Mac mini-based recording studio in a piano hits eBay

Ok, so it's not exactly a Mac Mini mod -- it's just sitting there -- but this so-called "Music Machine" is in a class of DIY projects all its own, taking an antique most wouldn't think of altering and ripping its guts out, stuffing it instead with recording and computer gear. At the core is the aforementioned Mac mini (a 1.42GHz model) complimented by a 17-inch LCD, a Lexicon Omega audio interface, built-in Klipsch Promedia Ultra 2.0 speakers, and an MXL 2006 Cardioid Microphone, plus a number of other peripherals. Alas, it seems the original piano keys didn't quite cut it -- they've been replaced with a Studiologic TMK-88 MIDI keyboard, but maybe that'll be remedied in the next version; the person behind this bit of retro goodness is selling the whole shebang on eBay to help fund a new-and-improved rig. Things don't look to have gotten off to the best of starts, however, with the starting bid still untouched at a hefty $4,000.

[Kiteless @ Nov 28th 2006 6:12PM]

This setup looks really nice, but the Mac Mini is not going to be able to pull in fresh air from its bottom vents, let alone expel the hot air out the back.

[Matt @ Nov 28th 2006 6:13PM]

Can the power pc chips handle all that stuff? I know the intel ones could and im sure you would need a lot of ram to run recording program.. Well unless your cheap and use garage band which isnt that bad but is kinda weak

[nick @ Nov 28th 2006 6:17PM]

Very original. I took a look at the auction, but it wasn't very impressive. It may be a good idea, but the auction page isn't par with the idea.

I'm a pretty good ebayer myself, and his auction page is just poorly done. He should have hired an ebay assistant to help with the auction.

Other than that, I think we should give this auction a chance. It ends on December 4. I've had over 20 bids at 2 minutes before auction end once, so don't be surprised to see this item move up. However, I'm not a music expert so I don't know if this stuff is really worth it.

(nicholas)
http://www.tingog.com

[Xavier Gill @ Nov 28th 2006 6:25PM]

On a side note am I the only who thinks the level of advertising on Engadget is reaching offensive levels? Hopefully it's only for Christmas and will go back to normal afterwards.

[Paul @ Nov 28th 2006 6:27PM]

Adblock Plus from Firefox, I see no ads.

[Chris @ Nov 28th 2006 8:48PM]

Unless you intend to pay the writers from your pocket, how else do you suggest that they make any sort of honest wage? Then again, they aren't exactly out putting out fires, but this is their job, and they should be able to make some kind of money off of it.

[diulei @ Nov 28th 2006 6:26PM]

This thing would have looked really sweet on a white or black piano. Possibly even a grand piano.

[Matt @ Nov 28th 2006 6:34PM]

im not sure but i think he ment that engadget is advertising through articals

[Daviel @ Nov 28th 2006 8:57PM]

@Paul:
AD BLOCK PLUS!!!
i am in love with it! no more stupid ads, and if there are, just rightclick, selsct ad block and they're gone!!!
YYYYYAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!
ok, but this is seriously an amazing auction.

[GJP303 @ Nov 28th 2006 6:52PM]

dude, how did they know, this is exactly what i was looking for!

[Tim Obryan @ Nov 28th 2006 7:54PM]

@ Matt

Yes. You'd be surprised. There are still studios that can run equipment 10x that with a dual 450MHz G4 Power Mac. It's not really all about the processing power. Plus, there's nothing there that would be THAT taxing on a G4.

[Matt @ Nov 28th 2006 8:04PM]

true true but you would still need atleast a gig of ram cause my familys imac core duo is kinda slowww and its only doing the basic things

[Paul @ Nov 28th 2006 8:27PM]

Why would anyone build something like this other than for him/herself. This project is obviously limited as far as its customer/fan-base is concerned so why would someone build this with the intention of selling it unless it was commissioned?

