This chapter describes the most common hardware setups to serve as examples. Wewill go over the setup of soundcards, controllers, and timecode records/CDs.
Dec 25, 2009 Go into Device Manager (use windows Help to find out how). Go down to sound devices and right click and determine what your sound, video and game controller drivers - a lot of computers have Realtek, but this is not the only one. If it is Realtek, you can download the Realtek AC 97 driver pack or the Realtek High Definition Sound Pack from.
Headphone cueing, or just cueing, is a crucial aspect of DJing that separatesDJing from merely making a playlist. Headphone cueing allows you to preview thenext track you would like to mix in your headphones. The audience will not hearwhat you are cueing in your headphones until you decide to mix it in.
In order to use headphone cueing, you will need at least 2 separate audiooutputs, typically provided by a USB soundcard (also known as an “audiointerface”). The headphone jack on most laptops is not a second audio output.Rather, plugging headphones into the jack simply redirects the laptop’s singlestereo output from its speakers to your headphones. A splitter cable can be usedto separate the stereo output of a headphone jack into two separate mono outputsfor headphone cueing, but it is recommended to use a sound card with at leastfour mono outputs (for two stereo pairs). Such sound cards tend to be higher qualitythan those built into laptops and allow your mix to be enjoyed in stereo by youraudience.
Unlike some proprietary DJ systems, Mixxx can use any soundcard and anyMIDI or HID controller that yourOS has drivers to use. Mixxx can use multiple audiodevices simultaneously. Depending on your budget and application area, yoursound setup and requirements may vary. This section provides useful informationfor club, hobby, and radio DJs alike.
See also
The Mixxx DJ Hardware Guidelists controllers and sound cards with information abouttheir compatibility with Mixxx and differentoperating systems. It also hassuggestions for what to consider when you are shopping for DJequipment.
3.1. Laptop Only¶
There is no need to buy any equipment other than a computer if you do notrequire headphone cueing. The built-in soundcard on most computers andlaptops comes with a single stereo line-out and a microphone input.
The figure above depicts how the sound configuration might look. The stereooutput of your soundcard (channels 1-2) will be connected to the Masterout.
Open Preferences ‣ Sound Hardware
Select the Output tab
From the Master drop-down menu, select your built-in soundcard,then Channels 1-2
Depending on your soundcard, you can specify amicrophone
Use your built-in microphone or connect a microphone to your computer
Check that your microphone is detected by your OS
Open the Input tab
From the Microphone drop-down menu, select the input yourmicrophone is connected to
Click Apply to save the changes.
Dj Mixer
This minimal configuration may be suitable for radio DJs who do not needheadphone cueing.
3.2. Laptop and Splitter Cable¶
The cheapest way to DJ and cue with headphones uses astereo-to-mono DJ splitter cable (also known as a “Y cable”) pluggedinto the headphone jack of a laptop or other computer. This cable divides thestereo output from a single jack into two separate mono signals.
This setup allows you to start DJing without having to invest in expensiveequipment. However, your audience will not be able to enjoy music producers’artistic use of stereophonic sound (although many club PA systems are wired inmono anyway). Furthermore, soundcards built into computers are usually lowquality.
Using a built-in soundcard and a stereo-to-mono splitter
Open Preferences ‣ Sound Hardware
Select the Output tab
Check that your headphones are plugged into the side of the cable with aheadphones symbol and that the speakers are plugged into the side of the cablewith a speaker symbol.
From the Master drop-down menu, select your built-in soundcard,then Channel 1
From the Headphones drop-down menu, select your built-insoundcard, then Channel 2
Click Apply to save the changes.
See also
Digital Mixer Software
See the wikifor a list of DJ splitter cables.
Warning
Most splitter cables, particularly those marketed as headphonesplitter cables, output the same stereo signal to two headphonejacks and will not work for this DJ setup. Also, if you use ageneric stereo-to-mono splitter adapter, you may only be able tohear out of one side of your speakers and headphones. DJ splittercables allow you to hear the same mono signal on both sides of yourheadphones and speakers.
