Digital Survival Pack

If this has been discussed before, will someone point me to the thread.

I'm making the move to digital ---- laptop & external hard drive.

What all do you have in your digital survival pack?

One thing I always carried, and would do so again if I ever get a chance to DJ again... :sqerr:


A cheap little DVD player, that plays MP3 files, and a couple DVDs full of backup MP3s, and a printed list of what is on them.

I've never had a laptop fail at a gig, but I always carried the above, and kept it plugged into the mixer and ready to go. They're small, so you can hide them easily, yet still have access, very inexpensive, and if you get two, you could even do the whole gig with them.

I used to do a lot of premixed sets, in which I would do the mixing at home using Sound Forge, or the like into one large MP3 file, and had a number of sets at the ready, and put them on the DVD as well.

Other than that, lots of extra cables that go between yer sound card and mixer -- as they generally don't last long to begin with, and I always have a habit of ruining them (Murphy's Law was made for me) :sqlaugh:

A cheap little DVD player, that plays MP3 files, and a couple DVDs full of backup MP3s, and a printed list of what is on them.




With the price of a cheap 2 gig Mp3 player it's a better option.

Other things to carry:

Exact back up copy of External Hard Drive

Back Up Note Book, I have 2 that are identical.

Back up external sound card.

Extra USB cables.

cam pretty much hit it perfectly.

the only thing i do differently is i dont carry 2 externals. I leave the back up at home.

the top 10,000 songs are on each laptop's hd. i rarely even break out the external.

Don't forget your lawyers business card just in case the RIAA wants to start junk :D:D:D:D:D (Sorry couldn't resist ;) )

Don't forget audio adapters, 1/8" to 1/4", RCA to 1/4", etc. and a ground loop isolator just in case you get the dreaded noise.

Also, the .59 cent, 3 prong to 2 prong adapter :)

Since I have no 3 prong grounded outlets in my building, I have quite a few spares ;)

For what it's worth, I did get most of the pennies out of the fuse box -- I think...


BTW Cam, the reason I don't use those little MP3 players, is because they cost a lot of money, get lost easy, my eyesight is not great, and the DVD players are about $20 each. So, I can get a six pack :)

After incurring a power failure last night (janitor decided to plug in 3 coke machines into my outlet after I had set up) and having to reboot everything, I think I'm going to be upgrading my laptop harddrive and uploading the library onto it and purchasing a back-up laptop, leaving the external harddrive at home.

There's a learning curve as I go digital......but, man it's fun!! :) :) :)

After incurring a power failure last night (janitor decided to plug in 3 coke machines into my outlet after I had set up) and having to reboot everything, I think I'm going to be upgrading my laptop harddrive and uploading the library onto it and purchasing a back-up laptop, leaving the external harddrive at home.

There's a learning curve as I go digital......but, man it's fun!! :) :) :)

Smart move Randy :)

I don't use the externals when I do my backyard parties and such, everything is loaded on the lappys internal drive. I also replaced the CD drive with an additional battery, so it can go about 4 hours without grid power.

You can't really hear it when the sound system is without power -- but at least no need to reboot the computer... :)

After incurring a power failure last night (janitor decided to plug in 3 coke machines into my outlet after I had set up) and having to reboot everything, I think I'm going to be upgrading my laptop harddrive and uploading the library onto it and purchasing a back-up laptop, leaving the external harddrive at home.

There's a learning curve as I go digital......but, man it's fun!! :) :) :)

First upgrade completed - 120 gig hard drive now installed.

Tonight I transfer the music library and re-install my RockIt.

A battery backup is a good idea. Especially if you are using a desktop for parties. For laptop users, you may be able to keep running after a power loss but what happens to your external hard drive (if you use one).

That's one reason I went internal.

