The only potential downside is if the nas itself goes down, which is unlikely - but it is still a potential. In this scenario however, you're back at Block 1.
Building A Podium Style DJ System
- Thread starter DJ Bobcat
- Start date
Yes... The NAS is just a computer, so the hardware can fail just like any other computer. It’s not likely to have a software failure though. I HAVE thought about it though, and I’ll probably clone a backup of the NAS and carry it in my PC Repair/Parts bag (along with spare mouse, keyboard, DVDRW drive, etc.). I’d pretty much have to do that since the MUSIC will be on the NAS. OR... I could simply carry an External USB drive and plug it into the Main music computer if the NAS failed.
Do you really need a full backup system live? I've never seen a system crash in the past 10-15 years.
I’ve been doing this for nearly 5 years, and have had only ONE computer incident. At my very first event, I was DJing on a Virtual Machine on a laptop, and the laptop locked up. I suspect there was a memory leak and all the RAM was consumed. I had no backup, so it took a couple of minutes (with no music playing) to reboot and start playing music again. It was fine for the rest of the event, but that was a MOST unpleasant experience. I have NOT used VM’s or that laptop since, and I’ve had backup computers ever since as well.
The risk of a total failure is low, but not zero. After all, my Dell Optiplex 7440 AIO in my Small System failed and required a motherboard replacement. Dell came to my house and replaced it, but it could have just as easily occurred at an event as it did when I went to use it to practice. Murphy is at work here... If you have no backup, your computer will fail. If you have a backup, you’ll never need it.[emoji1]
Since space is tight, why not go for the 1 computer, 1 hot tablet/phone backup .. and second computer/NUC in a case or the car if needed.
yeah...i keep an mp3 player with the evenings music loaded on it at the ready... it can get me a few minutes to reboot or...worse case...i could finish the night with it... it wouldnt be fun...but it would work.... i agree a full second computer on board is overkill...but peace of mind is golden...and im not the one who has to lug it
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I could surely do that. I already have the tablet ready, and that’s why I like the Bluetooth feature I have in both of my systems (and now in my new PreSonus mixer). The reason I like these small (Nano) computers is that they CAN be easily installed in the system and pre-wired, so you don’t have to be hooking stuff up on the fly. At just 4.5”x4.5”x2”, they don’t require much space. Less even than the Zotac Nano computers in my current Large System. Also, keep in mind that I run my DMX software on one of my Zotac’s, as well as having it ready to backup my main DJ computer.
LUGGING it????[emoji1] One of these Intel NUC computers weighs 2.7 pounds. EVEN Mix would be able to LUG that!!![emoji1]
If you need a 2nd unit for lighting, then it makes sense.
How do you get the internet access to your router at a gig, though? It's not a hotspot, correct?
I don’t currently carry a backup computer for my DMX computer. I can put my lights on Sound Activated if that computer crashes.
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Still watching for the right Denon MC7000. Seems they’re all priced at $800 or more right now, and I’ve sorta set my limit at $700 for a good used one. Maybe I need to up my budget a hundred dollars?[emoji1] I was just pointing out a controller in another thread for $200 and thinking to myself that $200 is not really that much, so the additional $100 is only half of that.[emoji1] Still, it’s hard for me to pay $800 for a controller I don’t really NEED. I have two I’m not even using anymore; actually 3 if I count my American Audio DP2. I wanna be fiscally responsible (actually my wife wants me to be), but I’m beginning to think my budget for the MC7000 is unrealistic.
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Got nothin’ to do today, so I’m just messin’ around with the gear I bought to test as possible components for a Podium Style System (that I haven’t decided if I’m gonna build). The weather sucks, so I’m hangin’ out inside today. Here's my setup...
... Currently using my DDJ-T1 and a portable hard drive, which I'll eventually replace with a Denon MC7000 and a NAS. In fact I might build the NAS today. Here's my current concern though... That's a 4 foot wide table and there's not much space remaining. It's almost 40" from the edge of the controller to the edge of the PreSonus mixer, and that does not include any wireless mic system(s). Here's a pic of my original plan...
.... which has some space on both sides and in the back for cables and other small components. The computers, wireless mic system(s), power strips, and Ethernet switch would have to go underneath the equipment showing.
It looks like the top of the podium will have to be at least 48" wide. Is that too wide?
... Currently using my DDJ-T1 and a portable hard drive, which I'll eventually replace with a Denon MC7000 and a NAS. In fact I might build the NAS today. Here's my current concern though... That's a 4 foot wide table and there's not much space remaining. It's almost 40" from the edge of the controller to the edge of the PreSonus mixer, and that does not include any wireless mic system(s). Here's a pic of my original plan...
.... which has some space on both sides and in the back for cables and other small components. The computers, wireless mic system(s), power strips, and Ethernet switch would have to go underneath the equipment showing.
It looks like the top of the podium will have to be at least 48" wide. Is that too wide?
Yep... a Denon MC7000 is a little more than an inch wider than my DDJ-T1, so pretty similar in size. Although the MC7000 is also 2 inches larger from front to back also, so that means I’ll have less keyboard space unless I create some kind of a shelf or drawer. I need 40” to fit the controller and mixer side by side, which leaves 4 inches on each side if I have a 4 foot wide top on my Podium. That still seems like a HUGE Podium. The table I use for my Small System is only 30” wide and my large rack is pretty close to that size as well.
I saw a video where the guy built a booth with a pull out drawer that looked pretty cool...
I’m looking at my current design and it’s NOWHERE NEAR that sophisticated.
Comments???
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very cool set up!
The camera man was a little slow tho...very odd...like he was sleepy
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It's cool, but it reminds me of a big rear projection TV I used to own 15 years ago. Not sure how I would feel about standing behind something that looked like a big rear projection TV????
It's cool, but it reminds me of a big rear projection TV I used to own 15 years ago. Not sure how I would feel about standing behind something that looked like a big rear projection TV????
had one like that too....lolol...it really does! bahaha
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Really going to be tough with one person when you get a venue with a few stairs or gravel walkways.
Are you referring to the big screen DJ booth in the video???... If so, I agree. I have a 65” TV, and it’s 53” wide. That’s big... too big. If you’re talking about my 48” wide podium, I think that would be too big also. It needs to be smaller, but not sure yet how to do that with a BIG controller, a mixer, and mic receiver(s), plus computers and an Ethernet switch. Either some gear has gotta go, or I need to figure out something else.
Not only that, height could be an issue too. My Small System, with the small rack sitting atop my table is 42” high. So if my Podium is about that same height, it won’t fit through either the rear or side doors of my minivan. My Large System only fits because it’s two pieces, and my Small System fits because the table folds up and the case the rack goes in is only 25” tall. So the podium will have to have some compression mechanism, or it would need to have the ability to separate into two pieces (like a base and a top). Once you get into having to reassemble it during setup, it starts adding to the setup time, and I already think my setup takes too much time.
I’m glad I setup the gear on my 4 foot table though, because it really helped me understand the challenges I’m facing if I’m gonna try to build a podium style system.