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Sujet: DJing with a desktop? - Page: 1

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I have a laptop, but I don't like the small screen, and it just doesn't feel as smooth as a desktop does to me. If there's space to hide a desktop, wouldn't a 24 inch LCD screen look better than a laptop anyway?
 
Posté Tue 05 Apr 11 @ 11:35 pm
I've got a sony vaio for smaller gigs and kids parties but my main gig rig is a desktop tower on the floor under the table in front of me and my big box of toys ON the table in front of me. If you've got a tablecloth/light panel frontage you'll not see it. The other guys who work for me all use desktops too and they generally sit them on the floor as well.

If it was a big more cramped than that, like you were in a club or something...you could have the tower on your table beside the monitor. It's not that bad...:o)

Keep spinnin'...(",)

P
 
The final choice is yours, but when I was ready to upgrade from a laptop to another laptop, I decided to review the option of full desktop or mini. With many advice from DJ's on this forum, I decided to go wtih an XPC shuttle that I put together. No regrets. I have the PC speed & flexibility to upgrade; It doesn't break the bank; and still light to carry. This is nothing to carry as back in the days. My monitor is only 19". For me perfect for the spaces in the clubs as well as other gigs.

Keep on moving & Keep the music flowing...
 
I use a desktop as well, no regrets, love it and I can easily fix it if I need to with normal off the shelf parts from local stores. Mutiple drive, ETC, the list goes on and it is not that dificult to set up.

Tip though, get some colored electrical tape and mark cables and the USB ports they go in for fast reliable set up. Otherwise you get driver reinstalls and device changes that other complain about here. You will avoid all that if you know the USB ports for each device and speed set up time by eliminating second guessing.
 
Yep, I do this for my laptop setup and enjoy the benefit of a fast no worry SetUp....for years.

Joey...
 
Just get an external monitor, keyboard and mouse into your laptop- "boom" instant desktop. Portable when you want, big screen when you want.

Thats what I run at home.

-David
 
I've been a digital DJ since 2000 and have used laptops, my laptop back in 2000 was top of the range at £1200 and only had 256 memory but it worked great. Now in 2011 you think laptops aren't powerful enough? my latest lappy has 6gb ram, 2gb video ram, 750 hd, i7 etc
 
Hey everyone, after going digital in 2004 AND just simply trying to catch up with every other DJ, it was cost effective for me to go with a desktop. Of course, I wanted my setup to look as professional as I can especially with the site of a desktop, I found that it would be such a hassle to place it on the floor and the time consumption with plugging everything in....here's my current setup as of 2008:

1. Road Runner 12" Coffin Case with Casters

2. Right Side Compartment: Acer Aspire AX1700-U3700A Desktop PC Pentium dual-core E2220(2.40GHz) 4GB DDR2 640GB HDD Capacity NVIDIA GeForce G100 Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit. Desktop is slimline PC with VGA and HDMI

3. Center Compartment: Hercules RMX (had to cut out a portion of divider for RMX to sit flush in, also sitting foam cutout to level with top of dividers. Just above the RMX is a mini keyboard. LCD monitor is mounted on a rigged laptop stand that I was able to attach a tv wallmount to the back. Connected via VGA

4. Left Side Compartment: Mackie DFX6 Mixer, Oddysey Laptop Stand with Gateway laptop (for backup) as well as Karaoke & Slideshows, Laptop shelf holds my cordless mic receiver.

From the Audience's point of view, the setup looks awesome and very high tech-ish. I've had tons of compliments on my setup.



DJ Fiva - www.facebook.com/djfivat1
 
I use desktop on big gigs too, Imac 21". For small ones I just use MacbookPro 13".
 
Fivamusic...i like the idea of that...but isn't the case heavy?

I'm looking at something similar for my new setup for use with Firetext. A karaoke/video system boxed like yours. I'll be using my desktop as it's a better spec than my Sony Vaio which is running a bit high maitenance when using Firetext unfortunately. However, needs must...:o)

Keep spinnin'...(",)

P
 
I only use desktops that I build, and a 22' monitor. I have never been into a club that I can't set up in. I have five internal hard drives, and all my gigs are video. I have a laptop as a backup, but don't even set it up most of the time (do not try this at home, kids). I get jealous sometimes at these guys, with their little setups, but then remember all the things I can do that they can't. One other guy in my club is using VDJ, but has a MAC. He is always complaining about hiccups and not being able to use all the plug-ins, and multiple effects that I use. I can replace anything in a matter of an hour or two. I use this case. You will find that it is modded a lot, I am not that enthusiastic.
 
