Hi David, I believe the mac mini (or other mac) only has one audio input (unless you buy specialist add-on audio gear) also a 78/45/33 turntable will need an equalising pre-amp (unless you get one of the new usb ones - not sure if they do 78!) - so you are not going to be able to just plug all that gear directly into the mac.
I would have thought the best way to integrate this stuff with a mac system is to first have an audio system that combines all the audio sources - a central amp or receiver that all the other gear connects to - then I would connect the tape monitor output from the audio system to your computer input - that way you choose the audio source for the computer at the main amp. The sound output of the mac then needs to be directed to your actual playing amp/speakers - either directly or wirelessly via airtunes. First-off though, you really need to think why you want to include the mac in the loop - typically that would be to record/convert your analogue audio (radio/tape/turntable) to digital - or to rip your CDs to AAC or mp3 (since you say home audio, I'm leaving TV out of the picture). Once you have your music on the computer then, as you say, you can set-up various playlists. You also get the ability to stream audio wirelessly to, say, an airport express - though if that's all you want to do there are also other solutions you could look at. I would say that the first thing to do is work out exactly what you need to do: - Decide which of your music you want to have accessible on/through the computer (eg do you expect to just listen to the radio live - or do you also want to record that - etc) - List all your listening spaces and decide what sort of speakers you want and what sort of amp you need to drive them. - List all your music sources and where, physically you want to have/use them. - Decide where you want your computer to live. Then look at the practicalities of running wiring (audio/speakers) between rooms vs wirelessly streaming (many people find they use a combination - direct wiring for short runs, wireless where wiring would be problematic) Once you are clear exactly what you are trying to achieve, it will be easier to look at the alternative approaches/systems/components. Just my 2c worth. Cheers Neil -- Neil R. Houghton Albany, Western Australia Tel: +61 8 9841 6063 Email: [email protected] on 11/8/10 10:24 AM, David Noel at [email protected] wrote: > > Hi All -- > > -- I've been thinking of setting up a new home audio system, and would > welcome suggestions of how to do this. I had in mind something like a > Mac Mini (hence why I've latched on to this thread), with inputs (as > needed) from a CD player, radio tuner, tape recorder, 78/45/33 > turntable etc, maybe also playlists on a HD. > > -- For output, I was wondering if it would be feasible to have > wireless-linked (but mains-powered) speakers, at a reasonable cost. > With such a setup, it should be possible to choose any audio source > and have playback from portable speakers anywhere in the house or > garden. > > -- Would a Mac Mini (or laptop) centre be overkill in this situation, > could I do just as well with a system of switches? Any ideas > appreciated. > > Cheers -- > > David Noel > 2010 Aug 11 > > === > > On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 10:16 PM, Daniel Kerr <[email protected]> > wrote: >> >> On 10/8/10 10:05 PM, "thefrogs" <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> >>> This may be off our usual topic but? >>> >>> At home I have my mac set up with elgato eyeTV and it is brilliant. But our >>> DVD player in the lounge is getting old. We use it to play DVD and recordTV, >>> however it does not record HDTV and it sometimes fails on other region DVDs. >>> Has anyone brought or have an idea about playing and recording in a normal >>> lounge situation? >>> tom samson >>> >> >> Hi Tom >> >> Not sure if you're referring to a similar Mac set up, or something else. >> >> But this was a post I sent through to a query Rod asked back about >> 15/06/2010 covering using a Macmini for a TV/DVD/recording setup. >> >> I just set one up for a client last Friday also and they work very well. >> (And the new Macmini's are fantastic! Especially when set with a wireless >> keyboard and new Magic Trackpad.) >> >> Here is a copy of the post, so hope it's sort of what you mean,... >> Kind Regards >> Daniel >> >> ------ Forwarded Message >> From: Daniel Kerr <[email protected]> >> Reply-To: WAMUG Mailing List <[email protected]> >> Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:05:52 +0800 >> To: WAMUG <[email protected]> >> Conversation: apple store is down internationally as well as here in >> Australia >> Subject: