sound cards | Digital DJ Tips

February 23rd, 2012 News & Opinion

Pioneer’s New DJM-850 Digital DJ-Friendly Mixer

by Phil Morse

Pioneer's DJM-850, available in black or white. (Click to enlarge.)

Pioneer today announced the latest mixer in its range, the DJM-850, a replacement for its DJM-800 model. The mixer builds on the DJM-800′s features, adding the ability to integrate the mixer further with DJ software, and more sophisticated effects that borrow from the DJM-900nexus.

With a built in four-stereo channel high-quality sound card, the mixer further blurs the line between hardware and software DJing, and sheds a little more light on the ultimate direction digital DJing might take over the coming years. Below we look closer at what’s on board, bring you the launch video, and link to more photos as well as the official press release.

22 Comments »

December 24th, 2011 Training

Controller Clinic #6: Wiring My Sound Card To A PA System

by Phil Morse

Patrick want to know how he should plug into a club's PA system.

Reader Patrick writes: “I’m looking to buy the Focusrite Saffire 6 USB sound card. by what I have been reading it is very reliable and is great for DJs as well as producers, which is what I do.

“So here is my query. I’m a bit lost when it comes to hooking every thing up, e.g. wires etc. If I was to DJ at a party and I used the venue’s sound system which was like a PA system – two speakers and an amp – would I use the balanced 1/4″ TRS outputs of the sound card and plug them straight into the amp? Or would I use the RCA outputs and use a XLR adaptor? Or have I got it wrong and you actually need to do something completely different?”

9 Comments »

August 7th, 2011 Reviews

Over To You: Sound Cards For Recording As Well As DJing

by Phil Morse

The Behringer Guitar Link UCG102 Guitar-to-USB Interface will let you record your electric guitar, but is no good for DJing as well..

Digital DJ Tips reader and beginner DJ Jesus Reynoso writes: “I am thinking of starting DJing with just a laptop (just in my bedroom) because I can’t afford a controller right now, so I was thinking of buying a sound card like the Numark DJ iO (US$79 / £72 / €88) to be able to use my headphones for monitoring in addition to the main output.

Does this sound card support electric guitar? If not, please recommend me a sound card that is able to separate signals for DJing and also be able to plug in a electric guitar in order to record it at good enough quality, again the cheaper the better.”

23 Comments »

July 4th, 2011 Reviews

Review & Video: DJ-Tech X10 2-Channel Digital Mixer

by Phil Morse

The DJ-Tech X10 looks like a timeless two-channel mixer... but it has some decidedly modern tricks up its sleeve.

The humble two-channel mixer has always been to DJing what the Swiss Army knife is to camping: small, handy, not always necessary, but you’d be foolish not to have one close by if you’re in any way taking things seriously.

Since digital blew the DJ world apart, mixer technology like everything else analogue has had some catching up to do. The DJ-Tech X10 is one product that’s risen to the challenge: It’s the ubiquitous two-channel mixer, thoroughly re-thought for the digital age.

16 Comments »

June 27th, 2011 Equipment

Audio 6 & Audio 10 Sound Interfaces: Worth The Upgrade?

by Aka Tell

The Native Instruments Traktor Audio 10: The ultimate DJ audio interface? Pic: James Lee

Along with the new generation of Traktor Pro and Traktor Scratch Pro, Native Instruments presented two new audio interfaces, the Traktor Audio 6 (US$249 / £199 / €224) and the Traktor Audio 10 (US$399 / £332 / €377) to succeed the fairly successful Audio 4 and Audio 8. They promised us improved sound quality, connectivity and flexibility as well as being “installation friendly”.

But how do they hold their ground in daily club routine, especially for DVS DJs who will make most use of them? And is there any reason to switch to a new interface if you already own one of the old generation?

25 Comments »

June 18th, 2011 DJ Culture

Your Questions: Why Doesn’t Mixtrack Have A Headphones Jack?

by Phil Morse

The front of the Mixtrack: As you can see, it has no headphones socket.

Beginner DJ Bill Dunn writes: “I’m looking at buying the Numark Mixtrack, but I do not wish to buy the Pro version as it comes with a built-in sound card, and I already have a good sound card.

“Please can you tell me whether the non-pro Numark Mixtrack controller has a headphone output for track monitoring purposes? This might be a stupid question but I want to be sure… thanks for your help!”

10 Comments »

January 28th, 2011 Equipment

How To DJ Properly On a PC With Just A $1 Sound Card

by Kidsinister

Small and cheap, this little device could help you to get DJing without the need to spend extra serious cash.

It’s one of the most common questions beginner DJs ask us: I’ve got a budget DJ controller (for Christmas/birthday etc) and I absolutely love it, but it hasn’t got anywhere to plug headphones in. What can I do?

The standard answer is to buy a decent DJ sound card. (Here’s where to find out more about why you need a sound card, and more about some budget sound cards.) However, having to find the cash for another piece of kit when you maybe just want to see if DJing is “for you” is not what many people want to hear.

38 Comments »

January 22nd, 2011 Equipment

Your Questions: How Do I DJ On A Controller With No Phones Jack?

by Phil Morse

The ION Audio iCUE 3 controller is great fun for learning the basics of DJing.

Reader Stafford H writes: “I am a beginner and will shortly be getting the ION iCue 3 Discover DJ controller. While I realise that this piece of equipment is VERY amateur, I would just like to learn the basics of DJing.

“Plus it is very cheap ($100), and from what I have heard it is a pretty good controller to start on. It comes with MixVibes Cross LE.

29 Comments »

November 26th, 2010 Reviews

DJ Sound Cards Under $130: Top Models Reviewed & Rated

by Phil Morse

The Mixvibes U-MIX44 is typical of DJ sound cards.

New digital DJs often get all confused about sound cards. What are they for? Why do I need one? Why isn’t my computer’s sound enough? Why do some DJ controllers need sound cards and some not?

Once they’ve worked out what they need, they then have to make the right choice. How many outs and ins do I need? Do some sound better than others? What’s “latency”? Do I need to worry about it? If I want to use four decks on Traktor, do I need a different card than if I want to use two? What if I want to use a microphone?

51 Comments »

August 13th, 2010 Equipment

All About Sound Cards for Digital DJing

by Phil Morse

The Numark DJ I/O is a good value and popular DJ soundcard.

Several readers have been asking about sound cards: What they are, why they need them, why they don’t seem to work at times. The popularity of the Numark Mixtrack (which doesn’t have one) seems to have precipitated this flurry of questions.

So in this article we’re going to answer these questions, and show you a cheeky trick that can help you to DJing without a sound card at all!

111 Comments »