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What's your backup?
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What's your backup?

Zuck 6:17 PM - 1 November, 2009
I've been using Scratch Live for a few years and now I've been using Itch. I do mobile deejaying (wedding, industry gigs, b-day parties) as well as and I'm always freaked out that I'll be at a gig and my VCI won't work or my computer will go down.

So I'm wondering what other dj's out there are using as a backup incase the unthinkable happens.
DeRon Juan 7:02 PM - 1 November, 2009
i basically have 2 of everything... 2 macbooks 2 external hard drives.. if that don get me thru the night then i need to stop djn
Discobee 7:06 PM - 1 November, 2009
- Preloaded Ipods or mp3 players
- premixed CDs that I've made
- bringing an extra CD player (if you're only using VCI)
- extra vinyls (if you use turntables)
- for weddings, double-up on mp3 discs or CDs
- use internal mode if controller goes down
- some have even packed an extra laptop with Serato loaded on it
skinnyguy 10:42 PM - 1 November, 2009
a good pair of running shoes
Psyphris 10:56 PM - 1 November, 2009
Quote:
a good pair of running shoes

And an assistant who is both slower than you and expendable.
Hawk 11:34 PM - 1 November, 2009
I carry six control vinyls and since I just upgraded to a 17 inch macbook pro, my old Powerbook G4 is now my backup and goes to all gigs. Prior to the upgrade, I had several pre-mixed collections on my iPod that were always ready to go.
ZESH! 11:55 PM - 1 November, 2009
My best impression of a Human Beat Box
mastermind 12:01 AM - 2 November, 2009
a mariachi scream!!!!
jbnyc 12:03 AM - 2 November, 2009
i always thought about it, i use cdj's for mobile events, so if one breaks i can always dj with one, and if the laptop breaks,either i take my wife's macbook that is backed exactly as mine lol, and since im a freak i take another amp, cause thats my main concern, what if my amp goes? so i carry extra stuff to events and feel dumb but at least i feel secure.
ZESH! 12:11 AM - 2 November, 2009
Quote:
My best impression of a Human Beat Box

No seriously,

I use an MP3 player with some mixes that last anywhere between 60 to 80 minutes
automagp68 1:02 AM - 2 November, 2009
Quote:
i basically have 2 of everything... 2 macbooks 2 external hard drives.. if that don get me thru the night then i need to stop djn

Me too

If both my macs die both hard drives and two denon 4500 all at once i should just pack up and go home. lol
Dj.Mojo 1:12 AM - 2 November, 2009
I got a spare band in my trunk.
mastermind 1:34 AM - 2 November, 2009
on the real.. I use time machine to back up daily. Once a week i use super duper to do a clone of my HD. That is the back up of my back up
Marty Mcfly 7:10 AM - 2 November, 2009
serato was supposed to make the load lighter but i end up carrying more stuff than i used to.

carry a bag of vinyl and a big wallet of cds incase shit goes down.
really should get another hard drive to bring to gigs.
sl1200 10:34 AM - 2 November, 2009
I do mainly club gigs so I carry my CD bag (300 CD's) it's pretty heavy but has saved me on a few occasions. I do carry an extra laptop when ever a Vista update creates goes wrong.
sl1200 10:35 AM - 2 November, 2009
do mainly club gigs so I carry my CD bag (300 CD's) it's pretty heavy but has saved me on a few occasions. I do carry an extra laptop when ever a Vista update goes wrong
Zuck 3:31 PM - 2 November, 2009
Deja Vu!
Zuck 3:42 PM - 2 November, 2009
Quote:
serato was supposed to make the load lighter but i end up carrying more stuff than i used to.

Yeah, the older I get the less I want to carry but I felt like I'm taking more just incase something goes wrong.

The clubs easy because they usually have CDJ's and a mixer already there. I just bring some MP3 CD's arranged by BPM as a backup. My hat's off to you vinyl guys. You have to bring needles and crates of vinyl with you.

I bought Itch thinking that would lighten my load but if the VCI goes down your fucked cause there is no internal mode on Itch. I run the vci through another mixer and I have two ipods hooked up incase the vci goes down (I know...LAME) but if I'm gonna bring my 2 CDJ's with me I might as well bring Scratch instead of Itch.
V-Mag 9:07 AM - 3 November, 2009
I always have my backup Macbook and backup external HD. I also have made my own Control CD's with the signal and backup tracks on both CD's.

For Mobile DJ's, Always sell that you have a backup when it comes to meeting w/ clients!
Hassle 1:09 PM - 3 November, 2009
a couple of hard pipe hittin niggas with a couple of pliers and a blowtorch.

and 2 Lacie 500GB's and a couple of pieces of vinyl.
Zuck 3:59 PM - 3 November, 2009
LOL!
Certified Quality Entertainment 6:04 PM - 3 November, 2009
Quote:


For Mobile DJ's, Always sell that you have a backup when it comes to meeting w/ clients!


