When it all goes Pete Tong..

[DJ Tony McQue]

Just out of curiosity, what are you all using as a backup if your laptop or hard drive crashes on your MP3 playback system? Do you still lug around CD decks as backup or do you use a more portable solution? If you use time coded CDs, how would you cope with your CD decks going down?

In all the years I have been using Virtual DJ, it has never let me down live. I test my laptop before each gig and the hard drive has died only once an hour before a gig, thankfully I have a clone and was able to swap it out. I am currently using a pair of Numark NDX800s and carry a couple of 8GB USB sticks with a good selection of tunes on them. I also carry a CD folder with a very random collection of party compilations and current dance stuff. Perhaps overkill but would be interested to hear what other people are doing.

[jeff wood]

I use OTS AV with a rackmount PC, but for back up, I also have a pair of Denon DNS 1200's,

These have got usb sticks in the back with loads of tunes on, but Ive got loads of cd's, which i keep upto date.

I carry a spare PSU for the PC and I keep meaning to clone a HD, as a backup.

[Shaun]

I have a spare HD2500 in the flightcase alongside the main hd2500. Also have a selection of tunes on my iPhone, so in the unlikely event of both playouts going down I just plug in my phone.

[Leicester Ben]

I just use CD's, if one skips, take it out and put another one in :)

[cosmicdiscos]

i've got an SD Card player mounted with my mixer.

[Sapphire Disco]

Two laptops and a Numark D2 I must admit that the first time I went out without any Cd's it felt a bit strange but to be honest I've never had to use the spare laptop and only once had to go onto first reserve when I had a problem with a down load that I didn't check, it was a request and I had downloaded the night before there was a glitch at the end that jammed the players.

[DJ James Lake]

I use VDJ with timecoded cds and have a D2 as backup. VDJ is pretty good though because when it crashes it carries on playing the current song til the end of the track, giving plenty of time to swap out the timecode and use a regular cd if needed

[sleah]

I carry a spare PSU for the PC and I keep meaning to clone a HD, as a backup.
Jeff, you really need to consider a disk back up over a spare PSU.
Statistically, the PSU is very unlikely to go down - besides it may damage other parts of the PC if it does - however the hard disk WILL almost certainly fail sooner or later.



i've got an SD Card player mounted with my mixer.

Me too!:D

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I just use CD's, if one skips, take it out and put another one in :)

And what if the issue is with the actual player? ;)




I have Serato, so if the cd players die, i can run off the internal players.

If the laptop dies, i have CDs and a spare laptop loaded with Serato.

If the serato box dies, i have 2 phono to jack cables and will have to muddle through with 2 laptops and media player.

If the mixer dies, i have a backup mixer permanantly hard wired into the box that cuts in at the push of a button.

[DJ Tony McQue]

I have Serato, so if the cd players die, i can run off the internal players.

If the laptop dies, i have CDs and a spare laptop loaded with Serato.

If the serato box dies, i have 2 phono to jack cables and will have to muddle through with 2 laptops and media player.

If the mixer dies, i have a backup mixer permanantly hard wired into the box that cuts in at the push of a button.

Now that is serious precaution, total respect though. I used to do gigs bareback in the clubs using just my laptop and PCDJ DAX3 controller. If it ever crashed, I only had a few CDs as backup. I wouldn't even dream of doing a Wedding now without some sort of backup that wouldn't compromise the performance. I feel sick just thinking about what could have happened if my laptop crashed midway through a set, it's every DJs nightmare!

[Leicester Ben]

And what if the issue is with the actual player?

It never has in 8 years however I would play a few songs from my phone whilst I nip out to the van to get the back up player. :)

[jeff wood]

Jeff, you really need to consider a disk back up over a spare PSU.
Statistically, the PSU is very unlikely to go down - besides it may damage other parts of the PC if it does - however the hard disk WILL almost certainly fail sooner or later.




Me too!:D


Yeah, I wouldnt say that the PSU is unlikely to go down,,Ive had several PSU failures in the past,,on home pc's I mean.

Also, they dont always damage other components, I usually find they just do nothing when then fail :)

But yeah, agree about HD's, and I will make a clone HD, ie, with the operating system / ots av / music & vids, everything,,so I can just swop it over.

[Shaun]

Ive had several PSU failures in the past,,on home pc's I mean.

