infectiousbeat wrote:. . . Now, to actually host soft samplers/synths on one machine and have it talk to another, what is required? I have two Imacs at my disposal - a 2.33 gHz and a 1.8 gHz. The 2.33 has 3 gigs of ram and the 1.8 has 4 gigs. Right now the 1.8 is running DP 7.24 and Kontakt. Which machine should do what, and how do I connect them? I do have a USB MOTU Timepiece AV along with an M-Audio Profire Lightbridge as a firewire interface. Possible?
Many thanks,
Infectious
Here's another option to consider that worked well for me in the past. It seems like you have the basic gear available to you. Consider using MidiOverLan Cross Platform 3 (MOLCP 3) to communicate MIDI information to get things "singing". MOLCP3 works via the ethernet. This accomplishes the MIDI end of things. For the audio, simple connect the "outs" of one audio device (connected to your "slave" computer) into the "ins" of the other audio device (connected to your "master" computer) via the lightbridge (ADAT light channels, or whatever they're called now).
A similar set up worked like a charm for me. I had an old (and now dead) Dell Precision Workstation as one "slave" computer, a new (at the time) MBP computer as another "slave" computer and a MacPro as the "Master" computer. Each had its own MOTU audio device with ADAT light ports (in & out). All MIDI communication worked via the MOLCP3 program, via the ethernet ports of each computer. (MOLCP3 works on both Apple and PC computers.) There was negligible latency. Current versions of MOLCP3 seem quite stable, although it's a minor challenge configuring this program when first running it.
Personally, I'm trying to get away from the "Master/Slave" computer set-up. It's just part of my overall effort of simplifying my life. Besides, newer computers are quite powerful, now-a-days. Still, those aging computers are worth keeping. They can serve to function wonderfully as "archiving machines" as well as "slave" computers for MIDI sequencing/recording of larger orchestration projects. MOLCP3 can certainly help with this.
Finally. . . as others have pointed out. . . the more RAM, the better. I've had GREAT success in ordering products from "Other World Computers" (
http://www.macsales.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) They seem to have all sorts of RAM for new and old iMacs:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/iMac
Good luck with your decision. . .
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