+10000000
Logisticalstyles 6:06 PM - 3 November, 2009
CDs a crate of vinyl, and an ipod loaded with a few mixes and any songs that are required for the event I am DJing.
AMF 6:26 PM - 3 November, 2009
Quote:
a couple of hard pipe hittin niggas with a couple of pliers and a blowtorch.

and 2 Lacie 500GB's and a couple of pieces of vinyl.

x2
ral 7:16 PM - 3 November, 2009
clubs, i used to bring 500cd case. now, just a few cd and some mixed in ipod, for the just incase

anyone bringin extra mixer / extra speaker for mobile? wonderin what's the life span of ttm57
Dj Nyce 3:14 PM - 4 November, 2009
i backup the laptop to external and backup the backup. but thats at the crib. i take one laptop with me to the gigs. so if the laptop goes...cancel christmas.
DJ Special K 5:33 AM - 5 November, 2009
I have an external hard-drive which is bootable and an exact clone of my internal harddrive. Of course this only protects me from harddrive failure which is the usual case of crashes. I use a MAC by the way so no crazy weekly Windows or Virus updates. If the external harddrive solution does not work I will whip out my IPOD touch which has mixes and the top songs I would play in a night.
Pete Moss 4:12 PM - 5 November, 2009
I copied my time code CDs into a mix CD so that if my computer's giving me grief, I can just hit track 2 and instantly have music.
Zuck 4:36 PM - 5 November, 2009
Quote:
I have an external hard-drive which is bootable and an exact clone of my internal harddrive.

I've thought about doing this but haven't yet. I don't have any experience loading an operating system off an external before or even how to set that up but I guess it's time to learn.
mikep 5:38 PM - 5 November, 2009
I have 2 backup copies of my "c" drive and 2 external music drives. I can use the music drives on the laptop (main music drive is second internal on laptop) or connected to my 3700s.
I also put the time code and requested songs (mainly for weddings) on 2 thumbdrives on the 3700s.
I also carry my cd binders and extra rack with amp, mixer, and 2 dn-s1200s.
I definitely mention my multi-level backups to clients.
SK1 10:02 PM - 11 November, 2009
I just started selling my backup in meetings with clients. Then my backup crashed on me a few days before the gig. Luckily I got it back up and running with all music before the gig.
I think it's funny how I just started using it as a selling point and it died on me.

But it goes like this... MBP for main, PC Laptop for back up, Ipod as backup to the backup pc.
Zuck 4:42 PM - 12 November, 2009
Right now I set up my CDJ's and my mixer & I set up my VCI and MAC, plus I have an ipod and my iphone. After doing 8 gigs in a row, many of them with double setups and and multiple gigs in a day my back was screaming. I think I'm done with the CDj's and Scratch, I'm really starting to dig Itch. It's quick and easy to cue when doing Grand Entrances and such. I think I'm gonna get the Xone:DX. Then I'll have my Mac Pro, Macbook, VCI-300, Xone:DX, two mixer boards (Mackie & Yamaha), Ipod & iphone and I'll call it a day. My back will thank me.
Caramac 4:03 PM - 13 November, 2009
This is my back up.

www.legendsofamerica.com
Blazin Vybes 4:18 PM - 13 November, 2009
Quote:
I've been using Scratch Live for a few years and now I've been using Itch. I do mobile deejaying (wedding, industry gigs, b-day parties) as well as and I'm always freaked out that I'll be at a gig and my VCI won't work or my computer will go down.

So I'm wondering what other dj's out there are using as a backup incase the unthinkable happens.


actually i made my own controll cds w/ mini versions of tracks i play which works when other djs have to swap i can still start a set while rewiring or in event laptop acts funny. i have 50 tracks on that cd so usually more than enough time
Zuck 8:37 PM - 13 November, 2009
So your control signal track is on the same cd as other, regular, music tracks? That's brilliant! Never thought to do that. Thanks for the idea.

Hey Caramac, do you pay those guys in whisky? lol, the image of those guys hanging out behind the dj both spitting dip is crackin me up.
DJ Prinvale` 9:06 PM - 13 November, 2009
this with 4TB's inside it: www.drobo.com
Zuck 9:10 PM - 13 November, 2009
wow. "No Headache Data Redundancy" is at the top of the page, that's one hell of a backup.
Caramac 10:44 AM - 14 November, 2009
Quote:
So your control signal track is on the same cd as other, regular, music tracks? That's brilliant! Never thought to do that. Thanks for the idea.

Hey Caramac, do you pay those guys in whisky? lol, the image of those guys hanging out behind the dj both spitting dip is crackin me up.


Yessir. And when they are there I get less requests. Guns tend to scare people.
LilSwann 6:11 PM - 14 November, 2009
that Drobo is hot!!!
DJ MON 12:16 AM - 15 November, 2009
My external hard drive went down last nite, brought in my backup, still no go, then called in my backup macbook. stress! great party in the end. phew
DJ Prinvale` 12:56 AM - 15 November, 2009
Quote:
that Drobo is hot!!!


greatest invention ever!

I use it as my media server storage as well. All my movies/music/tv shows are on it
LilSwann 2:34 PM - 15 November, 2009
Quote:
Quote:
that Drobo is hot!!!


greatest invention ever!

I use it as my media server storage as well. All my movies/music/tv shows are on it

can you use the drives inside separately like one drive for time machine and another for just media or one for as a boot up drive?
DJ Prinvale` 7:51 PM - 15 November, 2009
I'm not sure if you could partition it or not. I just made one giant array and called it a day. Haven't touched it since
LilSwann 7:55 PM - 15 November, 2009
^^well i guess i'll have to find out even if i can't it's still an awesome storage solution