Mac Mini For Recording Studio Gearslutz

Originally Posted by NoctemAudio Awesome! I actually just picked up an 840 Pro 512GB from Fry's because they price matched it with B&H and they wer.

Figured I'd post this in the Mac Mini forum too since it applies to both the mini and the iMAC. Can anyone confirmed they are successfully recording using USB 2.0 interfaces on the USB 3.0 ports under Mountain Lion or Mavericks? Something like a POD HD or a Scarlett 2i2? In researching whether to build a new PC or get a Mac, I came across reports of problems using USB 2.0 interfaces on USB 3.0 ports due to isochronous streaming. The Audio crackles or distorts or the USB 3.0 ports just stop working. Most problems are with Windows, but a couple did involve OS X. The fault is something related to Intel and the Ivy Bridge chipset controlling USB 3.0.

The reports tend to dry up around the beginning of 2003, so perhaps Microsoft and Apple fixed something. [[ The reports tend to dry up around the beginning of 2003, so perhaps Microsoft and Apple fixed something. ]] Well, that was 10 years ago.

If they haven't got it fixed by now, my guess is that it's not going to be 'fixed'. If you're hedging about whether to get a new Mini or not my advice would be: Get yourself a firewire-based interface instead. Firewire remains an excellent technology for audio recording, and I'll predict it will continue to be used for some years to come.

Actually, this forum isn't the best regarding answers and others' experiences with audio recording software and hardware. You should also check out gearslutz.com and perhaps the user forums for the products you currently use. Just wondering -- what is your DAW software preference right now? Click to expand.When I was last there, it was increasingly populated by bored Apple troll kiddies. Plenty of experienced people here too though, particularly in the digital audio section of MacRumors. My own experience with USB 3 audio is brief however, but USB 3 ports have given me no bother with my music gear.

That said, for audio interfaces, I tend to stick to firewire, which fortunately MacMini's are still equipped with. And even for macs that don't have firewire, the Thunderbolt-firewire adapter works perfectly well (i've tried that too). A number of audio interfaces happen to come with both USB and Firewire, which is a good thing. I like MOTU these days, but there are a multitude of other good interfaces to choose from also. [[ The reports tend to dry up around the beginning of 2003, so perhaps Microsoft and Apple fixed something. ]] Well, that was 10 years ago.

If they haven't got it fixed by now, my guess is that it's not going to be 'fixed'. If you're hedging about whether to get a new Mini or not my advice would be: Get yourself a firewire-based interface instead. Firewire remains an excellent technology for audio recording, and I'll predict it will continue to be used for some years to come. Actually, this forum isn't the best regarding answers and others' experiences with audio recording software and hardware. You should also check out gearslutz.com and perhaps the user forums for the products you currently use. Just wondering -- what is your DAW software preference right now? Click to expand.Yikes!

Sorry, I meant 2013, NOT 2003. I won't use Firewire, sorry. All my interfaces are USB. I universal capability. So that means USB.

I know I can get Firewire on a PC, but I'd have to add a card, which I can't do on a laptop, for example. Maybe once I know I'll stick with Apple (and Apple decides to stick with Firewire), but not now. I need to use what I have on hand. I have checked all those places. Again, all the complaints seem to stop towards the beginning of this year. I have found a few instances of people using USB interfaces on Macs, but no info given on what year those Macs were made or if they have USB 3.0. I probably do need to register and ask them directly, though.

My DAW is Reaper. If you are talking bat a 2 or 4 channel audio interface USB 2.0 is faster than you needs. Assume 96K samples per second at 24-bits. Call it 100K at 24 bits per sample.

So one channel is 2,400,000/second Four channels is 10 million bits per second. USB 2.0 is exactly 48 times faster then you need. OK, USB is not as fast as they say.

It can't really carry the full 480 Mbits/sec Say it can only do 1/4 of that. Even so it is still way faster then you need They say USB uses a bunch of CPU overhead. But you are hardly using any of it's available bandwidth the effect is minor. DIFFERENT story if you have a 16 or 24 channels audio interface but for 2 inputs just on't worry about it. Click to expand.Thanks for bumping this, i ran across this in my search for information. I am in the midst of transitioning from an outdated PC to a Mac Mini. Mac os app for rar file. I was doing the song/dance waiting for the rumored Mini refresh and decided not to wait anymore.