This is not my area of expertise, so I'm hoping some of you may be able to point me in the right direction.
I'm looking for software that allows me to create a playlist (no, not iTunes) to manage house music and announcements in a convention hall forum. Preferably, I'd like something that can also be controlled remotely by iPhone/iPad. Here's the scenario:
We're running a benefit show here, and I'm the engineer for the main stage. We do this every year, but I'm changing up some of my gear this year and starting to think a little more progressively. We have live entertainment throughout each day during the show, but I run house music (feeds to mains and to the house/ceiling system) during down time and we have pre-recorded announcements that run at scheduled times throughout the day as well. I use iTunes, which is great, but it's completely manual when I need to rearrange the list or switch from house music to announcements.
I'm getting a new FOH console that will allow me remote control of all functions via iPad, which is fantastic as I can walk the room during setup and sound check, and tweak the monitors from the stage without having to call back to someone in the booth. It got me thinking that I might be able to do other things remotely, too, since I'll have a private Wi-Fi network set up just for the PA system (no Internet connection, just for control of the console). As it stands, I have to be at my desk to run announcements, but it's also the hardest place to hear the house system and it also means that I can't roam too far during down time.
So, the solution I seek would allow me to access a Mac remotely to control a playlist. I can access and control the console, so I can mix for the house system from a more ideal location, but it would be nice to be able to play MP3 files from the same spot. DJ software is not the right solution. I'm not looping or sequencing... no dubstep, no scratch mixing. My needs are very basic: create, rearrange, and play MP3 lists with remote access.
I've considered taking my Apple TV with me and using that, but this is also a little more complicated and impractical. I haven't ruled it out completely, but I'd rather have an independent software solution if there is such a beast out there.
I've been searching the 'Net, and keep coming up with DJ software that doesn't fit my needs. Anyone have a lead on something like this?
I'm looking for software that allows me to create a playlist (no, not iTunes) to manage house music and announcements in a convention hall forum. Preferably, I'd like something that can also be controlled remotely by iPhone/iPad. Here's the scenario:
We're running a benefit show here, and I'm the engineer for the main stage. We do this every year, but I'm changing up some of my gear this year and starting to think a little more progressively. We have live entertainment throughout each day during the show, but I run house music (feeds to mains and to the house/ceiling system) during down time and we have pre-recorded announcements that run at scheduled times throughout the day as well. I use iTunes, which is great, but it's completely manual when I need to rearrange the list or switch from house music to announcements.
I'm getting a new FOH console that will allow me remote control of all functions via iPad, which is fantastic as I can walk the room during setup and sound check, and tweak the monitors from the stage without having to call back to someone in the booth. It got me thinking that I might be able to do other things remotely, too, since I'll have a private Wi-Fi network set up just for the PA system (no Internet connection, just for control of the console). As it stands, I have to be at my desk to run announcements, but it's also the hardest place to hear the house system and it also means that I can't roam too far during down time.
So, the solution I seek would allow me to access a Mac remotely to control a playlist. I can access and control the console, so I can mix for the house system from a more ideal location, but it would be nice to be able to play MP3 files from the same spot. DJ software is not the right solution. I'm not looping or sequencing... no dubstep, no scratch mixing. My needs are very basic: create, rearrange, and play MP3 lists with remote access.
I've considered taking my Apple TV with me and using that, but this is also a little more complicated and impractical. I haven't ruled it out completely, but I'd rather have an independent software solution if there is such a beast out there.
I've been searching the 'Net, and keep coming up with DJ software that doesn't fit my needs. Anyone have a lead on something like this?
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