I want to use this on a laptop but how do I go about making it so I can also cue through headphones from it too? I need two sound cards correct? I'm lost on how to set up the hardware for this. If anyone has done it and can tell me the best way to do this I would appreciate it.



I currently have a Dell Inspiron 6000.

Here are your choices... using the internal software mixer:

1) Buy ONE external soundcard, use that for your master-out, use the internal soundcard for your headphone monitoring.

2) Buy a multiple-output soundcard, use one of the outputs as the master-out, the other as headphone (a good example of this is the Echo Indigo DJ which allows you to connect headphones directly without needing a headphone amp, or you can get a soundcard with built-in headphone software monitoring).

3) Buy two external single-output soundcards, one for mains, one for monitoring.

Using an external mixer with the internal software mixer disabled:

4) Buy a multiple-output soundcard, outputs for each deck are sent to separate channels on the mixer. Headphone cueing is done same as regular DJing on the mixer.

5) Buy two external single-output soundcards, one for each deck, routed to the mixer the same as #4.

Can you tell me about how this plugs into the laptop? Is that what that little slot with a plastic piece inserted into now is for? It slides into that on the side I assume?

Also does this Echo DJ have any noise associated with the house mix. I've heard about some sound cards having noise problems and want to make sure I don't have this.

Some sound cards connect via the slot on the side (also known as a PC card slot or a PCMCIA slot) and others connect using either USB or Firewire.

A recommendation: a multiple output soundcard that connects using USB 2.0 is the Gigaport AG by ESI (aka Ego Systems Inc). I've used it and can't say enough good things about it. Great soundcard.

-r-

Yup, some USB cards also have headphone outputs on them. Barring that, use #1 from Pulse's post above.

-r-

and I'm assuming #1 is the card you were describing?

Actually no, it was the suggestion that you use a single-output external card and use your internal headphone output for your headphones. But this is probably problematic - often the software only sees one sound card at a time, and your internal card and the external card are seen as different. The card I'm describing you could use either by itself as 2 separate outputs (for normal DJ mixer operation) or by itself with a headphone output, or even more. It's got 4 stereo outputs on it + the headphone output, so it's more than adequate for just about anything.

And it's about the same price as a standard, single-output external card.

-r-

cool so basically with this one card i could use the internal mixer on the DJS and send the master out to the card then out to the system and also it would have a plugin for the headphones too?

both of which the DJs program would notice and i could set up?

That's right.

And yes, near as I know, DJS will see the outputs on the card and the headphone out as well. If push comes to shove, you could use a second output on the card (if the headphone output doesn't work as expected) and buy a small headphone amp (they're usually cheap enough) and then you could use that second output for your headphones. The Gigaport card has so many outputs on it it's very versatile.

-r-

The beauty of DJS is that it can identify and use any number of soundcards - and even allows you to adjust latency times for each card (should they need it). If you've got one external card for the mains, you CAN use the internal card for monitoring.

I would suggest getting a multiple output card for USB or FW which has a headphone connection and a software manager which allows you to assign the headphones to monitor a perticular set of virtual outputs.

I am running out the Dell built-in sound card and running the cue out a pair of logitech USB headphones... works like a charm and next to zero latency...



Let me add... these are "gaming headphones" they are loud as hell and have a built-in mic... Cost is about $45USD... go to www.logitech.com and have a look

The mains out of the built-in ... are guaranteed to be noisy. It's inherent with internal cards because of the cross-talk with other circuitry.

Unpluggin the battery charger seems to make that go away. Granted I have never tried it hooked up to a big club system.

Have you tried making sure the laptop is plugged into the same power strip as the mixer / CDJs / turntables?

The soundcard for a laptop is the "Indigo DJ"
About $200.

Pulse,

Pardon me for bringing this up again but I remember that you bought an external sound card couple of months back and you said it was really good. I searched the forum but I couldn't get to that post, can you tell me what was that external soundcard? I am planning to buy it this weekend.

Cheers

Was it "cemini ikey" ?

No, that's a passthrough device for recording.

The soundcard which Zet, Caleb and myself have is the M-Audio FW410. It's a firewire card - know that in advance just incase you don't have FW in your machine.

Thank you. Now I gotta find a dealer in Belgium who sells it.



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