quote:

Originally posted by u4ea I'm using PCDJ Red, and some external stuff. Here's my setup: Presario Laptop -> running PCDJ Red (connected via serial to Numark DMC-1) -> output to 2 soundcards (1 internal/1 external) -> soundcards feeding into Stanton mixer -> output to headphones/speakers

I'm planning on getting a laptop this summer so that I could have a setup something like this (minus the DMC-1 because I don't think I'll have quite enough money for it - how much did it cost you?) so I just have a couple questions for you. What sort of external soundcard you're using? Is it PCMCIA, USB, otherwise? How is the latency? I assume the other card is just the built in one that comes with the laptop, correct?

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quote:

Originally posted by MERiDiAN5i2 hahahaha just did the same thing myself... but my friends still smoke... and pass it my way... so it's all good!

yep, that's what i do too! years of sharing paid off, now i can smoke for free pretty much.

hmm.. i would think there would be a latency difference between internal and external cards... maybe not... but that sounds like a dope setup

I use a P3-1gig in a small form factor case with two PCI soundboards and just drag it with me for digital mixing...

It seems dificult to locate a laptop that will work well with audio apps.. maybe that laptop is one to consider


-mer

Yeah, I'm looking at either a laptop or a mini-pc+LCD, which I think would probably be portable enough to carry to parties, etc. And more versatile than the laptop, I guess. Laptop's just super easy to transport, though.

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what's the point?

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Does anyone know where I can get a tutorial for Traktor or PCDJ?

if your looking for a decent small machine for mixing, check out the shuttle SS50 barebones box.

It's TINY, has two PCI slots, P4 motherboard (The SS40 model has an AMD board), and has integrated FireWire, USB, and 6 channel CMedia sound - looks like the perfect box for a portable mix station.

-mer

quote:

Originally posted by MERiDiAN5i2 if your looking for a decent small machine for mixing, check out the shuttle SS50 barebones box. It's TINY, has two PCI slots, P4 motherboard (The SS40 model has an AMD board), and has integrated FireWire, USB, and 6 channel CMedia sound - looks like the perfect box for a portable mix station. -mer

ATM I'm looking at an e-Cube system (http://www.viahardware.com/cfs868_1.shtm) that's about the size of the SS50, but has an AGP slot and supports P4 chips. I would stick a Santa Cruz in the PCI slot for decent sound output.

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interesting... the ecube looks pretty cool.

anyhow, the santa cruz is based on a cirrus logic / crystal sound CS4630, which Im not too familiar with. if it's anything like the previous cirrus/crystal chips, im guessing the drivers for it suck.

can you run multiple CS4630 boards in the same computer, I read over the CS4630 spec and couldnt find anything about multiple devices.

one thing I like to avoid in soundboards is an AC97 interface - AC97 interfaces isolate the DSP unit from the analog outputs, and use a seperate interface to convert the digital sound into analog, which is what AC97 is - AC97 is a serial link between the digital DSP chip (the CS4630) and the analog output device (a CS4297, 4298, or 4299 in this case) -- this just adds to the complication of the device. I like the MAudio and CMedia setups where the DSP and sound output is on one chip - this results in 1/4 the number of onboard components and im alot of cases results in lowered latency.

i might have to pick up one of these cs4630 based boards and see just how good they are :P maybe cirrus has learned from thier previous (and PATHETIC) chipsets (which didnt even have full stereo channel seperation)

-mer

Most of the soundblaster bashing boards I frequent recommend the Santa Cruz as one of the best alternatives as far as compatibility/etc.

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hmm cool.. so can i put two or three of them in one box?
can't seem to determine that

I suppose you could, but I don't know. They have at least dual outputs each, though.

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My other sig is a Gibson.