Doctor Crusader

Hi everybody,

I am trying to build a dj system based on a personal computer. I want
the PC to play the tracks (saved on hard disk) and then mix them with
a traditional mixer (I am going to buy a Pioneer DJM-600 which is,
from what I read, one of the most versatile mixers, but I am still
accepting advices ;-). So I need two separate and independent outputs
going out from my soundcard to the mixer, exactly as if they were two
CD or vinyl players.

My problem is with the audio card: a cheap one would allow me to open
two winamps and play two tracks at the time, except for the fact that
they exit from the card already mixed, and this is what I am trying to
avoid.
Even with a 4 speaker card (SB Live! and the like) the trick is
impossible: there are two outputs, but they can't be used for
different tracks.

I read I need two soundcards or a multichannel one: the second choice
would be preferred, since it would lower down the risk of hardware
conflicts. I have read about the Terratec Phase-22 soundcard, with two
outputs (BTW, are they in stereo, or are they two monos?). And I wrote
Terratec asking them if the card could suit my needs, and they told me
that what I want to do is impossible, not for the hardware, but
because of my software choice: only professional software (like
CUBASE) would allow me the trick.

How can that be? I was convinced (since I never saw one) that a
multi-output card is seen by the system like two separate cards, so
that I can open two winamps and instruct each of them to exit on a
different soundcard channel. I mean, if the soundcard is correctly
seen by the system, every software can take advantage of it, can't it?

My problem is that I can't leave winamp, since I would use many audio
formats for the mixing (mp3, mpc, wav, ape, flac), and winamp (or
Foobar) is the only software that allows me to play all of them, with
the appropriate plugins.

I am asking you your opinion about this matter, sotty for the long
post, but I wanted to be very clear on every detail.

Best regards

Crusader

P.S. I only considered Terratec Phase 22 as a decent multichannel
soundcard, do you think that there are better ones?

dj

First off, why are you using APE and FLAC, they are easily 20+ meg a song
that includes WAV format too. Second, why do you want stereo? If you play in
a large hall do you want the guys on the left to hear Bass and Drum and the
guy on the right to hear guitar and vocals? Most DJ's play in MONO so the
same sound on both sides off the hall are heard.
So that being said, I convert all APE and FLAC to MP3 then look at BPM
Studio, PC DJ or other software some of the other DJ's recommend. Also I
just bought a Numark 200FX with Alesis effects and it's great 4+1(DJ) Mic
and 4 Channels.
Sound Cards Use 2 and you should have no conflicts if you set the system up
right. I've built my 10th system this week with an EVO510 using the built in
and a Creative CT4758 (No Game Port).
Here is a look at my system in an early state
http://www.goodvibrationsltd.com/DJ_Box.htm
I now have 100,000 songs and 22,000 Karaoke songs on ths system.

"Doctor Crusader" <francesco.alinovi@libero.it> wrote in message
news:5f9df6c4.0405091627.354159ca@posting.google.c om...
> Hi everybody,
>
> I am trying to build a dj system based on a personal computer. I want
> the PC to play the tracks (saved on hard disk) and then mix them with
> a traditional mixer (I am going to buy a Pioneer DJM-600 which is,
> from what I read, one of the most versatile mixers, but I am still
> accepting advices ;-). So I need two separate and independent outputs
> going out from my soundcard to the mixer, exactly as if they were two
> CD or vinyl players.
>
> My problem is with the audio card: a cheap one would allow me to open
> two winamps and play two tracks at the time, except for the fact that
> they exit from the card already mixed, and this is what I am trying to
> avoid.
> Even with a 4 speaker card (SB Live! and the like) the trick is
> impossible: there are two outputs, but they can't be used for
> different tracks.
>
> I read I need two soundcards or a multichannel one: the second choice
> would be preferred, since it would lower down the risk of hardware
> conflicts. I have read about the Terratec Phase-22 soundcard, with two
> outputs (BTW, are they in stereo, or are they two monos?). And I wrote
> Terratec asking them if the card could suit my needs, and they told me
> that what I want to do is impossible, not for the hardware, but
> because of my software choice: only professional software (like
> CUBASE) would allow me the trick.
>
> How can that be? I was convinced (since I never saw one) that a
> multi-output card is seen by the system like two separate cards, so
> that I can open two winamps and instruct each of them to exit on a
> different soundcard channel. I mean, if the soundcard is correctly
> seen by the system, every software can take advantage of it, can't it?
>
> My problem is that I can't leave winamp, since I would use many audio
> formats for the mixing (mp3, mpc, wav, ape, flac), and winamp (or
> Foobar) is the only software that allows me to play all of them, with
> the appropriate plugins.
>
> I am asking you your opinion about this matter, sotty for the long
> post, but I wanted to be very clear on every detail.
>
> Best regards
>
> Crusader
>
> P.S. I only considered Terratec Phase 22 as a decent multichannel
> soundcard, do you think that there are better ones?

ToyOS

Doctor Crusader wrote:

> So I need two separate and independent outputs
> going out from my soundcard to the mixer, exactly as if they were two
> CD or vinyl players.

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...6btnG%3DSearch

dj

Sound Card 1 goes to Channel 3 and Sound Card 2 goes to Channel 4 on my
Mixer, Channels 1 and 2 are for my Wirlesss Mic's.
In BPM Studio, Player A goes to Built-in Sound Card (Sound Max) and Player B
goes to the Sound Blaster.
Therefore, Channel 3 on Mixer to Player A and Channel 4 on Mixer to Player
B. My remote is linked to BPM Studio so I pitch Bend just Like a Turntable
or I can bend the Tempo.
Here is the system setup for player to souond cards
http://djfixxx.freeyellow.com/bpm_studio.html

"ToyOS" <no@no.com> wrote in message
news:409faf66$0$189$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
> Doctor Crusader wrote:
>
>> So I need two separate and independent outputs
>> going out from my soundcard to the mixer, exactly as if they were two
>> CD or vinyl players.
>
> http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...6btnG%3DSearch

Doctor Crusader

This is very close to the system I had thought of. The only difference
is that I'd like to use one multichannel soundcard instead of two.

