Back up systems?

[yourdj]

Following on from a post which was deleted for some reason,

- What back up systems do you all have and why?
- Do you have it all in the rack ready to go for immediate use?
- or is yours in the van/car?
- Do you not have back up / don't think you need it?


Just asking as i have bought this today for £52 which i thought was good!
Apparently only used twice which i will have to see about ;)


http://soundsaliveuk.com/images/numark%20idj.jpg

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200435084143&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_719wt_1167

You cant really mix on it but it has all the funtionality of a normal mixer and i know
where the music all is as the ipods have the same playlists as my serato/itunes.
all i need to do is segway each track and thats the only difference to my normal setup.

im well pleased as i was going to get an SDJ2 with the built in mixer.
This if any good has saved me £200!!


It also fits nicely in to my Vestax VCI-300 flight case and can be swapped in a matter of seconds.
Just a matter of power, phono out & ipod play.

http://www.rackinthecases.com/images/l/200906/12450170050.jpg

[Vectis]

all i need to do is segway each track

Gonna need more than velcro! :eek: ;)

[WWDJ]

i have 1u mixer and a HD2500 in a shallow and very portable 4u ABS case. This goes with me to each gig and can be connected to the PA in a matter of seconds should it be needed. Which it hasn't been.

As I am moving to Traktor and I have another HD2500 as main playout, the second HD2500 may be up for sale soon! (it's in need to a bit of TLC, but if anyone has the knowledge it could come at a good price)

[Penfold42]

Denon HD2500 and a Behringer mixer. Never needed them really....:)

[Spirits High]

Have a Cortex HDC1000 rigged and ready to play in the flightcase.

Also carry a laptop & Denon 050 mixer aswell incase it goes really horribly wrong.

[yourdj]

Gonna need more than velcro! :eek: ;)

I dont get it :confused: What's that thing?


i have 1u mixer and a HD2500 in a shallow and very portable 4u ABS case.

I still have my Denon DNHD2500 and was thinking of using that but the cost of selling that with Serato Scratch is too tempting as i would hate for it to be sitting around. I will see how this unit is.

My main issue with the vestax is its a mixer and controller so of that goes down i have lost both.
the ipod thing fills both those gaps which is great!

If it finds, plays the tracks effectively and i can cue, use the mic etc. then im happy as ive done a really good set from just itunes before (when things went wrong) which is even worse than this unit :D

I did laugh when people came up at the end and said how god the party was!

I would ideally like another mac and Vestax but that will cost a few bob and im on economy drive this year!

[Excalibur]

Standard rig uses a pair of HDC 1000's, so could be considered to have an element of backup already. Laptop also, with an identical HD on Media Monkey for inspiration, so HD could run a Cortex, or rig laptop in if a major failure occurs. If it's worse that that, I usually have a big powered mixer in the van.

Toby: Vectis is mocking your spelling. Joining tracks is a segue. ( Possibly with an accent) a Segway is what Vectis posted a piccy of.

[OllieJames]

I run a Denon HC4500 w/ VDJ as main playout with a Numark C3 mixer.

For backup, I use a Cortex HDC1000 with an identical music collection. Which is mounted in the same case.

Should my mixer fail, it is possible to go straight out the HC4500/HDC1000 into my Mackie desk.

[MagicMusic]

Main system is Traktor Pro controlled by a Hercules RMX. Back - up is a Citronic Twin CD unit connected to my McGregor SD14 mixer - amp.

[sweetie]

Also use vdj with hercules rmx and backup is denon mp3/cd decks, both connected to adj q222 mixer. can bypass mixer directly to my QSC k12 is the need arises

[Vectis]

OK you asked for it :D It's been a while since I did one of these and a few things have changed, so I'll bite.

Main playout is currently a Numark D2, Numark CM200USB mixer and a Berry equaliser out to a pair of Mackie SRM450s and 0/1/2 dBTech Sub15's, all active. I carry a master HDD with all my historical music on it, and a memory stick with the last few months' worth of downloads, playlists etc. on it.

The mixer has long USB and phono cables on a spare channel coiled up ready to plug into any backup device in a few seconds.

I also have a laptop used for Karaoke, when required, and this is also loaded with OTS DJ.

I also have a touchscreen PC used for lighting control, and this is also loaded with OTS Turntables.

I also have a laptop used for visuals, when required, and this is also loaded with OTS Turntables.

I also carry an iPhone, loaded with a couple of hundred party favourites across the decades, and 3G/WiFi connection for instant downloads, if required.

I also carry a Numark iDJ2 which provides backup for the d2 AND the mixer. I can live without an EQ.

I carry a pair of 10" full-range passive speakers and a power amp in the van. At home, usually less than 10 miles, I keep "proper" spare PA of Peavey Pro15's, ProSubs and amps.

I have a duplicate HDD in the van, and a duplicate memory stick in the laptop bag. I also have a large NAS at home, with, amongst lots of other stuff, a master backup of all of my music.

I carry spare PSUs for all of the DC-powered devices (in the van) along with spare cables, fuses, lamps plus a full repair kit.

I also carry a UHF audio sender, good for about 20-30 metres, which can effectively connect my mixer's booth output to a house PA.

My main console is protected by a small UPS. With a bit of twiddling it can be switched over to the IDJ2.

I usually carry three radio mics, with 2 receivers, one for me and two for karaoke. Karaoke can be sacrificed if need be, but I also have a wired mic and an emergency gooseneck XLR mic which can go straight into the mixer.


