Advice on new iMac M4 - re-installing software

[The Paul meister]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to buy a new iMac M4. Can I re-install all my music apps from my old i5 iMac? Do I have to redownload them or can I transfer them from one Mac to another?

I can list all the apps I'm talking about if anyone wants me to for clarification. For example, GForce Axxess and OB-EZ, and quite a few AIR apps.

Any advice appreciated,

Cheers, Paul

[The Paul meister]

I just found this on the internet:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102613# ... 20computer.

I'm hoping this will sort it without having to re-download everything.

[Bob Bickerton]

I’ve always used Migration Assistant - very easy.

Bob

[Kwackman]

I'm not a IT genius, but maybe consider not copying them across, but downloading.
My (probably incorrect) logic was that I'd be making sure I'd the latest version and that it was compatible with my new Mac, and avoid having non working versions on my new mac. If you've got fast internet connection, it might not take so long?
The exception was samples, which were on a separate drive. For example, I downloaded the Toontrack Drummer software player, but after installing it I "showed" it where to find it's samples.
I also discovered that over 10 years, I'd downloaded many, many software FX most of which I never used or had forgotten about!
Either way, enjoy your new toy

[ManFromGlass]

I started from scratch just to be safe and to reduce the junk buildup of things I don't use, things I tested and then forgot about etc etc. A bit of a pain to do this but the new machine is humming along. Also good point about getting the best version of the software for your OS.

[BigRedX]

I've used both methods, but on the whole I prefer to install everything from scratch to ensure I have the best versions for the OS on the new Mac and I don't transfer across loads of outdated and unwanted applications. For the past 15 years my set-up has only the OS and applications on the start-up drive and all my data on external drives or a server. I also make sure I keep the old Mac (or at least a clone of it's system drive) for at least 12 months just in case I find I've missed something in the initial set-up or transfer.

[ConcertinaChap]

I'm with Red on this. I set aside a couple of days for bringing a new computer in, setting it up next to the old one and only installing/copying across what I want. It's amazing how much cruft you end up with on a computer over the course of years (plugins being a good example), and I find it a real pleasure in getting a new machine cleanly set up with just what you want and nothing else.

CC

[The Paul meister]

I haven't got a load of plug ins that I don't want.

Also, I'm not sure if I'm allowed to re-download all my software without checking on every website. That is, if I'm only allowed one download for piracy protection measures.

I'm going to use the Migration Assistant.

Thanks for your replies.

[ConcertinaChap]

Your choice, of course. It's just that I've never ever heard of downloads being prevented, it's registration that can cause problems and for those companies that restrict the number of machines you can register your software on there is usually an online procedure where you can de-register an existing machine first. I don't know whether or how migration assistant handles those sorts of issues.

CC

[The Paul meister]

Migration Assistant just says it transfers all your apps. Hopefully no need to de-register and re-download.

[ConcertinaChap]

Well, best of luck. I can think of a number of companies, Avid and Celemony among them, that check the computer the product is actually running on against their records, but maybe you don't use those. Fingers crossed!

CC

[The Paul meister]

Thanks for your reply CC,

No, I'm not using Avid or Celemony. Presumably if there's a problem with an app that was attempted to be transferred, I can go online and try and fix it by de-registering or whatever? The problem is that the internet is really slow on my old Mac.

Any thoughts on this?

Cheers, Paul

[ManFromGlass]

I set aside a couple of days for bringing a new computer in,
CC

A couple days? I envy you!
I’ve been at it for weeks, a big push for days in the beginning and then something almost every day. It’s the downloading of latest versions, activating licenses, finding old passwords, being forced to update passwords that haven’t been used for awhile. Discovering by attempting installs, which products won’t run on silicon as the website says nothing. Paying for upgrades because legacy versions won’t run on the machine. Searching the net for how to move installed content to external drives because the move doesn’t work the way they say it will. Emailing companies tech support because their product is working worse than on Intel, or doesn’t install properly.
I did manage to stump Apple tech phone support for an hour before we figured a thing out together that shouldn’t have been a problem.
But I’m getting there! I hope I get it finished before I realize my career is actually over!

[Kwackman]

It was a couple of days for me too, actually 2 half days.
BUT, as I knew I was buying a new Mac (& moving to an M processor) I did spend a lot of time before hand checking what software was “M ready”, so there weren’t too many surprises when the new Mac arrived.
I did have to change some passwords, but that was sorted before the Mac arrived, but as I had used the same password for too many sites, it was probably worth the hassle!
I hope you get to enjoy your new Mac….. eventually

[BigRedX]

I did 95% of the installation of my Mac Studio in less than a day. It was helped by the fact that all my data lives on external drives and that for music use I only have two 3rd party plug-ins.

[ManFromGlass]

Yeah, I should have added I’m a sucker for free plugins and free trials!
Which sometimes leads to purchases, sigh

[The Paul meister]

Hi everyone,

The Migration Assistant worked. I have all my software and plugins. Some needed re-registering and a bit of downloading.

[ConcertinaChap]

Good news. You can enjoy the nice feeling of doing what's right for you first time

For the re-installers, Kwackman has it right. A little home work first smooths the whole business out nicely.

CC

[The Paul meister]

The Migration Assistant even transferred my bookmarks in Safari.

[BigRedX]

Your bookmarks should be sync'd through iCloud using your Apple ID.