mackjazz
I have been an Atomix user for years now and am looking at switching to Virtual Dj. I have searched all the databases for my answers but to no avail. I have been using for the past 4yrs my own built system which is: 3 channel mixer, active speakers, fujitsu firewire laptop with realtek internal soundcard and Creative Extigy external SC, 2 250GB firewire hard drives loaded with mp3's. On either side of my mixer are (2) portable mp3 players. Each player plugs into channel 1 and 3. My laptop through the USB Extigy plugs into channel 2 and my headphones into the laptop speaker port. This system has worked well as I can cue one deck (listen) while the other is playing to the audience.
Now I am considering building a newer system. I would like to have 4 (1,2,3 & 4) decks up, either through a capable skin or having 2 instances of the software (atomix or virtual dj) up and running. The scenerio would be while playing out to the audience on deck 1, I would like to not only cue deck 2 via headphones (which is what I have been doing to this point) but also cue deck 3 and deck 4 (via my headphones). When I tried this on deck 3 and 4 it just played out to the speakers (no cue abilities), the same time as deck 1.
How can I do the 4 deck cueing deal? Would a Delta 44 or Maya 44 do the trick? Can it be done with Atomix or do I have to have Virtual dj? If so which version? Also with Virtual dj I see there is Karaoke and Video (Music I assume). I know nothing about these really but would like to incorporate playing music videos with projector, dvd and screen to audiences.
In doing so would Karaoke and Music Videos take up a channel each on say a delta 44 and my physical dj mixer (3 channel presently)? If so would that mean I would need 3 instances of the software running and a 6 channel mixer (4 for my music decks, 1 for Karaoke, 1 for Music Videos)???? This has been mind boggling for me. I have specific reasons why I need to have 4 decks running (cueing 3) and being able to play almost instantly.
Thanks for those who would enlighten me.
Now I am considering building a newer system. I would like to have 4 (1,2,3 & 4) decks up, either through a capable skin or having 2 instances of the software (atomix or virtual dj) up and running. The scenerio would be while playing out to the audience on deck 1, I would like to not only cue deck 2 via headphones (which is what I have been doing to this point) but also cue deck 3 and deck 4 (via my headphones). When I tried this on deck 3 and 4 it just played out to the speakers (no cue abilities), the same time as deck 1.
How can I do the 4 deck cueing deal? Would a Delta 44 or Maya 44 do the trick? Can it be done with Atomix or do I have to have Virtual dj? If so which version? Also with Virtual dj I see there is Karaoke and Video (Music I assume). I know nothing about these really but would like to incorporate playing music videos with projector, dvd and screen to audiences.
In doing so would Karaoke and Music Videos take up a channel each on say a delta 44 and my physical dj mixer (3 channel presently)? If so would that mean I would need 3 instances of the software running and a 6 channel mixer (4 for my music decks, 1 for Karaoke, 1 for Music Videos)???? This has been mind boggling for me. I have specific reasons why I need to have 4 decks running (cueing 3) and being able to play almost instantly.
Thanks for those who would enlighten me.
Mensajes Thu 07 Sep 06 @ 6:50 am
djsherz
Well if you want to control the mix of all four decks independently via the mixer, you're going to need a soundcard with 8 outputs, and a four channel mixer at least. The Gigaport AG is an 8 output USB soundcard, this would do the job, although it has no inputs, but this is only an issue if you want to use timecode...
Four decks means 2 instances of VDJ, and there are skins designed to handle this (well at least one that I know of!), I hope your computer's fast enough to handle this!
The only slight problem that I can see for the time being is with the soundcard configuration. In 3.4, you could pick and choose which deck went to which sound output channel, using the advanced souncard config. In one instance of VDJ, you could send decks 1 & 2 to outputs 1&2 and 3&4, and in the second instance send them to 5&6 and 7&8. This currently can't be done in 4.0 as the advanced sound config has disappeared, although there's been a lot of people complaining about this, so there's a chance it will return in 4.x....
By the way, you don't need extra channels to play back videos and karaoke files, they play from within the normal decks.
Four decks means 2 instances of VDJ, and there are skins designed to handle this (well at least one that I know of!), I hope your computer's fast enough to handle this!
The only slight problem that I can see for the time being is with the soundcard configuration. In 3.4, you could pick and choose which deck went to which sound output channel, using the advanced souncard config. In one instance of VDJ, you could send decks 1 & 2 to outputs 1&2 and 3&4, and in the second instance send them to 5&6 and 7&8. This currently can't be done in 4.0 as the advanced sound config has disappeared, although there's been a lot of people complaining about this, so there's a chance it will return in 4.x....
By the way, you don't need extra channels to play back videos and karaoke files, they play from within the normal decks.
Mensajes Thu 07 Sep 06 @ 1:50 pm
mackjazz
I don't think I would be using timecode. So it looks as if it is possible.
Right now I do not have my mixer control anything except volume on each channel. Just the 2 soundcards that (one in the laptop and the external so I assume the computer and soundcard go through the external Extigy which is attached to the middle or #2 channel via left and right rca's.
