Pursuit of DAWless: hidden Mac Mini M1 with Control mk3

Kuttor · 2024-05-26T17:26:26+00:00

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Hey @D-One ceated this discussion from the previous one we were chatting on about the Kontrol mk2 with M+DAWless.

So with my large setup I am wondering if I put an Mac Mini M1 in the rack. No monitor, keyboard, or mouse. However. Have it bluetoothed and or connected via a cat5e to be able to address issues that need a monitor and mouse/keyboard via remote.desktop.

I am a DevOps engineer and a linux/Unix based software developer so this wouldn't be hard for me to setup. Albeit I would rather do it with Linux than MacOs just for the freedom to modify the OS for this one task.

My thinking is to strip the OS as much as possible. Use Amphetime to ensure that it stays awake and start Kontrol on startup. The Bootuo should feel like it's just the program booting. Not the OS then program. (Goal)

The Mac iwould actually be hidden in my large pedal board which also has all the power to all my devices… synths, groove boxes, etc. MPCs, Maschine, which the Kontrol Keyboard would be connected via USB midi via a discrete dock that I would hide in one of my stands.

The Mac mini M1 has no fan. And for the most part wouldn't be being pushed all to much except for the Kontrol Keyboard.

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D-One

AFAIK All Mac Minis do have a fan, they run super slow even when under heavy load so make sure to account for that and dont choke the bottom and back (intake and out.)

Linux is not an option, none of NI's HW/SW works on it, there's some 3rd party driver solutions but only for basic MIDI stuff AKA no full KK/Mas SW.

For always on you can just turn off auto sleep completely, Amphetime and such apps are more of a temporary solution for laptop users to be able to close the lid without changing OS prefs.

If you're a dev finding solutions to work without peripherals should be easy for the most part, there's scripts on github to for example launch Maschine/KK based on USB's with especific ID's being connected, since it can continuously check it would also relaunch the SW in case of crash or something.

I think the main issue would be SW related stuff that requires user interaction, Bome Midi Translator has some nice features like auto clicking things on screen based on a small reference image, you can use a piece of a screenshot and tell it: Click there when X MIDI data is received. Apple Script Automator could also be useful and it's easy to program but it can't detect GUi elements because NI's SW does not conform to MacOS norms.

As for remote desktop, what are you planning to use to access the Mac? Depending on what you want to do maybe an iPad with airplay could more practical as it not only gives you access for keyboard/mouse/screen but could also host MIDI or audio apps.

D-One

Oh, i just saw your other thread on the Maschine forum.

May I ask, what is the purpose of the Mac Mini on your setup? If you want to be dawless I figure you just use the Maschine+ standalone and the KK keyboard connected to it. Unless you want a higher quality/quantity of instruments?

Kuttor

True. My GitHub is GitHub.com/Kuttor

Anyways I am gonna see what other people have made. Create some forms and then add my development to the mix.

Apple Remote desktop is really just a emergency connection to fix on the fly. For the most part I would want to tailor MacOs so it works like a direct POS system or something. Where you don't really see or notice the OS at all. There should be a gui type wrapper or some for them.

I wish Kontrol was IOS based with the new silicon iPad Pros. In theory it could work with the architecture if they so choose.

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