Running Max on a UDOO X86 II ULTRA
Hey folks,
I was wondering is anyone has had any experience running Max on a UDOO X86 II ULTRA. I would like to use this board as the platform for a Max based performance instrument.
Specs can be found here:
https://shop.udoo.org/udoo-x86-ii-ultra.html
UDOO X86 II is the most powerful x86 maker board ever and an Arduino™ Leonardo-compatible platform, all embedded on the same board. Running Windows 10, 8.1, 7
On UDOO X86 II you can run all the software available for the PC world, from gaming to video streaming, from graphical editors to professional development platforms, plus all the software or the Arduino™ Leonardo world, including all the sketches, libraries and the official Arduino™ Leonardo IDE.
Anthony
Hi Anthony,
I'd be very curious to know if you eventually managed to use Max on this platform. I know very little of Windows so it's not clear to me if that UDOO allows regular compiled version of Max for Windows. Any luck since then? Best,
Julien
Salut Vincent,
There is information on this thread that might be of interest to you:
https://cycling74.com/forums/urgent-bugissues-jit-gl-invalid-extension-called
Hey Julien, I have been pretty busy so have not been able to put this idea to the test. But the link that Jean-Francois posted has some great info. Apparently someone did get it working, which is great to know!
" The UDOO V8 is a 12x12x6cm minicomputer which now runs Max 6, 7 and 8 smoothly. "
Although the Bolt is a lot beefier version of the product and more expensive, it at least bodes well for the platform. For the same price as a Bolt you may also want to look into an Intel NUC.
I am looking to get away from DAW laptop based performances and moving towards smaller specialized "instruments" to do live improvised performances. A small UDOO running Max would give me a lot of flexibility.
Salut Jean-François, Hi Anthony, thanks for the tip !
Now I'm considering the UDOO II x86 ultra, for installations and interactive objects.
Also, much easier for me to implement some concepts in Max than pd, unfortunately...
Best,
Julien
And if you are tied to OsX externals or just generally prefer that platform, you can have a look at the LattePanda Alpha.
Intel Core m3-8100Y processor and 8GB of Ram, and built in Arduino Leonardo in a board about the same size as the ArduinoL itself.
I have installed OsX Mojave successfully on 5 for different projects. Everything works flawlessly with the exceptions below:
BlueTooth/WiFi. Not a deal breaker as external USB dongles with OsX drivers do work without issues.
Built-In Sound/HDMI sound. This is annoying and reported to have been patched but I haven't had time to test patches. Not a big problem for me so far as I would always use a USB soundcard instead of the headphone out or HDMI audio.
Built-in 64GB eMMC. This is not supported by OsX so you need an M.2 SSD to install OsX. This is also not a dealbreaker as you can get cheap SSDs that are faster than the built in storage, also allows you to double boot OsX and Windows easily. For Max, it is great as you can use all the OsX only externals or boot into windows if you want to use DiabloDale's kinect externals, or do some visuals with vvvv, etc.
In terms of performance, it is comparable to a 2017 macbook (not macbook pro), since they have pretty much the same processor.
For simple installations and small projects, I would still go for a RaspberryPi and take the extra annoyance of using PD for the cheaper price. The PandaAlpha I use for more complex patches that basically are built into the instrument itself. Completely different targets, I think of the Panda more as a Bela on Steroids due to beefier processor, with the ease of use of a normal laptop with my choice of OS (of course it also runs linux).
It is pricer than the UDOO but some might find advantages.
For a comparison of the processor on both SBCs: http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/172/Intel_Core_m3_m3-8100Y_vs_Intel_Mobile_Pentium_N3710.html
Not affiliated, sponsored or in anyway connected to DfRobot, just someone that has been looking for a small factor computer for years who is currently very satisfied with the results.
Just my 2p
- Miguel
Thanks Miguel ! I never heard of the LattePanda, that sounds amazing ! Indeed I rely on a lot of externals (some only are cross platforms), but also a system I developed in Max for mac only so far. This would make my life much easier.
By any chance, I know this is unlikely but did you ever tried the bach / cage / dada packages (algorithmic notation and computer-aided composition tools) on your LattePanda? Those are among the main dependencies I have in my research, and I would like to start embedding them in slightly different kinds of projects like interactive objects, sculptures, etc.
Also, since you know the brand very well after working with those 5 Lattes, which model would you recommand to work with, to get rid a bit easier of the hackintosh install part...? My system definitely should work with Mojave, but just curiosity did you try with Catalina?
PS: Also, any luck with MIDI connectivity? And is the Arduino part easily connected to the hackintosh?
Thanks !
Julien
Hi Julien,
Bach / cage / dada all work well. It is the same processor and the system itself is fully functional. The only issues are with unsupported hardware that I mentioned. MIDI connectivity I haven't tested personally as I don't use midi myself, sensors and stuff I always use Arduino or other micros but can't imagine it wouldn't work, native midi drivers are listed in the system so any MIDI over USB should work out of the box as it would on any mac.
The Arduino works flawlessly. You need to download the software as usual and it appears as a virtual USB serial port. So from the system perspective it is exactly as having an Arduino connected. The only minor issue that I found is that you need to reset the Arduino when uploading code, bringing fond memories of the first USB Arduini when you had to click on upload and hit the reset button at just the right time-angle-facialExpression to upload. A bit annoying but fully functional. Also, the Arduino is completely independent from the SBC, so the Arduino will run its code as soon as power is connected regardless of the system being on/off
In terms of models, any of the Alphas will do (Delta has a different processor which I think is not compatible with OsX). From the Alpha options the 800 does not include built in storage so you would need to get the external SSD regardless of what OS you want to run, the 864 does include internal storage but no OS pre-installed, and there is a version of the 864 with a registered copy of Windows 10.
Novaspirit Tech (https://forum.novaspirit.com/) has all the guides. There is no difference in how easy it is to set it up in terms of the different models. The installation is extremely easy and straight forward, once you prepare the install disk, you just boot from it and follow the installer as if it was an official mac. Once the installation is done you just mount the EFI partition and copy the bootloader from the USB and done.
I didn't try with Catalina but there is information on the forums that make it seem that it works. No idea how easy it is as I don't run Catalina even on my Mac. I generally find increasing versions of OsX more restrictive and frustrating so always avoid updating until I can't run software I need.
Some pointers:
the step by step video is based on an older version of the processor that was only available for the kickstarter batch, so if you get one of the current ones you will have a different and faster processor. The bios is different than the one in the original instructions but it actually works with no BIOS changes to the default, the only thing I had to do in the BIOS was changing the default boot drive but no other change.
One thing that is mentioned on the video and I experienced is that the USB thumb drive that you use for installation needs to be of good quality. What that means, I don't know as I tried with about 4 before finding one that worked. In my case I think it was a Sandisk Cruzer Blade. I had newer faster and more expensive ones that I tried but that one did the trick.
It is a nice wee toy.
Cheers!
- Miguel
Thanks so much Miguel for the super detailed help ! Looks pretty amazing...
Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about using one of these to run visuals? I'm considering more flexible options than the critter & guitari eyesy.
These sound amazing. Has anyone here tried a/b comparisons of the mac vs windows options?