Beo-Mac

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

pedrompinto — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:39:16 GMT

hi there m8

for the time being i just use my mac mini in my living room connected to my bv 7-40 mkII without any problem; everything runs smoothly.

if you want some help just send me a private message.

cheers. :)

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

Ehlerz — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 06:50:24 GMT

pedrompinto:
Hi,

As Francis already said the Mac Mini solution surely will suit your needs; i have this solution and i'm quite happy with it.

Solution:
BV7-40 with a Mac Mini Connected via DVI with wireless access to the internet (using a router, of course) and a NAS (Network Area Storage), is a huge external disk (1 TB) where i have my files and can access it from my Mac mini or PC or whatever i want.

Hope that helps.

P.S. If you have any doubt concerning this kind of solutions just ask. :)

Hi Pedro

I am considering adding a macmini to my beo setup aswell. Maybe you can help me answering a few questions

I have a BV 7-32 masterlinked to a BC 6-23 in my bedroom. The plan is to add the macmini in my livingroom.

First question is do you have link aswell and if so, do you also have access to your mac mini from your linktv?

second question is do you have any trouble with the setup what so ever. I mean issues with picture/sound on your BV etc.?

Your help will be greatly appreciated

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

dilznik — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:39:58 GMT

I have 1tb connected to my Mini with usb2. LaCie makes fanless, low profile hard drives. Mine actually sits on the shelf with my Beoport and is the same shade of black. It's cool, actually. I'll get a time capsule at some point but for now I've got the terabyte on my mini and another 1tb on my Powermac (G5). It's all overkill but it's nice to not have to worry about it.

Heck, my Macbook has 320gb.

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

Calvin — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:20:33 GMT

I now have my Mac Mini hooked up to my projector, BeoSystem 5500 and all controlled with a wireless keyboard which includes a touchpad. When I have some cash in a few months, I'm going to buy that hard drive and rip all my TV programmes from DVD to it, even if just to clear up some shelf space.

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

Ehlerz — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:30:38 GMT

I have been thinking about a macbased mediacenter aswell. Imagine a big "whatever TB" server connected to your tv and music system either wirelessly or otherwise. To control everything a 10 inch touchscreen on your wall with same interface as ipod touch, wirelessly connected to the server. This would be SO cool with 2 way communication with ipod touch and iphone. All you see is a nice touchscreen with a very cool interface. Now THAT i would definetly buy without a doubt.... anyone else??? Sure hope the BS5 has some of this features.....(even though it will probably not support video)

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

Alex — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:26:07 GMT

dhooghe:
hi Soundproof,
Can you elaborate on how you connected the mac mini's toslink to a B&O system? Except for the extremely expensive Beosystem 3, all B&O systems I looked at (Beoport, Beocenter 2, Beosound 4) only seem to support an audio aux in (analog and not surround sound).
What is this audio midi setup application you talk about? Is this a mac application?
This has been bugging me for months.
Thanks

Soundproof is referring to any B&O system with a digital audio input, which would be the BeoSystem 3, BeoVision 7s, BeoVision9, BeoCentre 6-26 and BeoLab 5.

Audio MIDI Setup is an application in the 'Utilities' folder, found inside 'Applications' on a Mac.

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

kawo — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 05:13:09 GMT

Hi, you need a TOSlink to SDIF converter, than connect the optical cable from the mini to the converter, than the chinch cable from the converter to the digital input of the B&O stuff. This works for me for both BV3 and Besosystem 3.

Kawo

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

dhooghe — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 11:35:35 GMT

hi Soundproof,

Can you elaborate on how you connected the mac mini's toslink to a B&O system? Except for the extremely expensive Beosystem 3, all B&O systems I looked at (Beoport, Beocenter 2, Beosound 4) only seem to support an audio aux in (analog and not surround sound).

What is this audio midi setup application you talk about? Is this a mac application?

This has been bugging me for months.

Thanks

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

gk31ax — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 09:37:37 GMT

Mac Mini has just been upgraded to a core duo 2 processor, so I'd go that route. Combine it with the new sexy wireless keyboard, very cool

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

francis — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:39:18 GMT

pedrompinto:

Francis,

I don't have a detailed information about the features of the Beo5 but having in mind that it can be programmed it surely be able to control other devices, i hope.

I would put a questionmark here, in particular since B&O is not only using unique codes but also a infrared freqency range different from most other manufacturers.

I have downloaded the user manual here, but when it becomes interesting it always refers to the "customized" document handed out to the buyer reflecting the buyer's individual setup.

Let's wait and see.

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

soundproof — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 12:05:39 GMT

pedrompinto:
Francis,
For the sound connection of the Mac Mini to the BV7-40 i used a rca analog cable, so far it works quite ok (i know that there are some solutions to connect it using the digital output of the mac mini, but are you a audiophile ?).

Well, you can get surround sound out of your Mini through the optical minijak TosLink OUT -- which I would think would be preferable. Both for playing DVDs, or stored video files with multi-channel encoding. Very simple to set up - just use the AUDIO MIDI SETUP application to designate speakers to channels.

Pretty good, actually.

===

You'll need to convert the TosLink Optical to a coax S/PDIF.

There are also soundcards that can be connected to a Mac, and which will give you several porting options: Toslink Optical, Coax digital, AES/EBU, etc.

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

jk1002 — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 11:51:31 GMT

>>but having in mind that it can be programmed it surely be able to control other devices, i hope.<<

I don't think it can do that directly. You will need to go via a B&O video product and use a PUC. I.e. the Beo5 will not directly control a mini mac. The user manual is available for download on this site.

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

pedrompinto — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 11:44:45 GMT

Francis,

I don't have a detailed information about the features of the Beo5 but having in mind that it can be programmed it surely be able to control other devices, i hope.

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

francis — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:32:23 GMT

Pedro,

so we are pretty much in the same situation with audio connection and remote control. Currently I find the analogue audio quite ok for music. However I just started to play movies via front row and will soon have an eye tv which supports multichannel sound. I wonder how to to get 5.1 dolby digital sound from the Mac to the BV.

Is it really likely that the Beo5 will support Macs? I did not find any information on this issue yet; would be the optimal solution of course.

Francis

Re: A Mac Based Media Centre

pedrompinto — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 08:14:18 GMT

Francis,

For the sound connection of the Mac Mini to the BV7-40 i used a rca analog cable, so far it works quite ok (i know that there are some solutions to connect it using the digital output of the mac mini, but are you a audiophile ?).

I'm using the Mac Mini remote control because i haven't decided yet which solution i'll use; i'll wait for the Beo5 and see if it really controls the Mac Mini.