I have been DJing ror over 10 years and I am seriously contemplating getting a new laptop and using PCDJ with a dac2 controller and my exhisting mixer.

PCDJ recommend some external soundcard rather than a standard one, do you think this is neccesary?

Also can anyone tell me what connection is used to get the sound out of the laptop either if using or not using the dac2?

I have the minimum spec for running PCDJ, Is there anything I should consider when looking for a suitable laptop?

Finally any thing else usefull I should know about?

Cheers guys!

I like PCDJ as far as it goes, as for the external sound card, don't know. But if you ask Chris nicely he could have a word with Emission the UK distributor

I think that they mean an external sound card for the P.C - which means buying from a pc hardware supplier rather then me. However to be honest this is the first time I've heard anything about soundcard issues with PCDJ.

I know several other members use PCDJ - so I'm sure they'll offer more comments on this. Mikeee i'm guessing that you are using a built in Soundcard with your system?.

I don't use PCDJ so its difficult to comment, although in my business I'm going to have to bridge the gap on this PC vs D.J'ing issues

I have a standard 128 soundblaster, but I only use PCDJ at home.

Idealy you need two sound cards one for each player, I haven't gone down that road yet!

IF you are looking for an external soundcard for a laptop to run along side your internal one I would suggest trying the soundblaster extigy.

Info Here

I use one you get superb sound out of it for the price..

Hello,

I have been using PCDJ on my laptop since xmas and this is how it works for me at the moment.

You can split the output so that channel 1 comes out the left hand side of the headphone split and channel 2 comes out the right hand side. So i run a mini jack to dual phono lead out of my laptop. Then on my mixer I have a phono splitter so left goes into channel 1 and right goes into channel 2. This makes everything mono but at 1000W no one notices.

BUT......

I am about to spend 80 quid on an external sound card that runs out the USB port so i have 1 out-put on that and one through my headphone jack. Thus 2 stero outs.


PCDJ really is a great program but there is no point what so ever getting the controller as why spend the 250 quid when it is just as easy to use the keys on your laptop???

Any questions just ask

Gav

QUOTE

This makes everything mono but at 1000W no one notices.

To a point, until you play a track with a section where the vocals on the left channel and music on the right, or the vocals swap from left to right - example:- Queens Bohemian Rhapsody. result = You get either all lyrics, all instrumental, or blank passages!.

I'm no pc guru, bit i'm sure that there is a 4 channel soundcard on the market which would do the job properley from one pc?

QUOTE

but there is no point what so ever getting the controller as why spend the 250 quid when it is just as easy to use the keys on your laptop???

Exactly - better spent on the correct soundcard?

But.....

I have Cool Edit Pro and have sorted out the bits on songs like Queen that do that so it sounds fine!!

Oh and you cant get internal sound cards for lap tops the 80 quid jobby from PC World is the best bet

Maybe this would be a solution for laptop users??

LINK

Alternative choice of media:

Laptop or tower?

1) 2x Laptops are great for size, storage space. But low on Hard Disk memory space.

If you want good sound quality from your mp3 - say 192kps or 320 kps, you will eat chunks of Hard Drive space.

2) Towers can be flightcased - but then you need a case for the monitor as well!

You get more Hard Drive 'space' - could store higher quality mp3's. But what about the storage space?

3) MP3 stand alone players. Can flight case. Not brilliant on display.


It comes down to the old decision: quality vs cost.

You can pay out for any of the above - but what works for one is different to another.

I know several DJ's who use the laptops with external sound cards in co-existance with their DJ set-up because they can not rely on their laptop 100% for every gig.

Consider a powercut. CD players are very quick to go 'online' and operate.
Let's wait for the PC based system to check it self, restart (with no problems) and finally run.

I have used PCDJ - it's brilliant. But I would suggest to those considering see other DJ's using their system before parting with the money. Same advice for any newish product really! Allow for those nasty bugs to be solved!

(Wait until we get the new storage media - more money but BIGGER MEMORY!)

Well I have 40gb's on my lap top and that is more than enough, plus if you have a power cut or anything like that the lap top just switches to the battery so no problems there either. I still have my dual denon anyway if need be and a case of CD's (In a Pro Logic carry case) so I think I am covered.

Gav

Thanks for your reply's its all really helpfull stuff.

A bit more investigation has unearthed some info on the soundcard recommended on the PCDJ website, info here

Emagic EMI 2|6

cost though is £400 a bit steep I reckon i might shop around some!

I dont fancy the idea of losing stereo sound so i will probrably need some form of soundcard.

If you get a 4.1, 5.1 or 7.1 sound card you can use the differnt out puts for your CD player 1, 2 and your headphones.
Its a good idea to use an external sound card on a laptop as some pick up harddisck noice and you cant (i dont know of) a multi channel (back front side left center right center) internal sound setup for a laptop.
As for PCDJ have a look for a free peice of software called BPM studio its just as good.

QUOTE (Chris_Pointon @ Apr 22 2003, 07:05 PM)

Maybe this would be a solution for laptop users?? LINK

You just had to copy exactly the same thing that i had put in didn't you . ANd to top it off you get all the praise and credit

Hahaha, don't leap out of yer pram - mine had a price on it

How can I ever make it up to you