Is there anywhere to get that case? I want one and the site you posted says discontinued.
 
Try here, and take a look at these. They may be in the process of upgrading, as it's a small US company.
 
Pionara wrote :
Fivamusic...i like the idea of that...but isn't the case heavy?

I'm looking at something similar for my new setup for use with Firetext. A karaoke/video system boxed like yours. I'll be using my desktop as it's a better spec than my Sony Vaio which is running a bit high maitenance when using Firetext unfortunately. However, needs must...:o)

Keep spinnin'...(",)

P


Hey Pionara, the case is pretty heavy even with everything in it. Luckily, I only have to handle it from my car onto my cart, then from my cart onto my table. I have a conversion hand cart/dolly which I use to wheel everything from my car to where I setup. The cart itself can hold up to 400-500lbs. I place two of my 18" subs on cart, then my coffin case on top of that, then my 2 mains on top of that and my stands lying across (length-wise) on top the mains. One load, one trip......Definitely heavy coffin case, so I never carry that thing.
 
jimspinnin wrote :
Is there anywhere to get that case? I want one and the site you posted says discontinued.


Sorry, but I have some bad news. He is having trouble getting the case built. Check here.
 
Yeah I just read that. I signed up for the forum and posted about being interested when he finds a new builder, that case is exactly what I want.
 
Fiva...thanks for the reply.

I'm out first thing tomorrow morning to source components for my new system:

Quad Core CPU
1gb video card
3-4 gig ram
2 hard drives...1 smaller (100 gig or so) for os an vdj and one bigger (1-2tb) for media
Keyboard/mouse

Already got 3 monitors i can use to hook up

And i've just acquired 7 (32 bit version) so will be putting that on the system. Can't wait to get started!!!

If anybody has any tips/hints/advice/suggestions, etc etc etc, please let me know before i go and spend the money. My other gig machine is quad core with 2 gig ram and 1gb video card and cost me less than £300...brilliant!!! It's XP pro which has been solid for this gig rig. my only major concern in all honesty is 7.

So...let 'em rip guys...advise me!!!

Cheers...and keep spinnin'...(",)

P
 
I have been using Win 7 64 bit now on my custom rig with not 1 problem for just over a year.

Win 7 64 bit
Asus Rampage II gene motherboard
Oz 750 watt power supply
Oz 6 gig triple channel memory
Ati Radeon HD 4850 1 gig video card
i7-960 processor
2 - 2tb for content 1 - 500 gig for system hard drives

Very fast and runs great....
 
I have been on the fence for a while on this subject. I just cant see taking out more gear and plugging in more stuff when I get to a gig. I know desktops are built more beefy but the Sony Vaio laptop I use is so darn rock solid and bullet proof I just can't force myself to make a change yet. I imagine if the laptop ever started giving me guff taking out a desktop would be my next move.
 
Hi all

I don't think the laptop/desktop issue can be about power or performance now. As Charlie mentioned laptops are now achieving quite incredible performance for there size and even budget models are more than powerfull enouch to use with VDJ.

I do think that there is an issue with build and also flexibility + the number of external devices that enevitably end up having to hang off the ports on a laptop. Too many wires PSU's and other faff.
When you buy a laptop you are to some extent stuck with it. Shure you can update the memory and hdd easy enough but thats where it stops.

I use a custom built 19" rackmount industrial PC. It is built to deal with the hard life on the road and built with exactly what "I" want inside it. My machine started off as a Petium with an 80 gig HDD and 2 gig of ram+ onboard sound and graphics. I usualy upgrade some part of this machine every year or so. It is now a million miles from its first spec but the basic unit has remained the same. If the graphics card fails or I decide to instal a second or higher performance card, I can change it. If I want more storage space I can fit an extra HDD. If I want to update it is so mutch more flexible. It now has twin selectable OPSYS drives so if the HDD fails I can be up and running again with the flick of a switch. If I were doing club work I would probably use a laptop due to space restrictions. But for my purposes I chose the "desktop path". Yes its heavy but so are the speakers and all the other rack mount equipment I use so the weight saving is not an issue for me. Being tough and unburstable "is"

I think you have to buy what suits your own requirements.

Daz
 
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