hi all
starting to look at replacing all our towers (of which there are many!) with the " next step"
one can purchase a new mac mini
3.0GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7
16GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM
for a couple of grand
verses my current tower machines
Apple Mac Pro "Eight Core" 2.93
with 32GB+ of ram
running PT native, i could get native thunderbolt interfaces rather than current cards. licences remain the same.
has anyone had any experience running real sessions on a fully specced mac mini with thunderbolt native?
im thinking it would look same same compared to an older machine with more ram..
thoughts/ feelings/ experience would be appreciated.
- It is currently Wed May 15, 2024 12:48 pm • All times are UTC + 10 hours [ DST ]
mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
Moderators: rick, Mark Bassett
15 posts
• Page 1 of 1
mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
Gareth Stuckey
gigpiglet productions:presents:recordings
gigpiglet productions:presents:recordings
- gigpiglet
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1153
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:10 pm
- Location: sydney australia
Re: mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
Wondering what the ramifications of just dual core might be?
Cheers, ross
Ross Muir
Reddirt Recordings
Alice Springs
Cheers, ross
Ross Muir
Reddirt Recordings
Alice Springs
- reddirt
- Registered User
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:52 pm
Re: mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
I have a late 2012 Mac mini with a 2.6ghz i7 with 16gb ram. I run pt11 and a pair of thunderbolt apollo interfaces and a UAD accelerator. It runs pretty smoothly and I haven't had any specific issues in 18months of daily use.
Myles Mumford
Producer/Composer/Engineer/Sound Artist
Making records in sunny Melbourne
www.mylesmumford.com
Producer/Composer/Engineer/Sound Artist
Making records in sunny Melbourne
www.mylesmumford.com
-
mylesgm - Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1964
- Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:48 pm
Re: mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
thanks for your experience myles. im guessing a 5 year newer and faster processor would only help the matter.
and yes ross - thats exactly what my question relates too!
there are no 8 core minis...
and yes ross - thats exactly what my question relates too!
there are no 8 core minis...
Gareth Stuckey
gigpiglet productions:presents:recordings
gigpiglet productions:presents:recordings
- gigpiglet
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1153
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:10 pm
- Location: sydney australia
Re: mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
Maybe another consideration for longevity is everything in the hardware connected computer world seems to be converging towards USB-C which appears it's going to be the universal hardware connection standard for the 'foreseeable' future.
*Please don't ask me to quantify what the foreseeable future is as the FireWire 400 drivers for my Crystal Ball are no longer supported
Remember in the Apple world there was FireWire 400 (gone) then FireWire 800 (gone) then Thunderbolt 1 & 2 (effectively now heading towards the exit door) and now Thunderbolt 3 which uses the USB-C style port.
All the new Macbooks are fitted with USB-C exclusively.
The downside is all the overpriced bloody dongles Apple wants to sell you in order to connect your older hardware.
*Please don't ask me to quantify what the foreseeable future is as the FireWire 400 drivers for my Crystal Ball are no longer supported
Remember in the Apple world there was FireWire 400 (gone) then FireWire 800 (gone) then Thunderbolt 1 & 2 (effectively now heading towards the exit door) and now Thunderbolt 3 which uses the USB-C style port.
All the new Macbooks are fitted with USB-C exclusively.
The downside is all the overpriced bloody dongles Apple wants to sell you in order to connect your older hardware.
- rowmat
Re: mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
Hey Gareth
Heed the words of mr Rowmat about USB C.
Also:
1/ there are known issues with Mac Minis and MacbookPros when connecting a large hi-res external screen - the mouse response can be affected severely. There doesn't seem to be a root cause as some machines have it (e.g. my macbookpro) and some don't (e.g. my Mrs Mac Mini).
2/ on performance - I have a MacBookPro (i7 quad core 2.2GHz / 16GB RAM / 480GB SSD) and it is struggling to run Finale on big mixes (12 instruments with 16 and 24 bit samples. I'm looking at a big Hackintosh (4GHz, 128GB RAM, multiple SSDs) to do the job
Heed the words of mr Rowmat about USB C.
Also:
1/ there are known issues with Mac Minis and MacbookPros when connecting a large hi-res external screen - the mouse response can be affected severely. There doesn't seem to be a root cause as some machines have it (e.g. my macbookpro) and some don't (e.g. my Mrs Mac Mini).
