Dropbox is one way to sync files across multiple devices and OSes, but is it the best way? Pic: Ashfame blog
Reader Tim Dorcas writes: “With over 100GB of music/samples in my collection, and the fact that I use three different physical systems in two different OSes (Mac OSX and Windows), it is getting harder and harder for me to manage all of this data.
I am looking for ideas on how to manage, organise, and sync my music. My current set-up is an iMac at home (as my primary computer), a Windows 7 laptop, a backup Windows 7 laptop, and a NAS for music and sample storage. I can’t be the only one struggling with this – any ideas?
Digital DJ Tips says:
Well, Tim, we can ‘t offer you a definitive answer to this, so we’ll give you our suggestion then ask any Digital DJ Tips readers who are managing their music across multiple machines to let us know their thoughts too.
I don’t know how well it would work for you (for instance, in my experience you need a pretty robust WAN at home for this to work), but I would recommend you investigate the paid-for version of Dropbox.
To be quite frank we can’t remember what it was like when we didn’t having it installed across our machines (and phones) here at Digital DJ Tips – we use it daily.
You get 2GB for free, but for US$19.95 you get 100GB cloud storage but also seamless synchronisation across multiple machines (not to mention web access from anywhere). Plus it’s really easy to use. (I guess once you’ve done the initial upload – maybe set it running before your summer holiday!)
We can’t remember what it was like when we didn’t having it installed…
There are multiple benefits to Dropbox for DJs and producers – for instance, we have seen it successfully used to sync iTunes libraries, and because it is actually a full versioning system under the hood, you can work on music across multiple machines while always having earlier versions to hand – great for remote collaborating. Finally, its public folders let you easily share your own work with others via simple URLs.
However, we’re sure this isn’t the only solution, so as we say if any readers can offer further suggestions or solutions, please do so!
Remember, please join in by telling us how you’ve solved the problem of accessing your music and samples across multiple machines in the comments below.
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Tags: digital music, dropbox, music library
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Hi Phil
[ link ]Does dropbox reqire all your computers to have internet access?
For example my home pc goes on the net while my DJ laptop has no internet connection nor do I want it to.
Thanks Tony
Yes, while part of the syncing can be done over your LAN, Dropbox requires that all machines have internet access.
[ link ]I use a program called AllwaySync (the Pro / Full version, otherwise data sync is limited) to keep my Windows 7 / MacBook Pro in sync!
It has taken me a while but it finally works like a charm! For faster syncing I connect the two laptops with a direct Gigabit LAN connection (no router in between, just dedicated to one another) and I share the music folders on the MacBook.
AllwaySync works on windows, but apparently it can sync Network folders!
I’ve come up with this solution just last month, after a year of frustration and “manually mirroring” both systems.
[ link ]Thanks for that Thomas – will have a look at that software.
[ link ]I find using centralized storage at home, combined with syncing on the hosts to be the best option. A NAS for example is pretty cheap and you can share your music over all your machines. You can even set it up for remote use when you are abroad. If you have a highspeed connection, like 50/50 fibre of more this is definitely the way to go.
If that isnt the option, you can always sync your new discoveries with your NAS when you’re back home.
[ link ]When Torq 2.0 came out, I started to now use it on two computers. One is a laptop and the other is a desktop.
I keep all my music on a 500 GB external hard drive (and have the files backed up on data DVDs). I use iTunes to organize music, and on the laptop I set it up where iTunes organizes the music and thus when I change or delete something, it changes physically.
On the desktop, I’ll simply import the playlist in as an XML file. Maybe if I can get iTunes to do it all on the hard drive, then I could probably jump from terminal to terminal and thus let iTunes read the XML files on the hard drive.
[ link ]Hello, if i may ask you a quick question. Did you have to buy 2 versions of Torq to be able to put it on both computers? i want to do the same thing for myself, one on my laptop and one on my desktop. I was hoping to only buy on upgrade.
Thank you
[ link ]No. You can install it on a few computers. I don’t know how many, but I put the one install on both computers. Most licensed software will allow that.
[ link ]Hi,
[ link ]I use Allway Sync too.
I haven’t find anything better to use.
Hi,
[ link ]I use Allway Sync.
I think it is very intuitive to work with and it is very fast to analyze the difference between two sources. It sure make life much easier. I use it to backup my files to a USB drive but also between my stationary and my DJ laptop. Great tool.