The reason I mentioned the Delta 44 is because it does have 4 inputs and 4 TRS (1/4) outputs which I think mean that if I use a TRS plug at one end and left and right RCA's at the other end I would only need 4 cables, one for each channel, correct? Has anyone out there used a Delta 44 with Virtual Dj? As far as VDJ versions maybe I will have to get the older one. When you mentioned in the older version sending decks 1 and 2 to outputs 1&2 and 3&4 is this a reference to 1&2 being right and left and as well as 3&4 being right and left and so on?
I intend to build a new rack mounted cpu computer sys with flat panel, etc eventually, so yes the new system will be about 3 times as powerful as my current laptop. I did want to try doing this concept with my laptop, virtual dj and a proper soundcard and was hoping someone else out there had already pioneered this idea? Please share anyone if you have.
So in theory to cue I would just hit the cue switch or button for the channel I want and match that channel to the specific deck assigned and I should be able to hear through my headphones the tracks while one of the 4 decks is playing to the audience and I could cue and listen to any of the other 3 the same way, correct?
Thanks for the input and scoop on using Karaoke files and videos, djsherz..
DjMack
Right now I do not have my mixer control anything except volume on each channel. Just the 2 soundcards that (one in the laptop and the external so I assume the computer and soundcard go through the external Extigy which is attached to the middle or #2 channel via left and right rca's.
The reason I mentioned the Delta 44 is because it does have 4 inputs and 4 TRS (1/4) outputs which I think mean that if I use a TRS plug at one end and left and right RCA's at the other end I would only need 4 cables, one for each channel, correct? Has anyone out there used a Delta 44 with Virtual Dj? As far as VDJ versions maybe I will have to get the older one. When you mentioned in the older version sending decks 1 and 2 to outputs 1&2 and 3&4 is this a reference to 1&2 being right and left and as well as 3&4 being right and left and so on?
I intend to build a new rack mounted cpu computer sys with flat panel, etc eventually, so yes the new system will be about 3 times as powerful as my current laptop. I did want to try doing this concept with my laptop, virtual dj and a proper soundcard and was hoping someone else out there had already pioneered this idea? Please share anyone if you have.
So in theory to cue I would just hit the cue switch or button for the channel I want and match that channel to the specific deck assigned and I should be able to hear through my headphones the tracks while one of the 4 decks is playing to the audience and I could cue and listen to any of the other 3 the same way, correct?
Thanks for the input and scoop on using Karaoke files and videos, djsherz..
DjMack
Mensajes Fri 08 Sep 06 @ 3:26 am
djsherz
You mentioned the 44 has 4 1/4in outputs, you want to connect each of these to a pair of RCA plugs, to give you 4 seperate deck signals to your mixer, am I right? I take it you don't mind running in mono then... The 1/4 outputs will only be mono jacks, and the thought ocurrs - why not just use the extigy in that case?
In VDJ 3.4, using the advanced config, you could route the sound to your extigy as follows:
(In the first instance of VDJ)
1st deck = Front left
2nd deck = Front right
(In the 2nd instance of VDJ)
3rd deck = Rear left
4th deck = Rear right
Running two copies of VDJ at the same time, this would give you one mono output for each deck, which you could connect to four channels on your mixer - just use splitter cables so that each one has two phono plugs, that way your mixer will still play to both speakers. With your headphones connected to the mixer, you can cue (prelisten) any of the 4 decks, plus you'll have full fader control as well.
If you want to do this in stereo though, you'll need an 8-output card, that's why I mentioned the Gigaport. I've never tried the 4-deck thing myself, although in a way I do use 3 decks, as the sampler has it's own dedicated output. In advanced config, it's set up as:
1st deck = channels 1 & 2
2nd deck = channels 3 & 4
sampler = channels 5 & 6
As for building the console, the only limit's your imagination really. I've built a huge dual-monitor homemade console (see my blog) but I also have a smaller laptop-based system as well, it depends on the gig. Have a look at the "show us your gear" thread in the general discussion forum, it might give you some ideas!
In VDJ 3.4, using the advanced config, you could route the sound to your extigy as follows:
(In the first instance of VDJ)
1st deck = Front left
2nd deck = Front right
(In the 2nd instance of VDJ)
3rd deck = Rear left
4th deck = Rear right
Running two copies of VDJ at the same time, this would give you one mono output for each deck, which you could connect to four channels on your mixer - just use splitter cables so that each one has two phono plugs, that way your mixer will still play to both speakers. With your headphones connected to the mixer, you can cue (prelisten) any of the 4 decks, plus you'll have full fader control as well.
If you want to do this in stereo though, you'll need an 8-output card, that's why I mentioned the Gigaport. I've never tried the 4-deck thing myself, although in a way I do use 3 decks, as the sampler has it's own dedicated output. In advanced config, it's set up as:
1st deck = channels 1 & 2
2nd deck = channels 3 & 4
sampler = channels 5 & 6
As for building the console, the only limit's your imagination really. I've built a huge dual-monitor homemade console (see my blog) but I also have a smaller laptop-based system as well, it depends on the gig. Have a look at the "show us your gear" thread in the general discussion forum, it might give you some ideas!
Mensajes Sun 10 Sep 06 @ 7:23 am