Grawolph Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Ok, I've been running a show for several years. I only have 64 channels and it takes me awhile to get things programmed each year because I always put my lights up differently.That aside, my basic question is this: I use my laptop for the majority of the show design, and then transfer the files that I've created to a standalone computer that runs the shows. They are networked and I can simply mirror the files from one to the other computer and for the most part, it works. However, has anyone done this? If so, how successfully? And if successfully, what do you do to ensure you don't have any modifications to make once you get to the destination computer?I find that once in awhile, I have to tweak the sequences on the destination computer even though the file structure is identical on both computers. Any suggestions? Comments? Opinions?Thanks for your help ahead of time.....(Hmmm... guess I better change my signature....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericnagel Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 I haven't done this, but have you looked at something like DropBox? Save the files to your Dropbox, and they'll be synced to the other computer (running the show).Now, I'm not sure if the show will reload the sequences, or just use what's in memory... that's what my concern would be.And if you edit a sequence while it's playing... all bets are off. That'll be like dividing by zero Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texascop Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 I don't know how much expertise you have with computers or networks but I can explain what I have done. I have a home network with a home server. I use my laptop and my desktop to work on my sequences. I use the desktop when I need more room on the screen. I have a third PC in the garage that runs my show. I have two folders on my server, one for production sequences and one for development/testing. Those folders are shared so I can get to them from any of the 3 computers. I don't move a sequence to the production folder until I have tested it. The computer in the garage runs the show from the production folder. I also back up those folders on a regular basis. I have never had any issues running my show. I just make sure I have the same version of LOR on all three computers.You could do the same thing without a server in the mix. Just create the folders on one of your PC's and make it them shared folders. You then map a drive to the folders on each PC. You would point LOR to the production mapped drive on the PC that runs the show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulXmas Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Thats what I do!I partition my drive so I have a C and D drive. My LOR files go into the root of D drive on both computers.As long as you have all your files at the same location on both computers you should be fine.Make sure you test before going live! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cenote Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 PaulXmas wrote: Thats what I do!I partition my drive so I have a C and D drive. My LOR files go into the root of D drive on both computers.As long as you have all your files at the same location on both computers you should be fine.Make sure you test before going live!Dido, I actually sequence between three computers, and my show computer is totally different 4th. Durring show, I do disconnect all "outside" connections on the show computer. But I back-up this year for the first time, on a separate hard drive with a folder named for each machine, after loosing all my data from previous years because I updated all machines operating systems this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjdurrant Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 I use VMWare workstation.. my LOR computer is a XP VM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwertz Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 I use my laptop to sequence and a dedicated desktop to run the show. I specify the same (non default) file location on both PCs (e.g. C:1wertzLOR). As long as I copy the files to the same locations on the show PC, I've never had a problem. I create sequences, shows, and schedules and copy them over all the time.One thing that might be a problem is if you save sequences or music in your "My Documents" area. A slight difference in LogIn names, permissions, or directory names could really muck things up. I make copies of my MP3s and keep them within the specified directory to avoid this (they usually have to be converted to fixed bit rate anyway).One thing that has burned me, is the stupid XP Home OS on the show PC seems to be able to create a file with permissions that prevent me from copying it back to my laptop. I can edit files that were placed on it and bring them back fine, I just can't bring back the occasional new one I create on there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstorms Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 At my home I have a centralized NAS where I keep all our files, photos, documents, and most importantly LOR files. This way I can develop on one machine and use on the other.The only caveat to this or in any way using multiple machines. Is that LOR stores static paths for everything. So you need the same drive letter and same path to your images, music, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texascop Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 My Home Server is like a NAS in some respects. But, you can map a drive letter on the PC to the folder on the NAS and do the same on the other PC's using the same drive letter and the pathing is not an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wbottomley Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Grawolph wrote:Ok, I've been running a show for several years. I only have 64 channels and it takes me awhile to get things programmed each year because I always put my lights up differently.That aside, my basic question is this: I use my laptop for the majority of the show design, and then transfer the files that I've created to a standalone computer that runs the shows. They are networked and I can simply mirror the files from one to the other computer and for the most part, it works. However, has anyone done this? If so, how successfully? And if successfully, what do you do to ensure you don't have any modifications to make once you get to the destination computer?I find that once in awhile, I have to tweak the sequences on the destination computer even though the file structure is identical on both computers. Any suggestions? Comments? Opinions?Thanks for your help ahead of time.....(Hmmm... guess I better change my signature....)I agree with other use Dropbox. I've been using them for over a year and it works perfect!Here's a link to them: http://db.tt/dRY9Rlh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bret LeFevre Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I use 2 computers and I program on one and use the other for the show. I do 2 things. I use Dropbox which makes it so easy to move files from computer to computer, and I use a jump drive that I copy my sequences to. So I always have 4 copies of my sequences. I had a computer crash last Christmas season and only had the one computer. I ran out and bought one and set it up. With in a few hours, I was up and running with all my sequences and no one knew what happened. I was only using a jump drive for backup then. Always remember, BACKUP ALL THE TIME!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Gonzales Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 I have 3 computers, 1 for development, one for testing, and one to actually operate the show. Whenever I create anything (sequence, show, planning documentation, etc) on one computer I synch a copy of it to a backup drive, then synch the othr computers to the backup drive. I use SynchToy to do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s.w.electrical Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Why dont you just go windows basic and use "WINDOWS REMOTE DESKTOP". I have a pc in my roof that is set to boot on ac available so i just turn on the light switch at my meter board that supply's my residential LOR boards and bang it boots all by its self, use my laptop to remote log in and bang it is like i am sitting in front of that computerMy LOR pc is an i7 with plenty of grunt and my laptop is an old school windows xp home laptop with wireless so i can program on the couch then walk out the front and test the show in real time with no file transfers.Don't get me wrong this may be a very inefficient way to go about using LOR but it works well for me, best of all i can use the WRD app on my ipad to log into my LOR pc and to test sequences =D life is so simple at times! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazydave Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 (edited) The only think you have to be careful about Remote login is that the audio will disable on the show computer...but it re-enables when you log out Edited September 13, 2012 by Crazydave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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