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DJ Setup with Traktor Scratch pro & Laptop (Connecting monitors)
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| Ankhsunamun |
Hey guys,
I was hoping someone could offer a bit of advice for my dj setup.
Setup Includes:
x2-1200mk2 Tables
x1-Vestax PMC-05 Pro Mixer
x2-Rokit Monitors
x1-Laptop
x1-Audio 8 dj Interface (Traktor software installed on laptop)
I want my monitors to handle all output, including audio from the laptop(itunes, youtube etc), and from the turntables.
Is this just a matter of making all the right connections? Or is there a reason why the Audio 8 dj could not process the signals from the laptop and turntables simultaneously right off the bat.
Thanks for any advice in advance =)
Ankh |
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| n3lly |
See your problem is your mixer.
The way i would have done it. Was have your audio 8 hooked up to your turntables. They in the audio 8 would then be hooked up to your mixer (using the line inputs) as if you were just using traktor.
Then if you had a spare Channel or even another line input you could have ran a 3.5mm to rca jack from your headphone out of your laptop.
That way you could have either had the 3rd channel on your mixer as the volume of your computer, eg. youtube itunes etc. Or if you had a 2 channel mixer with more than 2 line inputs (eg 2 line inputs per channel, see the Vestax PCV 275 to understand what i mean) you could have plugged it into the spare line input and then switched the input selector to that line input when you weren't using that specific channel to dj.
Hope that makes sense, these things often get confusing.
The way you have it hooked up at the moment i'm not sure it's possible. Without unplugging one of the channels on the rear of your mixer each time you want to listen to your laptop.
Maybe someone else will think of a solution. |
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| DjWoody |
| quote: | Originally posted by n3lly
See your problem is your mixer.
The way i would have done it. Was have your audio 8 hooked up to your turntables. They in the audio 8 would then be hooked up to your mixer (using the line inputs) as if you were just using traktor.
Then if you had a spare Channel or even another line input you could have ran a 3.5mm to rca jack from your headphone out of your laptop.
That way you could have either had the 3rd channel on your mixer as the volume of your computer, eg. youtube itunes etc. Or if you had a 2 channel mixer with more than 2 line inputs (eg 2 line inputs per channel, see the Vestax PCV 275 to understand what i mean) you could have plugged it into the spare line input and then switched the input selector to that line input when you weren't using that specific channel to dj.
Hope that makes sense, these things often get confusing.
The way you have it hooked up at the moment i'm not sure it's possible. Without unplugging one of the channels on the rear of your mixer each time you want to listen to your laptop.
Maybe someone else will think of a solution. |
And that right there is exactly how I have mine setup at home. However, I do have a Pioneer DJM800 which has more channels. |
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| Ankhsunamun |
I see what you mean. Unfortunately my mixer is 2 channels with only two line inputs.
Is it necessary for the laptop to be plugged into the mixer, when it is already connected to the Audio 8 dj via USB?
Also, would the monitors need to be connected to the mixer instead of the Audio 8 dj?
I appreciate the advice, thank you.
Ankh |
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| djkatmaus |
| quote: | Originally posted by Ankhsunamun
I see what you mean. Unfortunately my mixer is 2 channels with only two line inputs.
Is it necessary for the laptop to be plugged into the mixer, when it is already connected to the Audio 8 dj via USB?
Also, would the monitors need to be connected to the mixer instead of the Audio 8 dj?
I appreciate the advice, thank you.
Ankh |
I would just plug the monitors into the output of the mixer. Or if the mixer has a booth output I would take that output and plug it into the input of the monitors.
Honestly, I really don't see a reason of why you would need to plug your laptop audio outputs into your mixer. At least for straight DJing. Whatever tunes you plan on using on your next deck you can cue through your headphones off the mixer. |
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| Ankhsunamun |
What I was trying to achieve was to have a song playing from Itunes, and to be able to scratch and cue over the music.
is it possible for the audio 8 dj to register the audio from the laptop through the USB connection, and send that signal to the mixer? Or would I need to plug the laptop into a spare channel on the mixer with the headphone output?
Thanks again guys
Ankh |
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| djkatmaus |
| quote: | Originally posted by Ankhsunamun
What I was trying to achieve was to have a song playing from Itunes, and to be able to scratch and cue over the music.
is it possible for the audio 8 dj to register the audio from the laptop through the USB connection, and send that signal to the mixer? Or would I need to plug the laptop into a spare channel on the mixer with the headphone output?
Thanks again guys
Ankh |
Does your mixer have any other type of input. Such as an aux or efx input? You could use that as an extra line input. You wouldn't have the same type control as a channel strip though.
I think you can utilize the extra inputs and outputs of the Audio 8 as a pass through to mixer. Meaning bypassing Traktor. If your using the headphone out on your laptop you'll have to convert it RCA.
