Remote Show Control with a Laptop

Hardware and software

Here’s a list of what you need to do this:

- A laptop.  PC or Macintosh.

- The KeyRF remote control.

- Software to convert CD tracks into MP3s.

- Software to play MP3s during your show.  For a PC, use WinAmp. For a Mac, use MPLAY.

- A cord from the laptop’s speaker output to the PA system.

- A bag of connectors, so you can hook up to all kinds of PA systems.  (Thanks to Mike Caveney for this tip.)

What kind of laptop do you need?

Since this whole system is built around triggering MP3s in WinAmp, you only need to find a laptop that can run WinAmp properly, and that has good sound. This means you don't need a state-of-the-art model.  You could buy an old one from a friend if it did the job.

Here's how fast the laptop needs to be, from the WinAmp web page:

Nullsoft Winamp Frequently Asked Questions

What are Winamp's system requirements?
A fast 486 or (optimally) a Pentium or better, running
Windows 95, 98, 2000, or NT 4.

NOTE: Make sure to download WinAmp 2 -- not WinAmp 3! WinAmp 2 is older, smaller, more efficient, and has the commands we need built-in...WinAmp 3 is larger, bloated, and doesn’t have all the same features in it yet.  When you go to the Winamp website, look in the upper right corner to get to version 2.

I’m currently running this setup on a Pentium 166, and it’s fine.  I would also add these specs:

- 32MB Ram minimum; 64MB is better, since you're likely running Win95 or Win98.
- A hard drive large enough to store all the MP3s, plus Windows and other software.  I'd suggest 2 - 3 gigs of space as a  minimum, especially if you’ve got other software to run.  The more music and sound cues you expect to use in your show, the larger the hard drive you'll need.  If you expect to add music, or have alternate versions of your show, a bigger hard drive will be handy.

Also, the laptop needs:
- Either a PS/2 keyboard port or a USB port, to plug the KeyRF remote into. 
- A sound system.  This is usually built-in.

As a precaution, once you've got your show put together, I'd suggest that you  burn a CD with all your music, plus the WinAmp installer.  Take this with you  on the road.  If your laptop gets lost or fails, you could borrow another one and install everything on it.

Note: The earlier versions of this site explained only a PC solution.  Once the USB adaptor became available, Mac laptops could make use of this idea, too.  I’ve added information where appropriate.

The basic process to set up

Once you have the remote, the software, and the music tracks, here’s an outline of the process to create the cue list for the show:

1. Select music or sound effects on CD.

2. Copy the music or sounds to your hard drive.

3. Edit them to the right length, if necessary.

4. Turn the music files into MP3s (this can be combined with step 2 if the track is the right length as it is.)

5. Put all the MP3s for a specific show into the same folder.

6. Create a playlist in Winamp or MPLAY, with the tracks in the order you need them.

7. Test the operation and running order of the show.