Need help w/ upgrading my PC/DJ setup

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-- Need help w/ upgrading my PC/DJ setup

Posted by DJ_Hailstone on Aug-14-2005 15:25:

Need help w/ upgrading my PC/DJ setup

Here is my current dj setup:
Pioneer DJM-300 (mixer)
2x Technics 1210 (decks)

My soundcard/pc setup:
1x Sound Blaster Live Platinum 5.1
1x some cheap PCI 4-channel sound card

The mixer is connected to the SB sound card via RCA cables, the SB card is connected to my speakers.
I am using the second sound card to mix with Traktor. The front & rear jacks from 2nd sound card are connected to the mixer.
The result is that I can DJ with my decks and also with mp3s via Traktor.
My problem is the sound quality. When I use vinyl then the sound quality is very good, but when I use mp3s (via Traktor) then the sound isnt good at all. I guess its because of the bad quality of the 2nd card.
I would like to upgrade my current setup. Just dont know what to buy. I also have laptop, but I dont have 4-channel card in it.
I would like to buy some good(but cheap) external soundcard.
Also, I would like to use my laptop to DJ with Ableton Live.
I think M-Audio Audiophile USB would be good decision, but it have only 1 output, so I guess I cant use it to mix with mp3s.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Posted by Rhue on Aug-14-2005 20:27:

I agree... the Audiophile would be a good decision. However what is the bitrate of your Mp3s (i.e Kbps). Make sure the least you go is 192k and 320 should be the norm.

Posted by DJ_Hailstone on Aug-14-2005 20:52:

another questions:
1) in my laptop�s manual stands that laptop have IEEE 1394 port. This is the fire-wire port, am I right?

2) which audiophile is better in comparison price/performance?
Is audiophile firewire worth the extra money? Can I use it to connect it to the mixer (use 2 different outputs)?

3) I think my SB Live card is damaged. I can hear constant noise when I turn my speakers on (even when the volume is not too up). What would be the best card to replace it? I would like to have better sound quality also, but I need card with 5.1 output, since I have Creative Labs DTT2200 5.1 speakers.

Thanx for help guys.

Posted by DJ Elf on Aug-14-2005 20:59:

Either a new computer or a new Sound Blaster 7.1 soundcard, dun remeber what they are called atm though >.<

Posted by MERiDiAN5i2 on Aug-23-2005 17:59:

The Delta-44 or Delta-66 (M-audio) cards are great for this.

Try looking for a Delta44 on eBay. They have 8 channels total - 4 ins, 4 outs. That means you can hook up traktor to your mixer, hook your mixer up to the delta44, and still have a stereo input pair remaining.

The Delta66 adds a S/PDIF in and S/PDIF out on coaxial. If you record digitally with a device that supports coaxial S/PDIF, the S/PDIF on the 66 will be handy. personally I use it for my DAT.

The software mixer application for the Delta44/Delta66 is also really nice for a DJ setup.

Posted by Psiweaver on Aug-25-2005 18:18:

i too highly recommend the delta 44 or 66.