How much Ram

Looking at buying a new computer and have pretty much settled on base level 16" MBP, but with 1tb SSD. Have recently switched Komplete from 2tb to 4tb external SSD to allow room for other files as well. Komplete was using 1.7tb.

I use mainly Bass, Drums, Keys, plug ins to generate backing tracks for guitar/vocals with some pretty heavy processing. I don't as yet, but want to explore video editing as well, maybe combining my interest in music with video.

Tha Base model comes with 24 gig of ram but I'm considering 48 gig. This stretches my budget a little but if it's worth it I would rather risk the extra cost rather than risk the far higher cost of lack of ram.

I'm no computer expert but think I understand that sample based instruments are more Ram dependent while synths and effects plug ins more CPU dependent.

To go beyond a basic drum and bass backing track and into more orchestral arrangements, how many instances of Kontakt 8 could I expect to enable with a reasonable buffer size ( say 128 samples) for both 24 and 48 gig of ram?

I ask here because my main usage would be Kontakt 8 instruments.

The only real information I can find online is mostly video editing based. Like "how many Chrome window you can have open while rendering a video."

I've never opened a single 'Chrome' window in my life. Am I missing out on something there?

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Vocalpoint

The general rule of thumb for any "non-upgradable" device - like any Mac these days - to trick it out at the start.

And - if you really want to experience the true essence of "expense" - just wait to see how it feels if you run with 24GB and need more later.

In my experience - there is no such thing as too much RAM

All comments

JesterMgee

24 gig would be ample

JesterMgee

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/241059#Comment_241059

24 gig would be ample

As for how many instances of Kontakt you could run, it's the old cliche response of "it depends"

Depends what DAW, depends what instruments you are loading, depends on the capabilities of your system and if the instances are just sample players, have effects modules, are synths etc. You say you use "heavy processing" which I assume you mean you apply effects to your sounds, they will require more CPU cycles than an instance of Kontakt playing samples so CPU may be the more important variable than memory.

A better question to ask is detail exactly what you plan to run then that will give experienced users an idea of what you want to achieve. Also, I assume you have a system already. What can you achieve on that, what limitations have you hit? Have you loaded a large project and checked your RAM usage to see how much you consume? How much more RAM is 24G from what you have?

Otherwise I would say you can run likely "many" instances, likely all you would need for what you currently do (at a guess without knowing what you currently do). There is never a simple answer, can even come down to your choice in audio interface as to how much you can get out of your system.

Stephen Bish

Thanks guy for the quick response.

As far as what I can run atm the answer is very little which is why I want a new laptop.

Have an Early Retina MBP which I keep solely to run a Firewire mixer. I got into MPC/Akai Force stand alone a few years back then bought an M1 'Air' just for general use. I can get by running single instances of Kontakt 8 for Session Drums or Upright Bass etc and record into MPC.

I use Live 12 Suite as Main DAW atm and given I have Komplete Ultimate CE I would like to use orchestral instruments for more complex arrangements to accompany video from iPhone16 Pro. 120 fps to enable slow motion etc in 4k

I understand sample based plug ins are more Ram demanding.

As to "how many instances" I'm referring more to these. Strings, solo violin, Cello, Woodwinds etc etc.

Can't see me wanting more than a dozen or so atm based on music theory knowledge but maybe expanding beyond that as my ability improves.

I would prefer to pay extra for Ram now than find too soon I do not have enough.

Hope that makes it clearer. I am right at the point of ordering atm.

PK The DJ

Reading your post, it seems as if you want to run everything live at the same time. Is there any particular reason why want/need to do that?

Stephen Bish

Not sure what you mean by that PK.

I want to be able to play back tracks already recorded in a project while recording on next track and able to play back all recorded tracks at the same time.

I assume here at this point with regard to video production I would save mix as wave file then use in video editing. I have no experience with that to date but it is something I wish to learn.

IE; Use a MacBook Pro and my RME Babyface as a complete closed system for audio production.

I'm actually thinking of just using what I have and recording tracks one at a time using M1 MacBookAir into Akai Force, forgetting the idea of buying a new laptop altogether. Even that is not totally necessary. I have all the Akai/Air plugins I want anyway. Just that the Kontakt ones are better. I can also run audio out of MPC and/or Force, into MacBookAir for audio processing then back to record process tracks. A lot of mucking around but just think what the Beatles did with a 4 track tape machine.

A similar process to freezing tracks to wave files but on external device.

The M1 'Air' will actually handle that. One Kontakt 8 instrument at a time.

I also want to use the MacBook for video editing and to score music, more orchestral in nature, to accompany videos, as well as film recording with live playing, both Guitar and Bass plus Kontakt instruments via midi keyboard and V-Drums plus singing to produce multi camera composite videos. None of this I can do with M1 Air and stand alone devices.

Hence my interest in a new MBP.

Also hence my question regarding Ram.

I realise some detail of expected use is needed to give an estimation of required Ram but I cannot be more specific.

My gut feeling is get 48 gig. I would rather complain of having too much Ram than not enough.

Also in terms of waste of money, the 24-48 gig upgrade costs ( Australian) $600. That is a lot less money to risk wasting than the $4529 price of the MBP with only the base 24 gig of Ram should it prove to be not enough for my needs.

I hope that clarifies my position and reasoning.

Thanks for reading this far.

PK The DJ

You were talking about running multiple instances of Kontakt 8, which implied that you wanted all the virtual instruments running live at the same time (and needing lots of RAM).

My thought was, if it's only you and you're just creating backing tracks, where is the need to run everything at once? Surely you can run e.g. one instance at a time & record the output to audio, and build your backing track up in stages - multitrack recording. No need for masses of RAM.

Vocalpoint

The general rule of thumb for any "non-upgradable" device - like any Mac these days - to trick it out at the start.

And - if you really want to experience the true essence of "expense" - just wait to see how it feels if you run with 24GB and need more later.

In my experience - there is no such thing as too much RAM

Stephen Bish

Thanks guys. I have gone ahead and ordered with 48 gig of Ram. If I wanted to freeze tracks I would have just stuck with M1 MacBookAir and recorded track audio to Akai Force.

Given that I want a new laptop for video production I figured I may as well buy more Ram and yes the true essence of expense would be spending $4500 on a laptop that did not do what I wanted.

I also have never heard anybody complain about having too much Ram.

As my grandfather used to say:

"The pleasure of quality lasts longer than the satisfaction of a cheap price."

No doubt I'll be back in a week and a half with the issue of validating software on a new machine but till then thank you for all the input.

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