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View Full Version : Wireless Networking, for D.J applications


soundguy_99
10-06-2007, 06:15 AM
Hey guys,
I don`t know what topic this would fall into, since I don`t really expect an answer if their is any,nor, any conclusion, however I would like to get people's thoughts, on something I think may have interesting possibilities in the d.j/club scene.
A friend was having me do some work, on his wireless network at home. Like many of us we transfer files back and forth from our laptop to desktop and visa-versa. Also like many of us we usually end up listening to music either on the thin laptop speakers, or headphones, with our main sound system, being either tied into our computer system, or our home theater sound system.
While I was working his network, setting up the shared printer and all that it got me thinking. If the laptop is in the same area as his desktop speakers and on the same network, why can`t I share the desktop's soundcard, so that I can send audio data from the laptop to the desktop soundcard, therefore using the sound system that is attached to the desktop's soundcard. After all we share printers on a network, why can`t we do the same thing with soundcards. I should be able to go into either the control pannel or the application I am using, and select a soundcard that is avalible some where on the network, thereby sending data to what ever is connected to that sound card. Even if the music is on another network drive, I should be able to select the music where ever its located and send it wirelessly to any soundcard attached to the network. I understand all the lag issues and all that, but shouldn`t it be possible.
Now heres where it ties into the club scene. I know there are clubs out there with a remote system, where computer system is housed some where in the bar, and the d.j walks around cueing music from any where in the bar.
Now lets take that to the next level, Imagine any control surface, an laptop with pcdj on it, an Ipod device ect, being able to access network drives and devices, receive data from those network locations, and not only be able to manipulate and control that data, but also be able to route that data to any network device (inclusing soundcards) located on the network, and all wirelessly.
A d.j could sit at the bar, with pcdj running on his laptop, and could send music to a soundcard, some where else in the bar, in which it then connected to the club's soundsystem.
Again I am just throwing this out there, Maybe some of you high tech d.j's or computer guys can comment on it.
Now I am not talking about a remote control system for the desktop, I am talking about a fully integrated interface, that works within a network, which could be another device, a laptop ect. , anything that can be placed within that network.
Could it have an impact on the club scene,
Any thoughts is greatly appreciated,
Thanks,
soundguy_99

Josh2001
10-06-2007, 10:38 AM
I'd assume there'd been some utilization of some sort system like this for audio. I know that martin brought out something like this for sending lighting commands wirelessly to intellilights etc.

Coxinator
10-09-2007, 01:53 AM
Hi guys.

The best way I think will work is, set up a remote desktop connection between your laptop and desktop pc. Using your laptop login to your desktop and control everything from there. Just be sure to set it up so the sound on your desktop pc plays out of your desktop pc and is not brought to your laptop, this is a setting you can alter just b4 you connect using remote desktop.
Next step; if you want to play mp3's or music files from your laptop to your desktop, still controlled by your laptop, just create a shared folder to your laptop on your desktop and play it over the network. Hardly any network usage will be used from playing files direct from a network and running a remote desktop session.

I’m sorry this is so confusing but once it is set up it will be so simple and cool.

If you have any questions let me know.

Cheers.
Nummas

kmhunt
01-18-2008, 04:58 AM
I am new to these forums and new to the management sector of nightclub business- but have related experience in several things that tie into it (that isn't why I posted on this thread particularly though). I do have 10 years Network Consulting Experience & if I am understanding your vision correctly the desktop is unnecessary for this. From what I gather you are talking about a Network storage of some capacity holding media files and then the possibility of utilizing those media files with your laptop and pcdj. All that would need to be done for this would have the sound system attached to your laptop and the Network Drive wired by Ethernet 5 feet away in the DJ booth and you are only taking up 5 inches of space with that possible Terrabyte Network Drive.

What can be done for this however would be using a Wireless Router that is Wireless Distribution System enabled & connecting the Network Storage Drive to that. Wireless Distribution System or WDS allows you to connect Wireless Routers to other Wireless Routers thereby expanding your network infrastructure and is way more reliable than a laptop card driving your wireless(I've had WDS links stay up for months on end without one reboot and never lost a connection once). Then you have a STABLE "Wireless" connection to the Internet as well as media access. To further expand upon this you can have media controllers located in various areas of your venue that is either Wireless or Powerline (Networking over Powerlines-actually very economical now) enabled to cut down on IT installation costs. Maintenance if done right is minimal. Take this one step further, make ONE digital copy of each Music & Movie DVD and have TV Output on the media controllers. Now you have an "On Demand" system... you can see the possibilities.

I have done setups where your TV's will follow your cell phone (Bluetooth enabled) as you walk from room to room with either Music or Movies & shut off as you leave. If you want some ideas on media controllers and what may be possible in automation visit www.plutohome.com . They have some really nice concepts that they have been developping over the past few years.

kmhunt

soundguy_99
01-19-2008, 04:22 PM
Hey kmhunt,
Thats awesome,
For the most part I understand what youre saying about the WDS systems, but I am intrigued by the media controllers you mentioned.
The concept of playing media from a network drive is pretty straight forward, but what I was referring too is the ability to play music that is either located on the laptop itself or on another network drive, so that the audio from those music files is being played through the outputs of audio card which located some where else on the network.
Basically play music from pcdj on a laptop, whereby the audio is sent wirelessly to a soundcard connected to a desktop pc, on the network, which in turn is connected to a large scale sound system. I am not talking about remote applications, where via a controller you control the music from a desktop pc behind the d.j booth. I am talking about playing music from a laptop located anywhere within a venue, and have the music go directly to the sound system, via a soundcard behind the d,j booth which of course would be on the wireless network.
I guess an alternative application would be in a coporate setting, where you have a presenter with a power point application. You would give the presenter access to youre wireless network, as well as access to the venues installed sound system, via youre wireless network. Assuming the video feed could be wireless as well, the presenter could have their laptop anywhere within the room, and both the video as well as audio could be routed to their respective places (venues installed projector system, as well as audio system). To think that all you would have to do is to give the presenter access to youre network, and both the audio and video could instantly be hooked into the venues video and audio system.
Thanks again for the reply,
soundguy_99

kmhunt
03-11-2008, 04:43 AM
Best thing I can come up with is desktop hooked to sound equipment and also running PCDJ + Mysql + web server.

Web server has custom interface that requires any device to login first. It then uploads the song to be played to desktop, with realtime interface that mimics PCDJ. Song could be deleted anytime after played if needed. Web server is wired to wireless router also preferably with VPN WPA-PSK security.

This would allow any network device with a web browser & that knows the security credentials(very important) to organize the club's music.


http://www.daolnwod.com/hbsoft-desktop-share-pro.html is another way of doing it.

kmhunt