I use Beyond Compare software and backup to an external drive after every show or when I add new music to my library. from the external drive, I sync my backup machines with the updated libraries. It works for me.
Thank you for starting this topic.
[ link ]Well im old fashioned backup system. I use 3-months folders, and 3 copies of everything (main laptop, backup laptop and external home HD), and ipod i use the folder name as playlist to know where the songs are. i use this since 2009. so i have 4 folders per year, i always used winamp since version 2, i haven’t use that much itunes, while my ipod has make me change that, i don’t play well with itunes.
Hope it helps
Boney Collins
[ link ]@Mexico city
I’ve put a lot of thought on this topic after reinstalling windows recently to overcome some midi driver issues, and was going to do a piece for my blog soon on this but not got around to it as yet.
[ link ]I also have come to the conclusion that Allway sync, is the way forward for multiple computers, as has really good file filter options and good useable help section. I am also choosing to use Ubuntu One (https://one.ubuntu.com/basic/) for all my personal data files etc of smaller size, with 2gb free storage and unlimited number of syncable computers…I have used dropbox before on my home network but found it a little slow and ungratifying somehow, with no idea of how long the transfers were supposed to take to keep me sedated…
This next bit may seem obvious to some, but much as syncing is great I find its just as important to organise the way files go onto your drives and regular housekeeping so you don’t lose track. One of the issues I have with using the same laptop for music production and running my Traktor setup is the large number of audio files created by cubase etc, temp files which can be HUGE when doing multiple edits, and the librarys of sounds and samples I use: all of which I dont want traktor to analyse or import to library. Due to not always being able to listen immediately its easy for downloads from browsing getting lost in my collection before I’ve given them a proper listen. To keep this from getting too confusing I have a dedicated drive for operating system only and any basic programs I don’t care about- that way if I ever need to system restore or reinstall windows, the other drives can stay untouched. The d drive is medium sized, which I keep for program installs, downloaded files and any program folders and files that would normally be put on a c drive, a large f drive for samples, appdata, video files from screen capture etc. And finally i have G drive also quite large for music only.
I have a 1tb hard drive sat under my audio8j on my Uberstand which never leaves position and is my main backup drive, with an 80gb usb powered drive for moving big folders to and from college and computers.
I plan to then, monthly at least, transfer the contents of my downloads into monthly labeled folders, if i ever actually start using mixed in key or beatunes or any other filestamping system do so to them and move to music drive or wherever appropriate. I then have traktor scan the music drive for new files to import on startup, as i know only files I’m happy with are on there.
At some point soon I’m going to have to expand this storage solution further, and still haven’t backed up to dvd, but I think this needs to be done monthly too. If I really had the cash or was actually doing more business scale audio work, then I’d Happily invest in a DROBO unit to make life simpler…
http://www.drobo.com/products/drobo.php
Yeah randomly someone just sent me a dropbox invite this morning. Amazingly easy set up and love the way it integrates. Was considering using Amazon S3 with jungle disk a web service front end which does incremental back ups but think now will try paid dropbox just for ease of set-up.
[ link ]I have my Windows 7 – Music stored on a Data partition on 500 GB – The same drive i clone once a week with my external 500 GB harddrive using the Windows free utility ‘SyncToy’ – To tag and organise i use Media monkey – My Traktor takes care of saving its own cue points on the collection – Checking the trial of Torq 2.0 now – I work for Symantec – have a free online space of 50 gb to store my prepared tracks while on the move..sadly with internet as a must. Oh, and also to mention..atleast once in a month i burn my complete collection to DVDs.
[ link ]Manual mirroring-is the best and cheapest option.
windows 7 offline files FTW. i have the main collection on a win 7 server (any version of windows would work though), then my laptop runs w7 pro, i just click the music folder and choose ‘always available offline’. syncs itself intelligently.
i have a tiny backup drive just in case though.. w7 offline files seems a bit too magic to trust entirely.
[ link ]I’m pretty religious with my file naming conventions. Each file I’ve amended filename, artist, album, genre etc and they are all stored in folders (for genre and sub-folders for release year) on an external hard drive. This way I can use my music with my own computer, my friends’ computers, club computers and club CDJ 900/2000s. It takes ages to do initially but if you get into the habit of doing it everytime you download it’s not so bad. The flexibility I get makes it worth it even if a previous article here advised against this approach.
[ link ]Wait a second. Flexibility with fixed filenames? What about playlists and tagging instead?
