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440 Forums _ Other Hardware and Software for DJ and VJ _ Tweaking Your Mac - Djing

Posted by: apachateca Mon 30 Apr 2007, 19:53

hey there everyone- posted this also over in a logic forum, so i apologize, probably more fitting here.
anywheys- looking for advice on what i can do to my deck- a G4 1GHZ powerbook, to turn it into a dedicated dj machine. i will probably be using ms pinky and some dj program, along with turntables, in addition to the hercules dj controller and maybe a midi/firewire capable mixer. might get rid of hercules, idk yet.
i would like to know how i can run my computer with the lightest load- i.e.- what programs don't i need, or better yet, what is the minimal basic mac frameworks that i do need. i want it to be super stripped down, a dedicated djing outfit. no internet, no music production software, no superfluous languages, no graphics programs i don't need, etc. any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. look forward to hearing yur thoughs!

Posted by: lepetitmartien Tue 1 May 2007, 17:41

I suppose you run OS X. Then the only part of the system to "disable" is Dashboard. For this, download http://nav.440network.com/out.php?mmsc=forums&url=http://www.titanium.free.fr/pgs2/english/download.html and disable Dashboard in Parameters/Dashboard and Exposé.

All the other services won't eat CPU cycles if NOT used.

You'll have to set performances to max for the powerbook if on mains in the energy saving system preference panel.

Verify you don't have apps loading on start up you don't need in system preferences/accounts.

Then there's the usual, as much RAM as possible, audio files on an external firewire drive…

Posted by: apachateca Tue 1 May 2007, 18:00

running 10.3.9 so dashboard is not an issue...but you're saying i don't need to do a custom reinstall to get the light weight i'm looking for- don't worry about it? have a external firewire drive,i do need more ram- is it possible to upgrayedd the internal hd? ok thanks for yur info- apachateca

Posted by: lepetitmartien Wed 2 May 2007, 01:26

You can upgrde the internal drive though it's not mandatory. Now I don't remember if it's easy or not on this model, you may either use a technician or do it yourself if there's an how-to on the net and you're not totally finger impaired. Maybe an actual user could enlighten you. I'd be very careful on this.

On the OS X you run, if the OS X installed has not been installed by you, you'd better start from scratch with a clean formatted drive, and a clean newly installed system. It's just basic practice to keep surprises out. Think about a custom install to avoid having hundred of MB of epson drivers for example installed by default… they won't be loaded by the system, but they still cramp up the estate.

Posted by: apachateca Wed 2 May 2007, 17:55

ok- thanks- that's what i was looking for...