How do I set up an external mixer?

Currently I use a Faderfox DJ2, Akai MPD24, and a presonus firebox. What I'm thinking is ditching the Akai MPD24 and possibly the faderfox, and getting the AKAImpd32 and using an external mixer alongside it. My other option is going with my Maschine and using that alongside an external mixer. My question is this: Say I've mapped out my maschine to control all the functions I need except gain/eq's/ Xfader/Volume Sliders, and I leave all those basic functions up to an external mixer. How do I route the audio signal to the external mixer? Do i go from computer to soundcard to mixer and then back to soundcard then out to speakers? or do I just go soundcard to mixer to speakers?

Soundcard to mixer to speakers buddy :)
You can either route your signal to 1 channel on the mixer (using that as your master), or use 2 channels and monitor off the mixer instead of the soundcard. With the new update for traktor you can use both internal AND external modes so you can monitor off the mixer and still use the midi controllers for the mixing part. We sorta do half and half at the moment, i still prefer the knobs on the DJM for eqing.

how many decks are you going to want to mix with externally? you have 3 stereo outs on the firebox but you can use the headphone out as the 4th stereo out if you want to mix 4 decks externally on the mixer

if you are just using two decks, on the firebox i like to use outs 3/4 and 5/6 then you don't have to deal with getting the volume of 1/2 the same as 3/4 (since 1/2 has a hardware vol knob)

thanks for your help. Now I just gotta see if I can make a good .tsi for my Maschine.

How are you planning on using the maschine in traktor dude?

I'd like to use it as a replacement for the akaimpd24, and to supplement some of the functions i would lose on the faderfox by switching to an external mixer. I've heard that using the page selection on the maschine, the rotary knobs can have dual functions. Is this true? If so Page one would have the knobs controlling pitch, loop length, filter control and FX selection, Page two would control the FX parameters for each deck. I'd use the pads to set loops, jump between cue points, pitch bend/correct phase, jump between cues i've set on the fly. And I want to use the transport section as my cue/cup, and set cue for decks A & B (the restart row will be deck A, and the play row will be deck B). Are there any buttons on the maschine that don't send proper midi CC's? That is my one gripe about the Akai, I have 13 essentially useless buttons and one useless rotary knob.

switch to external mixing in the audio routing. then make sure that you have each deck routed appropriately. dont use an audio output as a headphone or monitor. that is what the mixer is for.