Where to run programs on a Mac accessing another Mac

[Orinoco]

I've got a MacBook Air which I use for most stuff, but keep music files on a Mac Mini using Asset upnp to play to my system. I use screen share to connect to the Mac Mini when I need to do stuff, running it headless.

I'm buying some software to help manage the music, tags, artwork, that sort of thing.

Where best to run it from - the Air or the Mini? I'm thinking the Air as it M1/2020 with 8Gb RAM, the Mini is 2018 with 32Gb RAM. I expect it could be run from either, but is there a 'best' way to do this?
TIA

 

[DJ123]

A different solution would be to use NAS (network attached storage), and have the programs & files saved centrally. So either device can run them, without needing both to be active/accessible.

 

[Berin]

Not quite an answer to your question, but here’s how I do it.

I have a Mac Mini, running Roon for multi room with numerous “end points” such as Sonos, Ruark and my old amp and Mordaunt Short speakers. I have Synology NAS, where all my music is stored, and I run Bliss tagging and management software, which runs directly on the NAS in the background, which autocorrects things like image size, genre, etc in the background.

I can play music from the Roon app on any end-point, from a phone, iPad, my other Mac, Sonos, or anything else. I can also listen to music on my NAS on the go with the Roon Arc app, and use headphones and a DAC on my iPhone, since the phone is an end point too.
I have a Tidal subscription linked to Roon, and can add Tidal tracks to the Roon library.

What’s especially good, is that I can listen to Radio Paradise via Roon. If I hear a new track or artist I like, I use Roon to go straight to the album in Tidal, and make it part of my library and then I would usually buy the CD so I have a permanent copy.

The NAS is backed up to a big external drive as I don’t want to lose this music collection.

Hope that helps!

 

[cookie]

I almost trialed Roon once, but then I saw the price and decided not to in case I liked it!

 

[er-minio]

Use the mini. That stuff don't need much processing power and works better on a "fixed" machine imho.

 

[Orinoco]

Well... no, no, agree

1 - I'm using the mini as a file server, don't need/want a NAS, the mini is sufficient for me
2 - Cool, Roon does sound great... but
3 - Definitely, decided not to try it when I saw the cost
4 - Thanks

 

[Berin]

I almost trialed Roon once, but then I saw the price and decided not to in case I liked it!

Yeah, thought it was going to be rubbish then did a free trial…..

Can’t imagine not using it now.

 

[Berin]

Well... no, no, agree

1 - I'm using the mini as a file server, don't need/want a NAS, the mini is sufficient for me
2 - Cool, Roon does sound great... but
3 - Definitely, decided not to try it when I saw the cost
4 - Thanks

You can still run Bliss on the mini, but if you have your music on it do back it up - I’ve had a disc failure that would have lost me everything if not for back up.

Out of interest, what are you using as a a music player? Apple Music?

 

[Orinoco]

You can still run Bliss on the mini, but if you have your music on it do back it up - I’ve had a disc failure that would have lost me everything if not for back up.

Out of interest, what are you using as a a music player? Apple Music?

Asset upnp to manage the music, controlled through iPhone or Android tablet to a Naim Muso

I'm yet to commit to the full Illustrate suite, but probably will as PerfectTunes (tag management) and Dbpoweramp (ripping/converter) all integrate. This seems to be the most recommended set up on the Naim forum