3.3. Laptop and External USB Soundcard¶
The most common setup for DJing is a laptop and a soundcard with 2 stereooutputs (4 channels). The first stereo output (channels 1-2) is used as themaster output and supplies the main mix to the audience. With the second stereooutput (channels 3-4) you can cue and preview the next track in your headphones. Ifyour soundcard only has one stereo output, you can use multiple soundcardsto achieve a similar setup. Most DJ controllers above the most basic modelsinclude a soundcard with 2 stereo outputs (seeLaptop and MIDI or HID Controller for details).
The configuration depicted above uses two soundcards. This setup is the bareminimum for serious DJing. Without any extra gear, the DJ can control Mixxx viamouse and keyboard. For more information see Controlling Mixxx.
Using two soundcards (built-in + external)
Open Preferences ‣ Sound Hardware
Select the Output tab
From the Master drop-down menu, select the external soundcard,then Channels 1-2
From the Headphones drop-down menu, select the built-insoundcard, then Channels 1-2
Click Apply to save the changes.
Using an external multi-channel soundcard
Open Preferences ‣ Sound Hardware
Select the Output tab
From the Master drop-down menu, select the external soundcard,then Channels 1-2
From the Headphones drop-down menu, select the externalsoundcard, then Channels 3-4
Click Apply to save the changes.
Hint
If you have technical difficulties with your external sound card, asplitter cable can be used as aportable, inexpensive backup.
Note
Soundcards designed and marketed for recording often have a knob thatallows you to mix its input directly with its output. This functioncan be helpful when recording (to hear the input without the latencyof going through the computer), but the master output level will below even if there is no sound on the inputs. To get the maximum outputlevel from these soundcards, you may need to set this knob to onlysend output from the computer and none from the input(s).
3.4. Laptop and MIDI or HID Controller¶
Most DJs prefer the tactile and intuitive control provided by DJ MIDI or HIDcontrollers over only a keyboard and mouse. Mixxx can work with any MIDIor HIDcontroller as long as there is a mapping fileto tell Mixxx how to understand the controller’s signals. Mixxx comes bundledwith a number of MIDI and HID mapping presets, which are listed in theMixxx DJ Hardware Guideon the wiki. For controllers that Mixxx does not yet support, you can searchthe forum to see if anyone hasstarted a mapping. You can also start one yourself using the information in theController Mapping Documentationon the wiki.
3.4.1. Controllers with an integrated soundcard¶
Many DJ controllers include an integrated multi-channel soundcard.A setup with this kind of controller may look like the diagram below:
Using Mixxx together with a DJ controller and integrated soundcard¶
Using a controller with an integrated multi-channel soundcard
Open Preferences ‣ Sound Hardware
Select the Output tab
From the Master drop-down menu, select your controller’ssoundcard, then Channels 1-2
From the Headphones drop-down menu, select your controller’ssoundcard, then Channels 3-4
Click Apply to save the changes.
3.4.2. Controllers without an integrated sound card¶
Controllers without an integrated soundcard can be used together with a USBsoundcard as depicted in the diagram below:
Using Mixxx together with a DJ controller and external soundcard¶
Using a controller without an integrated soundcard
Open Preferences ‣ Sound Hardware
Select the Output tab
From the Master drop-down menu, select the external soundcard,then Channels 1-2
From the Headphones drop-down menu, select the built-insoundcard, then Channels 1-2
Click Apply to save the changes.
Note
You can connect as many controllers as you have ports on yourcomputer. Just follow the steps in Using MIDI/HID Controllers for eachcontroller you want to use.
3.5. Laptop, External Hardware Mixer and Vinyl Control¶
Using Mixxx together with turntables and external mixer¶
This setup allows DJs to use the techniques of DJing with vinyl recordturntables combined with the portability and flexibility of a laptop computer.Instead of carrying crates of records or CDs, DJs can carry their entire musiccollection on their laptop. In addition to a laptop and headphones, this setuprequires a soundcard with at least two pairs of stereo inputs and outputsas well as a pair of timecode records.
See also
Go to the chapter Vinyl Control for detailed information.