Psyloce
Forgive me, this will be long. I have been DJing for a while now. I got started and learned how to mix with VDJ and mp3's. I graduated to using lots and lots of vinyl, got a real mixer, inherited two sl-1200's and life was good. Lately I have been buying more and more cd's and I once again have a need for digital. The one thing that has always held me back from using digital is the sound quality. 99% of whats out there is abysmal; it sounds bright, harsh, and totally lifeless. I have noticed when I perform live that the crowd reacts very strongly to the warmth and wonder of vinyl, and digital often has the opposite effect. One might say that you wouldn't notice those kinds of SQ differences on a club system, but I disagree. I think that inner detail resolution is surely lost but warmth is King! Warm sound even when loud makes people feel good!! Nearly every digital set I have heard has very harsh high frequencies and creates listener fatigue rapidly. The only thing digital seems to excel with is bass. I started using and ART tube compressor on the mixer outs and that helps (and is a great product btw) but it still does not tame the digital completely. All of the sound cards I have used sound horrible. I recently bought a Hercules MK2. I am really digging the external control, but the SQ while better, is still unacceptable. I have also had problems with defective units and bugs. The only success I have had is by using an external hi-fi Technics DAC with a pair of tube amps at home. This sounds good. However is is totally impractical in any other application. Sooooo, are there any pro-friendly devices capable of truely hi-fi/warm sound? I see two options, the XP10 or Hercules control and an external soundcard. Can anyone testify to XP10 SQ and does it sound warm? How does is compare to vinyl sound? Is the the XP10 more reliable/less buggy than alternatices? For an audio interface I would need USB/Firewire. Does anyone have any experience with the Presonus Firebox? ESI U46DJ/Gigaport? M-Audio firewire audiophile/Conectiv? I welcome any other suggestions as well. I really want and need to go digital but it has to work; no suprise bugs/crashes and acceptable SQ. Any and all comments on topic welcome, and I thank you for your time and expertise.
Inviato Sun 11 Mar 07 @ 9:52 am
Psyloce
Oh, and I don't mean to diss the Hercules MK2, for the $ its a good product. I'm way more picky than most for SQ. I don't think its totally unnacptable, I'm just seeking better...
Inviato Sun 11 Mar 07 @ 10:30 pm
Psyloce
I just got a Presonus Firebox to try out. The sound of the firebox is much better. Also the input/output configuration is very cool. I am using an external mixer with deck 1 on 3/4 and 2 on 5/6. The external mixer's output goes into analog tube compression, and then back into the Vaio via inputs 3/4 to record. Then the main mix then goes to outputs 1/2 for the house. Booth and phones are off of the mixer. This setup is rockin! The output levels of the Firebox are very high; they can exceed the output of a Pioneer CDP if necesary.
Anyhow, when I am setting up the Firebox I am using 24 bit/96 khz sampling rates. If I am playing an mp3 or cd with virtual dj am I getting a true 24/96 output? Is the VDJ outputing that sampling rate or is the driver for the firebox doing that? Am I getting the benefits of this config while using VDJ, or can VDJ only output 16/44.1?
I have really started to like using an external mixer, but I am missing the control interface big time. How is the stability of of the Hercules mp3 controller? DAC2/3? And what about the Numark DMC2, is it supported/stable??
I'm still wondering about the XP10's, can anyone compare the XP10 sound to the sound of something like a firebox? Are they better??
Anyone????
Anyhow, when I am setting up the Firebox I am using 24 bit/96 khz sampling rates. If I am playing an mp3 or cd with virtual dj am I getting a true 24/96 output? Is the VDJ outputing that sampling rate or is the driver for the firebox doing that? Am I getting the benefits of this config while using VDJ, or can VDJ only output 16/44.1?
I have really started to like using an external mixer, but I am missing the control interface big time. How is the stability of of the Hercules mp3 controller? DAC2/3? And what about the Numark DMC2, is it supported/stable??
I'm still wondering about the XP10's, can anyone compare the XP10 sound to the sound of something like a firebox? Are they better??
Anyone????
Inviato Fri 16 Mar 07 @ 11:13 pm
djcel
VDJ only outputs 16/44.1 for the moment
Inviato Sat 17 Mar 07 @ 10:45 pm
Robocon
Hmm... this is good to know, i would have to agree with listener fatigue comment. The high output does seem quite harsh. i would definatly like to know if going full 24 bit in vdj would remedy this problem.
Keep up the good work guys!
P.S. have you seen the numark QUE software......looks very familiar ;)
Keep up the good work guys!
P.S. have you seen the numark QUE software......looks very familiar ;)
Inviato Sun 18 Mar 07 @ 10:00 am