Mac Mini 1.83GHZ Core Duo as a Softsynth Device.

[Cosmonauta]

Hi folks,

I'm looking for a Softsynth server to work togheter (via midi and optical) with my G4-PT-Mixplus rig.

I have the option to buy a stock Mac Mini 1.83GHZ Core Duo with 2GB of ram.

I would like to run OSX with the UB version of Native Instruments (Kontakt, Reaktor, FM8 etc), Viena Strings and Reason 3.
And Windows with Ivory Piano, Artvista Piano, BFD, DHF etc...
The files will be in a Firewire 400 drive (with 16MB buffer)

Is that enough to run those hughe strings, drums and piano librarys?
What about latency?
Can I use the build in audio optical output, or should I need some USB audio interface (mbox etc)?


Thank you!

[Dickens]

I'm not completely sure but would a product such as Kore be something of interest in a setup like this?
I know 2 gig or ram is the limit on the Mac mini. How many applications would you intend to run simultaneously?

[kenn.michael]

The Mini will run all that stuff pretty well, only being limited by the amount of RAM in the machine. I'm able to run 32 instruments from EastWest Quantum Leap Orchestra in Kontakt 2 on my 1.66 Mini with 1.25GB RAM in it - about 150 voices playing at once off a 5400 RPM external FW drive.... Hardly optimum circumstances, but it did work. If I upped the RAM to 2GB and ran the samples off a 7200RPM drive, I'd get better performance.

Latency off the internal audio card was fine. I'm about to build a rig of 4 Minis using ProFire LightBridges (M-Audio 32 ch. Lightpipe I/O) to run sample libraries for my scoring work.

As far as a plugin host - you should either use Plouge Bidule, or AULab which is an AU host included in Apple's Developer tools (free). Both these apps will allow you to to run multiple plugins, but more importantly, you'll be able to route each plugin to a different hardware audio output. I wish Rax (by plasq) would do this, but it doesn't.

[Cosmonauta]

Hi Kenn, thx very much for your detailed info.
I will have a 7200 FW drive, 2 GBs of ram, and it's the 1.83 ghz model.
So your statement makes me beliave it will do the job fine.
I'm also looking for the plugin hosts.

Do you use it with Windows too? Or only in OSX?

[kenn.michael]

Windows and OSX. Windows runs really nice in Bootcamp. Not surprisingly I can run Nuendo sessions on the mini that would bog down my Dual G5 with no problem.

[foldback]

I have a pair of G4 1GHZ iBooks that I use for virtual instruments (NI electric piano, Arturia Moog). I use a Tascam US-122 interface for Midi and audio I.O.

I'm not crazy about the N.I. software but the Moog is cool and the cheap Mac laptops proved to be capable hosts.

[skipdog]

Is it safe to say that the Mac Mini 1.83GHZ Core Duo would out perform a G4 Dual 1.25.

Skipdog

[kenn.michael]

It would be safe to say that the 1.83 Mini is at least TWICE the speed of the 1.25 G4. Maybe 3 times in some operations.

I have a Dual 1.25 G4 as a server - I should do some benchmarks to see how these new machines compare to the Dual G4s.

[skipdog]

Thanks for the response Kenn. Any chance you are running Logic with Waves SSL plugins, it would be interesting to know the plugin count seeing that the Mac Pro gets like 150 or so.

Skipdog

[Cosmonauta]

Hi everybody. The minimac is finally here. Running sweet so far.

Anyone know if it's possible to conect Mac Mini's digital output to a SPDIF input in my Adat Bridge or 882/24 ?
If so, what the specifications of the cables or adapter?

Thx!