How best to integrate 2 Macs OS 9 / OS X

AudioIrony · Post by **AudioIrony** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 3:45 pm

This is probably a naive / ignorant and old question - but I have been frustrated by having to work on multiple computers - networked - to produce music because of the OS X thing.

I have a scope project (Pulsar II) card in my old G4 867 - running under os 9 and my main DAW is a dual 2.3 G5 running SX under OS X with a less-than-delightful Audiophile 192 card.

I've tried Steinberg's system link, I've tried VNC and thought about a KVM solution - but these are all annoying and disruptive to my workflow. Yes - just the thought of KVM is annoying

(I haven't tried it)

I'm just wondering if there are any other Mac-Heads out there who have worked out a way to integrate multiple Macs in a way that just works...

As an aside - I was dreaming of being able to make my G4 into a Scope powered pseudo Firewire Audio interface - the idea being that the G4 has the OS and hardware required to run Scope and the G5 has native firewire audio interface support.

I have also thought about just switching to PC (logical, easy) - but the idea gives me gastro (illogical, and smelly)

Anyway - any ideas on the subject.

AudioIrony · Post by **AudioIrony** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 6:12 am

No ideas at all then?

Post by **hubird** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 6:45 am

Working on 2 chained macs will always be a compromise i think, but i must admit I never tried, and I never took a close look at the alternative solutions.
I still have my older G4/733, maybe I should.
Sorry, can't be of any help I'm afraid

Janni · Post by **Janni** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:45 am

Just keep them "seperated"...
Get yourself an ADAT-Interface (RME) and use your scope-mac for mixing, summing, mastering, synths...

Cheers,
Jan

Post by **hubird** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 12:31 pm

One G4 MDD dual PLUS another not too silent mac makes really a starting jet in my room

But If I'd go for the double mac I would choose for Janni's option.

I found a fantastic solution for the fan noise problem of the G4 Dual MDD:
http://www.pcsilent.de/en_pdet_veraxm10m12.asp
not cheap, but the guy who gave me the tip runs a studio and said the mac is absolutely silent, the harddisk when at work makes more noise!

The set includes fans for the supply to exchange, there's a construction tutorial to dld.

cheers.

(dutch site: http://www.pcsilent.nl/nl/Apple_sets.14 ... 1.308.html ).

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 12:56 pm

use an USB switching device for mouse and keyboard (for table real estate), monitor toggling with a full KVM switch would be a pita for this application

I've checked the network options (mentioned in your post above) out of curiosity, even hoped it might be useful to integrate a couple of old Macs we have in the office...
No way - it REALLY s*cked

I have used Netopias's Timbuktu remote which works great for remote controlling ANY Mac under OS9 from a Windows machine - and vice versa.
I just googled that the product is still supported even on Intel Macs

I thought it was stopped, so thanks a million for your question - I'm about to download the demo and I'm 99% sure it will do the office job.
This is a VERY smart software, I've used it for years for the most exotic applications, like integrate an IBM AS400 logistic application that ran on a host several hundred miles away via ISDN into a Mac LAN.

My Scope machine (PIII Tualatin under Win98) isn't networked atm, but for THAT test I'll plugin a network card and will remote control it from a MacMini G4 and a MacMini CoreDuo.
The Minis are great on the table, as you can stack then as high as you like

I'll report back the results, sorry that I didn't check it earlier but I was absolutely convinced the product was dead.

Nevertheless the audio connection MUST be Adat, the remote control software deals only with the GUI.

cheers, Tom

AudioIrony · Post by **AudioIrony** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:16 pm

Great - thanks for all the options.
Yes - all the networking options do suck badly - unless you're running OSX on both machines - then things look exciting again. I have played with "Jack" and it's amazing. Alas - OSX to OSX/unix only solution.

I'd like to get the Quicksilver out of the immediate room as it is almost "jet-like" (compared to the G5s in here).
All the cooling options are for MD models. (man those things must REALLY be loud)

So... I'm looking at the ADAT interface solution.
Janni - which card should I be looking at?

_________________
---Anything Conjugate---

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: AudioIrony on 2006-08-25 15:16 ]</font>

Post by **hubird** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:11 pm

On 2006-08-25 15:16, AudioIrony wrote:
All the cooling options are for MD models. (man those things must REALLY be loud)

actually it's not that bad at all, only if the fans start to work at full power it's complete out of order.

In OS9 the fans suddenly start at full power every now and then, just to go back immediately to normal level.

But the Power Mac G4 Firmware update 4.4.8 takes care of the too fast fan cycli in Mac OS9!, as the readMe says in point one.
It works perfect now

AudioIrony · Post by **AudioIrony** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:24 pm

Boy do I feel like an idiot - or at least like Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ..
All I had to do is rub my "Ruby Red Toslinks" together and say.... there's no place like Home (Scope project) there's no place like home (scope Project)..
How the hell did I miss that?

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 4:56 pm

what else but the obvious should you miss anyway ?

I assume you'd better get a 2nd screen instead of a couple of licences for the Netopia product - more convenient, better looking and doesn't put an extra load on the machine(s)

cheers, Tom

AudioIrony · Post by **AudioIrony** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 5:42 pm

Thanks Tom...
Both my Macs are dual monitor setups here... so now I'm laughing.... laughing I tell you.... jumping and laughing.
"Swimming in the air backwards mad laughing"
The dog is scared, but I don't care because she doesn't come with Toslink