blymd

Not sure about Heroku, Render, and Vercel, but Fly.io doesn't resell AWS/GCP.

Nope, still alive and kicking. Still no proof they're doing something illegal. If there was proof, it wouldn't exist anymore.

Can you provide some evidence of regulated exchanges partaking in wash trading? Would be very curious to see.

None in the form factor/price range we need. Mac mini is unique.

Yeah, it'll be a while before VSTs get caught up. I did some testing with MainStage concerts using Apple's built-in stuff and my wife's M1 MacBook Air performed just as well if not better than my $4000 MacBook Pro. This is why I'm so excited for Apple Silicon computers for this sort of work.

An ad? For what? Don't think too much. It's pretty easy to understand.

1. We use Macs because we need MainStage for these shows. 2. Mac mini fits the form factor. 3. Faster Mac mini means we can do cooler stuff.

Easy.

MainStage doesn't run on Windows, and it's the software all the shows use. Even shows that use Ableton Live for playback sometimes use MainStage as a frontend software controller hooked up via IAC.

Form factor is most important. After that, price. Then third is probably the cooling situation, though we can install some extra fans if needed. Better I/O doesn't really matter here as we only need 2-3 USB ports, Ethernet, and display.

Thanks. I didn't originally write it as something to be shared, but I guess I should from now on. I definitely have a lot more thoughts about it, so might do a follow up in the future. Regarding union rules, synthesizes are fine but there are some "house minimum" requirements so usually there are 2-3 keyboardists and then other acoustic musicians as well.

Actually RAM is not the issue. Most samplers only load the attack portion of samples into RAM anyway. SSDs are so fast now, we can stream the rest without issue. The problem has always been CPU-related as we have to set a low buffer size to minimize latency. The previous Mac minis we've worked with struggled with some of the more high-CPU plugins (VSTs as well as FX), so we had to compromise in many cases. I did some testing with an M1 MacBook Air, and it blew the old Mac minis away in terms of performance and stability. Very much looking forward to see how the M1 will be used in these live production situations.

I don't understand how it's self-defeating. I literally work in the industry and shared my thoughts about how Apple Silicon is going to benefit the work I do. You can keep talking about Linux, but at the end of the day Linux doesn't have anything we need for the job...

There's zero upside to messing around with Linux. Software is one of the biggest issues.

Don't be ridiculous. The designers at the highest level of entertainment are extremely technical.

Designing music systems for Broadway isn't only about playing back orchestral libraries. We have to factor in acceptable latency for the player, as well as balance DSP effects as needed for each show. I promise you have no idea what goes into it unless you happen to be one of the five or so people that do this sort of stuff in NYC.

Thank you, I'm not sure why some people find the need to be hostile. It was basically some personal thoughts that I decided to share online. Didn't feel like writing 3,000 words on it and definitely never expected to see it shared on HN. Anyway, the post is completely accurate (whether people believe it or not) as I work in the industry.

This is a great point. Heat is always an issue since our Mac minis are always racked up. Depending on the theatre location, it can get quite hot in the pit. We’ve had some computers die in the past from suspected heat issues, so the relative coolness of the M1 Macs is a welcome improvement.

Software we use is only available for macOS. Also, Mac mini availability across the world is important. Lastly Mac mini form factor is perfect for the use case.

Yup. Form factor plays a huge role. All our machines are racked and space is precious. Being able to fit two Mac minis in a 1U rack space is great.

Yeah, this is the main reason. We use MainStage for all shows. Also, Mac minis are quickly replaceable. If we’re in a city and a computer breaks, we can grab a new computer from the Apple Store right away.

Yes, this is a major reason.

Author here. Most Broadway shows have live keyboard players. There are a variety of things that can go wrong during a live show, and a live band is extremely useful in those situations. Some shows do have tracks for certain sections of the show, but most of it is played live with VSTs.

Thanks for reading!