computer connections?

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mike james

New DJ
Mar 29, 2010
40
0
How and what are you using to connect your laptop to your mixer? We have been using the headphones out jack on our laptop with rca cables and adaptors. 3.5 adaptor on the computer connection and a 1/4" adaptor on the mixer channel connection.

There has to be a better way.

Thanks Mike
 
Welcome!!!
In my case I use several.
M-Audio Fast Track
M-Audio Fast Track Pro when using the DAC-3 controller at home
M-Audi Fast Track Ultra when I want to play with TCCD's and VDJ at home.
But for the main gig rigs I'm using 2 Denon HC4500's to an external mixer.
Most onboard cards are lacking in sound quality but some have been lucky with them.
 
I have two of the Behringer UCA202's
 
Direct headphone out into a channel on the mixer

Patrick, I'm usually behind your decisions, but. NO, NO, NO! Please do yourself a favor and give Guitar Center the $30 for a Behringer. You won't be sorry.

:tricool:

UCA202_P0484_FrontPerspective_web.jpg
 
Patrick, I'm usually behind your decisions, but. NO, NO, NO! Please do yourself a favor and give Guitar Center the $30 for a Behringer. You won't be sorry.

:tricool:

UCA202_P0484_FrontPerspective_web.jpg

Ok, as has been evidenced in many threads, I am not the most techinally advanced person on the planet, lol.

Can someone tell me, in simple terms (I know that is a hard concept for you computer guys :tribiggrin:) what this does?
 
It has inside it a sound card similar to what is inside a computer, but a bit better quality. Some laptops today actually have decent internal sound processing. Not so long ago laptops had not-so-good built-in sound processing and so a whole industry grew up around supplementing the not-so-good sound capabilities that most laptops came with.

I also have the Behringer UCA202 and it works fine. I bought a Creative Labs Xfi external a couple of years ago and it has recently bit the dust due to carrying it around in my laptop bag with no protection or ??? It seemed to have slightly better sound than the Behringer and many people claim that other more expensive external sound cards like Maudio, Native Instruments, DIGI and EMu give even better sound. The Behringer UCA-202 is $28.26 and the UCA-222 is $33.90 on amazon.com. They work every time with no muss or fuss, no drivers to install etc. They plug into a USB port on your laptop and then you go out either the headphone jack or the (2) RCA OUT jacks to your mixer. I sum the stereo signal with a small Y Cable and go into a single channel on my mixer.
 
Ok, as has been evidenced in many threads, I am not the most techinally advanced person on the planet, lol.

Can someone tell me, in simple terms (I know that is a hard concept for you computer guys :tribiggrin:) what this does?
You mean what this and every other USB sound card does? Or what this does different than other USB sound cards?

For the first question, it adds audio output options to your sound control panel and/or sound output choice in your DJ software. See those yellow things? They are RCA jacks.

For the second question, this model also has a headphone jack and volume as well as an optical connection.
 
well we are ordering the new sub today, so I guess we will be adding this to the order too, lol
 
I use the Gigaport from ESI. Mine is an older model but still works well.

The Gigaport has eight outputs. It can be configured with Virtual DJ to allow you to put the left deck on two and the right deck on two. This allows you to use your mixer to its fullest capability to actually ... ummm ... mix. If you have a fader then you can beat mix with it.

So, with that having been said, other than price ($100+ vs. $30), what does the Behringer offer me? If it offers better sound then I'm all ears.
 
Well, I see one possibility with the Behringer. I am converting some LPs for my sister-in-law. I currently have a Stanton phonograph going through my mixer to a miniplug and into the mic input of the laptop. The sound quality is OK. Would the Behringer help?

Also, Steve, you mentioned to Patrick to get two. Would he be able to use both to do what I am doing with the Gigaport?

Finally, will they work through a powered USB hub? My laptop has three USBs and I am using a fancooler with a USB hub on one of them and have a USB keyboard and USB mouse in the other two. I can put an eight port powered hub in one of the other two and hook the mouse and keyboard to that. Would that work?
 
The Behringer isn't going to give the very best sound available, what it does give you is extreme simplicity, rock solid performance-it works every time with no glitches- and better sound quality than most laptops have built in for a very low price. I've read good things about lots of other products, but some require drivers to be installed or the drivers need to be updated etc. This is fine for the more technical folks out there. For me and it sounds like for Patrick simplicity and ease of use are important features. I've read good things about the Turtle Beach too. It looks to be about as simple as can be and inexpensive too. ebay is a good place to browse around and compare if you have the time.
 
Well, Also, Steve, you mentioned to Patrick to get two. Would he be able to use both to do what I am doing with the Gigaport?

Finally, will they work through a powered USB hub? My laptop has three USBs and I am using a fancooler with a USB hub on one of them and have a USB keyboard and USB mouse in the other two. I can put an eight port powered hub in one of the other two and hook the mouse and keyboard to that. Would that work?

Yes - plug and play; no drivers required (with virtual dj anyway)
Yes - on a powered hub
 
The Behringer isn't going to give the very best sound available, what it does give you is extreme simplicity, rock solid performance-it works every time with no glitches- and better sound quality than most laptops have built in for a very low price. I've read good things about lots of other products, but some require drivers to be installed or the drivers need to be updated etc. This is fine for the more technical folks out there. For me and it sounds like for Patrick simplicity and ease of use are important features. I've read good things about the Turtle Beach too. It looks to be about as simple as can be and inexpensive too. ebay is a good place to browse around and compare if you have the time.

Wiz - have you/do you own(ed) either the Behringer or Turtle Beach?

I have both...

Frankly, I'm hard pressed to hear any difference between them and the $200
M-Audio Fast trak Pro....
 
When you use these, do you have to configure anything in the virtual dj software?
Looks like I need one also.