Also, they dont always damage other components, I usually find they just do nothing when then fail :)



....and sometimes they kill the main hard drive and the backup hard drive throwing life as you know it into chaos. (sigh :( :()

[jeff wood]

I'm sure they do,, but Ive got the Denon dns1200's aswell just in case of a total pc catastrophe :)

[Penfold42]

Just 2 x HD2500, 1 x Lap top....if they go....give up and go home. :D :D :D :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Denon HD2500 and HC4500 controlling VDJ in the same case.

Separate case with Denon DN-X500 and DAC-2 as back up.

Oh and spare laptop.

[spin mobile disco]

I have 2 dds-80's both with own drives and a spare drive that can work on either as required.

[Mark Wild]

10-inch Asus Eee PC loaded with Torq 1.5, Mackie DFX 6, Ipod and a spare Xponent at the moment.

[Twinspin]

if my console fails i go back to cds i have my cds with me at a gig heres my console the backup is within the main console.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l264/Twinspindj/Photo0030.jpg

if the mixer fails... i have a behringer Xenyx 1832fx live mixer and of course the connections to connect the decks to it.

If the speakers fail. I have a spare RCF active cab identical to my main set.
that i can just plug in and back in business.

[Excalibur]

Pair of Cortex/Cortexes/Cortices, plus laptop.

[yourdj]

I have a numark dual ipod mixer thing. got it for £50 on ebay which was a good price. i cant mix on it but its a stand alone unit with a mixer and the same playlists as my itch/vestax vci so easy to use. Not a bad unit really in general!

I would ideally like a second mac and another vestax vci.

I have also recorded a few long mixed sets on mp3 for different occasions.
You never know when you may have diorea or something! at least the party can go on without you.

sound - i have two tapco thumps with me at all times.

[Jason]

I have a 2nd rig with Mixer and SD Card reader full of the main floor fillers and 1st & 2nd dances for the weddings. The SD card is actually in a SD>USB reader, mounted inside the flightcase and connected to my main playback (DDS80 with drive bay removed).

I also carry a 2nd USB HDD AND a Laptop.
So... if when the main DDS80 HDD fails, I'll use a track from the SD card, whilst unpacking the spare HDD.
If this has a problem, the option is to continue using the DDS with SD Card, or fire up the laptop.
All speakers are active so a total failure is very unlikely.

Good point about some long mixes... I have a few from my Mastermix membership...
The DDS will play tracks from a "crate", but it will not automix :-(, just play track after track with not even cross fade!
Jason

[CRAZY K]

Pair of Cortex/Cortexes/Cortices, plus laptop.

That minus a laptop--the one I used to have as a backup to the first Cortex died yesterday:eek: :eek: :eek:

These days two Cortex are more than enough, oh forgot I always have 2 Mini Disc players as well and an I pod in my pocket.;)

[super-hero]

This is the system I use at most functions.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7078/djsetup.jpg


But as a backup, I carry another laptop and hard drive. I also carry a pair of powered speakers incase my amp plays up. Even if you never use your backup system, it gives you peace of mind, knowing it's there.

[Pazz]

Now that is serious precaution, total respect though. I used to do gigs bareback in the clubs using just my laptop and PCDJ DAX3 controller. If it ever crashed, I only had a few CDs as backup. I wouldn't even dream of doing a Wedding now without some sort of backup that wouldn't compromise the performance. I feel sick just thinking about what could have happened if my laptop crashed midway through a set, it's every DJs nightmare!

Im unbelievably still "barebacking" a lot of events that I do using just the 00dj, pcdj, dac3 like you did. It is my worst fear if anthing goes wrong. I must start taking my backup laptop and CD Players with me or else :eek: :eek: im heading for trouble! My biggest nightmare is my amp going down as I'll have no other option but to pack up and leave quite swiftly with beetroot cheeks!!

[StarZSoundS]

My biggest nightmare is my amp going down as I'll have no other option but to pack up and leave quite swiftly with beetroot cheeks!!


Your Nightmare may come true....and I think most Guests would nowadays consider that unacceptable.With the price of Equipment nowadays you are taking chances that aren't neccesary.:eek: :eek: :eek:

Buy yourself something with the same fittings as your current playout system.2 leads in and 2 leads out..... and you will enjoy your gigs a lot more!!;) ;)

[Pazz]

Your Nightmare may come true....and I think most Guests would nowadays consider that unacceptable.With the price of Equipment nowadays you are taking chances that aren't neccesary.:eek: :eek: :eek:

Buy yourself something with the same fittings as your current playout system.2 leads in and 2 leads out..... and you will enjoy your gigs a lot more!!;) ;)

I completely agree mate and I'm already in the process of sorting the issue.:) I would never want to let anybody down and I take big steps to ensure this never happens (but it is ongoing) and sometimes hard when you have quite literally got no money. I hate making excuses but I can assure you if the money was there it would be put into this!

