Ableton and MBox dj-ing question

elsewhere84 · Post by **elsewhere84** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 10:16 pm

I have been browsing the forums the best I can to find an answer to this and I was just curious...I intend on using live for dj-ing but I also need to get protools...I figured kill 2 birds with one stone, get an mbox...however I am aware the mbox only has 1 stereo out...now in terms of dj-ing I would be hooking my laptop up to a soundcard and then having that go into 2 different channels on an external dj mixer where I can crossfade/monitor in headphones...is it possible to somehow split the stereo into two mono channels...say using the utility function? Would it at all sound like crap coming out of the mixer or in my headphones? Does anyone do this at all or should I just shell out the extra cash and get an audiophile alongside an mbox?

kabuki · Post by **kabuki** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 10:36 pm

I don't know if this helps, but I'll try...

Protools will me a waist of your time (and yoour CPU's resources for DJing).

Get a PCMCA card with TWO Stereo Outs (Echo Indigo DJ) $180. Very Popular here...

You will want to monitor your sounds BEFORE they go to a house PA mixer, or else they will be heard by the audience.

I believe you CAN split the audio into 2 mono signals (one for cue, one for main signal) but why? I can't imagine that it would sound that good, but I have also read that most in-club systems are mono anyway. If the place you are gonna pplay is a mono setup, it won't make a difference.

Live has many good FX that use panning and sterio that would hinder your sound if run mono...

Good Luck

elsewhere84 · Post by **elsewhere84** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:03 pm

a reply to your reply...
I guess I should hav been more specific

protools is pretty much a necessity for me as the sound post production studio I'm currently interning at is strictly protools and it would be convienent for me to have an mbox so I can take stuff home wiht me to edit...I guess the ableton thing is for my own personal pleasure

I have no pcmcia option (should have explained, I'm running a 1ghz g4 ibook, 512mb ram) so it's firewire or usb for me

and I'm talking about monitoring my sounds in a dj mixer, specifically a vestax pmc170a which I already own...or frankly any dj mixer in a club with 2 line inputs...I would think I could just have the outs of whatever sound card i'm using go to the line ins on channels 1 and 3 respectively, and then just monitor them like I'd be monitoring turntables/cds using the mixer's cue etc...

so I'd be splitting the stereo channel into 2 mono channels, 2 1/4" to double rca in each channel which would plug into my mixer...and i'd crossfade between channels of course on my mixer which would then go out into the club soundsystem/recorder/patchbay whatever.

so how exactly would this stereo to mono to "stereo" rig sound? Probably would mess up the stereo delay am i right?

genshi · Post by **genshi** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:13 am

Luckily you have a new option as M-Audio and Digidesign just announced the use of Pro Tools with selected M-Audio devices:

Pro Tools M-Powered

and the hardware choices you have:

Compatible M-Audio Hardware

So you can have multiple outs, Pro Tools and still keep your budget!

elsewhere84 · Post by **elsewhere84** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:49 am

Hmmm.....$350 for the software (msrp) and $150 for the audiophile box...which I assume is compatible seeing as the card version is....$500 for an interface and protools....not bad...thanks for the tip!