Mac mini for Tractor Scratch Pro using vinyl?
I’m looking to replace my 5yr old Dell Inspiron 1525 dual core with something more able (latency problems etc)
Anyone have any experience with a new mac mini? Seems like the best option for under £600.
I guess I have some concerns due to the outlay and also about overheating but can’t seem to find many answers on here…
Great little machines and won’t overheat or anything, but you would need to use an external screen/keyboard etc which isn’t ideal if you are going to play out :-S
You should be able to pick up last years white macbook unibody (core2duo) for around that kinda money which would be a better bet IMHO (assuming your in the UK with the £ and all)
Not really using it for playing out and was thinking of buying a 22" touch screen LCD anyway. Just want something really solid and not too expensive or having to worry about performance and compatibility, which I think I am more worried about if looking for a comparable new laptop.
I’m using a current gen mac mini with 8gig of ram. It’s flawless. I don’t play out anymore so portability is not a issue.
Using timecode via a Denon dnx1600 and Xone 2d.
Is there really such a big difference using a mac instead of a PC?
Yes
[/end threat of possible OS battle]
For me the answer is yes. I was using a dual core amd proc, 4 gig mem running XP at first but then installing Win7. I had to increase the latency and would still get pops. I had followed all the guides about tuning. I’m no dummy when it comes to machines as I’ve been running a ISP for the last 11 years. My Mac mini was a Xmas gift from my Boss. Not had a single issue with pops or clicks and the latency is low again.
Ok, thanks for the answer.
@deevey: Didnt want to start any battle…
Mac mini it is then (or a refurbed iMac)
I do like the flexibility of choosing your own screen spec with the mini (touch screen would be cool for Traktor!)
Yes. MUCH LESS overhead hit on processing and memory with the Mac. MUCH LESS likelihood of a memory leak causing a tremendous hit to performance. VERY LITTLE chance of the OS crapping out on you. So all in all, very big difference between a Mac and a PC (I run both, my Mac is a Core2Duo whilst my PC is an i7).
They don’t work that well for Traktor … latency on regular touch screens tends to be on the high side and the Traktor screen controls don’t really lend themselves to touch apart from some of the bigger buttons.
Regular resistive touch screens only allow for one finger input so unless you plan on shelling out for a really expensive screen or unless of course you are planning on touch OSC or Lemur for the iPad as a midi interface you’re probably better off with a Nanokontrol for $50?
If it was that cool and worked well everyone would be doing it round here 
@slainbybeats
Sorry mate, just seems every “is it better” or “should I get” ends up in a 30 page Mac vs PC Flame war. Theres more than a few of em you can search for
I agree with this. I was looking at getting an Ipad for backup and ended up buying a Dell All-in-One touch screen beacause it was the same price as an Ipad, 23" screen, and thinking that it would be cool to use on Traktor. The reality is that unless you decrease the resolution to make the button bigger it just doesn’t work well. I also tried to get Emulator but that doesn’t work either because Emulator only runs on a certain resolution that I don’t have and its way too much trouble to try to get it. So now it looks pretty cool having a 23" screen and now my laptop is my back up.
I have also considered buying a mac mini that I could hook up to the 23" screen but honestly I haven’t had any problems with the Dell to really warrant the purchase.
Yep their is. People say theirs not but their is. I know from personal experience. They are not however crash proof every machine can crash just my mac never has.
*Bows out of thread before heated debate begins
oops
if you sell your inspiron, let me know. I have a 2.4ghz socket a laying around that id like to put in it.
Brought a quad core i7 macmini a year ago, love it! I run Traktor scratch with the latency setting at 128, using rmx decks, fx and DVS while also running Maschine at 94 latency. Even with both program’s being used and worked hard at the same time the Mini hasn’t put a foot wrong once. Of course you loose the flexibility of a laptop but that’s obvious…it’s not a laptop.
I wanted a powerful computer so I went for a mini as a equivalent spec MacBook Pro would of cost twice as much. Its not ideal for gigs but my tired old 2008 white MacBook comes of the subs bench for that which is pretty much all I use my old MacBook for.
Despite it being a desktop computer it’s obviously incredibly portable. The mini, keyboard, trackpad and power lead get chucked in a bag and go from home to girlfriends house to the studio. In the studio I have a scratch orientated dj setup with a 10inch touch screen monitor sitting flush in front of my mixer. Then when I want it to be usual computer I’ve got a desk and monitor setup ready for that at home.
Also unless you really don’t need the extra power I’d highly recommend stretching to a quadcore. If your spending 600 an extra 70quid gets a quadcore mini, with the extra grunt it’ll be a year or two more future proof.
Just an idea
Get a Mac Mini, iPad and Audio 6/10 and create a script so that the Mac Mini, once it’s turned on, starts Traktor Pro and creates a wireless network and is set up Screen Share or whatever it’s called in English and use the iPad via VNC to control Traktor.