I ended up programming my trigger finger And used that
done 4 video dances with no issues.

@lofty: i cant do left and right arrows...any settings on that function...and can list me ur settings on video . tq

@lofty: have u remapped ur midi to ur vidz? n how do you crossfade ur vidz?

I mapped the midi to Trigger Finger midi controller.
I have auto crossfades as maps and I mapped a knob as a manual vid fader.

Is it a real problem if you have your video files on your internal HD?

I have a MacBook pro 2.4 ghz with 4gb of ram. I also installed a 320gb 7200rpm internal HD and nvidia 8600 m GT 256mb graphics card I am using it for video in a couple of weeks and wondering if I am gonna have a problem playing videos for 3-4 hours?

Thanks