2/ on performance - I have a MacBookPro (i7 quad core 2.2GHz / 16GB RAM / 480GB SSD) and it is struggling to run Finale on big mixes (12 instruments with 16 and 24 bit samples. I'm looking at a big Hackintosh (4GHz, 128GB RAM, multiple SSDs) to do the job
Ian Dare
- Drumstruck
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1589
- Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2010 12:37 pm
- Location: NSW South Coast
Re: mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
interesting info from all - thanks
my probs with the towers (i have 5 and one spare) is that they just cant be repaired/ sourced parts for anymore.
i had one go down recently with either a backplane or PSU issue (switched the drives and CPU into my spare) repair is an undefinable huge amount (more than the machine is worth) which means im now without a spare machine.
im thinking rather than spend a grand on another tower, ill start a new plan, and looking like the mini could be that.
ill start with the mobile rig first, and work backward from there depending on my findings.
my probs with the towers (i have 5 and one spare) is that they just cant be repaired/ sourced parts for anymore.
i had one go down recently with either a backplane or PSU issue (switched the drives and CPU into my spare) repair is an undefinable huge amount (more than the machine is worth) which means im now without a spare machine.
im thinking rather than spend a grand on another tower, ill start a new plan, and looking like the mini could be that.
ill start with the mobile rig first, and work backward from there depending on my findings.
Gareth Stuckey
gigpiglet productions:presents:recordings
gigpiglet productions:presents:recordings
- gigpiglet
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1153
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:10 pm
- Location: sydney australia
Re: mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
Fwiw, I moved over to PC because of this issue. You can get an equivalent pc tower for <1k, parts are available and win 7 is still supported and stable.
Even the new trash cans haven't proved as powerful for audio (in practice) as the old Mac towers so I kinda figured there's nothing Apple is making now that quite fits the bill and competes cost-wise.
I hate windows though.
Even the new trash cans haven't proved as powerful for audio (in practice) as the old Mac towers so I kinda figured there's nothing Apple is making now that quite fits the bill and competes cost-wise.
I hate windows though.
Dave Carter
http://www.twitter.com/davecarter
http://www.twitter.com/davecarter
- Text_Edifice
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1030
- Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 12:00 pm
- Location: Wellington
Re: mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
yeah dave
i get the argument
but "i hate windows though" outweighs any of it!
i need to enjoy my work at least a little, and struggling through windows every morning isnt going to help me.
;-)
i get the argument
but "i hate windows though" outweighs any of it!
i need to enjoy my work at least a little, and struggling through windows every morning isnt going to help me.
;-)
Gareth Stuckey
gigpiglet productions:presents:recordings
gigpiglet productions:presents:recordings
- gigpiglet
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1153
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:10 pm
- Location: sydney australia
Re: mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
This has been on my mind too Gareth - I just buy up spare machines.
Get good at pulling them apart and replacing bits.
My advice would be keep them going for a couple more years and see where the new Macs go.
Get good at pulling them apart and replacing bits.
My advice would be keep them going for a couple more years and see where the new Macs go.
C h r i z t o w n o
- The Tasmanian
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1901
- Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2008 8:04 am
- Location: Deep in the woods....
Re: mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
I think the real problem with the mini / iMac pros, even the trash cans to an extent, is that if something crucial breaks it's very difficult to repair or replace discrete compoments.
My mbp video card went down last month and the only fix is to swap out the guts of the machine (only available second hand). At least with the towers you can still find scrap parts relatively easily.
My mbp video card went down last month and the only fix is to swap out the guts of the machine (only available second hand). At least with the towers you can still find scrap parts relatively easily.
Dave Carter
http://www.twitter.com/davecarter
http://www.twitter.com/davecarter
- Text_Edifice
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1030
- Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 12:00 pm
- Location: Wellington
Re: mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
yes dave and chris i agree and thats what ive been doing
but "relatively easy" is starting to get "relatively hard"
the two failures ive had hvae been backplanes (probably showing the age for the machines) and its not an easy or cheap fix. certainly not an easy "spare part" unless you keep your own spare machines.
ive had another recent fail which has put me into my spare machine. im yet to do the thorough fault finding but will be either backplane or PSU as removing the CPU and putting it into the spare got me up and running.
do i spend up to a grand trying to solve this issue?
or do i start moving on.
maybe at this poing only my spare becomes a mini?
but "relatively easy" is starting to get "relatively hard"
the two failures ive had hvae been backplanes (probably showing the age for the machines) and its not an easy or cheap fix. certainly not an easy "spare part" unless you keep your own spare machines.
ive had another recent fail which has put me into my spare machine. im yet to do the thorough fault finding but will be either backplane or PSU as removing the CPU and putting it into the spare got me up and running.
do i spend up to a grand trying to solve this issue?
or do i start moving on.
maybe at this poing only my spare becomes a mini?
