winyard
I specialise in weddings and usually get a request list from each client a week or so prior to the wedding with some tunes that they'd like played at their event.
I use a windows machine with the latest version of VDJ for gigs, with no other software on there, and this is ONLY used for gigs.
My home computer is also a windows machine, which has the latest version of iTunes installed.
I have an external drive that is an exact backup of my main gig machine, connected to my home machine.
Is there a way that I can create a playlist on my home machine for the requests for upcoming events, and then transfer that playlist to the gig machine?
Would I be able to copy that playlist to a usb drive and then copy that to the gig machine? or would I need to have the gig machine turned on and have iTunes installed on it and then use the "Home sharing" feature activated on both the home machine and gig machine to solve this?
Thanks in advance.
I use a windows machine with the latest version of VDJ for gigs, with no other software on there, and this is ONLY used for gigs.
My home computer is also a windows machine, which has the latest version of iTunes installed.
I have an external drive that is an exact backup of my main gig machine, connected to my home machine.
Is there a way that I can create a playlist on my home machine for the requests for upcoming events, and then transfer that playlist to the gig machine?
Would I be able to copy that playlist to a usb drive and then copy that to the gig machine? or would I need to have the gig machine turned on and have iTunes installed on it and then use the "Home sharing" feature activated on both the home machine and gig machine to solve this?
Thanks in advance.
Posted Tue 02 Oct 12 @ 7:30 pm
JoeyKJ
Yes, providing all those files exist exactly the way they are in your other machine..
1. Import your playlist into iTunes on your gig rig, go to the imported playlist you just created.
2. Make sure all file are present, if not you may have to import those that don't show.
3. Open VDJ and make a virtual folder using the exact playlist name you used in iTunes.
4. Once all are imported hightlight that list in iTunes from within VDJ folder panel.
5. When all those files show in your VDJ browser, Highlight all and Drag to your newly created virtual folder.
5. If you like to create a playlist just drag all VF files into your AutoMix panel, arrange the way you like it to play and save from there..
Good Luck,
Joey...
1. Import your playlist into iTunes on your gig rig, go to the imported playlist you just created.
2. Make sure all file are present, if not you may have to import those that don't show.
3. Open VDJ and make a virtual folder using the exact playlist name you used in iTunes.
4. Once all are imported hightlight that list in iTunes from within VDJ folder panel.
5. When all those files show in your VDJ browser, Highlight all and Drag to your newly created virtual folder.
5. If you like to create a playlist just drag all VF files into your AutoMix panel, arrange the way you like it to play and save from there..
Good Luck,
Joey...
Posted Tue 02 Oct 12 @ 9:39 pm
winyard
Hi Joey, thanks for your reply.
Couple of questions.
With the solution you have suggested, would iTunes need to be installed on the gig machine?
You say to import my playlist. I'm not sure how to go about that (as I don't have a great knowledge of iTunes at present), are you able to explain how to do that?
Many thanks again.
Couple of questions.
With the solution you have suggested, would iTunes need to be installed on the gig machine?
You say to import my playlist. I'm not sure how to go about that (as I don't have a great knowledge of iTunes at present), are you able to explain how to do that?
Many thanks again.
Posted Tue 02 Oct 12 @ 10:24 pm
blckjck
I do something similar to this. I work from my main machine, then duplicate it to the backup. I let iTunes manage my music library. I also set up various lists, like Billboard charts, etc... And, when I bring in new music, iTunes has the recently added smart list. After I am done doing all the work in iTunes, I fire up VDJ. I then duplicate those lists in virtual folders in VDJ. After all this is done I close both programs and hook up my external.
The tricky part is keeping everything synced. Since you have a windows machine, then you can use Robocopy from the command prompt. There is also a GUI front end for it available if you search. My main machine has the internal hard drive partitioned so that my "C:" drive is only for programs and the VDJ folder in the documents folder (this is important to note as the netsearch cache and other information, plugins, scroll text files, etc need to be synced as well). My "D:" drive is where all of my media files are. I use robocopy to sync the directories with the /MIR option. This will add/update/DELETE anything that I have changed in my master folder "D:\music" for example. I sync all my media and the VirtualDJ folder. I then copy my library file from "D:" to the external.
I move the external over to the backup PC. I use the external for the media storage on the backup, it has been renamed so that it has the same letter as the media partition on the main computer. I do that so I don't have to mess with path names in .m3u playlists, like the history files. I again robocopy the VirtualDJ folder, this time using the external as the master.
When it's all said and done, I have identical systems, right down to the history lists. Hope this helps.
EDIT: A couple of notes
I recommend running the plugin/tools installers on the second machine. If you use the profile switcher, you need to create profiles with the same name in the second PC before syncing. If you do not, then it will not see all of your profiles.
