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 <wa...@macwizardry.com.au> wrote: > > On 10/8/10 10:05 PM, "thefrogs" <thefr...@iinet.net.au> 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 <wa...@macwizardry.com.au> > Reply-To: WAMUG Mailing List <wamug@wamug.org.au> > Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:05:52 +0800 > To: WAMUG <wamug@wamug.org.au> > 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> > > > **For everything Macintosh** > > > > > -- 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:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.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:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au>
