I'm part of a non-profit organization that hosts an annual show on a 30-acre site. Over the years, I've taken on the role of tech support for our club. This year, we anticipate significantly larger crowds, tripling our usual attendance, which means we need a robust tech solution. A few board members suggested setting up a computer connected to our PA system, which sounds straightforward but I've got a list of requirements:
1. We need to prepare playlists ahead of time.
2. There will be specific events that need to be triggered at certain times.
3. The computer should be secure enough to deter theft, as it will be stored in a locked area within a building that's otherwise unsecured, yet still accessible for our staff.
I'm thinking a laptop might serve as a small server for this task. I've considered using a small ThinkPad or Toughbook, running DietPi OS, set to boot into terminal mode with a GUI option available. I've got it planned out to aggregate playlists into a .txt file and use timers to play audio through the PA system when needed. I also wanted to ensure there's a remote emergency kill switch in case plans change.
Am I making this too complicated, or is this a solid approach? I'm looking for a practical, usable solution that keeps everything smooth for my teammates while discouraging any potential thieves. If this isn't the right forum, I'd appreciate recommendations for where to ask instead!
5 Answers
You need to flesh out what you want to achieve with your setup. When you say playlists need aggregating, do you mean a single file, or several? Also, what kinds of events are you planning to trigger? Security is key; you don’t necessarily need it to look unattractive—just secure it with a Kensington lock instead! If you want your laptop to serve as a small server, that’s fine, but there are simpler media players like VLC that can handle playlists without extra headaches.
Totally get it, using something like a simple event chain software might alleviate the pressure. Maybe trying a free version of QLab could work great; it can manage your audio and keep it simple!
If you have access to a MacBook or Mac Mini, check out QLab: it’s free for audio setups and allows you to queue announcements based on time or manually. It's user-friendly and could handle most of your needs. While I’m not sure about remote control functions, you can easily stop the queue with a keyboard shortcut.
I didn't know QLab was free for audio! I thought it was always under a paid license. Good to know!
On the subject of security, remember to check your local laws. If you’re planning to play copyrighted music, you might need a public performance license; otherwise, you could be inviting legal issues for your event.
Yeah, I heard that too; better to be safe than sorry. It’s crucial to have everything sorted out before the event!
There are ready-made media players out there that might fit your needs better! If you're keen on the DIY approach, a Raspberry Pi could also work well as an open-source server option.
It sounds like you're overcomplicating things a bit! Before diving into hardware choices, try to find a software solution that meets your needs – I bet something already exists. If you’re considering Linux, a couple of Raspberry Pis might do the trick. Just hide them well or use a secured case. Also, document everything in case something goes wrong. Oh, and Toughbooks aren’t exactly cheap!
I see Toughbooks going for about $200-$300 on Facebook Marketplace, so not too bad if you look around.
This isn’t just about music—you're using it for timed announcements, right? It makes sense to have everything pre-planned to avoid running back to the PA booth. You can still fold the laptop and have it run everything in the background.