2 MacBook Pros

[vJ. Snow]

A Turkish kurush (penny) for your thoughts (I'm based in Istanbul)

Does anyone find it makes a major difference to have 2 MacBook Pros on hand for events? I have a chance to get one of the older ones (OS 10.5 plus with Leopard) with all the ports we liked in the past & am trying to decide if I really need a backup.

I already have plenty of controllers, an Edirol mixer, 3 projectors, etc. etc.

Cheers

[VJ BLOCTV]

Originally Posted by vJ. Snow

A Turkish kurush (penny) for your thoughts (I'm based in Istanbul)

Does anyone find it makes a major difference to have 2 MacBook Pros on hand for events? I have a chance to get one of the older ones (OS 10.5 plus with Leopard) with all the ports we liked in the past & am trying to decide if I really need a backup.

I already have plenty of controllers, an Edirol mixer, 3 projectors, etc. etc.

Cheers

I have used 2 at gigs before but running different applications, M8 and VLC. If all you are after is backup and already have a mixer I would save the cash and get a DVD player. That is of course unless you want to use a lot of prepared sets that have complicatred set ups in or 2 live cameras going through your VJ software etc in which 2 laptops could be a huge benefit.

[fryup]

I've done it a couple of times running 2 x Modul8 or Modul8 + VDMX. The last time I did it I was a bit unprepared and it got really confusing. So if you run 2 MBP you have to be really organized. Even if you want to be spontaneous during the show, prepare your stuff so you know what's where and practise. I was mixing through a Edirol V-4 both times.

[sleepytom]

yeah i always used 2 computers when VJing. But I also used a friend to operate the other computer. 2 VJs working together makes a much better show than one person on their own.

oh and its about a million times more fun!

[deepvisual]

I always take two, but one stays in the box.
M8 on the mac doesn't crash.

the risk of not being paid if the show dies, balanced with the hassle of carrying two laptops instead of one??

[Nick Gunn]

I definitely recommend 2 laptops. I just got a macbook pro to run alongside my PC laptop with the intention of using the PC as backup. But it's become an important part of my setup as I can prepare original content and kind of "sketch" on whichever laptop isn't playing out, then switch to it when I've got something appropriate.

So it adds alot in terms of the amount of content I can be playing out.
But if space is an issue and you've NEVER had your macbook crash than a nice compact DVD player with a screen, and a small switcher rather than mixer can work well.

But an extra laptop is a much more professional backup device because if your main laptop fails you don't want to have to just be playing a dvd for the rest of the night.

[many2]

Originally Posted by sleepytom

yeah i always used 2 computers when VJing. But I also used a friend to operate the other computer. 2 VJs working together makes a much better show than one person on their own.

oh and its about a million times more fun!

This is so very true

[bilderbuchi]

indeed it is!

[fryup]

Yeah, 2 VJs makes a better set, so true. And why not add in a third person to control the mixer? I've done that before with good result. Makes you able to focus even more. But the mixer person need to have a good feeling and know what works and what doesn't.

[deepvisual]

but I haven't got any friends...