[QLab] Primary and Back Up Set up.

[soundsman]

I do a lot of Corporate stuff as well. QLab isn't a total replacement  
for the IRs since the hot-key issue is a little more clugey. However,  
this may be dealt with in future software packages... However, I do  
use it a lot, and when your doing a big enough show where you have  
the ability to have everything Q'd up, then it's perfect.

I would be nice to have the option to copy all of the audio files to  
one "Audio Files" folder. However, it is also nice to pull from  
different areas without eating up hard drive space. I always build my  
show by creating an audio files folder with my project and I just  
copy my show files into it. When I go to move stuff to the back up, I  
just move one big folder over to the backup machine. There are a  
number of ways to do this, weather it's as simple as a thumb drive,  
or as active as using Ethernet and Chronosync or something similar.

I like running off the internal drives because it is one less mobile  
connection that could have a problem. Even in my large theater  
designs, I've never had a problem with disk access speeds. However,  
it does mean you need to have enough free HD space. Plus, the  
Firewire & USB bandwidth get's a lot less pressure if they are only  
connected to the audio interface.

For me, the key to running a successful redundant backup system is  
this: Keep as few pieces in the system as possible. This helps make  
sure your backups work, and that you don't need them. I recommend  
using your external drives for file storage, and copy show files to  
your internal drives. When the show is done, backup the entire show  
to your external drive. This system works, eve when last minute  
changes are always happening.

My 2¢,
Mark H

On Nov 4, 2007, at 6:25 AM, Michael McDermott wrote:

> Hello there.  I have used Qlab in the past and I'm thinking of
> selling my Instant Replays and going full into Qlab.  There is one
> pending issue that I have.  I work in the Corporate A/V industry and
> in almost every situation I need a primary and a secondary back up
> machine (in case of failure).  Now here's the situation I'm
> presenting.  What is the best way to set up Qlab so that the machines
> can be identically configured on show sites?  I own a Macbook Pro and
> a Powerbook G4.  I keep all music on external G-Drives one primary
> and one back up (synced via Super Duper).  Now I know that I can name
> the external drive volumes the same, set up the show on the primary
> machine, dupe the external drives then save the workspace on the
> primary machine and move it over to the secondary back up machine.
> This isn't too complex to me but it seems like there could be an
> easier way to do this and here in lies my question.  Is there an
> easier way to make this happen?  Are there many of you out there
> using primary and back up situations like this or are you flying by
> the seat of your pants with only one machine?  There is a program in
> the windows world that offers one of the best features I've seen to
> date.  Spot On lets you build your show (i believe it's audio only)
> but when you save your show file it saves it as a "Package" all audio
> files are contained in one directory, just like Pro-Tools and Logic
> does.  This is a feature that I know doesn't exist in the current
> version of Qlab but it would be a major asset to the program.  I know
> that I would pay premium dollar for this feature and to me it is
> worth way more than the $49 license due to the amount of time it
> would save me on job sites.
>
> Thanks in advance.
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