Cubase 7.5 on Mac Network

[fresher]

We're building a mac suite with 10-15 iMacs and we want to run Cubase 7.5 Artist. Our outsourced IT contractor have suggested a Mac Mini Server with integration to our existing Windows Active Directory. I know the benefits are logging on, saving and printing to a central server. However, I fear Cubase just won't run on the network especially if there is an integration to Windows AD for login.

 

Does anyone know if:

 

a) Cubase 7.5 will run on a mac network with a mac mini server. It would be a quad core i7 with 4GB RAM and 2x 1TB drives?

b) If there are known issues when integrating with Windows AD?

c) If we'd be better off just running standalone machines with External HDD's?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice and support.

[synaesthesia]

Good lord. Masochism at it's finest!

Cubase and networks do not mix.

Cubase on a network that shouldn't really be networked.... that should be interesting! I would ask why you'd ever want to run that product when you have macs and therefore access to *far* superior products. Biggest reason for using Macs in music is industry standards. Cubase isn't anywhere near that.

[mjs_mjs]

Good lord. Masochism at it's finest!

Cubase and networks do not mix.

Cubase on a network that shouldn't really be networked.... that should be interesting! I would ask why you'd ever want to run that product when you have macs and therefore access to *far* superior products. Biggest reason for using Macs in music is industry standards. Cubase isn't anywhere near that.

 

Enough said on this matter!!! - but my 10 cents

 

If you have a person using cubase with 10 audio channels, each needs 24bit audio at at least 48K sample rate really, that person will eat over 10Mb of bandwidth in terms of raw data - so with network overheads it's more like 20Mb (not even going into the latency issues)... 5 users and your disks in the server will grind to a FAIL. This is why local storage is needed for storing the audio files, and hence why networking is NOT a good idea - yeah it can be done, but don't be silly!

 

My experience of this goes way back to SX3 on a network, and it being POOR to use at best. I managed to get Studio 4 to work on a windows network but it was glitchy IMO, and some nasty reg hacks for ASIO drivers for on board sound cards (not a great idea by all standards).

 

Top tips.... mac or win - cubase on a networked machine will be fine, but you'll need local storage for audio files (and users that understand how this would work), and probably best to install the cubase software manually rather than via a package deployment (due to drivers), i think i also had to force it to run with elevated privileges too for 'normal' users (don't shoot me for it).

[fresher]

Thanks for your replies.

 

Forgot to mention the context: We're a new school with only Year 7 and 8. The music teacher has requested Cubase to start with, I assume he may choose Protools/Logic/Ableton at a later date for GCSE/A-level.

 

Have PM'd you for further advice on the matter.