Can anybody help me figure how to run this setup at home?

[razy]

Basically I'm pretty new to this and I need some serious help haha.
Here's what im trying to do.
I have a djm-500, ONE cdj-1000 mk3, and a speaker.
I'm planning on using my laptop with traktor 3 to run the other song to mix because I dont have another CDJ at the moment.

So here's my question:
What else do i need? (external soundcard? if so, any suggestions on a good one for recording as well?), and how do i hook everything up..

thanks, any help is greatly appreciated.

[thebobman]

you won't need an external sound card, since the laptop with traktor will just be a source. Here's your setup:


[MONITOR] = HEADPHONES
/\
|||-[LINE OUT] = SPEAKERS (or amp connected to speakers)
|||-/\
|||-|||
[MIXER]
/\--/\
|||-|||
|||-[SOURCE1] = CDJ-1000
|||
[SOURCE2] = LAPTOP (connected via 3.5mm to stereo RCA)

[razy]

wow thanks for that diagram really helps.
but my friends running a similar setup with NO CDJ, but with an external soundcard connected to his laptop and the traktor does not play the track unless that soundcard is turned on. Is this because he's playing both tracks using traktor therefore he needs the soundcard?
Also if i wanna record, then do i need the external soundcard? if so, what should i be looking for?

also i dont quite understand what you mean by connected via 3.5mm to stereo RCA, i dont believe my laptop has holes for RCA cables

[KrisisID]

but you said you want to run one CDJ. and traktor off your laptop.

[razy]

yeah that's what im planning on doing, im just confused because my friend told me i need the external soundcard connected to my laptop in order for traktor to play anything. I wanna figure out if that's only true when he's strictly using traktor to mix without CDJs

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by razy

wow thanks for that diagram really helps.
but my friends running a similar setup with NO CDJ, but with an external soundcard connected to his laptop and the traktor does not play the track unless that soundcard is turned on. Is this because he's playing both tracks using traktor therefore he needs the soundcard?
Also if i wanna record, then do i need the external soundcard? if so, what should i be looking for?

also i dont quite understand what you mean by connected via 3.5mm to stereo RCA, i dont believe my laptop has holes for RCA cables

Your laptop does have a 3.5mm though, so you should be able to use a Y-cable that converts from one to the other (so you can use RCA inputs on the mixer). They cost like $6 and you can get them from Radio Shack/The Source.

If you want to record, you might run into feedback issues (because you're going to loop back from mixer to computer, and you're also outputting from computer to mixer, this creates a feedback loop). Your better bet is just to get another computer and hook up an output to that computer's input.

Or go buy one of those digital HDD recorders, I think they're getting hella cheap these days. You could also maybe use a minidisc recorder if you really wanted to.

[razy]

^ thanks for that info!

so now my only question is, do i, or do i not need the external soundcard connected to my laptop in order for traktor to play tracks.

[thebobman]

btw, I wouldn't recommend using the same laptop to record and provide the traktor source, although it may be possible, it'll add extra load onto whatever onboard soundcard your laptop's using, which cause noticeable lag with traktor.

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by razy

^ thanks for that info!

so now my only question is, do i, or do i not need the external soundcard connected to my laptop in order for traktor to play tracks.

Nope. You should be able to just use the regular sound card.

[thebobman]

Originally Posted by ebbomega

Nope. You should be able to just use the regular sound card.

yar, the laptop is just going to be providing a sound source, just like plugging into a iPod for music, 'cept you'll be able to use traktor to pitch shift the track you're playing back.

[razy]

then i find it really odd that my friend HAS to turn on his external soundcard for traktor to play a track, because last time i didn't turn it on and traktor wouldn't play the track at all..
well i'll give this a shot thanks for all your help guys! :)

[ebbomega]

Well, if you're doing mixing inside of traktor, you may need use of the external because otherwise how are you going to listen to your queue? And if Traktor doesn't give the option of just playing a single track out the main speakers of your computer then, well, now you know why I hate laptop djing.

[decypher]

razy that's cuz the ext. soundcard is outputting the sound for him to whatever speakers he's using. Your laptop has an internal soundcard which isn't as fancy but if all you want to do is play music then you just buy a 'mini-jack to RCA conversion' cable which will allow you to hook up your laptop to your mixer and play it on whatever channel. If you want to start recording your sets from the mixer then you might wanna get a external soundcard which gives you more options for inputting/outputting sound from your gear and adds midi if you want to do that too.

Oh and a 2nd speaker might help too heh.

[Revolver]

why is this so complicated?

rustybob won this thread with that excellent daigram in the very first reply

[decypher]

It seemed like it needed reiterating a couple times haha. This guy is fresh off the press.

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by Revolver

why is this so complicated?

rustybob won this thread with that excellent daigram in the very first reply

impressive considering he didn't even post.

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by ebbomega

impressive considering he didn't even post.

BWHAHAHA...


EPIC SELF PWN!