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Hooking up a laptop (Torq) when playing out...

Hey guys. So I'm gonna have my first big gig in March and I plan on bringing Torq along. My technical question is about connecting to the stage's setup. Basically I'm gonna be using two cdj 800 mk2 with a djm 400 with my laptop and Torq. Obviously I know how to connect Torq at home, so do I simply set everything up on stage the same and run the main connector cord from the PA system into my laptop's line in like I do at home? Will this fry my laptop or is this normal procedure for laptop djs.

Essentially, what will I be plugging into my laptop (what do clubs usually provide in their pre wired setups for laptop djs), and do you think I'll have to bring a plug adaptor to an 1/8 jack with me? Sorry, it's my first time at this!


Thanks, MTM

Er, the only thing you should be plugging into your computer is the Connectiv and maybe an external drive or MIDI controller if you're using one. CDJs go into Connectiv's inputs, outputs of Connectiv go into the mixer's line inputs. And most likely the speakers/amp will be connected to the mixer's outs.

Whoops, yeah that would make sense. Just got a little confused bc my home setup with computer speakers is a little different.


Thanks man.

Judging by the fact that your not %100 sure how it is setup I dont know if practicing setting it up in a club is a good idea.
Are you going to be setting it up before or after the club opens doors?

Can I take this thread sideways for a second if that's ok? It's still relevant to the OP, but I've got a hypothetical question for you.

Say I decide to go down the Final Scratch / Serato route - and start to mix MP3's on a laptop - how can I expect to turn up to a club and play?

Looking at my typical nights, where I'm booked for a 12-2 in one club and then a 3-5 in another. As a vinyl DJ and a CD DJ - it's piss easy. I turn up with a bag with records or a wallet with CD's - spin the tunes, and then get the hell outta dodge to get to the next club.

How does this work for you Laptop folks? Do you expect clubs to already have the audio hardware connections for you to hook into? Do you stop everything for ten minutes while you unhook the decks from the mixer in into the hardware - then another ten minutes to unhook everything before the next set?

Am I missing something here? Or is mp3/laptop DJing actually a bit of a kafuffle - something that you have to be able to set up to do beforehand, and ultimately removes a lot of versatility to play multiple sets in an evening?

Sure, I know HOW everything connects together - and it's a great system - but I just don't get how this would work at a mid-pro level - where you need to hop around from club to club playing sets. How can you seamlessly (from an audio continuation point of view) hookup and unhook your audio hardware etc?

Ta.

JspOi

check out page 79 of the manual.

it really depends on what the club's setup is.

find out what the speaker inputs are. chances are you're going to need a quarter inch or xlr connection, which isn't going to be found on any of the torq hardware.

if you hook into the speakers directly, there are two options: set it to internal mixer mode and then plug the left and right speakers into respective line in channels. if you're using an amp, you're going to have to plug the amp into the line in. you might need converters for rca to quarter inch.

if the club has a house mixer, you can hook into this by routing the line outs A and B from the torq hardware into the external mixer's line in channels with simple rca-rca stereo cables. then just be careful you don't hit the faders on the mixer if you're still going to use the torq hardware to mix






EDIT regarding the question above

quote:

Sure, I know HOW everything connects together - and it's a great system - but I just don't get how this would work at a mid-pro level - where you need to hop around from club to club playing sets. How can you seamlessly (from an audio continuation point of view) hookup and unhook your audio hardware etc?