I visited the site you mentioned, BPM studio is surely a good piece of
software, but, most of all I was impressed by the remote controls,
they would be the perfect hardware for a dj system without cd players
or vinyls, since they allow speed chance, cue and so on...

My problem is that they only seem to work with bpm studio, and I can't
use anything else apart from winamp: it's the only software which
plays any format, and mp3 is only a small part of the tracks I could
play. Do you know if these remote controls (quite expensive, by the
way!) work with winamp, or if there are others that do.

Thanks! ;-)

Crusader

"dj" <cnewman65@comcast.net> wrote in message news:<HsqdnSzwIOvOpD3dRVn-ug@giganews.com>...
> Sound Card 1 goes to Channel 3 and Sound Card 2 goes to Channel 4 on my
> Mixer, Channels 1 and 2 are for my Wirlesss Mic's.
> In BPM Studio, Player A goes to Built-in Sound Card (Sound Max) and Player B
> goes to the Sound Blaster.
> Therefore, Channel 3 on Mixer to Player A and Channel 4 on Mixer to Player
> B. My remote is linked to BPM Studio so I pitch Bend just Like a Turntable
> or I can bend the Tempo.
> Here is the system setup for player to souond cards
> http://djfixxx.freeyellow.com/bpm_studio.html
>

Gabriel Schumann

Hi!
> How can that be? I was convinced (since I never saw one) that a
> multi-output card is seen by the system like two separate cards, so
> that I can open two winamps and instruct each of them to exit on a
> different soundcard channel. I mean, if the soundcard is correctly
> seen by the system, every software can take advantage of it, can't it?
If you are using a Soundblaster Live!-Card and a Windows OS you
can use alternative drivers. These can be found on
www.kxproject.com They allow you to use your multiple stereo
outputs of your soundcard like different soundcards (look at
http://kxproject.lugosoft.com/images/shots/winmm.png). This
means that every stereo output appears as a single soundcard in
the device manager in Windows. For example if you got a 5.1-
Card you get three independent stereo outputs. These different
soundcards can be used with different WinAmp-sessions. I
already tested this without having any problems.
On their website there is a list of compatible soundcards, not
only SB Live! is supported.
I hope this helps.

Regards,
Gabriel

dj

I have had and heard of very bad experiences with multichannel sound cards.
The High End are Great Wavelabs I think and others from BPMSOFTWARE.com
It's a test and play thing.

Let me know I'm going wireless now and testing all theories there is no time
for other stuff.

"Doctor Crusader" <francesco.alinovi@libero.it> wrote in message
news:5f9df6c4.0405110905.b51a57f@posting.google.co m...
> This is very close to the system I had thought of. The only difference
> is that I'd like to use one multichannel soundcard instead of two.
>
> I visited the site you mentioned, BPM studio is surely a good piece of
> software, but, most of all I was impressed by the remote controls,
> they would be the perfect hardware for a dj system without cd players
> or vinyls, since they allow speed chance, cue and so on...
>
> My problem is that they only seem to work with bpm studio, and I can't
> use anything else apart from winamp: it's the only software which
> plays any format, and mp3 is only a small part of the tracks I could
> play. Do you know if these remote controls (quite expensive, by the
> way!) work with winamp, or if there are others that do.
>
> Thanks! ;-)
>
> Crusader
>
> "dj" <cnewman65@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:<HsqdnSzwIOvOpD3dRVn-ug@giganews.com>...
>> Sound Card 1 goes to Channel 3 and Sound Card 2 goes to Channel 4 on my
>> Mixer, Channels 1 and 2 are for my Wirlesss Mic's.
>> In BPM Studio, Player A goes to Built-in Sound Card (Sound Max) and
>> Player B
>> goes to the Sound Blaster.
>> Therefore, Channel 3 on Mixer to Player A and Channel 4 on Mixer to
>> Player
>> B. My remote is linked to BPM Studio so I pitch Bend just Like a
>> Turntable
>> or I can bend the Tempo.
>> Here is the system setup for player to souond cards
>> http://djfixxx.freeyellow.com/bpm_studio.html
>>

dj

A VERY good recommendation here. I had some issues checked this out and very
satisfied............. on a CT4790

"Gabriel Schumann" <g.schumann@energie-online.de> wrote in message
news:2ggo51F2f6l5U1@uni-berlin.de...
> Hi!
>> How can that be? I was convinced (since I never saw one) that a
>> multi-output card is seen by the system like two separate cards, so
>> that I can open two winamps and instruct each of them to exit on a
>> different soundcard channel. I mean, if the soundcard is correctly
>> seen by the system, every software can take advantage of it, can't it?
> If you are using a Soundblaster Live!-Card and a Windows OS you
> can use alternative drivers. These can be found on
> www.kxproject.com They allow you to use your multiple stereo
> outputs of your soundcard like different soundcards (look at
> http://kxproject.lugosoft.com/images/shots/winmm.png). This
> means that every stereo output appears as a single soundcard in
> the device manager in Windows. For example if you got a 5.1-
> Card you get three independent stereo outputs. These different
> soundcards can be used with different WinAmp-sessions. I
> already tested this without having any problems.
> On their website there is a list of compatible soundcards, not
> only SB Live! is supported.
> I hope this helps.
>
> Regards,
> Gabriel
>
>