Re: JoeCo players for live multitracks
While that sounds reasonable, do you have any evidence that the JoeCo's are more reliable than a purpose-configured Mac Mini that doesn't go on the internet? I'd hazard a guess to say that both are just as reliable as the other.
Nobody has MTBF statistics for JoeCos or Mac Minis. So putting that aside for a second, there are just less devices to fail in a JoeCo, and thats the real issue. Once you factor in the software component of the Mac Mini scenario, I think its easy to suggest that the JoeCo might be more reliable
Simple, but also limited. It's pretty simple to press play on DAW software, and most likely it would be run via MIDI or some external control anyway.
Sure, but its limited to precisely the functions needed in this scenario, so not limited in a practical sense. Again, we're playing back, not recording.
Sure, but the X32 makes it 4u. Plus you need to carry around mouse, monitor(s), keyboard, maybe a KVM, etc...
Not at all.
*snip*
Furthermore, you can upgrade the software, get repairs and replacements anywhere, change DAW software, tons of stuff you can't do with a fixed-function box like the JoeCo.
You can literally buy 2 of these setups for the price of 1 JoeCo redundant setup.
Nobody is suggesting that a computer is not more functional than a JoeCo. But the OP asked about tracks playback, so my views specifically relate to that.
Think of a JoeCo as a new-school HD24. There are still a hell of a lot of those on the road!
Your pricing is way off there.
First of all, you don't need the SW8 for the JoeCos. the BBR1
-B model does the switchover internally. So that saves you a bunch of money.
In my money, the pair of JoeCos, with a panel for outputs is £4200. Throw in some USB keys for tracks playback and you're at £4220
If you are going to compare like-for-like with the Mac Mini setup, then you need to consider Macs with SSDs. Other than whatever software you have going on, a mechanical HDD has by far the lowest MTBF of any hardware component here. In that case, the Mac Minis are £840 from apple. Even if you change to SSD yourself (which voids the warranty), it would still be ~£600 per machine.
Then you need the X32 rack, as you suggest. £1200 The manual suggests that the X-UF card won't let you connect 2 machines (unless this is a new feature not covered in the manual), so you'd need an X-Dante card which is another £400, and a little switch. An X32 rack only has 14 balanced outputs though.
Now you still need software (Ableton Live, a favorite among musicians for tracks playback, is £339 per license. Protools is ~£300, Qlab is £270) and that will be anywhere from £270-£680 depending on what you want.
You now need a mouse, monitor and keyboard. Maybe a KVM? Thats another £150-£500 depending on what you want (2 monitors, etc...).
If you wan't to trigger these 2 machines in sync, you need some way to sync them. Anything more sophisticated than a simple split MIDI go is going to be expensive, so lets say you do that. A couple of USB Midi interfaces and controller. Thats at least another £100.
So you're somewhere between £3500 - £4500. And now you still have more than twice as much equipment to case and carry...
Bottom line: You can get an PC alternative to the JoeCo for as much as a JoeCo, but if you wan't to mirror the JoeCo's functionality (channel count, control, sync, switchover, etc...) then it will be more. And larger.
I see no purpose for the JoeCo product except maybe at an amusement park or somewhere that the system would be completely automated and unattended.
Sure. I see your point of view. No worries.
Fact is, lots of bands use JoeCos for tracks playback and love them. More still use things like HD24s and 2424LVs which are essentially 1990s JoeCo equivalents. These artists all have money and means and a brain in there head and choose hardware solutions over a computer based alternative for several compelling reasons.
Its not the only way, but the JoeCo is certainly a good way.