The tricky part is keeping everything synced. Since you have a windows machine, then you can use Robocopy from the command prompt. There is also a GUI front end for it available if you search. My main machine has the internal hard drive partitioned so that my "C:" drive is only for programs and the VDJ folder in the documents folder (this is important to note as the netsearch cache and other information, plugins, scroll text files, etc need to be synced as well). My "D:" drive is where all of my media files are. I use robocopy to sync the directories with the /MIR option. This will add/update/DELETE anything that I have changed in my master folder "D:\music" for example. I sync all my media and the VirtualDJ folder. I then copy my library file from "D:" to the external.
I move the external over to the backup PC. I use the external for the media storage on the backup, it has been renamed so that it has the same letter as the media partition on the main computer. I do that so I don't have to mess with path names in .m3u playlists, like the history files. I again robocopy the VirtualDJ folder, this time using the external as the master.
When it's all said and done, I have identical systems, right down to the history lists. Hope this helps.
EDIT: A couple of notes
I recommend running the plugin/tools installers on the second machine. If you use the profile switcher, you need to create profiles with the same name in the second PC before syncing. If you do not, then it will not see all of your profiles.
Posted Wed 03 Oct 12 @ 2:54 am
JoeyKJ
If you rip and download all your media within iTunes then...Yes, install iTunes in your Gig mechine I did and have no issues at all.
Now I do understand that since your using another machine for this then you only want and need only those files you plan to use in your Gig Rig, so it's a little more complicated in order to do this, but in the end it will be a cleaner transition..But the filing system that iTunes uses is not practicle or user friendly, so I've come up with a not so complicated way to do this, not entirely, but close..
1. Attach an external drive to your main mechine, go under management and give it the letter "Z"
2. Move your iTunes library on your Main mechine to the External Drive "Z"., then do line 6, 7 & 8
3. Once everything is good with the new location, go to the next step.
4. Then clone that "Z" Drive into another external drive that you'll be using in your gigs, If you want or use what you have.
5. First Install iTunes on your Gig Rig, Once Installed, then plug in your New "Z" drive. (Make sure it shows "Z" under "My Computer")
6. Start up iTunes, go to "Edit" then "preferences"
7. Click on "Advanced" tab and click "Change"
8. Find your "Z" drive in the explorer window and point to the iTunes\iTunes Music folder you created.
9. You should be good to go from there..
10. In the end you wind up with identical iTunes library on both drives, which will have to be synced so here is a free program that will do just that, and it's easy to use.. http://www.latshawsystems.com/ProductDetails_FileSynchronizer.aspx
Let me know how this worked out for you...
Now I do understand that since your using another machine for this then you only want and need only those files you plan to use in your Gig Rig, so it's a little more complicated in order to do this, but in the end it will be a cleaner transition..But the filing system that iTunes uses is not practicle or user friendly, so I've come up with a not so complicated way to do this, not entirely, but close..
1. Attach an external drive to your main mechine, go under management and give it the letter "Z"
2. Move your iTunes library on your Main mechine to the External Drive "Z"., then do line 6, 7 & 8
3. Once everything is good with the new location, go to the next step.
4. Then clone that "Z" Drive into another external drive that you'll be using in your gigs, If you want or use what you have.
5. First Install iTunes on your Gig Rig, Once Installed, then plug in your New "Z" drive. (Make sure it shows "Z" under "My Computer")
6. Start up iTunes, go to "Edit" then "preferences"
7. Click on "Advanced" tab and click "Change"
8. Find your "Z" drive in the explorer window and point to the iTunes\iTunes Music folder you created.
9. You should be good to go from there..
10. In the end you wind up with identical iTunes library on both drives, which will have to be synced so here is a free program that will do just that, and it's easy to use.. http://www.latshawsystems.com/ProductDetails_FileSynchronizer.aspx
Let me know how this worked out for you...
Posted Wed 03 Oct 12 @ 11:48 am
discostore
Itunes gives you 3 options for exporting playlist you need to choose M3U file save to the virtual dj playlist folder located in the virtual dj folder in your doucments open VDJ and the playlist should be there, you will need to do this everytime you update and the songs will appear.
to export playlists click on the playlist and then right click then click on export and go from there.
to export playlists click on the playlist and then right click then click on export and go from there.
Posted Fri 12 Oct 12 @ 3:38 am
yucelsisman
1)Set up a home network between your gig comp and home comp.
2)Have itunes at both. Both itunes will see their library. There is an option to see which track you have at your home comp but you dont at your gig comp. Select it then copy abcent tracks to your gig comp. (carry and drop at itunes, it will copy them)
3)Export playlist at your home comp itunes. Copy it to you gig comp.
4)Import that playlist to your gig comp itunes. You are done.
5)Open vdj and you ll see same playlist.
2)Have itunes at both. Both itunes will see their library. There is an option to see which track you have at your home comp but you dont at your gig comp. Select it then copy abcent tracks to your gig comp. (carry and drop at itunes, it will copy them)
3)Export playlist at your home comp itunes. Copy it to you gig comp.
4)Import that playlist to your gig comp itunes. You are done.
5)Open vdj and you ll see same playlist.
Posted Fri 12 Oct 12 @ 9:21 am