Running Cantabile on a back-up laptop

[jhelander]

Hi all. I've decided to buy Cantabile performer after succesfully testing the software for two weeks now. I have one outstanding question which I haven't found an answer to during testing or in the forum.

Is it possible to run Cantabile on a back-up laptop (slave) and have it load sessions from a playlist on the master laptop?
Another question is of coarse if I'm allowed to run Cantabile on two computers?

Regards Johan

[humphrey]

Hi Johan,

concerning your last question I can give you a proper answer you find in the later postings in this thread:

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... ey#4123455

Concerning a double PC system: I'm not aware of the possibility to have this available inside cantabile (I could imagine you think of something like an ethernet connection synchronising a master and slave system?).

Only some thoughts on this:

to be really save with a backup system everything (MIDI-Interface, HDDs, soundcard) should be available twice. Additionally this would mean you'd need something to duplicate MIDI-Lines plus a Mixer or audio switch to mute the master and activate the slave in case of a crash. Last not least a UPS should be added to keep soundcards... running when a brown out or lines interrupt occours (even if you use laptops). I think this would lead to a very stable system.

regard, humphrey

[jhelander]

Thanks Humphrey! I understand that it is OK to use Cantabile on several computers as long as you use them one at a time. I will therefore only use the backup laptop if the main one fails. Today, I use a double setup with Ableton Live, one laptop is master and also loads songs and VSTi on to the backup. The backup is not playing, it just sits there if the master one fails. All I have to do if that is the case is to move the USB from my MIDI-keyboard and I'm ready to go. I don't have a UPS
Regards Johan

[humphrey]

Hi Johan,

I agree: I sometimes tend to do thinks near to perfection. The way you handle the situation is a good solution and to be serious: it's much cheaper and much more handy than the setup I described. Sometimes less is more...

kind regards, humphrey

[TiUser]

I am not exactly sure what's the focus on the question...

Do you want just a backup or do you want to increase processing power by using a second PC in parallel to run more plugins?

I think there are several technical solutions to accomplish some kind of sync between two Cantabile hosts but that's just for pure control, not audio and none of the options are to master without additional effors...

One idea is to send program changes from your master pc via a virtual ethernet midi connection to the slave PC where you need a second setlist.

You can use free rtpMidi to experiments with midi over network.

Another idea is using Cantabile Performers experimental telnet option. Unfortunately I have to say that needs some programming and basic networking skills and there is no software available yet for users supporting this.

I am working on some software for a longer time to manage telnet control (among other things) - but it's a large project even I've mastered 99% of all telnet protocoll possibilities technically... If you're interested in this send a personal message to me for further details.

[jhelander]

Hi. The main idea is to have a backup laptop standby, ready to take over if the main one fails. I play live at a theater and it is very annoying to have to wait while the backup loads all VSTi and so on.
If i load a session (from a playlist or not) I want the same session to load on the backup laptop.
I will most defintly try rtpMIDI,(downloaded it today) and see what I can acheive. I have some programming skills from Visual Basic and have developed a couple of applications ie a "statuswindow" which retreives the current patchnames and settings from all my outboard midigear (Boss GT-6 guitar effects, Line6 POD and a couple of rackmounted synths) and displays that in a window on my laptop. Very useful if you're in a small space and you have equipment behind you or under the table.

[TiUser]

Yes, try rtpMidi. You need to install Apple Bonjour services for PC but that's for free too. Just read the instruction on the site carefully.

I use the simpler loopMidi as virtual midi patch cable on one machine - but it's basically the same technology, just a simpler frontend for setup.

IMHO rtpMidi and loopMidi are without competition - and all is free!