On the lighting front, I am fully DMX and generally show a minimum of about 6/7 effects, therefore in the event of a loss of a unit I'll just daisy-chain the DMX cables and omit it from the loop.

That said, I do usually have a spare DMX effect onboard, an ageing ImpossibLED with a couple of dodgy LEDs, and a spare laser. So if the fault was detected in time, it could be swapped.

Lighting control is via Daslight and I carry a spare 'dongle' in the van. The Daslight software and all my profiles are installed on all gigging computers.

I also have a couple of CA8's in the van for those units that don't work StL in the event of no DMX.

All my overhead lighting is via an Ultimax Powerlite bar wired with multiple circuits, so in the event of losing one there's enough capacity on the others. I also have a bunch of long (5m and 10m) IEC cables in the van normally used for uplighting that can be used to individually power effects in case of a major problem with the power feeds.


I've probably missed something, but I think I'm pretty well covered.

[Twinspin]

Denon DN-D4000 and cds
behringer Xenyx 1832fx mixer.

for backup console stuff.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I have a 2u mixer permanantly wired into the cd players with RCA splitters. If the main mixer dies, i switch on the back up and ive lost a few seconds of musci and thats all.

If the CD players die, i can limp through the night with seratos internal player.

If one of the speakers dies...im screwed as i dont have a backup right now, but could limp through the night with one side only. I keep meening to get a spare speaker so i must get round to it. :)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Following on from a post which was deleted for some reason,



You are mistaken. None of your posts have been deleted.

[Sapphire Disco]

Laptop & D2 use either throughout night with spare laptop , have not taken any CDs to last 4 gigs much better.

[yourdj]

Toby: Vectis is mocking your spelling. Joining tracks is a segue. ( Possibly with an accent) a Segway is what Vectis posted a piccy of.

:p

[yourdj]

I also have a large NAS at home

Ive got some p-diddy and Jay-Z ;)


If the CD players die, i can limp through the night with seratos internal player.

I keep meening to get a spare speaker so i must get round to it. :)

What is your laptop goes - CD's i assume?

Do you want some tapco thumps? I have some for sale with boxes/instructions.


You are mistaken. None of your posts have been deleted.

Oh OK ta :) could not see it for some reason

[jamesh]

Playout: I use a OODJ as the main playout and a Samsung NC10 netbook as the secondary playout / daslight lighting computer when using DMX and general backup so should the OODJ stop working i can just run off that for the evening. Likewise if the NC10 was to stop working the OODJ has Daslight on it and i can run all the lighting from that too. If they both stop working i have a single CD player and a wallet full of CD's and my Nokie N97 with the important popular tracks on that i can fall back on as a last resort.

Backup mic wise I always have a couple of wired microphones in the van and long cables so whether i'm using wired or wireless there is a back up.

Mixer: within my Main rack under my denon mixer i have a Formula Sound Shadow mixer (4 channel + 1 mic in a 1u unit) which is designed as a backup mixer that is permanently connected to the system so that if my Main Denon mixer was to stop working all i have to do is switch on the power and you can finish the night on that without an issue and without changing a thing!

Basically it sits between your playout and the mixer and everything is plugged into that first and then you link through with extra cables then into the main mixer... That means if you mixer stops working for any reason there is NO DOWN TIME! Just turn on the mixer from the front switch and sway you go again.

PA System Back Up: My main system is a Lem powered system with 2x subs and 2x tops and it would be very unlikely that both subs and both tops will all stop working on the same night at the same time... But just in case I've usually got a couple of PSR8a's with me.

Lighting Back up: - Generally i don't have any lighting back up with me as i never run off just 1 lighting effect so if one does stop working the rest still cover the dancefloor and it's a case of getting by until the end of the gig. Stand wise i pretty much carry 1 stand more than i need or when i only have 2 in the van i can scale down the lighting to still have a good show but only use 1 tbar and stand rather than 2...

DJ Backup: - Every gig i do i tend to use a roadie to help because as well as a great help in the rig and strike it means that should i become ill or not be able to finish the night for any other reason they can continue and get through the night.

Transport Backup: I'm a member of the RAC for the van and should that not be able to sort the problem or where time scales are tight most of the roadies i use can drive and have cars or vans so as a last resort we'd use that - as even with a scaled down rig to fit in a car all the backup methods (other than the subs) can still be taken as part of the rig.

So i think i'm as covered as i can be... Well without carrying 2 full Rigs that is...

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Ive got some p-diddy and Jay-Z ;)



What is your laptop goes - CD's i assume?

Do you want some tapco thumps? I have some for sale with boxes/instructions.


Oh, forgot, spare cheapo lappy which will just about run serato, and CDs like you say.

Cheers for the offer, but im going to get a third RCF ART312A. :)

[yourdj]

Oh, forgot, spare cheapo lappy which will just about run serato, and CDs like you say.

dont chance running serato on an under specced system i did it once and it stopped three times on first dance.
My first and only mistake.

if you want some rcf's this bloke is selling some:

http://www.malwilliams.com/

[yourdj]

dont chance running serato on an under specced system i did it once and it stopped three times on first dance.
My first and only mistake.

if you want some rcf's this bloke is selling some:

http://www.malwilliams.com/

To add to it:

- my speakers are actives but i have changed them to run passive.
- I also use two amps
- if anything goes wrong then all i have to do is run them as actives.
- I also have a spare passive speaker.

no lighting backup but i cant see anything going wrong as they are all LED?

i am going to get Brake down cover this year just in case!