[ link ]I mean’t flexibility ocross platforms. There is a tradeoff admittedly, but I try to avoid playlists anyway.
Your filenames are gonna be fixed anyway, whatever you use. I wasn’t clear though, I mean’t I also add metadata too.
For example, one of the tracks in my collection has the filename:
Nick Sentience – Electrify (Uplifting Mix)(Reset).mp3
Artist – Title (Mix)(Label)
The metadata has the usual suspects.
[ link ]For genre, as I’ve got folders for the actual genre, so I use the metadata for the various sub-genres. In this case Tech Trance; Uplifting Trance.
The semi-colon means Serato, and I believe Traktor, will pick it up in two seperate genres. The flexibility IS there and it can be helpful to keep good housekeeping of your files anyway.
You actually lose a lot of flexibility with the rigid genre specification, IMHO. I’m using the “grouping” tag to be more specific about genres, as many songs easily fit into more than one (e.g. “House / Deep_House / Late_Night / Vocal” or something to that nature [adding "DJ_Mix" might also let you know it's a mixed version]). Then, you set up smart playlists in iTunes and all you have to worry about is tagging tracks up front and you’re good to go.
[ link ]I agree that grouping is great – I tend to use ti for particular nights (so I’ll write venue names in there). It’s basically tagging, isn’t it?
[ link ]First I want to thank everyone for their responses. I thought I would weigh in with the recommended solutions.
1) Dropbox – Good points: It works with almost every device that I have that has Internet access including MAC, PC, Linux, iPad, iPhone, ect. In talking with a few people almost all of them recommend Dropbox. Bad points: 100GB limit. This sounds like a lot but is it really? I already have over 20 years and a 100GB of material. What do I do with new material? It’s an Internet based service. It’s going to take quite some time to copy all of that data to the Internet. I’m also not sure it takes full advantage of my high speed home LAN. Lastly, I already subscribe to a few monthly services. I’m not overly keen on spending yet another $20 a month.
2) Allway Sync – Sounds like a a pretty good product but there currently isn’t a Mac Client. As my primary system is a Mac, this doesn’t help. I believe a Mac Client is coming.
3) NAS – This isn’t a bad idea for centralized storage and I’m starting to organize things based on this. The negative is that I have not yet moved my iMac iTunes repository to the NAS it’s a pain to move new iTunes songs to the NAS. And as my iMac is wireless to the rest of the network it’s not nearly as quick to load things in Traktor as local disk.
4) iTunes – iTunes in combination with Tuneranger is nearly a winning combination. Tuneranger works with both Mac OS X and Windows, can perform syncs automatically in addition to helping to maintain your iTunes repository. There is a charge and you need to purchase both versions for both OSes but it’s a one time fee instead of a monthly charge. And as Traktor integrates with iTunes this is a pretty good solution. The only thing stopping me from using this in my current setup is that there is a bug in Traktor that doesn’t like Asian characters. Despite my best efforts I have yet to find the offending character so my iTunes Traktor integration currently fails.
I thought when I asked this question there would be an elegant and efficient way to sync data between computers without a lot of hassle. This has turned out not to be the case. Looking forward to hearing other ideas
Tim
[ link ]Get a windows live Id, and use SkyDrive. They provide 25 GB for free!
[ link ]DirSync Pro ! I find this software after reading all the comments here. For me too, Allway sync was the best solution, but i’m a mac/pc user so, not very convenient. DirSync Pro is 100% Free despite the word “Pro”. Also support synchronisation, one way sync/bcp, all or only modified files, support schedule etc.. Lots of features i’ve seen after a quick look.. Seems to be a good alternative for Allway Sync.
Here’s the link : http://www.dirsyncpro.org/index.html
Hope it helps.
[ link ]I use Cubby to sync my iTunes, it’s free and unlimited if you only need to sync between computers and not upload files to a cloud. Cubby comes with 5GB free online storage, there is an option to buy more.
https://www.cubby.com/
[ link ]It does look good.
[ link ]
[ link ]I have a main Win7 system and a backup laptop that rarely gets used when Windows is having an issues (Mac users stop laughing!).
I keep my VirtualDJ folder, iTunes library, and Music files all synced up with SyncToy. It’s a free product and makes sure everything I do is mirrored on the backup in case of a catastrophic event. I also do a second backup to a portable hard drive so in a real disaster I have a complete recovery.
Takes about 10 minutes to run both backups on a fairly substantial library.
[ link ]