linking computers together (Re: Alternative to a laptop?)

[Per Boysen <perboysen@gmail.com>]

On 4 sep 2007, at 00.40, midifriedchicken@comcast.net wrote:

> Isnt there a way to link 2 computers together to utilize the cpu of  
> both? I seem to remember when the G5's first came out, the  
> University of Wherever linked like 100 G5s to create a  
> supercomputer. I also think Macworld did an article on linking to  
> laptops. If possible, that would fix a lot of issues. You culd use  
> a Powerbook and have a Mini Mac as added CPU power. I think you  
> have to use an ethernet connection, but isnt this possible?
>
> MFC


Yes, it's possible. However, since audio processing is timing  
critical the particular application must support it. One example is  
the  DAW application Logic where you can simply chain as many Macs as  
you have around into a "node system". One is the master, where you  
process audio in Logic Pro and all others run the Logic Node  
application. On every track in Logic you can chose to activate "node  
support" to let the system decide if eventually distribute some CPU  
demanding parts to some of the node computers. Of course something  
like this is not possible with a real-time live input. In Logic it  
works because it's an application for producing recorded music and  
every piece of audio is already recorded to an audio file or  
programmed as MIDI or automation data. So the "master Logic" knows  
what will come up in next second and can plan the multiple CPU  
utilization and distribution of work as a "look ahead" process.

Another system is OSC. As far as I know OSC doesn't distribute CPU  
tasks but rather synchronizes computers. I have not used OSC yet  
myself, only read about it in the Bidule documentation.

Greetings from Sweden

Per Boysen
www.boysen.se (Swedish)
www.looproom.com (international)