It helps to have presets for various controls, for instance if you're using ableton, to have a template set up for different mixers that a club might have if you're not using your own. If you're using your own mixer I don't see how it's too difficult to set up, provided you're using the same computer, same soundcard, and then same mixer/effects. it's a modular system that would just plug right into the club system. now if you don't have your own mixer with a tried and true setup then you have to fiddle with the outputs from your soundcard etc every time which is a pain in the ass for sure.

using serato in a club is not a bit different than using vinyl or cdjs. the serato hardware is between the mixer and control surface in the signal chain, so therefore it's absolutely no different than going traditional. Again, if you're hooking into another mixer, you might have to think for a bit about the inputs, but it should take like 5 seconds. All you need to do is hook 4 sets of stereo rca cables from serato to the line inputs and phono inputs of the mixer.


decks are plugged into phono inputs anyways, so if you're hooking a laptop into the mixer, you're going to plug into line (though serato uses both phono and line) and then you just need to switch it if the mixer has phono/line switches. I switch from line to phono and back when I am using ableton and I want to mix a record on top of it.

now just make sure you don't have a mute button on your keyboard if you're usign ableton, because let me tell you that is fucking embarassing. first thing is like, oh shit the amp is fried, then you check your speakers, then you check the line outs on the mixer, then you turn the hardware on and off and still nothing. then in the moment of despair you see a little mute icon on your computer and you say "FUCK!" and the sound comes roaring back on. if it's only been a couple seconds and the crowd is already pumped however it can be surprisingly beneficial haha

quote:

Originally posted by jspoi Can I take this thread sideways for a second if that's ok? It's still relevant to the OP, but I've got a hypothetical question for you. Say I decide to go down the Final Scratch / Serato route - and start to mix MP3's on a laptop - how can I expect to turn up to a club and play? Looking at my typical nights, where I'm booked for a 12-2 in one club and then a 3-5 in another. As a vinyl DJ and a CD DJ - it's piss easy. I turn up with a bag with records or a wallet with CD's - spin the tunes, and then get the hell outta dodge to get to the next club. How does this work for you Laptop folks? Do you expect clubs to already have the audio hardware connections for you to hook into? Do you stop everything for ten minutes while you unhook the decks from the mixer in into the hardware - then another ten minutes to unhook everything before the next set? Am I missing something here? Or is mp3/laptop DJing actually a bit of a kafuffle - something that you have to be able to set up to do beforehand, and ultimately removes a lot of versatility to play multiple sets in an evening? Sure, I know HOW everything connects together - and it's a great system - but I just don't get how this would work at a mid-pro level - where you need to hop around from club to club playing sets. How can you seamlessly (from an audio continuation point of view) hookup and unhook your audio hardware etc? Ta. JspOi

You're right it's sort of a catch 22, but it's not that hard to setup once you get the hang of it and know what you're doing. Usually when I play somewhere there's multiple DJs playing as well, so I must setup "on-the-fly" when it comes my turn as I never usually setup in advanced because I never get there early enough and even if I did I wouldn't leave my gear sitting there like that unattended or with people I don't know. Now, many a time the DJ playing before me/you gets hissy-pissy if you start messing with wires on the back of the mixer when they're playing. So, while you're waiting for your turn, start hooking up the RCA cords to the outputs on the SL1/Connectiv/FS2 amp. When the dj before finishes their last song, but while it's still playing (this should give you at least a good 2-3 minutes), quickly (again this is where knowing what goes where comes into play) connect all the RCA outputs from the SL1/Connectiv into the line inputs on the mixer (and phono if using SSL and plan on playing regular vinyl). Unhook the turntable/CDJ that is not currently playing from the mixer and connect it to the respective input on the SL1/Connectiv. Now you have at least one deck control. Now, when the last dj's song finishes, you can begin playing on your first deck. So there shouldn't be any dead air time without music. Once you start playing your first track, you can then unhook the second turntable/CDJ from the mixer and connect it to the other respective input on the SL1/Connectiv. Now you are good to go. And somewhere in between all that, you have to calibrate the setup as well (if you're using SSL, Torq doesn't have a calibration procedure like SSL). Again, I know this seems complicated at first, but it's real easy once you get the hang of it. It took me longer to write this than it does to actually do it.

