flummox80
Hi guys...ive been using my laptop and Mk2 hercules to gig with and its never been a problem. Now im playing on bigger and better rigs though, im noticing the ouput of my system is lower than the cd decks and other computer users with fancy soundcards, and im having to ride the gains really high to achieve the same punchy sound and im on the limit of whats acceptable.
So....i want to look for a new soundcard but keep on using my Mk2. Would it just be as simple as connecting a new soundcard to my laptop and selecting that card settings in my hercules setup menu and bypassing the Mk2`s soundcard whilst still using its RCA outputs? or is it impossible to bypass the original hercules soundcard if using that controller?
I ask (maybe a silly question) as i really dont want to buy a new controller but need to get my output levels up to par with everyone else. Any assistance would be welcomed. Also if you can recommend a suitable, mid-range (in price!!) but professional, kickass soundcard for me to check out id be extremely gratefull.
Many thanks in advance to anyone kind enough to humour me.
ian
So....i want to look for a new soundcard but keep on using my Mk2. Would it just be as simple as connecting a new soundcard to my laptop and selecting that card settings in my hercules setup menu and bypassing the Mk2`s soundcard whilst still using its RCA outputs? or is it impossible to bypass the original hercules soundcard if using that controller?
I ask (maybe a silly question) as i really dont want to buy a new controller but need to get my output levels up to par with everyone else. Any assistance would be welcomed. Also if you can recommend a suitable, mid-range (in price!!) but professional, kickass soundcard for me to check out id be extremely gratefull.
Many thanks in advance to anyone kind enough to humour me.
ian
Inviato Thu 06 May 10 @ 12:19 am
Made In Breizh
Hello dj_flummox,
1) With VirtualDJ Pro 6, you can use the sound card you want with DJ Console Mk2 control surface, it is no problem, you just have to select the DJ Console Mk2 as HID controller in the mapper tab but not use it as sound card.
2) But why don't you want to use the gain button on the mixer to set the volume?
Not getting on your sound card the same output volume as on some Pioneer CDJ players is normal, since the output level on Pioneer CDJ players is higher than studio standards (some Pioneer CDJ player go up to up to +18dBu, while a standard output level in studio is +4dBu), and the max level is not the same on all Pioneer models.
If you want a better audio quality, I understand your choice of a better sound card, but if you just want to boost the output volume of your DJ Console Mk2, a mixer gain button is the perfect device to boost a sound card output level.
1) With VirtualDJ Pro 6, you can use the sound card you want with DJ Console Mk2 control surface, it is no problem, you just have to select the DJ Console Mk2 as HID controller in the mapper tab but not use it as sound card.
2) But why don't you want to use the gain button on the mixer to set the volume?
Not getting on your sound card the same output volume as on some Pioneer CDJ players is normal, since the output level on Pioneer CDJ players is higher than studio standards (some Pioneer CDJ player go up to up to +18dBu, while a standard output level in studio is +4dBu), and the max level is not the same on all Pioneer models.
If you want a better audio quality, I understand your choice of a better sound card, but if you just want to boost the output volume of your DJ Console Mk2, a mixer gain button is the perfect device to boost a sound card output level.
Inviato Thu 06 May 10 @ 8:48 am
acw_dj
I use VirtualDJ Pro that way. Don't use my DJConsole audio card but another soundcard.
If you like to sound just as a Pioneer CDJ-1000 sounds, use an Echo AudioFire 2 or AudioFire4. Best sound around, you will amazed people with it for sure.
What do those soundcards better than any other it's is dynamic range (up to 114db) and it's linear response from 10-20KHz with just 0.1% db change. So I recommend you this one to impact your gigs.
Inviato Thu 06 May 10 @ 11:59 am
flummox80
Excellent...thanks both of you. Very clear answers ;-)
The last time i played out was on a very nice system, and as you guessed, with pioneer cdjs. At first i raised the gain on VDj, then took the gain on the main mixer up too and it was still a bit low. By really pushing the gain on my computer up more i did get more power out, but my headphone mix sounded awfull. Things were distorting, i was red linning and i definately lost some sound quality on the dancefloor.
I havnt upgraded to Version 6 yet so will do that straight away. Thanks again for your advice and recomendations. I`ll check those cards out now. Im hoping to be playing at some good festivals in Nepal and Goa this season so need to get my system sounding as clear and punchy as possible if i wanna keep the diehard cd dj`s in their place!!!
hehehe.
cheers guys, big luv,
ian
The last time i played out was on a very nice system, and as you guessed, with pioneer cdjs. At first i raised the gain on VDj, then took the gain on the main mixer up too and it was still a bit low. By really pushing the gain on my computer up more i did get more power out, but my headphone mix sounded awfull. Things were distorting, i was red linning and i definately lost some sound quality on the dancefloor.
I havnt upgraded to Version 6 yet so will do that straight away. Thanks again for your advice and recomendations. I`ll check those cards out now. Im hoping to be playing at some good festivals in Nepal and Goa this season so need to get my system sounding as clear and punchy as possible if i wanna keep the diehard cd dj`s in their place!!!
hehehe.
cheers guys, big luv,
ian
Inviato Thu 06 May 10 @ 10:30 pm
flummox80
OK....well i upgraded my software and eventually decided on the Echo Audiofire4.
Last weekend I took it with me back to the same venue that i mentioned in my first post and gave it the acid test.
Im happy to report that it did a fantastic job!!! Sounded great and i had NO problems with my levels this time. Same rig, same mixer and my settings were also the same, although this time my onscreen levels were happy, my souncard and main mixer levels were happily in the yellows and it was kicking out nice and strong accross the rig. Then i glanced over at the main mixer output levels and they were still in the LOW greens!!!
I couldnt believe it. When i pushed the output up till it hit the yellows it was REALLY kicking. A complete polar opposite of my experience last month.
So a big thanks for your input guys, and for anyone else reading this......i can`t recomend other cards as i have no knowledge whatsoever....but from my limited experience....the audiofire4 works rather nicely!!! Not too exspensive either and its compact too so no problem lugging it around town.
Thanks again guys.
Last weekend I took it with me back to the same venue that i mentioned in my first post and gave it the acid test.
Im happy to report that it did a fantastic job!!! Sounded great and i had NO problems with my levels this time. Same rig, same mixer and my settings were also the same, although this time my onscreen levels were happy, my souncard and main mixer levels were happily in the yellows and it was kicking out nice and strong accross the rig. Then i glanced over at the main mixer output levels and they were still in the LOW greens!!!
I couldnt believe it. When i pushed the output up till it hit the yellows it was REALLY kicking. A complete polar opposite of my experience last month.
So a big thanks for your input guys, and for anyone else reading this......i can`t recomend other cards as i have no knowledge whatsoever....but from my limited experience....the audiofire4 works rather nicely!!! Not too exspensive either and its compact too so no problem lugging it around town.
Thanks again guys.
Inviato Wed 02 Jun 10 @ 11:32 pm