Had he stuck a jukebox or something in there, and rigged the keys so that they were used as inputs for selecting the song, then that would be a good mod. A high tech touch to old tech style.

This though, a "recording studio" inside a fleshed out piano body? Who on earth would want this.

[Firebird @ Nov 28th 2006 9:55PM]

It's an interesting idea, but... Really, you could build a recording setup ten times better than this with even the money from the starting bid, easily. Sure, its in a piano, but, the equipment itself is kinda lackluster. The keyboard is pretty nice as a midi controller, but the mic is pretty 'meh' for a $4000 setup, and using klipsch computer speakers in place of real studio moniters? Also, pretty lackluster, and seems like corners are being cut. And to be honest, I really can't help but think the recording interface was chosen because it was white and matched everything else rather than because its actually a recording interface worthy of a setup like that. And as far as the mac mini, its in interesting idea, but once again, pretty lackluster, and the lack of power and possibly ram is concerning. Yes, you can *record* off quite a few inputs and even a few tracks at a time with a system that doesnt sport the most powerful processor in the world, but you also have to remember that because the actual piano has been removed from this and the keys replaced with a midi keyboard, that the mac mini will have to synth out anything played on it, which is either going to take an enourmous amount of ram (think Native Instruments Akoustik Piano) or a huge amount of processing power (Photone, Vapor, even sample-based stuff), if not both, and thats assuming you dont want to introduce any effects into the mix, which pretty much dooms a cpu that weak. Frankly it seems to rely on novelty for the value, and recordingwise it comes up far short.

[Blake Reid @ Nov 28th 2006 10:23PM]

Very cool cabinetry work. The guitar stand is a nice touch too. I'd swap out the Mini with an Intel version with 2GB of RAM - I run basically the same hardware/software and it would surprise you what good performance you can squeeze out of it.

Four grand might be a bit steep, though.

[d @ Nov 28th 2006 10:43PM]

This will never work nor will it ever sell. Waste of time if you ask me.

make money on ebay

[Matt @ Nov 28th 2006 10:59PM]

No one did ask you.

[clintslaughter @ Nov 29th 2006 12:37AM]

This has been my "creation" and I wanted to reply to a few of the comments. My ebaying skills do indeed leave something to be desired. This was built for myself and not commissioned, but since I put over $3000 of equipment and many hours of time into building it, trying not to cut any corners on the work itself and making the setup as professional as possible, I felt that $4000 is a reasonable starting price for such an original piece. I agree, the rig itself can be improved, but I have recorded quite a few songs using the microphone and a guitar track and been able to edit them and add other tracks without a problem. The Mini is last generation and could use some more RAM and an intel processor would give it a boost. Unfortunately since this was a personal project I couldn't afford to put entirely top shelf components in it, but tried to find a balance between cost and functionality. "Lackluster" may describe a similar attempt at a ultra high-end piece offered by a specialty house, but this has amazed and impressed everyone that walks by it in my living room. I won't be upset if it doesn't sell - i've become quite attached to it! Thanks for the comments so far!

[Stephen @ Nov 29th 2006 1:48AM]

That is amazing. Its a shame I don't have $4000 to blow, though on second thought, I am not sure it is actually worth that much.

[Dan @ Nov 29th 2006 4:29AM]

Adverts wise - yeah, they do have a lot on the site although it has improved with the redesign.

And to think it used to be like this: http://web.archive.org/web/20040305002602/http://www.engadget.com/

Thats what increased traffic and ad revenue do to a blog i guess :( Back on topic though, i think 4000 green ones is a tad too much for a G4 with a line-in. Or maybe i'm missing the point?

[Jamie @ Nov 29th 2006 11:19AM]

If he'd kept the original keys, and worked out how to weight them...

http://www.moogmusic.com/detail.php?main_product_id=71

[Jack @ Nov 29th 2006 3:06PM]

Forget about the rig. How could they possibly rip apart that beautiful piano, and replace it with an electric kayboard!