Vortexbox on Mac as rip/streamer?

Posted by: T38.45 on 20 May 2012

Just upgraded my old Macmini w/ 1tb, does one know if it's possible to run Vortexbox on it?

Thanks 

 

Ralf

Posted on: 20 May 2012 by pcstockton

it sure is.  Tog?

Posted on: 20 May 2012 by Tog
Well, yes and no. There are some well known issues with the legacy bios used by Apple in connection with loading Linux onto the Mini. As a result it is a bit more of a hassle than loading it onto an old MacBook Pro or an IMac. The upshot is that if you do turn your MacMini into a Vortexbox server you will find it difficult to run it headless (ie it will need to be connected to a monitor or TV screen . There may also be issues with auto rebooting after a power failure. Anyone would think Apple don't want you to run Linux on their baby. Annoying given that the mini is a lovely bit of kit but to be honest limited in terms of storage. My TogServe 2 is a heavily modified ASUS that has run headless 24/7 for a year without blinking - not as beautiful but then nowhere near my Naim kit either. Tog PS my Mini does make a superb Plex video server though! Tog
Posted on: 20 May 2012 by T38.45

Tog, thank you!

I want an easy solution without command-lines and terminal,,,,seems Vortexbox on mac is not that easy,,,,

Posted on: 21 May 2012 by totemphile

Unless VB installs differently on a Mac than PC, it will completely erase the OSX and you'll end up with a Mac Mini casing running VB. Is that what you had in mind?

Posted on: 21 May 2012 by T38.45

no OSX would be ok, I'll use it only for that purpose

Posted on: 21 May 2012 by Guido Fawkes

I've not tried running VB on my Mac - I'm not sure if it would run under Parallels (never tried it), but VB likes its own machine - it is essentially a music NAS and it seems a little strange to run a NAS in an OS X window. 

 

Tog has already pointed out some issues ... Mac's are designed to work with their own OS and when so used they just work. I have run Amiga OS on a Mac in a Virtual PC window, but it was rather pointless and was just something I did for no sane reason - didn't work very well so I deleted it. 

 

Why did you want to convert your Mac Mini (great little machine) into a VB? 

Posted on: 21 May 2012 by T38.45

Hi Guido,

 

I like to have some Unitiserve or VB approach- put a CD in, ripped, tagged, streamed- done:-)

my Macmini is very old, so I thought to tweak it a bit...

Posted on: 21 May 2012 by Guido Fawkes

Hello Ralf

 

XLD can rip all your CDs and will tell you how well it has managed to do it. You won't find a ripper that is more accurate - it uses the same tech as the VB or its own engine. It is all menu driven. 

 

Unfortunately, there is no streamer (UPnP) built in to OS X, but you can connect through a hiFace or Halide Bridge to S/PDIF or you can install Playback to stream (I do not use this regularly, but when I tried it it worked very well) - james uses it and likes it. 

 

XLD is free and Playback is a try before you buy - so you could see if this does the trick. 


All the best, Guy 

Posted on: 21 May 2012 by Guido Fawkes

PS - Ignore the XLD site as this makes it look like lots of commands, the app is very friendly and has easy to use menus. 

Posted on: 21 May 2012 by T38.45

Thank you again Guido!

 

Cheers

Ralf

Posted on: 21 May 2012 by Gale 401

If you have a old windoz computer just clean it out and turn it into a Vortex box.

You wont be able to use it for anything else.

You can buy a new 1TB vortex box for a few hundred squid

Dont mess with your Mac its to good.

Stu.