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  4. MIR Pro and the mid-2011 Mac Mini Server

  • MIR Pro and the mid-2011 Mac Mini Server

    P
    P

    I cannot be the first to wonder how far the new Mac-ready MIR Pro can get on a mid-2011 Mac Mini server (Model Identifier 5,3). This Mac Mini fulfills VSL's system requirement of a four-core Intel i7. It does NOT fulfill the system requirement for 12 GB (mine is maxed out at 8 GB.)

    Has anyone tested these waters?

    Another curiousity: OWC (Other World Computing) has a 16 GB kit for this Mac Mini server (currently $275.99). (Also, there is a 12 GB kit, 8x1 and 4x1.) Both kits boldly disregard Apple's defined memory limit for the server. 

    So how vital is the 12 GB system requirement? Is this a "Can't do anything with less than 12GB" issue, or a "you'll get a few instruments probaby and then run out of power with 8 GB" issue? 

    I plan to test the demos soon.  
  • DietzD
    VSL Team
    DietzD

    Our software engineers should chime in here. Amongst other systems, they all use new MacMini servers for their work, too. I don't know by heart how much RAM their machines offer.

    That said, 12 GB is a realistic minimum requirement for any serious work, especially when you plan to use a DAW on the same machine. But that's more related to sample-based instruments in general, not so much to MIR itself. You can get pretty far with clever use of VSL's RAM Optimize feature, but that might not be the most convenient solution. The use of SSD drives seems to be the most up-to-date enhancement for these machines, because you can reduce the preload buffers to a mere minimum then.

    HTH,

    /Dietz - Vienna Symphonic Library
  • D
    D

    I am also interested in this configuration for use with MIR (although my needs will never go above that supported Mir Pro 24).  I'm waiting for the next speed bump which should take it to quad core 2.5GHz fairly soon based on Intel's roadmap.  

    It's fairly common for Apple to spec maximum memory lower than what actually works.  I believe 16GB has been tested by several memory providers and works fine.
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    it is not the DAW that it is using memory, it's VSL !

    It will depends how you want to work

    If you want a big orchestral template 12 gb will be very short

    If you write a track you freeze it  and so on it should be ok

    Having some clicks with my BIG VE, I was wondering to go from 24 GB to 32 GB
  • P
    P

    Thanks all. 

    I've gotten much farther than I anticipated, driving four winds and three brass plus harp on my Mac Mini with very little break-up. (Yes, the DAW is on a Mac Pro.) At this point my CPU still has good headroom. Yeah, the RAM maxes out, but when I imagine reducing sample loads to one-tenth of the current footprint via SSD's, I see that the Mac Mini Server is capable of a great deal of work. 

    This software is exceptional. 
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    If you are thinking of Macmini and MIR PRO , you need to buy one licence of MIR per Mac mini !!
  • P
    P

    Thanks. I had assumed like VE PRO that it would be available on three computers. I'll keep working with VE PRO Audio Input and see how far I get. It sure would be convenient to have MIR on both.
  • B
    B

    I am planning to retire 2 old PC's (VE slaves with VSL libs on one, EW libs on the other). Host DAW is 2011 iMac which will also be retired. 

    My plan is to run 2 new Mac mini i7's w 32gb ram, 1 tb fusion drives. 2 monitors on the DAW (Logic 9), 1 monitor on the slave.

    The plan is to have just the 2 mini's and the specs for the new i7 quad look very promising.

    Is there any indication that this will not be sufficient? 1 mini for DAW, 1 for all VE Pro hosted instruments?

    ------

    Film Scoring Studio, The Butler School of Music, The University of Texas at Austin
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    You need to buy a MIR license PER CPU.

    The solutions are :

    - you put MIR on the slave and route the audio from MIR to the main !

    - You get 2 x licences of MIR

    or 

    ........
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    You better go for SSD instead of HD

    You do not need a monitor on the slave, you use VNC on the main  to access the slave

    Will it be sufficient, this is the big question, il will depends how large is your orchestral template and how complicated is your music

    I have heard that soon you could agreagate two Mac using Thunderbolt

    Dont forget is that the power is needed on the computers that are running the players, Logic is not that much gready !

    What I will do, is to buy one Mac mini and to put your VSL template and to use your Imac for Logic and see how it is going.

    If you buy it from Apple store, you have 7 days to return it if it does not work as you expect
  • cmC
    VSL Team
    cmC
    last edited
    last edited

    @Cyril said:

    You need to buy a MIR license PER CPU.

    nonsense - you need one MIR license per computer - doesn't matter how many CPUs it has.

    and remember: only a CRAY can run an endless loop in just three seconds.
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    Sorry for the misandurstanding, a CPU has cores  !

    So it is a license per computer !

    I did not bought 12 licenses for my 12 core computer !