Negsy103
Hello all,
A DJ colleague of mine (also has VDJ) asked me a question in which I was a little unsure of giving him an answer because a) i'm not 100% if i'm correct, and b) I used a MacBook Pro and he uses a Dell Laptop. So i'm going to go the masses on this one. The question he posed goes as follows:
He currently has a Dell Laptop w/ a Dac-3 controller with audio coming out of a MP44 Rane Mixer (Channels 1&2). He then has a backup laptop that has its audio also plugged through the Rane mixer (Channels 3&4). His question basically is, if his main laptop were to go down how would he go about switching the Dac-3 controller to now function correctly on the backup laptop. He is a mobile wedding & club dj so he would like for this to happen as seemless as possible with little time delay.
The first issue I guess would be if he had a USB Switch, and a song was playing on the backup laptop already would he be able to activate the switch on the hub and the Dac-3 automatically pick up all the info off the backup laptop without any interruption or error on VDJ or the controller? Or would it be better suggestion for him to get a Y-Split USB Cable and just didn't plug it into the backup laptop unless it was needed? Once again the big issue being that if the main laptop went down, he would then cue up a song on the backup, press play, and then plug in the controller to the backup laptop without causing any interference/error on VDJ or the controller and be able to continue his performance from there?
Any help or other suggestions is appreciated. Sorry for the long drawn out description but couldn't think of any other way to explain.
A DJ colleague of mine (also has VDJ) asked me a question in which I was a little unsure of giving him an answer because a) i'm not 100% if i'm correct, and b) I used a MacBook Pro and he uses a Dell Laptop. So i'm going to go the masses on this one. The question he posed goes as follows:
He currently has a Dell Laptop w/ a Dac-3 controller with audio coming out of a MP44 Rane Mixer (Channels 1&2). He then has a backup laptop that has its audio also plugged through the Rane mixer (Channels 3&4). His question basically is, if his main laptop were to go down how would he go about switching the Dac-3 controller to now function correctly on the backup laptop. He is a mobile wedding & club dj so he would like for this to happen as seemless as possible with little time delay.
The first issue I guess would be if he had a USB Switch, and a song was playing on the backup laptop already would he be able to activate the switch on the hub and the Dac-3 automatically pick up all the info off the backup laptop without any interruption or error on VDJ or the controller? Or would it be better suggestion for him to get a Y-Split USB Cable and just didn't plug it into the backup laptop unless it was needed? Once again the big issue being that if the main laptop went down, he would then cue up a song on the backup, press play, and then plug in the controller to the backup laptop without causing any interference/error on VDJ or the controller and be able to continue his performance from there?
Any help or other suggestions is appreciated. Sorry for the long drawn out description but couldn't think of any other way to explain.
Mensajes Thu 15 Jul 10 @ 1:17 pm
djstaffy
if he did it that way he would have to set up backup laptop for system config as per main laptop.
what i do is use sound set up as 2 channel external mixer 2/3 right left on the mixer for main computer and seperate sound card with exactly the same set up and go to channels 1/4 on the mixer.
remember its just back up and hopefully for 2 mins until reboot for main laptop.
also an ipod works if you have different mixes made up just for down time on main laptop
what i do is use sound set up as 2 channel external mixer 2/3 right left on the mixer for main computer and seperate sound card with exactly the same set up and go to channels 1/4 on the mixer.
remember its just back up and hopefully for 2 mins until reboot for main laptop.
also an ipod works if you have different mixes made up just for down time on main laptop
Mensajes Thu 15 Jul 10 @ 1:53 pm
Negsy103
Hey Staffy,
Thanks for the quick response. My other question would be is if the switch were to be made would the controller, now being plugged into the backup laptop, cause an error in VDJ. By this I mean would it cause a freeze or skip in the song if the controller were plugged in mid-song? Would the controller right away display time remaining, bpm, etc... of the current song playing without a hiccup? The big issue would be to seamlessly switch over to a backup comp without any error or blip in the system or the sound that the audience is hearing. Would you or anyone else know the answer to this? Has it been tested? Once again thanks for your input.
Thanks for the quick response. My other question would be is if the switch were to be made would the controller, now being plugged into the backup laptop, cause an error in VDJ. By this I mean would it cause a freeze or skip in the song if the controller were plugged in mid-song? Would the controller right away display time remaining, bpm, etc... of the current song playing without a hiccup? The big issue would be to seamlessly switch over to a backup comp without any error or blip in the system or the sound that the audience is hearing. Would you or anyone else know the answer to this? Has it been tested? Once again thanks for your input.
Mensajes Fri 16 Jul 10 @ 9:50 am
jpboggis
Yes, you should be able to plug a controller in while VDJ is running.
However, it will not be automatically detected - This only happens at start-up.
You would need to go to CONFIG -> Mappers, click on the button to the right of the drop-down list and choose the option to rescan for new devices.
NOTE: I would recommend testing this at home first.
However, it will not be automatically detected - This only happens at start-up.
You would need to go to CONFIG -> Mappers, click on the button to the right of the drop-down list and choose the option to rescan for new devices.
NOTE: I would recommend testing this at home first.
Mensajes Fri 16 Jul 10 @ 12:48 pm
srvo72woof
My situation is a little different, because I am a Karaoke/video DJ.
I run a Hercules RMX, but also use an analog microphone mixer and take the output of the RMX and output of the backup laptop (using the internal soundcard on the backup) and go into the mic mixer along with three mics (singer, singer, DJ)
If there is a problem with my main computer running VDJ and the RMX, I play the backup (that is cued up and ready to go) and reboot the software or machine. If the software locks up (which is rare with my new setup) I "task manager" it and kill the process. If that works right away, I just reboot the software. I the kill process takes any time or there is any other abnormal behavior, I reboot the whole machine.
Sorry, I know this does not answer your question, but I wanted to share it anyway.
thnks
Kevin
I run a Hercules RMX, but also use an analog microphone mixer and take the output of the RMX and output of the backup laptop (using the internal soundcard on the backup) and go into the mic mixer along with three mics (singer, singer, DJ)
If there is a problem with my main computer running VDJ and the RMX, I play the backup (that is cued up and ready to go) and reboot the software or machine. If the software locks up (which is rare with my new setup) I "task manager" it and kill the process. If that works right away, I just reboot the software. I the kill process takes any time or there is any other abnormal behavior, I reboot the whole machine.
Sorry, I know this does not answer your question, but I wanted to share it anyway.
thnks
Kevin
Mensajes Fri 16 Jul 10 @ 1:41 pm
djstaffy
mate all depends on what soet of crash you get ie sometimes screen locks up and music still plays.but if you remove controller you remove audio source.
that is why i use seperate 2nd soundcard (djio) from old set up for my back up.
sounds like you are using a two channel mixer.four channels gives you more choice of inputs ect
that is why i use seperate 2nd soundcard (djio) from old set up for my back up.
sounds like you are using a two channel mixer.four channels gives you more choice of inputs ect
Mensajes Fri 16 Jul 10 @ 2:34 pm
Negsy103
Thanks all for your responses. I figured that at the least I would have to go into CONFIG and select my controller(rescan). I'll definately test this weekend.
Mensajes Fri 16 Jul 10 @ 2:51 pm