Gareth Stuckey
gigpiglet productions:presents:recordings
gigpiglet productions:presents:recordings
- gigpiglet
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1153
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:10 pm
- Location: sydney australia
Re: mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
Hi Garath,
I would be worried about moving to a dual core mini after having 8 cores. If the 8 cores run at 2.9mhz and the dual at 3mhz you are looking at nearly quartering your performance. Guess it depends on what you are doing on these systems - if you are recording lots of tracks with low amount of plugins/processing then it may not be an issue, same would go for the 16gb vs 32gb of ram. If you are doing full mixes and not using external processing then there is probably more risk in the mini solution.
Have you ruled out the imac or macbook pros - certainly you are able to get more processing - esp with the highly powered and overpriced imac pros on the horizon.
Of course your concerns about a repairable and supportable solution are very important - even if your solution is that when system X craps itself it will be replaced with system Y and it will take Z days to arrive and setup, and all projects will be kept on external drives so you can easily access from another rig.
If you need a system that is serviceable and easily repairable/upgrade-able then I don't think any such animal exists in the apple zoo. So you really need to think about which is more important - hardware performance/support or user interface of the OS or perhaps respecting the apple OSX licence to the letter of the law.
Cheers
I would be worried about moving to a dual core mini after having 8 cores. If the 8 cores run at 2.9mhz and the dual at 3mhz you are looking at nearly quartering your performance. Guess it depends on what you are doing on these systems - if you are recording lots of tracks with low amount of plugins/processing then it may not be an issue, same would go for the 16gb vs 32gb of ram. If you are doing full mixes and not using external processing then there is probably more risk in the mini solution.
Have you ruled out the imac or macbook pros - certainly you are able to get more processing - esp with the highly powered and overpriced imac pros on the horizon.
Of course your concerns about a repairable and supportable solution are very important - even if your solution is that when system X craps itself it will be replaced with system Y and it will take Z days to arrive and setup, and all projects will be kept on external drives so you can easily access from another rig.
If you need a system that is serviceable and easily repairable/upgrade-able then I don't think any such animal exists in the apple zoo. So you really need to think about which is more important - hardware performance/support or user interface of the OS or perhaps respecting the apple OSX licence to the letter of the law.
Cheers
Michael Luchich
Alternation.com.au
Walcha NSW
Alternation.com.au
Walcha NSW
- lonearranger
- Registered User
- Posts: 217
- Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:13 am
- Location: Walcha NSW
Re: mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
Hey Gareth - Don't do it!
The currently-on-sale-right-now Mac Mini's haven't been updated since October 2014.
They are already old tech. They were kinda old tech when they were released.
If it was me, I'd go for an iMac. Mac sure you get one with an SSD, and also an i7 Processor, but if you see the specs of the machine on the attached image, I promise it will absolutely slay any Mac Mini that you can buy.
(This is my current recommended bang-for-buck config. Only a 21" but external screens are cheap)
The currently-on-sale-right-now Mac Mini's haven't been updated since October 2014.
They are already old tech. They were kinda old tech when they were released.
If it was me, I'd go for an iMac. Mac sure you get one with an SSD, and also an i7 Processor, but if you see the specs of the machine on the attached image, I promise it will absolutely slay any Mac Mini that you can buy.
(This is my current recommended bang-for-buck config. Only a 21" but external screens are cheap)
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- smash
- Regular Contributor
- Posts: 442
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:49 am
- Location: Northern Beaches, Sydney
Re: mac mini thunderbolt PT HD
Text_Edifice wrote:Even the new trash cans haven't proved as powerful for audio (in practice) as the old Mac towers so I kinda figured there's nothing Apple is making now that quite fits the bill and competes cost-wise.
They're not too bad. We've got six core nMP's in both of our film mix suites (HDX 2), and we're running some pretty stupid track counts.
- smash
- Regular Contributor
- Posts: 442
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:49 am
- Location: Northern Beaches, Sydney
15 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Return to The Turtlerock Forum
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests