M+ computer internals + info

@D-One the exposed small copper circular pads with the white stenciling around them is for test probes. If you look close you can see some of them are marked 3V3 which is 3.3V logic level.

Usually for testing, there's what's called a bed a nails. so a bunch of spring loaded pins come down and measure all the voltages.

@reffahcs explained:

😱😵‍💫

And I thought 4 would be already stretching it! I‘m so stuck in the 90s! 😂

I did a quick google search and the Raspberry Pi 4 supposedly has 6 layers, according to some posts in the RPi forum.

I'm not super versed on PCB layout, but I think that smaller boards would require more layers to route all the pins of the main processor. I suppose it depends upon a lot of things though like number of pads, the pitch of the pads on the processor etc... Crazy stuff. I was reading about RF circuit design and at higher frequencies even the surface roughness of the trace can impact a design. It's really wild stuff.

No!!!!! Fiddling with big.little nightmare on top of the rest.... Does not seem good idea.

Absolutely, it's a lot less effort to take existing code and see what runs on a lower-end processor than use a completely new architecture and port code to it. NI runs an x86 shop until Apple came out swinging with the M1. Personally I wish x86 would die, and fast, but that's another thread all together. I would imagine with music it would be more challenging to port because the instruments would have to sound exactly the same.

On the other hand AKAI has been making standalone devices for a while, they have a lot more experience with embedded hardware. Their hardware is also closer to mid-low end cellphones/tablets, which is pretty powerful for a groove box/drum machine.

NI is closer to ARM now that a lot of stuff run's native on the Mx processors, but writing software for MacOS on ARM is probably a lot different than writing native ARM code.

@D-One It'll be interesting to see how ASUS' acquisition of the Intel NUC product line pans out for the Push 3 as well as future embedded devices. I haven't really read to much about it but I'm curious if ASUS will continue the embedded PC form factor or if they will ditch it to focus on small form factor gaming PC's?

I honestly had no idea Akai used ARM but that makes a lot of sense now with how good of a stems separation tool MPC Stems is sounding like its going to be.

Ironically they have a better processor but use cheap toy like parts. As where NI has a trash processor but has a superior build. NI could really benefit from a top CPU for Maschine + in standalone.

Apart from MPC Stems, Akai's Modern MPC line is basically a hardware beat pad version of garage band. They cater to a very specific consumer base. One that has grown up using iphones..like if apple were to make a groove production box (minus Akai's horrendous modern aesthetics). Very dumbed-down. Not a professional tool, compared to Maschine. NI was so close to completely dominating this niche market for pro's and hobbyist alike.

Obviously NI still have a lot more things to integrate before i'd be satisfied. E.g., full DAW integration with Maschine harware, fully mapped, etc. I don't care for a Maschine DAW. I utilize Maschine as a hardware controller inside of Cubase. What they have right now is perfect, its a groove production box, a tool to chop samples and start beats. But they have now taken a major blow from Akai with MPC Stems.

Historically software has been how NI has been able to compete and be one step ahead, they are supposed to be the innovators. How they've let Akai get ahead is baffling. In order to keep up they will need to first address the long overdue software update and if they are coming out with a new Maschine + MK II they will definitely need the best processor possible.