sonisphere
Hi guys,
I recently made some very simple config changes to my Apple laptop that I am very happy with so I thought would share it with you. You can use this concept with PC as well.
To avoid issues at a gigs I keep my Apple Macbook Pro DJ laptop lean and mean with strictly Virtual DJ installed. I migrated from a PC laptop to Apple out of frustration with crashes half of the time. This was probably due to many applications I had running in it. When I bought the MAC Pro I dedicated this powerful machine to Virtual DJ only and it worked. For more than a year I had not had a single crash until Dec 20th. On Dec 19th I picked up my Pioneer DDJ-SX (absolutely love this controller) which comes with SeratoVideo and I was itching to try it. Not only did I break rule number one but I did this before one of my highest paying corporate gigs so far.
Boomm!!! My laptop crashes three times. Minutes before the gig I am franticly uninstalling and virus scanning my Macbook. The system was unstable all night even after uninstalling. I don't know why. Thankfully I got through the night without noticeable issue.
The system never was the same after BTW. Not blaming anyone just relaying what happen.
The other challenge was it seemed a waste to have such a powerful laptop dedicated to one program.
Seeing that I was going to wipe the laptop clean anyway the solution was to create separate partitions for the various applications I would like to use (VirtualDJ, Serato, Final Cut Pro and Aperature. With SSD drives partitions have very little affect on your system performance. I created a 64GB Virtual DJ partition, 64 GB Serato partition and a 64GB Everything else partition and left the remaining 460GB as a data drive for my MP3's.
When I boot up I simply hold down option and choose the partition I want to boot in and vio-la a optimized OS for just for that application. Virtual DJ is at its fastest latency with video and performing like a charm. It is like having three computers in one. I feel like I have a new laptop and I am getting a lot more out of my machine without the fear upsetting the balance and clean optimization of my VirtualDJ partition. I especially love using this fantastic machine with Final Cut Pro X now.
How do you partition your drive you ask? It very simply with many video tutorial online.
-boot from your OS disk by pressing "c" when you hear the Apple boot chime
-Select Disk utilities at the top of the screen
-Format your internal drive (backup everything you need of-course before hand)
-Select partition and create multiple partitions (you can adjust the size of each partition)
-Install a fresh version of your operating system on each partition
Done..
Partitioning your drive is much different from creating user profiles as programs are still running in the background when you switch from user to user.
Anyways I hope this helps you to get more out of your laptop.
Cheers.
I recently made some very simple config changes to my Apple laptop that I am very happy with so I thought would share it with you. You can use this concept with PC as well.
To avoid issues at a gigs I keep my Apple Macbook Pro DJ laptop lean and mean with strictly Virtual DJ installed. I migrated from a PC laptop to Apple out of frustration with crashes half of the time. This was probably due to many applications I had running in it. When I bought the MAC Pro I dedicated this powerful machine to Virtual DJ only and it worked. For more than a year I had not had a single crash until Dec 20th. On Dec 19th I picked up my Pioneer DDJ-SX (absolutely love this controller) which comes with SeratoVideo and I was itching to try it. Not only did I break rule number one but I did this before one of my highest paying corporate gigs so far.
Boomm!!! My laptop crashes three times. Minutes before the gig I am franticly uninstalling and virus scanning my Macbook. The system was unstable all night even after uninstalling. I don't know why. Thankfully I got through the night without noticeable issue.
The system never was the same after BTW. Not blaming anyone just relaying what happen.
The other challenge was it seemed a waste to have such a powerful laptop dedicated to one program.
Seeing that I was going to wipe the laptop clean anyway the solution was to create separate partitions for the various applications I would like to use (VirtualDJ, Serato, Final Cut Pro and Aperature. With SSD drives partitions have very little affect on your system performance. I created a 64GB Virtual DJ partition, 64 GB Serato partition and a 64GB Everything else partition and left the remaining 460GB as a data drive for my MP3's.
When I boot up I simply hold down option and choose the partition I want to boot in and vio-la a optimized OS for just for that application. Virtual DJ is at its fastest latency with video and performing like a charm. It is like having three computers in one. I feel like I have a new laptop and I am getting a lot more out of my machine without the fear upsetting the balance and clean optimization of my VirtualDJ partition. I especially love using this fantastic machine with Final Cut Pro X now.
How do you partition your drive you ask? It very simply with many video tutorial online.
-boot from your OS disk by pressing "c" when you hear the Apple boot chime
-Select Disk utilities at the top of the screen
-Format your internal drive (backup everything you need of-course before hand)
-Select partition and create multiple partitions (you can adjust the size of each partition)
-Install a fresh version of your operating system on each partition
Done..