Re: apple store is down internationally as well as here in >> Australia >> >> >> Hi Rod >> >> Not that I pertain to be an expert on it all, but I did set up Ronni's >> MacMini and TV, and have done the same for many clients. >> >> Basically, the MacMini becomes the sort of "do everything" system. >> With the eyeTV range which runs off USB you can then bring in your TV >> signal. Depending on the eyeTV you choose you can get Analog and Digital >> signals, and some even allow analogue from other devices (eg VCR or older >> style movie cameras). >> With eyeTV you can watch live TV, do "Time Shifting" which pauses live TV >> until you come back and carry on from where you left of, or you can set it >> up to record TV (and even have it repeat recording). These recordings are >> saved to Hard Drive, where you can then watch them later and very easily >> edit (with the eyeTV software) and burn it to disk (DVD) with Toast. Or >> delete it once you don't need it. >> They are very small and excellent units (and many on the list can contest >> to). >> >> The great thing with the MacMini is it's small, low power and very >> convenient. >> Once you consider it also has wireless, then you've got full access to the >> internet (For a tv guide or some quick browsing). With iTunes >> streaming/sharing you've got access to File Sharing out of iTunes, so you >> can access all your music as well and listen to it via TV/Stereo (depending >> on how you have it all setup). >> Also with other programs like VLC, Real Player, iView (ABC etc) and other >> streaming internet sites you then get access to a lot more content (which >> you may have or own already), as well all so much other info that is out >> there. (YouTube etc). >> Run out of room or want to store more?? No problem. Plug in a Firewire Hard >> Drive and you've got access to a whole lot more storage at fairly reasonable >> pricing. >> Of course the MacMini also has DVD, so you can also watch your DVD's as >> well. (And VLC will handle DVD's that aren't Region Code4) >> >> So all in one you've then got your TV, DVD player, Internet Access, Music >> "Access/storage". >> >> Oh, and I forgot iPhoto has picture sharing as well....so you can then >> access all your computers is the house and share photos as well. All >> displayed on your nice big LCD or Plasma TV. (Or 3D TV??) :o) >> >> I can't say I've ever tried to play games on them,..but hey, if you're that >> way inclined you can do that as well I'm sure. (Sim3 on TV????) :) >> >> Hopefully that gives you an idea of how the set up works. Of course, as it's >> "just a standard computer", you can use it do all that and anything else >> you'd normally do as well. >> >> All it requires (especially with these new ones), is the MacMini and an HDMI >> cable (if your TV has HDMI). Add on a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse >> (and Apple remote if you want) and you can sit on the couch and still use >> all the features. >> Blow up the resolution and have large icons. Set the Dock to only the major >> applications you want to use (and large dock size). Set up a couple of >> others things for ease of use,...and you're in business. >> It's actually a great little entertainment unit. >> >> As mentioned I've set quite a few of these up for many clients. I just >> sourced the hardware for them, and had it set up reasonably quickly. A quick >> demo of all the features and away you go. >> >> I have one client that has the MacMini set up with a small LCD screen (about >> 24" I think) and it sits on a "wheelie table". They can just wheel it from >> room to room for ever want to use it. It's then their "Spare" entertainment >> centre. People stay over,..wheel it to the "spare room" and the quests have >> their own TV, DVD player and internet access to use. :o) >> Quite cool really. >> >> I had the same set up here until recently. (Only cause I needed to offload >> the MacMini for another project). But with the new MacMini, I'll be ordering >> a new one soon(ish) and set it up again. They work really well. >> >> >> Hope that info helps a little and isn't too confusing. >> (I have a bad habit of just writing the emails and not doubling checking it >> as working through more by the time I've finished one email) :o) >> >> (Edit: Perhaps I should do another WAMUG demo at some stage on the eyeTV >> units if enough people were interested???.) >> >> Kind Regards >> Daniel >> ------ End Forwarded Message >> >> --- >> Daniel Kerr >> MacWizardry >> >> Phone: 0414 795 960 >> Email: <daniel @ macwizardry . com . au> >> Web: <http://www.macwizardry.com.au> >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Unsubscribe - <mailto:[email protected]>
