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Posted by Hyoctane on Mar-25-2004 17:27:

Lap Top mixing

I was just wondering if anyone uses just a laptop to mix... I've been playing around with it for a couple of months... I use Myxoft's DSS DJ. I put a mix up a month or so ago, and I got good reviews

There's a lot of limitations, it's harder on transitions, scracthing(I know you can't really do it with trance, but I gew up listening to booty and Miami Bass, so it's sometimes fun to try) and a few other techniques that are just easier with a mixer and not a keyboard; which leads me to my next question.(that was a runon sentence, lol)

Does anyone use a mixer with some DJ software? How do you like it?
Which one? How much does it cost? Computer setup? Soundcard?

Thanx,
Craig
DJ Hyper

Posted by dj chex on Mar-25-2004 17:43:

i use a notebook too. I use traktor dj studio 2.5 w/ a soundblaster extigy usb sound card. I just setup traktor to use a external mixer and i have it all hooked up to my rane empath. It works really well for mixing and the time correction on 2.5 is sweet. Haven't needed a cd player ever since i've started using traktor.

here's my computers specs:

gaming rig: Chieftech dragon case, Asus P4P800 Deluxe mobo, 2.4C HTT p4 at 3.1ghz, 2x256MB corsair pc3500 running in dual channel, ATI aiw Radeon8500, 40GB, 160GB, 250GB hdds, Sony dvd+/-rw, Antec truepower 430w ps,

Laptop:
Dell inspiron 8200, 1.6ghz p4m, 512mb ddr, 30GB hdd filled w/ music, 15" SXGA display, wireless 802.11b, SB Extigy for dj, Traktor dj studio 2.5, Win xp pro.

Posted by raaven on Mar-25-2004 17:56:

speaking of the soundblaster extigy. i love mine. very much

Posted by Allied Nations on Mar-25-2004 21:50:

i use a bootleg of traktor, i dont perform with it, i just fool around with it when im bored...

quote:
Originally posted by raaven
speaking of the soundblaster extigy. i love mine. very much

how is the quality of the extigy vc. audigy platinum, i have one and im thinking of buying an extigy for my laptop, cuz i love my audigy...

Posted by 531.am on Mar-25-2004 23:10:

you know everyone tells me that it's the "mikey mouse" of sound cards. But I just look at them as if they're freaking retarded. If it doese what you need it to do, how is it a piece of shit?

I have heard countless of mixes through those soundblaster cards and I think they sound just the same as an M-Audio sound card.

Posted by dj chex on Mar-26-2004 03:20:

quote:
Originally posted by DJ Cubano
you know everyone tells me that it's the "mikey mouse" of sound cards. But I just look at them as if they're freaking retarded. If it doese what you need it to do, how is it a piece of shit?

I have heard countless of mixes through those soundblaster cards and I think they sound just the same as an M-Audio sound card.

Sound blaster cards do have their bad points. For example, most will not support ASIO, most will not support 24/96 even if it says on the box, all of the soundblaster cards i've seen were geared more for consumer use than pro use, they also use 1/8" mini jacks as opposed to trs or xlr, and finally there is no current soundblaster that can properly support mulitrack recording.

For what i use the extigy for it's perfectly fine. I would still like a lower latency card though. So a M-audio audiophile 24/96 firewire is on the insanely long list of stuff to buy. hope that helps

Posted by Hyoctane on Mar-26-2004 04:29:

What should I look for in a sound card for mixing with.. I don't think I'll need any recording or input other than a mic.

Thanx,
Craig
DJ Hyper

Posted by dj chex on Mar-26-2004 05:04:

if your looking for a soundcard for dj mixing. you will need one w/ at least a 4ch output or more. Most new soundcards support 5.1ch surround sound which would be fine. for laptop use i found a couple good pcmcia soundcards that can suit the needs of high quality recording and playback.

Indigo DJ: 4ch out, asio supported, true 24/96 out
http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/IndigoDJ/index.php

Indigo IO: 2ch rec, 2ch out,
http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/IndigoIO/index.php

M-audio Audiophile usb
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do...69588578a74aa58

M-Audio Audiophile Firewire (works better than usb b/c of lower lag, faster/better bandwidth than usb)
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do...c40d33428b4014a

Creative SB Extigy: has dolby digital decoder, spdif out/in, 6ch, cheap, but not true 24/96
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/extigy/

For what your doing i recomend the Indigo DJ. For mic input, just use the mic input on your dj mixer.

Posted by Zombie0729 on Mar-26-2004 05:12:

damn, chex deserves a thank you

Posted by D Dubya on Mar-26-2004 05:42:

quote:
Chieftech dragon case, Asus P4P800 Deluxe mobo, 2.4C HTT p4 at 3.1ghz, 2x256MB corsair pc3500 running in dual channel, ATI aiw Radeon8500, 40GB, 160GB, 250GB hdds, Sony dvd+/-rw, Antec truepower 430w ps

???? English buddy, use english.

Posted by dj chex on Mar-26-2004 06:41:

quote:
Originally posted by Dirk W.
???? English buddy, use english.

lol i'm having way too much fun w/ this thread

Ok i'm sorta a gamer that loves to build and tweak my pc. It's sorta like people who hot-rod their cars. also, i work as a technition repairing computers, building pcs, servers, etc. Simply put about that desktop, it kicks ass, fast, lots of simpson episodes, good for games (will buy 9800pro soon), editing videos, making dvds, etc. Still I love spinning vinyl and playing out over playing w/ my computer anyday! The geek comes forth... lol
k' i'll shut up now.

Posted by `pr0digy on Mar-26-2004 15:18:

quote:
Originally posted by dj chex
lol i'm having way too much fun w/ this thread

Ok i'm sorta a gamer that loves to build and tweak my pc. It's sorta like people who hot-rod their cars. also, i work as a technition repairing computers, building pcs, servers, etc. Simply put about that desktop, it kicks ass, fast, lots of simpson episodes, good for games (will buy 9800pro soon), editing videos, making dvds, etc. Still I love spinning vinyl and playing out over playing w/ my computer anyday! The geek comes forth... lol
k' i'll shut up now.

Hehe, finally someone similar to me... Overclocked at all ?

Posted by Fast Turtle on Mar-27-2004 03:00:

My extigy is junk...constant crackles in the background and has worse latency issues than the onboard sounds. :/

Posted by dj chex on Mar-27-2004 09:12:

quote:
Originally posted by Lephaid
My extigy is junk...constant crackles in the background and has worse latency issues than the onboard sounds. :/

Yeah i do wish they would fix the lag issue. Even though the newer firmware helps alot, it still needs some work. As for sound, i never experienced crackles, but it pick up on a ground loop between my mixer and my notebook when plugged in. That part wasn't the soundcard's fault, it was a grounding issue and once that was fixed it sounded great.