Now, when your set is done and time for you to go, just reverse order everything above. When I get to my last song and it's done mixing with the second to last song, I put it in Internal mode and let it play out in Internal mode. Disconnect the turntables/CDJs from the SL1/Connectiv and plug them back into the mixer. Now then the next DJ shouldn't have any problems. Let the next DJ go on, and finally disconnect the outputs of the SL1/Connectiv from the mixer. That's it. Go to next gig, rinse, repeat.

quote:

Originally posted by Konix You're right it's sort of a catch 22, but it's not that hard to setup once you get the hang of it and know what you're doing. Usually when I play somewhere there's multiple DJs as well, so I must setup "on-the-fly" when it comes my turn as I never usually setup in advanced because I never get there early enough and even if I did I wouldn't leave my gear sitting there like that. Now, many a time the DJ playing before me/you gets hissy-pissy if you start messing with wires on the back of the mixer when their playing. So, while you're waiting for your turn, starting hooking up the RCA outputs on the SL1/Connectiv/FS2 amp. When the dj before finishes their last song, but while it's still playing (this should give you at least a good 2-3 minutes), quickly (again this is where knowing what goes where comes into play) connect all the RCA outputs from the SL1/Connectiv into the line inputs on the mixer. Unhook the turntable/CDJ that's not currently playing from the mixer and connect it to the respective input on the SL1/Connectiv. Now you have at least one deck control. Now, when the last dj's song finishes, you can begin playing on your first deck. So there shouldn't be any dead air time without music. Once you start playing your first track, you can then unhook the second turntable/CDJ from the mixer and connect it to the other respective input on the SL1/Connectiv. Now you are good to go. And somewhere in between all that, you have to calibrate the setup as well (if you're using SSL). Again, I know this seems complicated at first, but it's real easy once you get the hang of it. It took me longer to write this than to actually do it. Now, when your set is done and time for you to go, just reverse order everything above. When I get to my last songand done mixing with the second to last song, I put it in Internal mode and let it play like that to finish, disconnect the turntables/CDJs from the SL1/Connectiv and plug them back into the mixer. Now then the next DJ shouldn't have any problems. Let him/her get on, and finally disconnect the outputs of the SL1/Connectiv from the mixer. Go to next gig, rinse, repeat.

Thanks for spelling it out like that, it actually really helps me visualize things.

Thanks for both of the answers. I don't think I put in my post that I was meaning more about how do you connect up fully - including turntable control - rather than just plugging a laptop into a spare channel.

Looking at it, it still seems like a complete hoo-hah - that you need to race in with only one tune to go, and hope you get into the back of the mixer to connect. What if you're playing somewhere that doesn't let you get into the back of the mixer? What if you don't have the time to hook up the turntables to the audio hardware?

I don't know. I think I'll stick to playing CDs and vinyl for the time being. Serato and FS look like a lot of fun, but I just don't think it's fluid enough for my liking. Completely personal opinion of course, but I'd rather be able to walk in with a box, or wallet with the records or Cds, and know I'll not have to cock around with connections and run the risk of throwing a club filled with 1,500 into silence!

JsPOi

quote:

Originally posted by jspoi Thanks for both of the answers. I don't think I put in my post that I was meaning more about how do you connect up fully - including turntable control - rather than just plugging a laptop into a spare channel. Looking at it, it still seems like a complete hoo-hah - that you need to race in with only one tune to go, and hope you get into the back of the mixer to connect. What if you're playing somewhere that doesn't let you get into the back of the mixer? What if you don't have the time to hook up the turntables to the audio hardware?

Well, I thought I made it as clear as I could on how to hook up turntable control. You just do it one at a time if you can't setup in advanced. Or if you are using turntables, but there's also a CDJ there as well (and a 4 channel mixer), then just pop in CD for the first song while you connect all the RCAs.

But if you can't get to the back of the mixer and connect all the required RCAs, or you don't have time, then I guess you can't use your SSL/Torq/FS2. But, I have yet to play a gig where you couldn't get to the back of the mixer, your results may vary though.

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