Let me also agree with Cam on the MP3 player. Besides a backup laptop and external hardrive, I carry a pcoket-sized MP3 player that has the Top 200 songs of all time along with the current Top 20 from Country, Rap, Adult Contemporary. I have never had to use it, but it does provide a security blanket. Just make a note to update the Top 20 lists on occasion...:sqwink:

One thing I always carried, and would do so again if I ever get a chance to DJ again... :sqerr:


A cheap little DVD player, that plays MP3 files, and a couple DVDs full of backup MP3s, and a printed list of what is on them.

I've never had a laptop fail at a gig, but I always carried the above, and kept it plugged into the mixer and ready to go. They're small, so you can hide them easily, yet still have access, very inexpensive, and if you get two, you could even do the whole gig with them.

I used to do a lot of premixed sets, in which I would do the mixing at home using Sound Forge, or the like into one large MP3 file, and had a number of sets at the ready, and put them on the DVD as well.

Other than that, lots of extra cables that go between yer sound card and mixer -- as they generally don't last long to begin with, and I always have a habit of ruining them (Murphy's Law was made for me) :sqlaugh:
Rick do you compress your MP3 files in anyway?

How many MP3 files do you try to carry along and what utility(s) do you use to print the contents.

Rick do you compress your MP3 files in anyway?

No, just regular MP3s.


How many MP3 files do you try to carry along and what utility(s) do you use to print the contents.

Just a couple DVDs worth. You can fit 1000-1500 on one DVD, so basically just two DVDs, that are identical in content. Put one in each player, and you have the full selection available on both for mixing, and only one printed list to deal with.

For my lists, I used MP3 Collector in the past, as it would quickly index the files, and gave me a variety of options to print out, save as HTML, etc.

I could also do it with our BPM ProScan program, and just export the list to Excel and print as well. :)

I use the DVD player back up also. A word to the wise though make sure when using a cheap DVD player you carry batteries for the remote

I speak from experience :sqembarrassed:

Randy - here's what I have:

Rack pc w/ 15" monitor...I use the Creative Xfi card for sound. Internal drives in a Raid 1? (If one drive goes down, the other kicks in)
Dell Laptop - this sits next to it on the table and is on (use the internal drive)...connected to the usb cards on my Numark CM200 usb mixer
3rd laptop - bagged.....
2 Xternal drives
2 Turtle beach Micro usb sound cards
cables to connect (if necessary) to the lappy's onboard sound.
xtra keyboard and mouse.

I was going to get a new lappy to replace the rack.....I'm debating though and may look at this

http://us.shuttle.com/X100.aspx

Ultimately I'll likely go with the laptop...

Rick - that is a great idea...the dvd player. I do carry one for videos/montages. I never though of that.....

A battery backup is a good idea. Especially if you are using a desktop for parties. For laptop users, you may be able to keep running after a power loss but what happens to your external hard drive (if you use one).

The UPS is great for hiccups..My xternal drive goes into that as well.....

First upgrade completed - 120 gig hard drive now installed.

Tonight I transfer the music library and re-install my RockIt.

Ok guys....I know I saw this somewhere (I believe here) but I can't seem to find the information. I'm looking for an easy way to sync my external and internal hard drives.

I've been using MS Sync Toy for awhile now, seems to work well :)

I was using FolderSync, but the above works better, IMHO...

http://www.goodsync.com/?affid=goog8

Goodsync the best there is using it for years...and cheap but excellent and easy to use..

On those few occasions when I run PC, I carry a CD/MP3 player with a USB port ( such as a Pioneer or a V2-Go). This way I have the option backup music vai disc. MP3 disc, or MP3s from a memory stick if I don't feel like carrying discs.

In my opinion, if you're going to carry a backup hard drive, you may as well carry a backup laptop, because sound and video boards can develop problems too. I just think it's more economical to carry the USB equpped player and a couple of sticks. Use the V2 Go and your total backup cost well under $200, and you have more options.


Also, if using PC, I highly recommend springing for the best carry case you can find. It kills me when someone carries the heart of their show in a crappy vinyl case that offers virtually no protection......