Teaser: Apple TV Running Ableton Live
An anonymous reader has Ableton Live running successfully on Apple TV — yes, Apple TV the actual hardware. If you haven’t been watching the Mac blogs, the Apple TV is in fact a mini computer and hackers are all over it. Suddenly, what looked like somewhat bland hardware may become more popular because of hackers. Will you soon be carrying Apple TV’s to a gig? We’re waiting on our tipster to provide some more screen grabs and video with details, but in the meantime, here’s a snapshot (viewed from another Mac remotely).
More on Apple TV hacking:
Apple TV boots from USB (without opening case) [ AwkwardTV, which has some other good hacking information ]
AppleTVhacks.net
16 Comments
Leave a Commentcdmr
I don’t get it. Isn’t the computer in Apple TV even less powerful than a mac mini (which is barely powerful enough to run Live)? If you wanted a tiny box to run Live on at a gig why would you choose AppleTV?
March 27, 2007 @ 10:25 am
Peter Kirn
I have to talk to our source about performance. Does anyone have a good line on specs? Apple Insider says it’s a Pentium M 1.0, which actually would be capable of running Live, though you’re right, you wouldn’t buy this for that purpose. I could see someone using their Apple TV in an installation or something, doubling as … well, an Apple TV. Graphics capabilities may be more interesting, as we know it can hack that.
It’s a novelty, definitely.
I will take issue with the idea that a Mac mini can “barely” run Live. Quite the contrary; the Intel Core chips in the new machines should tear quite nicely through Live, especially at the price. I just prefer a MacBook for its additional functionality, CPU speed, upgradeability, and screen. On a budget, though, and if you want an external screen, you could be very happy with the mini. It’ll even run Logic Pro nicely on its own or as a Logic node.
March 27, 2007 @ 10:31 am
Kodama
Faster than alot of G4’s I’d bet, the Pentium M is basically a Core Solo.
March 27, 2007 @ 11:26 am
Peter Kirn
If Apple Insider can be trusted, it’s running on only a 350MHz bus, so definitely no Core Solo. But the Pentium M is definitely a step up from older G4s.
March 27, 2007 @ 11:58 am
Oli
What about, well, could get a basic audio i/o working off it’s USB (like the M-Audio Jamlab or something). it should be fast enough to run Amplitube or Guitar Rig.
Bonus points to have it boot straight into your pre-loaded setup, complete with a Behringer FCB1010. maybe even run that off live, and have it wifi sync with a performance machine to take care of it’s own live looping.
(tho, i don’t know. just rambling)
March 27, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
Peter Kirn
Well, all of this will be easier with a mini, which is far more capable for only a little more money. But yes, theoretically it may be possible to hack some of these capabilities in, for someone wanting their ATV to do double duty. :)
March 27, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
cdmr
@Peter … AppleTV as a cheap wireless box for art installations is a great idea.
March 27, 2007 @ 1:52 pm
Augmentalist
I am the one who hacked this up, right now
there is no USB support, BUT i am very close to
getting the Apple Network Midi running, the latency
is around 12 MS.
It can be loaded embedded on the box, and the only
application you see is Ableton live.
I will be posting a video of it running and
instructions shortly.
March 27, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
DJ McManus
It’s like half the price of a mac mini.
If you’re just doing some fairly simple mixing without massive effects then it would be a cool way to roll. Its the size of some outboard soundcards.
I’d love to have a tiny little comp hooked up to my 19″ widescreen. If only they made decent carry cases for monitors.
Good going.
March 27, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
Pete West
How do you control it? I’m guessing the remote doesn’t cut it …
- or is this just one of those useless hacks that you have to control from another machine?
March 28, 2007 @ 10:56 am
Damon
Still not enough a reason to buy a Tivo
March 28, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
Augmentalist
You can get mouse and keyboard to work, our later
work from sat/sunday gets a full OSX system onto
the box.
MIDI forthcoming.
April 2, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
Apple TV Hacked To Run Ableton Live! at Synthtopia
[...] Peter Kirn at the always awesome Create Digital Music reports that a reader has Ableton Live running successfully on Apple TV. [...]
April 12, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
» Post Topic » Die Musikmesse wirft ihre Schatten voraus
[...] Dabei sind es eigentlich die Offmessenews, die am spannendsten daherkommen. So scheint sich z.B. Nintendo’s neuer bluetoothbasierter Controller Wii zum heimlichen Renner als Musikcontroller zu mausern, neuestes Beispiel ist die Wii Loop Machine für OSX, mittels derer man durch entsprechende Körperbiegungen die Musik in selben Maße verbiegen kann. Der Macher demonstriert dies denn auch gleich in einem köstlichen Demonstrationsvideo, das man sich auf keinen Fall entgehen lassen sollte, selten jemand so zu seiner eigenen Kreation abgehen sehen Auch in Dubstepkreisen findet das zunehmend Anklang zum Bassbiegen, was dieses kleine Video[/url] demonstriert, welches mir zugeschickt wurde und daher leider auch nicht eingebettet ist. Und wenn wir schon bei Zweckentfremdungen sind, dann darf auch nicht fehlen, das es offenbar jemandem gelungen ist Ableton Live auf dem neuen Gaget von Apple dem Apple TV ]zum Laufen zu bringen[/url]. Aber aus dem Hause Ableton gibt es noch spannenderes zu berichten, so hat man rechtzeitig zur Messe eine Strategische Allianz mit Cycling’74 bekannt gegeben, was irgendwo nicht verwundert, wenn man weiß das Robert Henke und Gerd Behles, die beiden Gründerväter von Ableton begeisterte User von Max/MSP sind und Ableton zuerst in diesem enstanden ist. Erfreulich und spannend ist die Kombi allemal, zwar lockt es mich nicht gerade Max/Msp-Patches zu frickeln, aber wenn es dazu führt, das solche Patches sich leicht in Ableton einsetzen lassen oder Max/Msp userfreundlicher, sprich so elegant wie Ableton, wird oder natives OSC in Ableton heißt, dann habe ich da fürwahr nichts dagegen, das hieße einfachste Verbindung mit dem Lemur[/url], der ja vom gleichen Haus, also Cycling’74 vertrieben wird. Etwas weiter wunschgedacht könnte dabei sogar so etwas wie Reaktor in Ableton bei herauskommen, ist aber sicherlich noch Zukunftsmusik. Jetzt bleibt nur noch abzuwarten was Apple mit Logic auf der Pfanne hat, denn da verdichten sich die Gerüchte das da etwas großes geplant ist. Zur Stunde gibt es wohl eine Unterrichtsstunde für ausgewählte Vertreter und die letzte Version 7.2 ist aus den Shops verschwunden. Zeit würde es ja, Logic in die restliche Appleline einzugliedern und dem frickligen Environment hätte man schon vor Zeiten den verdienten Todesstoß verpassen und etwas appleadequates an dessen statt hinzufügen können. [...]
August 24, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
Create Digital Music » How to Run Ableton Live on Apple TV; Live Music + Visual Apple TV
[...] Previously: Apple TV Running Ableton Live [...]
November 15, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
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May 14, 2008 @ 8:30 am
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