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Posted by amdmaxx on Apr-02-2002 21:00:

Beginner DJ question..

Since I am more of a PC geek than a DJ I wanna do this..
I have a few nice PC DJ programs (aka PCDJ red and some others)..
I have a nice PC with Sound Blaster Live Platinum (has those add-on box)..
I wanna host a party and entertain my guests..
What is that best way to hook everything up??
I have an Onkyo 787 reciever with some B&W soeakers that I sue to watch DVDs and TV..
- Should I get a separate setup (big cheap club type speakers)?
- Or just plug the audio out from sound card into Receiver?
- Any other options?

Posted by SoulSupply on Apr-02-2002 21:30:

wot power r ur speakers, and how big is the area u wantt to have ur party in?

Posted by amdmaxx on Apr-02-2002 23:25:

Pool party outdoors - about 120 feet.. about 20 people.
my speakers are pretty small, not floorstanding.. about 20 inches high, B&W 303s

quote:
Originally posted by SoulSupply
wot power r ur speakers, and how big is the area u wantt to have ur party in?

Posted by Scottaculous on Apr-03-2002 00:26:

You're going to need two sound cards. One for monitoring and one for outputing the music.

Tell us what your budget is like.

You will definitely need a subwoofer and use the small speakers for the highs.

You'll need to plug your computer into your receiver so you'll need cables. I suggest setting up an area where you're doing to DJ and move your receiver/amplifer there. If you're going to do a lot of parties it's better to just get an amplifier and save yourself the trouble of moving your receiver. The cables that link audio devices are shorter than speaker wire.

Next you'll need a place to rest your speakers. The higher the better so it reaches everyone. Place them on both sides of the area. Usually you'll need another pair of speakers for monitoring but with computers you can visually see your beats are matching.

Pair of headphones.

Posted by DJTJ on Apr-03-2002 10:51:

For an area that size, considering it's outside, you're going to need two things:

1) A 300-400 Watt/channel power amp.
2) Extremely understanding neighbors!

You will also need speakers to handle this power.

You will probably get away with what you have now, it just won't be very loud, especially 120 feet away. If there were any more than 20 people though, you wouldn't get away with what you have; the sound would be absorbed by the people, and the noise of them all talking would overpower the music.

Posted by amdmaxx on Apr-03-2002 14:38:

What outdoor speakers would u guys recommend..?
Also, about 2 sound cards... How would I have them output the same sound??? One to headphones and 1 to outdoor speakers..

quote:
Originally posted by DJTJ
2) Extremely understanding neighbors!

Posted by DJTJ on Apr-03-2002 17:17:

There's not really such a thing as "outdoor speakers", you just have to have louder speakers outdoors because there are no walls/ceiling for the sound to bounce back off. You just need speakers that will handle the power that the amp gives them, from what I said earlier you need speakers with an RMS power handling of at least 300-400 watts.

Like scottaculous said, what is your budget? It's pretty hard to say what you need to buy/rent without knowing how much you're planning on spending!

Posted by SoulSupply on Apr-03-2002 17:45:

well, there are such a thing as all weather speakers, i know bose do some, and so do turbosound which are specifically for outdoor use, but i dunno if theyd be powerful enough. itd probably be cool if u cud set up 4 speakers, at each corner of ur garden, but agin, its up to ur budget...

Posted by Scottaculous on Apr-03-2002 17:47:

I would just move your speakers inside when it rains anyway. You won't be DJing with your computer outside when it's raining. Just get normal speakers.

Posted by spectra on Apr-04-2002 18:33:

arg!

Why does everyone say you need 2 sound cards?? If you need 2 sound cards then your card is either real shite, or u payed a lot for it and they ripped you off. A Turtlebeach Santa Cruz will handle 3 outputs np, PCDJ red shouldn't have a prob at all running monitor and master with a Cruz. And if you've got a lot of money, well there's far better cards to get.

What are the B&W speakers and what is the size of your garden...?

Posted by DJ-Kuza on Apr-04-2002 20:00:

Just pre record your set and burn it to CD. Then you can party your ass off with them and still be the one providing the entertainment.

Posted by mute79 on Apr-04-2002 20:03:

yea kuza, i was thinking the same exact thing...