Welcome aboard!

You don't NEED the expense of the soundcard. What you have is capable.
Go to an electronics store (Tany, Dick Smiths, Jaycar) and get a lead which is RCA to 3.5mm Headphone jack. Connect RCA to output of mixer (main or monitor doesn't matter) and Jack plug to Line in.
Then you just need the software to record.
I've seen talk of Audigy (or something like that) being free. Others can help you here.

The main difference in the end will be sound quality. You could spend thousands to get a good recording input, but the laptop should be more than ok really.

Thanks for the speedy reply skot but I don't actually have a mixer and there is no line input on my laptop. I have a mic in but no line in.

I do have all the software I need but it's the hardware between the turntable and the laptop that is missing.

your amp will have an out though.

and you can connect it to the mic in, but line in is preferable.

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**Man I'm Pretty**

I don't think that I'll get very good quality rips when recording through the mic in.

I'm hoping to go onto using Traktor DJ Studio 3 as well which means that I will need to have multiple outputs as well which my laptop doesn't have at the moment either.

quote:

Originally posted by down-under-dj I don't think that I'll get very good quality rips when recording through the mic in.

correct.

So when you buy your soundcard...................
which if your laptop doesn't have a line in you will have to do



OR



www.xitel.com

find the InPort USB. Dedicated recording soundcard. It works very well for me.

www.vinylwarning.com.au
or
www.storedj.com.au
usually stock it.

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**Man I'm Pretty**

Thanks for the links Trance Nutter. Just checked and StoreDJ have them in stock. $149.99 with $10 off if you are a member.

As I'm wanting to also have the multiple channel outputs I wouldn't like to pay $150 for this and then still have to buy a soundcard which has the multiple outputs as well.

Is there nothing around this price that could do record and also output to multiple channels?

Not sure why you'd need multple outs for Tracktor? (i am unfamiliar with it's use)
Looks like you heading up is $$$ tho. Not sure 150 will be enough for that?

Traktor is a software based DJ console. It's basically a set of virtual turntables. As such I would need one channel which is being played/recorded and another channel for monitoring and cueing up the subsequent tracks. The M-Audio Firewire 410 would be heavenly but as the price tag is way - way over my budget I've got to look elsewhere, besides I'm only wanting to play around with this in the short term. Long term I'm wanting to pick up a set of 1210's and mix with my vinyl.

Ahh the cue is what I was not thinking of. There'd have to be other guys here who could help you out for this.
M-audio for 300 USD? Could be useful into the future too, not just for traktor - eg if you want to record a dj set off the 1210's when you get them.

Thing is though that $300 US should equate to around $450 in ozzie dollars but it doesn't. We are getting ripped off big time over here. The price roughly doubles when it comes into the country...

Fair call. On a side note, in 1915 the dollar was worth 3.50 US.

Have you looked into any DJ mixers that could be connected via firewire or USB? I don't 'know' if they exist yet but I think they are starting to come onto the market, and you'll need one anyway. Would be costly but saves buying 2 items.
Anyway, Good luck, I'm off to Uni.