How do I hook up Live to a PA in a club

nefteprodukt · Post by **nefteprodukt** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 10:21 am

Hi there,

Dumb question, but does anyone have any suggestions as to the best way to hook up Ableton, through my laptop, to a PA in a club? I presume a chord going straight from the laptop into the PA isnt the best way...should i do it through an M-Audio thingamejig?

Thanks,

Julian

Angelo · Post by **Angelo** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 10:35 am

Hi

i think it would better going through the m-audio box straight to the PA, is it a DJ set you doing, if so how many outs does the m-audio box have. Because if you are doing dj set you will want to be able to cue tracks like a normal DJ deck, if so you should check out this - http://abletonlivedj.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=820.

and if you unsure on how to set up an aggregate device check this out - http://www.abletonlivedj.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9141

hope this helps.

globalgoon · Post by **globalgoon** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 10:36 am

straight from your laptop is just fine, plug into the mixer (CD input on back usually (phono input so you'll need minijack-->phono cable)), then when it's your turn to play, switch the mixer channel over to CD in and bob's your uncle.

EDIT: oh yeah, if you are dj'ing, an audio card with monitor outputs (for your headphones) would be useful

If you are just playing your own music, your internal soundcard 'll be ok

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 10:42 am

Welcome!

The sound is never going to be better than the worst link in the PA system, so for most systems the onboard audio in a decent laptop is probably good enough. 96kHz/24-bit renders, high-end external converters, blah blah are wasted in a club with cheap, harsh, boomy, abused, distorted, or poorly set up PA.

If you need to cue, the Echo Indigo DJ is a cheap and popular choice.

nefteprodukt · Post by **nefteprodukt** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 10:50 am

thanks for the advice!
i have an M-Audio thing, but havent been able to get it to work yet! i put a USB from the laptop to it, then a chord from it to my hi-fi...but no results, so have used a chord straight from laptop to hi-fi instead. will try and get the blasted thing to work.

Im gonna use it for DJing in clubs (not very professional DJing, more at parties and after my band's gigs).

Do you use a Mackie or other devices for mixing? a bloke i met called Danny MacMillan is launching his own ableton DJing console in a few months. he teaches ableton at the point blank studio in london. i did a weekend course there - it was v useful.

Would be cool to be able to assign ableton's crossfader to a proper cross-fader.

pulsoc · Post by **pulsoc** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 12:25 pm

I would recommend making sure you have a couple of cord adapters. If your laptop is 1/8" jack out get a cord that converts to two 1/4 jacks, and a cord that converts to RCA jacks. You can find or cobble this togather from stuff at radioshack (if you have those in Moscow!)

Patch · Post by **Patch** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 1:07 pm

DON'T use a "Z" chord. They sound terrible...