Advice needed: Backup for live performance

[evilantal]

Didn't really know where to put this, so Computer Setup it is

I gig with a rackmount PC, VSTs and a live host regularly and normally don't have any problems. A little while ago, a harddrive SATA cable came loose during transport due to vibration (rolling over paved stones on a trolley).
Not earthshattering as problems go, but took me about 10-15 minutes to figure out what the problem was and fix it with audience waiting. It was a no-soundcheck kind of gig.

Started me thinking about a fall-back scenario in case of catastrophic computer failure, though. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to spend thousands of euros on hardware I'll maybe never use and I don't want to carry a lot of extra, heavy gear to every gig.
I have a Kawai digital piano that I gig with, so I'm covered so far as piano, e-piano, organ, vibes and acoustic strings go. I have my rack set up that I can quickly plug in two cables to switch from the pc to the piano as a soundsource (or even connect beforehand and just bring the piano's volume up).

What I would be missing then is synth sounds (leads, basses, pads, strings).

I thought of a few scenario's for a possible cost-effective solution:
- An older laptop I have lying around with a light version of the rig.
Pros: Wouldn't have to buy extra hardware or software
Cons: Still dependent on a computer, have to program new songs on two rigs with different settings
- A cheapish analog desktop/module synth (Pulse2, Rocket, ?)
Pros: Small form factor, analog sounds maybe more usable in regular situation
Cons: Most affordable ones are monophonic so only good for leads and basses, have to get a small mixer to mix with the piano
- A synth with built in audio inputs (M-Audio Venom, Novation X-Station, ?)
Pros: No mixer necessary to mix with the piano sound, pads and synthstrings in addition to monophonic sounds
Cons: The appealing ones have only 49 keys (Venom) or are discontinued (X-Station)
- An old second hand synth (which one?)
Pros: Cheap, lots of sounds
Cons: Need extra mixer, heavy and not as many options to control the normal rig as the Novation ReMOTE SL 61 I use now

What's your opinion on this? What do you guys do? Any help appreciated.

Current rig:
Rackmount PC, Kawai ES100, Novation ReMOTE SL 61

[evilantal]

I think I'm gonna go with a Novation X-Station 61, but how to find one?
Anyone have one for sale?

[thereynolds]

Evilantal,

What solution do you use for a monitor with your rackmount PC? Where do you put the monitor? I'm thinking at some point I may need to move to more of a rackmount PC... I've found them to be more reliable (and obviously more flexible in terms of add ins) than a laptop.

I use an OpenLabs Neko for my gigging keyboard (massively upgraded over the last 8 years since I bought it). I carry a laptop with me in the event a disaster strikes. It's not a quick changeover, but it's better than nothing! I use an M-Audio 88 for my 2nd board, just a midi controller into the Neko. So Neko is generating 100% of my sounds. Might go with the new M-Audio 88 that has some sounds built in as an emergency sound source. Certainly wouldn't be the same gig if I had to go with just basic sounds, but again, better than nothing...

[evilantal]

Hey thereynolds,

That's my main reason for staying with a rackmoun system. Plus it's cheaper, more powerful, easier to upgrade individual components, multiple harddrives and I only need one system for at home DAW use and gig use.
Downside is, it weighs considerably more, but still not as much as a guitarists combo amp

Funny that you use a Neko. I use brainspawn forte as my live host, the same system that's built into the Neko's.

For a monitor I use an Android tablet that connects to the rack through an adhoc WiFi network from an USB WiFi stick. I then use a desktop streaming app to monitor and control the rack (touchscreen). I found iDisplay the most stable and it can also connect when the tablet is connected with USB.

Feel free to PM me for more details.

I found an X-Station 61 on eBay by the way