djles.co.uk
Apple claims the new Macbook Pro can get 8-9 hours use from batteries depending on what is being used.
Question : I have been wondering would I be able to run a complete gig from batteries?
Answer : Not a chance! :-)
Last night at my gig I had tried a different setup locating the laptop further away from me than usual. It didn't workout as my USB lead to connect my RMX was too short. So, I relocated back to the usual setup, but, in the change over I forgot to reconnect the mains to the laptop. Doh! 1hour 35 minutes later I got a message onscreen that my laptop battery was low and would soon go into sleep mode. Argh! Quickly plugged in the power lead and all was well for the rest of the night.
I did have my RMX connected which is powered thru USB. I also had my 500gb external HD connected which is also powered thru USB, and I was outputting video to several external Plasma screens. Everything worked as normal until I got the warning message, thank you Apple for the warning message.
I was a little surprised as my previous PC laptops lasted 2 hours on the odd occasions I forgot to switch the power on at the wall socket. Never got a warning message on the PCs though.
Question : I have been wondering would I be able to run a complete gig from batteries?
Answer : Not a chance! :-)
Last night at my gig I had tried a different setup locating the laptop further away from me than usual. It didn't workout as my USB lead to connect my RMX was too short. So, I relocated back to the usual setup, but, in the change over I forgot to reconnect the mains to the laptop. Doh! 1hour 35 minutes later I got a message onscreen that my laptop battery was low and would soon go into sleep mode. Argh! Quickly plugged in the power lead and all was well for the rest of the night.
I did have my RMX connected which is powered thru USB. I also had my 500gb external HD connected which is also powered thru USB, and I was outputting video to several external Plasma screens. Everything worked as normal until I got the warning message, thank you Apple for the warning message.
I was a little surprised as my previous PC laptops lasted 2 hours on the odd occasions I forgot to switch the power on at the wall socket. Never got a warning message on the PCs though.
geposted Sun 01 Aug 10 @ 5:41 am
kradcliffe
If you are using Windows on the Macbook Pro then the battery lasts no time at all. Also depends on the Mac side if you have the two different graphics cards and which one is being used.
I have the 17" Macbook Pro and 3 hours is probably more accurate!
I have the 17" Macbook Pro and 3 hours is probably more accurate!
geposted Sun 01 Aug 10 @ 12:24 pm
djles.co.uk
Ah yeh, using W7 bootcamped. Also I use 2 pluggins (SBDJ Scrolltext & Firetext) on the graphics side as well as running videos. It's the 15" i7 Macbook Pro so, yeh, the Mac side has the two graphics cards.
No worries as I always use from the mains anyway (providing I don't forget lol), was just an observation. :-)
No worries as I always use from the mains anyway (providing I don't forget lol), was just an observation. :-)
geposted Sun 01 Aug 10 @ 1:08 pm
DJRudeDoGG
I too have the new 15" i7 MBP and I was able go over 3.5 hours until the warning popped up. My externals are powered separately, I was running video too and my Pioneer CDJ-400s run on separate power. I am not boot camped however, I'm running the Mac version of VDJ.
DJ RuDe
DJ RuDe
geposted Mon 02 Aug 10 @ 7:32 pm
djles.co.uk
I love the way the Mac warns you of low battery, even on the Bootcamped partition using the PC version.
I once accidentally ran VDJ on a PC laptop a few years ago that was plugged in to the mains, but, I had forgotten to switch on the mains socket. Worked fine for exactly 2 hours then everything stopped dead with blank screens, no warning whatsoever. Took me a few (very pregnant) seconds to realise what had happened and pushed the fader up on my backup CD. Switched on the mains and booted up the laptop.
Forgot my Magic Mouse on Saturday! Managed fine with a combination of the mouse pad and the RMX, still feel more comfortable using the mouse though. Loving this Macbook, the backlit keyboard is a godsend in my dark DJ booth for requests. I play an awful lot of requests every night, often around 35-40 (just checked 38 on Saturday night).
If the free Firetext pluggin ever does get ported to the Mac side (supposed to be in the pipeline), then I will probably switch. For now I will continue to use the PC version for the pluggins. I use a banner of the venue name across the top of my video screens and scrolling text along the bottom for advertising related to the venue.
Cheers
Les
I once accidentally ran VDJ on a PC laptop a few years ago that was plugged in to the mains, but, I had forgotten to switch on the mains socket. Worked fine for exactly 2 hours then everything stopped dead with blank screens, no warning whatsoever. Took me a few (very pregnant) seconds to realise what had happened and pushed the fader up on my backup CD. Switched on the mains and booted up the laptop.
Forgot my Magic Mouse on Saturday! Managed fine with a combination of the mouse pad and the RMX, still feel more comfortable using the mouse though. Loving this Macbook, the backlit keyboard is a godsend in my dark DJ booth for requests. I play an awful lot of requests every night, often around 35-40 (just checked 38 on Saturday night).
If the free Firetext pluggin ever does get ported to the Mac side (supposed to be in the pipeline), then I will probably switch. For now I will continue to use the PC version for the pluggins. I use a banner of the venue name across the top of my video screens and scrolling text along the bottom for advertising related to the venue.
Cheers
Les
geposted Mon 02 Aug 10 @ 8:10 pm
sbangs
If you have a i7 or i5 mac you need to make sure you turn off graphics switching under power options in the OSX control pannel
The mac will use a slower USB path and built in shared graphics card if you use your battery to try to save power. If you turn this off the full graphics and full power USB will be applied. This can be a kicker if your power supply gets knocked out while giging I have found if its not turned off it will stop all usb for a couple of seconds not long but enough to cause any music software to get confused.
The mac will use a slower USB path and built in shared graphics card if you use your battery to try to save power. If you turn this off the full graphics and full power USB will be applied. This can be a kicker if your power supply gets knocked out while giging I have found if its not turned off it will stop all usb for a couple of seconds not long but enough to cause any music software to get confused.
geposted Fri 06 Aug 10 @ 4:57 pm
djles.co.uk
Yeh, I can see the case for the USB being downgraded, but, surely the graphics card is selected within VirtualDJ and I would have thought be forced to be used even under battery power. That would be part of the reason for the battery to expire fairly quickly. I worked normally using the RMX and video output for an hour and 35 minutes before getting the power low message.
I have to say I don't normally work this way, it was accidental. :-)
I have to say I don't normally work this way, it was accidental. :-)
geposted Fri 06 Aug 10 @ 10:36 pm