Ableton Forum

Hi.
i need to find a very small computer for an art installation.
It has to run Live+M4L and a DIY Midibox controller (USB). Basically a live set with 3 tracks, about 600 clips in total, not so many samples to load (less than 200 MB i guess) and a few instances of operator. 'Light' M4L patch (no MSP involved).
I'd like to use the built-in output because i'm not sure i have the budget for a soundcard, neither the room to fit in into the structure.
Any idea, except for the mac mini ?
Thanks !

How about one of the Zotac ZBOX range?

http://www.zotac.com/products/mini-pcs/ ... i-pcs.html

Not used them before but they sure do look small in size!

you will need to built it, there are many options in Mini cases, go to a store and look for some. You will need a mini ITX Motherboard and it can probably use an i3 procesor wich is snough for your needs.

The Live 9 Suite (Upgrade) installer comes with a core library, but to complete your library you'll need to choose the sounds and devices you want to install.

booster69 wrote:How about one of the Zotac ZBOX range?

http://www.zotac.com/products/mini-pcs/ ... i-pcs.html

Not used them before but they sure do look small in size!

Nahh seems like the ZBOX range uses Atom CPU's! Absolutely terrible performance!

The Mac Mini at least has decent specs, like a Core i5 or Core i7 CPU. Much better.

Guillermo Barrancos wrote: Nahh seems like the ZBOX range uses Atom CPU's! Absolutely terrible performance!

True, but the original post states that Live only needs to run 3 tracks. If the ZBOX could provide enough power to do this it would be a big saving, compared to the price of a Mac Mini?

booster69 wrote:

Guillermo Barrancos wrote: Nahh seems like the ZBOX range uses Atom CPU's! Absolutely terrible performance!

True, but the original post states that Live only needs to run 3 tracks. If the ZBOX could provide enough power to do this it would be a big saving, compared to the price of a Mac Mini?

I really don't know. Seeing that the so called top model of the Z-Box range, the CPU is only clocked at 1,1 GHz. That's even lower than nowadays Smartphones, which run at average of 1,5 GHz these days.

I think you Place these Z-boxes somewhere in the range of today's Midrange Smartphones.

Guillermo Barrancos wrote: I think you Place these Z-boxes somewhere in the range of today's Midrange Smartphones.

Hmm, i was looking at this one:-

http://www.zotac.com/products/mini-pcs/ ... tions.html

Which uses an i3 2330M and can take up to 16Gb of RAM.

booster69 wrote:

Guillermo Barrancos wrote: I think you Place these Z-boxes somewhere in the range of today's Midrange Smartphones.

Hmm, i was looking at this one:-

http://www.zotac.com/products/mini-pcs/ ... tions.html

Which uses an i3 2330M and can take up to 16Gb of RAM.

Yes that one seems actually quite ok! Depending what it's priced at.

As the $599 Mac Mini has the following specs:
2.5GHz Mac mini
2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
4GB memory
500GB hard drive1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
OS X Mountain Lion

They also have an i3 3120M:-

http://www.zotac.com/products/mini-pcs/ ... tions.html

In the UK the price is around £300 for the ID83 system, which comes with an i3 3120M, however I have a feeling this is a "barebones" system so more money would need to be spent on memory, HDD etc.....

booster69 wrote:In the UK the price is around £300 for the ID83 system, which comes with an i3 3120M, however I have a feeling this is a "barebones" system so more money would need to be spent on memory, HDD etc.....

Exactly, so then the Mac Mini becomes actually a better option really, with a Core i5, 4GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4000 (instead of the old 3000 series on the Z-Box which has awful drivers) and 500GB HD.

dunno if you already have drives, memory, etc. but if you do, maybe something like this is an option:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6856102002
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2413649,00.asp

(disclaimer: i work for intel, though not anywhere close to that department... i have never even seen one in person).

it's basically a kit, so in the end you're still in the $500-600 range, plus it doesn't come with an OS.
so at that point, you're probably better off with a mac mini, with an i5, no assembly, and an OS.

for the small amount of processing you're talking about though, an older mac mini might even be a good choice.
like this one (in the US, have to look in your own geo): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Mac-mini- ... 5aeebc4af1 which is a core 2 duo based one, and is ~$200 or so.

theophilus wrote:dunno if you already have drives, memory, etc. but if you do, maybe something like this is an option:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6856102002
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2413649,00.asp

(disclaimer: i work for intel, though not anywhere close to that department... i have never even seen one in person).

it's basically a kit, so in the end you're still in the $500-600 range, plus it doesn't come with an OS.
so at that point, you're probably better off with a mac mini, with an i5, no assembly, and an OS.

for the small amount of processing you're talking about though, an older mac mini might even be a good choice.
like this one (in the US, have to look in your own geo): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Mac-mini- ... 5aeebc4af1 which is a core 2 duo based one, and is ~$200 or so.

If the OP can afford the New Mac Mini entry model, I highly recommend that tho.

Now he might only use it for light Processing work, but if he wants to do more serious work in the near future, he won't have to fork out more cash again for a New PC.

The New Mac Mini is a solid machine With good specs and it can run both Mac OSX as Windows 8 easily in dualboot!

I am actually considering a Mac Mini myself later this year, as I already have a very Nice Fijitsu 27inch IPS panel. Working on a Laptop now, so it's a shame that Panel is dusting away in our bedroom.

From a personal standpoint I also run Live on a Mac Mini - however the OP is asking for ideas on systems other than a Mac Mini.