I've seen that Apple have announced an upgraded mac mini which adds a few nice tweaks to the package. And i'm thinking of making the switch over to logic studio. Has anyone used a mac mini for production, whats your opinion of it?

Im probably looking at the following:

699 2.0Ghz 2Gb 320Gb plus keyboard
210 Dell 23" lcd
and logic studio 8 @ 260

So it's quite a big purchase and a big change to how I work.

I see that you can link mini's via the Ethernet and use another as a slave to process in Logic, anyone done this?

Thanks,

FJ

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wow i was just going to make a thread about this lol.
ive bought a mac mini some months ago and logic express 8 and was going to ask about some tutorials etc to get me started, cause i havent really had time before now. It seems abit too weak but if i learn how to render/freeze tracks i might be ok with it and i really want to learn how to work this way anyway so i bet its good practise while saving for something more powerfull. Considering iMac

user "beyer" here in these forum says he is making tracks with this setup so it must be possible, would love to hear some tracks by him too, and also some participation in this thread.

my goal this year is to use the included instruments in logic as much as possible and learn them inside out. Im not planning on using VST at all, but i might rewire with reason after a while.

I also have a question about the mouse on a mac, its terrible to navigate, is there a way to adjust it to be linear? if i move it slow it almost doesnt move at all and if i move it faster it goes all over the screen, it seems its not position-relative but acceleration-relative, it makes it impossible to turn knobs etc etc. anyone? Im using Logitech mouse btw, not Apple.

lets keep this thread alive. btw my mini is 1,83GHz Core 2 Duo, 1GB RAM and 80GB HD. Btw2: I recomend u to buy a used version at first so see whether u like mac OSX at all, Ive used it abit now for normal use and Im not sure i like it, so Im keeping my windows PC for musiclibrary, winamp etc etc. Just learned about remote desktop too from mac to PC and it worked great so i dont need two screens.

Last edited by djpalm on Mar-08-2009 at 17:27

I remember when i used to pour out choons using only an single core 2 GHZ AMD. So it should definitely be more than enough power.

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i just have to get out some of my frustrations with OSX:

* why the hell doesnt some windows maximize using the maximize buttons? like the new Safari browser, it only maximize in the height and keep the width, makes me furious.

* mouse issue mentioned above making it impossible to navigate.

* why do i have to right-click and close all programs after they already are closed using X-button (while they really are just hidden or something).

* why do minimize-button minimize to another icon on the docking leaving me with two icons for each program, its terrible and inefective.

* why cant i add a password on mail, without having to put a password on the whole OSX?

* why is the finder always open, why cant i close it and remove it from the dock?
actually the whole docking thing is retard!

* why is the finder so retarded and excluding three-structure? making it impossible to find stuff.

* first thing i noticed in logic is that i have to choose number of channels and what kind at startup, well i dont know yet so i dont want to choose this now. is there a way to disable this or using a default setup etc? its fucking annoying getting pop-boxes at startup of programs.

* another thing in logic, is that its fonts, buttons etc doesnt follow the osx setup, its WAY too small, i dont see a shit and with the mouse-issues mentioned above i cant even hit the buttons making it impossible to like, close the mixer after i opened it.

apple is retard.

i just have to get out some of my frustrations with OSX:

* why the hell doesnt some windows maximize using the maximize buttons? like the new Safari browser, it only maximize in the height and keep the width, makes me furious.

1-This is just a habit for you in windows. I used to do it too. Mac os remembers the last window size you set and switches between them. What I find annoying about windows is the window taking up the whole screen. Just use the the drag.

* mouse issue mentioned above making it impossible to navigate.

2-Apple/System Preferences/Keyboard & Mouse. (mine moves in "real time")

* why do i have to right-click and close all programs after they already are closed using X-button (while they really are just hidden or something).

3-Again, windows habit. Mac os does not close programs by clicking x. Very few programs on a mac do. I find it annoying the other way around, like on windows.

* why do minimize-button minimize to another icon on the docking leaving me with two icons for each program, its terrible and inefective.

