RockSmith 2014 on the Mac Mini

So, I got RockSmith 2014 working on the Mac Mini (a late 2014 model with an Intel® Core™ i5-4278U CPU @ 2.60GHz, 8GB 1600 MHz DDR3 RAM, and 256GD solid state storage (Apple SM0256F)). That machine maxes out at macOS Monterey, and I have no reason to upgrade it past that point; it’s just running Yousician and now RockSmith. (And I understand RockSmith 2014 won’t run on the newest macOS versions.) 

(The Mini was a cheap eBay purchase that was meant to be a music streamer, but I never really ended up using it for that.)

Although I have the “Real Tone Cable,” I didn’t have it handy when I was setting things up. I’m trying to keep things more or less wireless, because of the puppy.

I’m wirelessly connected to the NUX Mighty Air amp. That, in turn, is connected to the Mac Mini via a USB C to USB A cable. The Mac (and thus RockSmith, as a “Microphone”) see the NUX as an audio input source when so connected:

One quirk of this method of connecting things is, I hear the guitar through the Mighty Air amp, not through RockSmith, so levels might not quite match, etc. Not a huge deal, just worth noting. (When using the Real Tone Cable, the guitar comes through the app, properly mixed and ‘voiced’ if that makes sense. But, then you’re back to having a cable. And, y’know, puppy.)

Note that I did not have to create a hybrid device in the MIDI setup utility or do anything like that to have RockSmith see the Mighty Air. (Also note, when I used a PreSonus AudioBox GO, RockSmith could see it, but would only recognize Input 1 (normally used for a microphone, while Input 2 is labeled for instrument use).)

In any case, both RockSmith and Yousician are now playing perfectly, on my big TV in the living room, and (for the app audio at least, with the True Tone Cable), over my home theater amp and speakers. And I’m a happy guitar re-learner.

(Damn, those apps are kinda hard! RockSmith especially seems to advance very quickly in the 101-level lessons. Diving in and trying to keep up started to get difficult around the “bending” lesson, at least for me...)

Other stuff to perfect the setup: Because the Mac is buried in my AV cabinet, I got a Sabrent aluminum 4-port USB 3.0 hub to make it easier to connect/disconnect peripherals, like the audio interface. (Debating getting the PS-5V4W adapter that would make it also a 20W charging hub, which might be useful for things like the Mighty Amp and its B-5RC transmitter ...) and a slightly longer cable for the hub that fits the space I have better. Anchors to keep the cords managed (and readily at hand).

Finally, because this isn’t worth a separate post but I want to remember the details ... Turns out the rOtring (Rotring) pen I’ve been carrying around for over a decade but couldn’t remember anything about ... is a Freeway rollerball. I may be alone in not loving the Schmitt 888, but the Pilot G2 Gel Ink Refills, Fine Point 0.7 mm, Navy refills fit perfectly (although the “navy” might as well be black, it’s very dark).