KVR Audio

zoobooboozoo · Post by **zoobooboozoo** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:52 am

Hi all,

I need a low cost usb audio interface that will meet

My Needs:
1) Price - Low as possible
2) For Working with Native Instruments Traktor Pro and Kontakt/Massive at the same time
3) That could handle live DJ Sets(no latency etc.)
4) That has an instrument input for a guitar/mic - although maybe I can live without this feature if it will make the price much higher.

My System
Lenovo G570 4334
Edirol PCR-300 Midi Controller

Options
I found this Numark product: DJ|iO USB DJ Audio Interface | Numark - Cutting-edge professional DJ equipment
I think I can get it for 50-70$ on ebay. that's the product that fits my needs best from what I've found so far but maybe you guys have a better option to suggest

zoobooboozoo · Post by **zoobooboozoo** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 3:14 pm

Anyone has any suggestions? It doesn't have to be branded as "DJ Equipment" I heard some good things about Focusrite Scarlett and PreSonus AudioBox...

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 3:26 pm

The Numark looks ok ... I use an NI AK1 but thats a lot more expensive. Any 4 output audio interface with ASIO will do the job. NI used to have a DJ interface for around £100 iirc, but I dont remember the name ...

[edit] I found it:
http://www.native-instruments.com/en/pr ... r-audio-2/

zoobooboozoo · Post by **zoobooboozoo** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:09 pm

Why do I need 4 outputs?

I see these low priced units with 4 outputs for DJs. if I wanna record my set I'll record it with the software(traktor), why do I need an extra pair of outputs?

(I'm not yelling or anything, it's just that I'm really trying to understand why this feature is needed for DJs and "branded" for them...

)

Mushy Mushy · Post by **Mushy Mushy** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:10 pm

To cross-fade between tracks.
How else would you mix?

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:14 pm

thats not right Mushy

You need 4 outs in order to have a cue mix ...

Mushy Mushy · Post by **Mushy Mushy** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:19 pm

thecontrolcentre wrote: thats not right Mushy

You need 4 outs in order to have a cue mix ...

Oh sh!t of course.

My bad, I'm tired

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:25 pm

@op

Four outs is essential if you want to hear a different track in your headphones to the one you are playing to the audience, in order to cue it up. It has nothing to do with recording your set. Four audio outs also means you can connect to a DJ mixer and mix that way ...

paterpeter · Post by **paterpeter** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 10:02 pm

Big fan of the Scarlett series here. I run an 18i20 and a 6i6. I think for your purposes, the 2i4 could be useful. In Traktor, set Output Master to output 1+2 and Output Monitor to 3+4. Connect your PA to outputs 1+2 (either to the balanced TRS or the unbalanced cinch pair), plug in your headphones at the front and switch the "Headphone Source" to 3+4. That should do it. Or if you use an external mixer, use the two cinch pairs and let the mixer handle the headphone routing. Also, the two inputs are nice and usable at mic/line/instrument level (although I heard from some that the instrument signal tends to come in a bit hot, if in doubt use a DI box).

If you only need outputs and don't have much money, I can recommend the NI Traktor Audio 2. Very small, great drivers and works perfectly. I used it several years before I picked up the Scarletts.

zoobooboozoo · Post by **zoobooboozoo** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:02 am

Isn't there a way to route the 2nd one to the headphones without having 4 outs?

I mean, most of these devices have a dedicated headphones out....

paterpeter · Post by **paterpeter** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:20 am

If the headphone output (stereo) outputs a different signal than the other two outs that it's clearly a 4 out interface, right? For the software it doesn't matter what's connect, it only sees that there are 4 distinct mono outputs (or 2 stereo pairs) it can send stuff to. So technically: no, an interface with two outputs can never have a different signal on the headphones, because - by definition - it wouldn't be a 2 output interface anymore.

zoobooboozoo wrote:I mean, most of these devices have a dedicated headphones out....

Most interfaces with mic preamps have a pair of XLR and TRS sockets (or a XLR-TRS combosocket) as inputs. That doesn't meant that this doubles the number of distinct outputs. The headphone output sometimes (but not necessarily) has a different level that is more suitable for headphones than the normal TRS connectors that are supposed to go into an amp or active loudspeaker (and maybe expects a different impedance, don't know for sure). Plus it's a simple TRS socket for stereo output compared to e.g. two balanced TRS outputs.

ukpartydj · Post by **ukpartydj** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 4:00 pm

Trakor have their own line of audio sound cards with headphone output.
If you wanted to include an instrument you can do what I've done and buy a lead which is RCA on one end and instrument Jack on the other.

May not be the cheapest option but in my experience cheap sound cards don't produce great results.

emergeaudio · Post by **emergeaudio** » Mon Feb 24, 2014 4:20 pm

Behringer Xenyx 302?

Low Cost Audio Interface For A Mobile DJ Setup?