4-I don't get this one. What is the difference between the 2 os? Don't you want it there? it's not another program, it's a window.

* why cant i add a password on mail, without having to put a password on the whole OSX?

5-Not understanding this one.

* why is the finder always open, why cant i close it and remove it from the dock?
actually the whole docking thing is retard!

6-Why can't you close windows navigator. The whole task bar is retarded.

* why is the finder so retarded and excluding three-structure? making it impossible to find stuff.

7-Set your views. Mac os is the easiest os. You will get used to it. It's pretty stupid proof.

* first thing i noticed in logic is that i have to choose number of channels and what kind at startup, well i dont know yet so i dont want to choose this now. is there a way to disable this or using a default setup etc? its fucking annoying getting pop-boxes at startup of programs.

8-Many ways to do this. One way is to make a template and start Logic from that. Easy.

* another thing in logic, is that its fonts, buttons etc doesnt follow the osx setup, its WAY too small, i dont see a shit and with the mouse-issues mentioned above i cant even hit the buttons making it impossible to like, close the mixer after i opened it.

9-Read above. I'll have to look in to Logic and text sizes. Defaults are good enough for me so I never tried changing them.

apple is retard.

No, you're just a little ignorant to the way it works. All in time. We are creatures of habit.

If you're going to spend that much on everything... you might as well invest another $200 and get the 24" iMac. You'll have a bigger drive, a bigger monitor, and a much faster processor for the same price. I run Logic 8 on an aluminum iMac at my work and it runs really well.

quote:

Originally posted by No Left Turn If you're going to spend that much on everything... you might as well invest another $200 and get the 24" iMac. You'll have a bigger drive, a bigger monitor, and a much faster processor for the same price. I run Logic 8 on an aluminum iMac at my work and it runs really well.

Agreed.

I just love the OSX, its so logical. I had imac 1,83GHz 4GB ram before and logic express. I dont know how it compare to mac mini but it worked ok, and you can always freeze tracks ( dont like this option though ) and bounce midi tracks to audio to save processing power. Now i have imac 2,4GHz ,4GB ram with logic studio and its still ok, i wish it was faster when working on projects that are near finnish. So i assume you can run logic with mac mini but it will get sticky with many tracks and plugins.

quote:

Originally posted by palm apple is retard.

I don't want to turn this into yet another Windows vs OS X thread, but this statement shows you've not really tried to adjust to its workflow from Windows. I had been a Windows user my whole life until October of last year, and since switching to OS X , I've notice just how arbitrary and idiotic many of Windows' functions are. Installing hardware, searching for files, window organization, sharing files, and networking functionality are just some of the areas I've experienced massive improvements in. Installing my audio interface to my Mac was as simple as plugging it in. Connection to my wireless network was as simple as typing in the encryption key. Finding files is a rapid process, and window management is clean, without the clutter of a task bar. I dunno man, just give it some time and stop looking at it as a different version of Windows. Should become very intuitive and reasonable.

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quote:

Originally posted by Numb you're just a little ignorant to the way it works. All in time. We are creatures of habit.

yeah i know i just needed to get it out beacuse it kills creativity thinking about issues like this. i want to make my own OS lol.
i could also make a long positive list but i dont see the point of that. now lets stick to the topic and discuss Logic 8 on Mac Mini, id love to hear some experience about it as im about to go that route myself.

Last edited by djpalm on Mar-08-2009 at 21:22

quote:

Originally posted by No Left Turn If you're going to spend that much on everything... you might as well invest another $200 and get the 24" iMac. You'll have a bigger drive, a bigger monitor, and a much faster processor for the same price. I run Logic 8 on an aluminum iMac at my work and it runs really well.

It's bigger price diff than that as the 24" mac has taken a price increase, starting at £1200, whereas the mac is around £820 inc a standalone 23" lcd. Although my GF has a imac and it really does seem great, just too much money as I need to inc Logic studio and a quality vsti.

The difficult decision is whether to go for 2 or 4gb ram as the mac mini cannot use user upgraded easily ha

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promo track: Mirco de Govia - Voller Sterne (Kuroi Remix)