Partitioning your drive is much different from creating user profiles as programs are still running in the background when you switch from user to user.
Anyways I hope this helps you to get more out of your laptop.
Cheers.
Posté Wed 09 Jan 13 @ 10:05 pm
mixinmuzik
Let this be a lesson learned, good thing everything went well throughout the night. How's the pioneer ddj sx? I'm considering of getting one. BTW what's the specs on your mac? I'm getting another one with a 2.7ghz I7 8gb hi res glossy nVidia 1gb & changing the hard drive to a hybrid ssd.
Posté Thu 10 Jan 13 @ 6:00 pm
sonisphere
Does anyone know how to remove the default mountain lion apps like photobooth maybe even safari?
I want a skeleton OSfor virtual Dj.
I am running a MacBook Pro 2.66 ghz 17" with 4gb ram with 640gb solid state drive and 2 external 1tb media drives.
I want a skeleton OSfor virtual Dj.
I am running a MacBook Pro 2.66 ghz 17" with 4gb ram with 640gb solid state drive and 2 external 1tb media drives.
Posté Sat 12 Jan 13 @ 9:28 am
sonisphere
Regarding DDj-Sx I love it. It is perfect.
On a scale of 1 to 10 ten being perfect:
Size 10
Weight 10
Optics 10 what the customer thinks when he sees you rig
Ergonomic 9.5 I scored 9 here because the browser knob is far
Responsiveness 10
Button features 10
Sound quality 10
Over all features 10
Price 10 what you get including Serato even though I won't use it is great. I like knowing Serato so I can pay on a Serato rig if need too
On a scale of 1 to 10 ten being perfect:
Size 10
Weight 10
Optics 10 what the customer thinks when he sees you rig
Ergonomic 9.5 I scored 9 here because the browser knob is far
Responsiveness 10
Button features 10
Sound quality 10
Over all features 10
Price 10 what you get including Serato even though I won't use it is great. I like knowing Serato so I can pay on a Serato rig if need too
Posté Sat 12 Jan 13 @ 9:37 am
arielfm22
sonisphere wrote :
Regarding DDj-Sx I love it. It is perfect.
On a scale of 1 to 10 ten being perfect:
Size 10
Weight 10
Optics 10 what the customer thinks when he sees you rig
Ergonomic 9.5 I scored 9 here because the browser knob is far
Responsiveness 10
Button features 10
Sound quality 10
Over all features 10
Price 10 what you get including Serato even though I won't use it is great. I like knowing Serato so I can pay on a Serato rig if need too
On a scale of 1 to 10 ten being perfect:
Size 10
Weight 10
Optics 10 what the customer thinks when he sees you rig
Ergonomic 9.5 I scored 9 here because the browser knob is far
Responsiveness 10
Button features 10
Sound quality 10
Over all features 10
Price 10 what you get including Serato even though I won't use it is great. I like knowing Serato so I can pay on a Serato rig if need too
Hey sonisphere,
Where did you get your SX? Me, still waiting for it from Long&McQuade, they said it won't arrive 'til end of January. Can't wait to put my hands on it.
Posté Sat 12 Jan 13 @ 6:46 pm
Dee P
Thanks for the insight and advise, sonisphere! I am sorry you had to learn the hard (and expensive) way... On the other hand, knowledge and experience is never a waste. Fact is that, what you mentioned above is an essential and basic step that every DJ has to take in order to have a reliable set-up. One does not need a 2000$ laptop MAC or Windows, any professional DJ needs a separate partition for professional use only... This is 95% of the times the solution to all problems!
Posté Sat 12 Jan 13 @ 8:10 pm
sonisphere
Regarding where I got ddi-sx, L&M didn't even know what the DDJ-SX was until I called head office and said "Listen guys you better put and order in and sku in your system the DDJ-SX as this item is going to blow up". At the same time I put in probably the first order of this DDJ-SX.
DArin
DArin
Posté Sat 12 Jan 13 @ 9:09 pm
pseft
darin...wouldnt bootcamp with W7 b the same
Posté Sun 13 Jan 13 @ 10:12 pm
sonisphere
Regarding if Bootcamp would be the same with windows 7 yes it would and you have a windows partition as well. I prefer Apple OS. When customers are playing for flawless service I find simple is best for me anyway.
Darin
Darin
Posté Tue 15 Jan 13 @ 8:24 pm
Stretchincanada
just saw the full info on the updating the laptop for djing in a class im taking. there is a video on youtube with instructions called dubspot.. look it up.. learned a lot.
Posté Tue 15 Jan 13 @ 8:34 pm