I would consider looking into getting at least a three channel mixer sometime in the future though. |
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| Ankhsunamun |
The only other inputs that I have are "Sub Mic In" & "Main Mic In".
A Better mixer is definitely in the cards! I was just hoping I could work with the one I have. It was free! |
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| Ankhsunamun |
Well, I just discovered how to load the itunes library into Traktor. So everything I need is pretty much taken care of =D
The only other thing that would be cool is to be able to use the monitors for Youtube and Dvds and such, but that can wait.
Thanks a lot for all of the advice!
Ankh |
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| djkatmaus |
| quote: | Originally posted by Ankhsunamun
The only other inputs that I have are "Sub Mic In" & "Main Mic In".
A Better mixer is definitely in the cards! I was just hoping I could work with the one I have. It was free! |
Only thing I can think of is running your laptop output into one of the mic inputs. Only issue it would be is possibly impedance volume issues between the inputs.
Check this out:::
Plugging a Laptop, MP3 or Ipod into a Balanced XLR Microphone Input
There are 3 things to note when plugging a "headphone level" signal from a laptop, Mp3 player or Ipod into a PA system via a balanced XLR microphone input. This type of input is often found on mixers, pre-amplifier's and all in one powered speakers. A balanced XLR microphone input will always be accompanied by a pre-amplifier as mic signals are weak and always need boosting before they are amplified.
1. Firstly, the output signal from your device will be a stereo signal. Two separate signals are being sent down the cable to the other end.
The mic input you wish to plug into, which will almost always be XLR, is sure to be a balanced input. To read more about what goes on in a balanced jack visit this link: Balanced Audio.
All you need to know at this stage, however, is that while the XLR input does receive two audio signals (the third pin is grounding), a process occurs in the receiving of the signals that inverts one of the signals, flips it on its head as it were, before combining them somewhere down the line in your speaker/mixer circuitry.
When a normal signal is combined with its inverted signal, the two signals will simply cancel each other out. When this is done with a stereo signal, the result is that the left part of the signal is transferred as normal, while the right is inverted. When these two signals are combine in your speaker system, anything that happens to be of equal volume in both left and right (panned center), will get cancelled out completely, and the closer to center it is in the mix, the quieter the resulting sound will be.
To avoid this you must first combine the stereo signal into a mono signal (transferred on only one conductor). To do this you will need a cable such as a 1/8" (3.5mm) stereo, to 1/4" (6.35mm) mono.
But that’s not all…
2. The second issue you will have when plugging a music player or laptop directly into a mic input is a difference in voltages, or signal strengths.
Mic inputs on desks and speakers use what is a called a pre-amp to boost a mic level signal to the optimal strength for the transfer of electrical energy within the circuitry, also known as a circuit’s unity. Pre-amps are the small variable gain knobs at the top of a mixing desk, and they are used because all mic's are made differently, and proximity to a sound being picked up also determines the signal strength before it reaches the desk.
The signal strength coming from a microphone is also very low because acoustic energy (sound) is very weak compared to electrical energy, and the very small vibrations of a microphone’s diaphragm don’t transmit through the cable with much strength at all.
Devices such as laptops and music players output what is called a line level signal. It is a signal that has a higher voltage than a mic level signal, simply because it can, and it means that the signal won’t need to be boosted quite so much when its time to make some noise out of it, so there will be less overall unwanted electrical noise.
However when you plug a line level signal into a mic input, it doesn't mean that it will just be boosted more and therefore be way too loud. There is actually a drop in signal, because the line level has a different voltage to what the circuitry of the mic input is designed to receive, and therefore optimal transfer of electrical energy can’t be achieved.
To achieve maximum transfer efficiency, a DI box (Direct Box) or an impedance transformer can be used to change the impedance or resistance of the incoming signal, resulting in a change in voltage to one that transfers better to a mic input.
3. The third issue is that XLR microphone inputs will generally only accept balanced signals. Plugging an unbalanced signal into a XLR mic input can damage your pre-amplifer and mixer. In the case where you have a mono line level signal, a DI box is the best option because as well as matching the impedance, it will also create a balanced output that can then be taken straight to the mixer using a standard XLR to XLR microphone cable.
In summary, what you will need to plug a laptop, Mp3 player or Ipod music player output into balanced XLR microphone input, is a cable to combine your stereo signal into mono, followed by a DI box to adjust the signal to the appropriate voltage, as well as creating a balanced signal that is acceptable for the XLR mic input.
All that being said, the cabling solution is much easier if you can avoid the XLR input and use a line level input with either RCA or 1/4" jacks. Most mixers have dual RCA inputs, often labeled "tape in", this is best way to connect an Ipod to a mixer and requires one simple 3.5mm to dual RCA cable. |
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