I am trying to keep things running until my fortunes change and I can then invest. It's not great I know but I will setup new backup procedures (this being a good kick in the backside for me!) to start with and then invest in the reasonably priced equipment (and amp couple of speakers) I need once the money...eventually... comes through. :)
Thanks for the tip!:beer1:

[DJ Tony McQue]

Good responses here, makes for some interesting reading. So has anyone ever had to switch to their backup mid set and if so, did it affect the customer satisfaction?

[Sapphire Disco]

Good responses here, makes for some interesting reading. So has anyone ever had to switch to their backup mid set and if so, did it affect the customer satisfaction?

I sometimes switch between the D2 and the laptop anyway it's just a 4 deck play-out system really so it would never show.

[Corabar Entertainment]

...has anyone ever had to switch to their backup mid set ...
Another thread was spawned out of this one discussing that point that you may also find interesting: http://www.forum.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=26380

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I sometimes switch between the D2 and the laptop anyway it's just a 4 deck play-out system really so it would never show.

Unless your mixer died...;)

[Sapphire Disco]

Unless your mixer died...;)

What my Denon dying never ;)
I do carry a small back up mixer as well :)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

What my Denon dying never ;)


I'm sure Danno thought the same. His went bang after 3 months.

[Sapphire Disco]

I'm sure Danno thought the same. His went bang after 3 months.

You never know do you, I've got one that's quite new and one that's about 5 years old they both are good, did Danno's go whilst he was working ?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

You never know do you, I've got one that's quite new and one that's about 5 years old they both are good, did Danno's go whilst he was working ?

I think it did - he's mentioned it before. The reason I knew about it, is because he bought it brand new from me....:eek: :D

[DJ Tony McQue]

Following on from advice on this thread, I have just ordered one of these:

http://www.reloopdj.com/product_info.php/info/p457_Reloop-SMP-1-USB.html

In theory, I will have my entire music library ready to go on either 2 x 64GB SD cards or a hard drive. Can't believe this unit is only £199 so I am half expecting it to be a lemon. It looks similar to the DJ Tech/American DJ media players but accepts high capacity SD card and has a USB port. Not much info on the web from other users so will report back if anyone is interested.

[Tony Scott]

Following on from advice on this thread, I have just ordered one of these:

http://www.reloopdj.com/product_info.php/info/p457_Reloop-SMP-1-USB.html

In theory, I will have my entire music library ready to go on either 2 x 64GB SD cards or a hard drive. Can't believe this unit is only £199 so I am half expecting it to be a lemon. It looks similar to the DJ Tech/American DJ media players but accepts high capacity SD card and has a USB port. Not much info on the web from other users so will report back if anyone is interested.

It says on the spec it only supports up to 32GB SD cards?

[WWDJ]

Just 2 x HD2500, 1 x Lap top....if they go....give up and go home. :D :D :D :D

Same as ... plan is go 2 x laptops and 1 x HD2500 going forward as soon as i can afford a new shiny laptop. At which point there will be a 'slightly worn' HD2500 up for sale ... Watch this space.

[DJ Tony McQue]

It says on the spec it only supports up to 32GB SD cards?

Well spotted, should have said 2 x 32GB cards which is still pretty decent. There is also the option of a 500GB USB stick which might just do it. :)

I got a call last night to say as it is such a new unit, they are not in stock yet and won't arrive until next week. :(

[simonp]

If the Macbook Pro died on me I'd just use the CDJ-400's with the Memory sticks I pre-prepare - I've got a standard set of sticks and normally load 2 up with relevent tunes to the gig I'm doing. I also carry two CD carry cases full of generic music to use with the 400's.
If the 400s or Mixer die on me I also have an Omni-controller with the back up gear.
I do have a spare mixer but never remember to take it on the road with me TBH
Oh, and then there's the Numark NS7 which just lurks around like an ugly distant family member that's no good to man nor beast (why on earth did they jump into bed with Serato and not Traktor, in fact even the god awful VDJ would have been better!!)