About Archiving i´m searching for a software for some time now to do file and folder based copying rather than backups. The Idea is that u can easy copy back that single tune you just have to bring for that one night but wouldn´t play on other gigs. And my Mac book Pro is just filled up if i keep all files.
So when i back up with the delete and copy again method there´s files gone on the backup, get me ? 😉

I back up regulary with time machine to a WD Nas think a Nas1 (meens 2 redundant Disks) is the only real backup single Disks can allways die on u.

Thanks for the great great thread, lot´s of ideas!!!

Energy:
1 = Early Set
2 = Early/Mid
3 = Mid Set
4 = Mid/Peak
5 = Peak Set

Mood:
1 = Dark
2 = Dark/Neutral
3 = Neutral
4 = Neutral/Light
5 = Light

Voice:
A = Instru
B = Dub
C = Vocal

Example: 1, 4, B (translates to “Early Set, Neutral/Light Mood, & Dub Vocals”.

This way I sort my playlists by Energy and Feel if I like, and quickly scan through and find songs matching the present Energy and Feel of the room, and/or move things up and down accordingly. ;o)

Hey Mike that would be great if you wrote an article on backing up your Itunes library,and the different solutions out there to easily backup your Itunes music folder.

ds = sound fx and samples

dl = loops

d2.5 = is a d3 not really suitable for dancing, (abstract beats, etc)

d3.5 = is a d3 not suitable for cocktail parties (too heavy on the beat or just lewd! )

That way these last 2 categories do not get included in either my d0-d3 or d3-d5…

I also ALWAYS use the same words in the comment to describe a song:

jazzy, funky, groovy, chickmusic, abstract etc.

I know what these words mean musically and if I do a search, I get all the songs in my collection that fit the mood

I can't really add much to what's already be said, from an organizational perspective, other than find a system that a) makes sense to you and b) you'll actually spend time using. If you come up with a system that's overly complex and time consuming to keep updated, you're less likely to keep it updated for just those reasons. Find a good balance between being verbose/detailed enough to be useful and a timely workflow that won't make you procrastinate.

Lastly, re: backup, I'm running Serato on a Macbook, and I backup my entire hard drive (as a bootable copy) onto a firewire LaCie Rugged HD using Carbon Copy Cloner (http://www.bombich.com/software/index.html). It's dead easy to use, drag and drop. I make an image probably once a week, and I bring the drive with me to gigs, so if the laptop drive dies, I can plug in the Lacie and boot the OS and everything else from that.

also, just checked my post about zip disks. i mixed up MB with GB :S
I was thinking you could get a zip disk with 250 GB storage. that sounded great, but 250 mb is nothing.
oh well, would have been cool…

My first text in the 'comment' field is what I call the 'dance factor' key. Basically a scale from d0 – d5

d0 = beatless (ie. ambient)

d1 = has a beat (slow chillout)

d2 = has a kick drum & moderate beat (kruder & dorfmeister, etc)

d3 = your head start bobbing, dancing possible (minimal, hip hop,)

d4 = very danceable, irresistible

d5 = your floor fillers, high energy songs

I have 2 lists one from d0 – d3 & the other d3 – d5, first list is good for cocktail parties & general mood music, the other only has danceable music.

if you click on the comment field to sort your files in the traktor browser, you basically get an ascending energy scale from d0 – d5 (that's why they absolutely have to be the first characters in 'comment').

Another nice thing about this organizing style is that it's irregadless of genres, so you can mix it up a bit but still keep your energy level where you want it. I've taken pissbreaks with the lists on cruise, just sat down to dinner last night actually with the d0-d3 list, & it works all the time.

Try it.