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Topic: Building a dedicated VDJ Computer-Suggestions?

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A friend and I are looking into building a dedicated system to run VDJ on. It's going to get mounted in a rig so it will be able to be used mobile with an external monitor.

What should we be putting in there for specs, memory, ram, vid cards etc. that you computer tech savvy peeps can suggest. We are sparing no expense and want a rock solid unit.

Any suggestions appreciated and welcomed.

Cheers!
 
Posted Wed 10 Jun 09 @ 6:24 pm
It doesn't have to cost you a lot of money.

I have a 3 year old shuttle that has had 3 sets of drives (holds 4), 2 processors, a memory upgrade and next week a new power supply just for grins.
Run a 7600gt video card and all I do is video with this machine.
It fits neatly inside my low profile console with a 19" monitor that rides in a wide screen padded laptop bag.

If its worthy of those kinds of upgrades, its solid.
I run an oem xp pro version and have zero problems.

Pictures of the build are in my blog
Its changed a lot since then.
Now has a dn 4500, maudio ftp, video splitter and the monitor.
 
mp3jrick wrote :
next week a new power supply just for grins.


i did the PSU upgrade in my SN25p when i upgaded my graphics to a gf7950. now its the same shuttle, but a GF9800 (athlon 64x2 4200)


mine over heated once and killed the gf7950 card, and now it wont work with 2 memory chips!!!

but things work fine on 1gb ram :)
 
I use a Mirco ATX Asus M2NPV-VM mothernboard - (no longer produced)

Has an AMD Athon dual on it, 2 Gigs of ram

The motherboard runs dual video VGA so I Video mix directly off the motherboard. Been using it for almost 2 years with vista home premium, (OEM version) haven't updated the O/S at all (it has not seen the internet since I activated the copy of vista) only changed out the music/video storage drive - now up to 1TB

Like Rick I've done video shows of about 6-10 hours in length. Plus the odd week end at any nightclub that gives me a call.

It's mounted in a 2U rack case and sits with my other gear in a handy portable SKB DJ Capsule. Although I've orderd a PCI-E riser card so I can mount a Video card in the case sideways - now that the Motherboard is out of production I'd feel better if I had a separate video card in there.


The only advice you really need to take away from these posts is this:

1) Assemble the computer yourself (if you know how)
2) Buy an OEM version of your operating system
3) Run it for a week or two before giging with it - in as close to real world conditions as possible.


This is the important one.
Once it's running fine - DO NOT screw with it.
don't change settings
don't "UPDATE" it
don't take it online


IF it ain't broke - DON'T FIX IT
 
I will be running my Denon HC4500, X500 mixer in the rig along with it. Was having issues with my laptop, but all has been good lately (knock on wood-lol) I run VDJ minimum 4 nights a week, so reliability is the key issue.

Must say though loving the program and have sold many other dj's on the program who have bought it. So where's my commission check-lol
 
Desktop pc's don't cause ground loop hum either...
 
Marcel,

I'm in the process of upgrading to a shuttle, contemplating Vista regular or the OEM. You mentioned don't update it. Why, so I can understand? Don't we need update info for Vista?

I reviewing the pro's/con's of OEM.

I appreciate yours & Rick advise. Thank you.
 
FLeX69 wrote :
Marcel,

I'm in the process of upgrading to a shuttle, contemplating Vista regular or the OEM. You mentioned don't update it. Why, so I can understand? Don't we need update info for Vista?

I reviewing the pro's/con's of OEM.

I appreciate yours & Rick advise. Thank you.



simple answer - most updates are for security, or mundane computing things that have no effect for DJ'ing.

If the computer Never goes online, never does anything else but DJ - then there's no need to perform the updates. Once you install your hardware, drivers, etc.... Then leave it alone, unless there is a very good reason.
 
Got it, thanks.
 
The biggest reason to use an OEM operating system is you lose the bloatware that comes with factory installed systems.
These programs run in idle mode but still tie up your system.

Look at your task manager in XP at the number of processes.
My system runs 26 processes, yours is probably 40 even conservatively.
 
I wasn't aware of that...That will definitely help in my decision. Thank you.
 


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