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Hi all
I use mac minis 1,1, C2D upgraded, 10.7.5, DP 7.24
Then I use Behringer X32Cores as interface, via firewire, 32in/32out.
When I attach an SSD on the firewire bus as project source, and play back, > audiodropouts for several seconds.
Out of curiosity I attached the SSD via USB ( sys profiler says highspeed USB ), and it seems to work...
I thought firewire is more reliable, but then it's probably only 1 bus, not ?
Or is 32i/32o to much on firewire 400 ?
Does anybody know how these minis are bus - wise inside ? Are USB buses seperated ?
Thanks for clearing up
Sorry to come back...
I'm sure this was discussed when the hardware wasn't as capable as now...
but I can't find it...
For optimum performance,
- the recording disk should be on a different bus than the interface...
( be it firewire or usb )
- for even better performance, the recording disk should be another one / another bus than the playback disk / bus.
I ask because I still use Mac Minis 1,1 with old bus speeds - although C2D upgraded -
and prepare to record / overdub 32/32 tracks @ 24/44
Thanks a lot for hints or links
best
Hello,
It all comes down to FSB bandwidth allocation. With no direct pipeline to PCIe via slots or thunderbolt it is very limiting. A solution would be to loose the internal optical drive in favor of a second SATA SSD to free up the FW for the interface. Record to the internal drive and backup to the USB ext drive. Then add an external USB optical drive if needed.
Check out OWC's solution to adding a second internal drive. http://eshop.macsales.com/Search/Search ... ta+doubler
Thanks a lot Don
Sounds plausible
But of course I would like to find a solution without having to open and upgrade...
May 32 ch record and 32 ch play /overdub @ 24/44 is to much for a 667MHz FSB, ?, when having a lot of ethernet data going on ( that's what the remote software of the X32 mixer is using )
Maybe 32 rec and 8 play / overdub is in order ?
What I don't get is that FW 400 seems to be worse than USB2
Thanks
On the Mini 1,1 USB is theoretically faster than FW400, so it could be as simple as that, although practically, I got more out of FW than USB on my older Macs. You could try running something like BlackMagic Speed test to see how fast each connection is.
Something to remember is neither USB or FW is a full duplex connection. Most manufacturers capped FW 400 at 24 channels. FW 400 cannot handle the HD and the interface. That is asking it to handle 4 times the data in both directions. Although calculating it, 24/44.1 x 32 ch is only 4.23 MB / sec in each direction. Of course the data has to be re buffered cuz everything is working with different packet sizes.
When tracking monitor a 2 track mix out of DP rather than sending individual tracks back out to the mixer. No matter what you have to work with less band width.
As for USB vs FW - USB is 420 Mb/sec, FW 400 is 400 Mb/ sec. They could be on different FSB?
A 2006 Mini 1.1 has an EIDE/PATA optical drive, not SATA. If you were to replace it with a hard drive or SSD, check out what's available first. OWC lists nothing for that.
I'm not saying it can't be done, having replaced a number of optical drives in G4 Minis offer the years but I would be opening it up, checking out the wiring and available space before starting. It's not a clean install, in any case and probably involves double-stick Velcro squares and a PATA laptop drive.
External optical drives are dirt cheap and much faster and more versatile than the internal. USB, not FW for an Intel Mac.
The problem with all of this is that a 1.1 or 2.1 Mini is an old, outdated Mac. The simplest upgrades will cost more that the Mini is worth.
The 2012 i7 Quad is still the best Mini ever made and will give the best performance for DP. Problem is that this is well known so used prices are still pretty high. The 2011 is nearly as good but easier on the wallet. A 2009-2010 Core2 Duo will still run circles over the earlier versions. All four are upgradable and can take two internal drives (a Data Doubler is not necessary on the Server versions as they come stock with two HDs).
DP 11.31; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1 2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sonoma 14.4.1, USB4 8TB external, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3 6/10/12; 2012 MBPs Catalina, Mojave IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5.2, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 Pro, Toast 20 Pro
Thank you guys for chiming in !
I just made some tests with AJA SystemTest with different interfaces on same / different buses
....I'll post the links in a few mins
As for using my minis 1,1 / C2D upgraded, I have 2 SSD 128GB EVO anyway in a LMP case and this should work...without additional cost
