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Forum: General Discussion

Topic: Suitable Laptops For VDJ.

由于该帖子已年深日久，可能包含陈旧过时或描述错误的信息。

I have heard DJ's here saying that they recommend laptop beasts, the motto is don't spend a little, when you can spend a lot.
My laptop started life as an Asus Windows Vista, 2.0Ghz Intel celeron with 1Gb memory and a 120GB HDD.
I upgraded it to Win 7, 2.4Ghz dual core cpu, 1000Gb HDD, 5Gb of memory.
Some of the upgrades were to support my resource hungry Traktor software, but even now it does not meet the minimum specifications for their latest version.
In a current thread I have been surprised to find many experienced DJ's are also successfully using older laptops.
My laptop used to be optimised to run DJ software. For instance I disabled all the Internet connections, and never run a firewall, or antivirus software.

Recently I have subscribed to content unlimited which demands an Internet connection.
Obviously I installed a firewall, and an antivirus program, the free Windows software.
I expected audio glitches and drop outs.
My old laptop has been running very well!
Others have suggested that dual core laptops will run video successfully.
I have not tried that, but I believe these people.

Content unlimited, and a mobile phone hotspot, in conjunction with a modest song library containing the classic hits of yesteryear can fulfil a DJ's song requirements.
The cost for the just audio plan is $9.99 per month.
There is no need to buy VDJ 8 software, while you are trying to find out if you want to be a digital DJ you can just subscribe to VirtualDJ 8 PRO at a cost of $19 per month.
With respect to content unlimited I have found it be excellent for providing recent chart hits, and remixes.
My only reservation is that I have only been using this system for a couple of weeks.
However it has been excellent.

I always thought VDJ was the best DJ software, but now I'm getting a little closer to realising its true potential, I'm amazed.
Don't be afraid to be a DJ on the cheap, you can still match the mega spending beasty boys.
 
发表时间 Sun 28 Jun 15 @ 7:21 am
A further thought which has recently entered my head is that when using content unlimited very large HDD may not be needed.
I'm thinking that for karaoke, and audio a 250Gb HDD is ample along with suitable subscription plans.
Video will demand more space.
I also think you can just put your modest song library containing the classic hits of yesteryear in the normal Windows My Music folder.
Keep things simple.
 
I think what makes the difference is how hard you push your machine, are you using video, if so are you using multiple fx's. Maybe throwing some projection mapping in there. The type of controller your using I think would also make a difference. A controller like an NS7 is power hungry where as a Numark MixTrack pro is pretty simple and could probably be ran on anything.

We've talked about this so I won't take up to much of your time.

So I think when a newbie is deciding what laptop to get they must factor in their hardware, are they gonna be getting into video, how big their library is, etc, etc.....
 
Some good points by beatbreaker. It is worth checking on the demands made on a laptop by a controller. The manufactures recommended hardware specifications are important.
I use a combination of sources of information when selecting a controller, the Digitaldjtips Controller Guide being the most important. See link http://www.digitaldjtips.com/dj-controllers-guide-2015/. Amazon, and ZZsounds buyer reviews are also quite good. http://www.zzounds.com/cat--DJ-Control-Surfaces-and-Controllers--4041

Here is a link to the hardware needs of VDJ 8....
http://www.virtualdj.com/wiki/Minimum%20system%20requirements.html
 
http://www.numark.com/product/ns7iii

I have been looking at the NS7iii, and it appears to have its own power supply, and it conforms to the USB2.0 standard.
Adion has recently provided some interesting information about the USB2.0 standard. It is more capable than I expected.
The Mixtrack Pro 2 is laptop USB bus powered.

I used a Hercules Steel for years before moving on to the 4mx, and later the Denon product range.
The Hercules controllers were laptop USB bus powered, and indestructible. If I remember right they were ok.

I now suspect controllers are designed to simply conform with the USB2.0 standard, and midi protocols.
If Adion drops in we'll have a top expert available.
 
 
I suppose there must be a limit to the number of effects that any laptop can successfully run simultaneously. One at a time is my preference.
 
After a good deal of thought I came to the conclusion that DJ controllers all conform to the USB2.0 standard, and midi protocols.
As such the choice of controller is not critical to the functioning of a laptop which adopts the USB2.0 standard, or better.

Put simply if their power hungry then they will be equipped with a power supply so as to ensure the USB port is not overloaded.
 
Let's just keep it simple for the sake of the newcomers.
They will not want to be doing projection mapping in their local village hall.
 
Ok how about ASIO drivers then? I have a couple of different sound cards and depending on how low I have the latency set I can see a difference in cpu usage.

My RANE SL 3 is a prime example, when running it a 2ms my cpu jumps up anywhere from 10/15% more.

Well I guess I should say it depends on how well the drivers are written. So yeah I guess I'm wrong in thinking it has to do with the USB ports themselves??

Here's a video I made a while ago with my projector mapping setup, http://youtu.be/_FfpIRr2SEU

These next links are showing some from a PC with VDJ and then a cake I did, lmao!!
https://instagram.com/p/tyC1U5pNr7/
https://instagram.com/p/tOs5qypNl4/
 
There is no limit to the resources that a laptop demands when trying to reduce latency.
Perfect one to one response is impossible.
Hence it becomes a case of what is acceptable.

I personally have never been troubled by latency, but I do not perform intricate scratch routines.
Again, keep it simple for the newcomers.
They can specialize later after they master the basics.
 
 
 
Thanks beatbreaker.

You will not be easy to replace, the young ones will struggle.
 
Naw they'll be fine 👌
 
Just because I argue with you does not mean you do not have my full respect.
I'm just a mobile DJ.
 
I think you both like arguing a lot ;-)
But it's fun reading, and I can certainly learn a lot from it.
 


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