Start Out and Need Advice.

Short Version
New to DJ and wanting to buy a first setup. Thinking of Custom VCI-100
Is a soundcard needed, Audio 2 DJ good, or any other suggestions?
ThinkPad T510 is the laptop I will be using.
Since the 1.4 Firmware was released, is a Firmware kit still needed to update?

Long Version
New here, and Ean Golden really pushed the limit and I am now finally getting a turntable setup. I been wanting one for a few years now, and I been looking at the Custom VCI-100. I never even touched a turntable/controller before so I was wondering if someone could help me out and point me into the correct direction.

For now I just want to be a "bedroom DJ" and record CDs to play in my car. A few questions I have is mainly about the VCI-100 and Audio 2 DJ, so any help is greatly accepted.

I own a ThinkPad T510 (Main Laptop) and wondering if I need the Audio 2 DJ, or if anyone can suggest another card. Money is not that much a problem, but I don't want to break the bank with a first setup. I am really just wanting to record CDs in my room and that is about it for now. Also is there is extra cables needed that doesn't come with the VCI-100? I know DTT is offering firmware upgrades. Since the new 1.4, is a firmware needed to update, or is it installed in the controllers now?

Thank you for taking the time to read and answer my questions. The faster the better, so I can go ahead and place my order for Christmas. ^_^

Get yourself a VCI-100, Audio 2, some headphones, Traktor LE and you are away my friend :)

Already got Traktor Pro and messed around using a mouse, finally getting a controller. ;) Would I be able to use some cheap 10$ ear buds from a local market? Since I don't really need the whole noise canceling club headset?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ItsALion

Already got Traktor Pro and messed around using a mouse, finally getting a controller. ;) Would I be able to use some cheap 10$ ear buds from a local market? Since I don't really need the whole noise canceling club headset?

---

Yep, only thing is I don't know about the VCI-100 but my S4 requires me to use a 1/4" to 1/8" converter for the headphones themselves to connect it. They run like $2.99 at BestBuy.

You'll need one of these for earbuds to plug into the Audio2...

http://www.labamanta.lv/cache/produc...p664_40852.jpg

OmniRoss, is that the item that Coldfuzion is talking about? Even if I don't plug in anything, will it be able to play through my laptop speakers?

earbuds?! duuude :p you dont need super flash headphones but get something reasonable at least. I have a pair of sennheiser hd-205's (bottom of the range) and they suit me just fine!

If you dont have a soundcard, yes of course you can play through your speakers. If you have a soundcard, you will need an amp or stereo to plug into.

Well JesterNZDJ, I do have Turtle Beach EarForce X41, which is an XBOX headset, that has 7.1 surround sound and bass boost. With the correct cables I suppose I could use those. :P I will get a headphone at a later time though. I am mainly worry about getting the controller setup and working and producing sound. Thanks everyone for the fast response time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ItsALion

OmniRoss, is that the item that Coldfuzion is talking about? Even if I don't plug in anything, will it be able to play through my laptop speakers?

---

1. Yes
2. Yes and no

1. That is that item, you can get it in allmost every store, I assume they are going to sell it on corners or sth. :)

2. The problem lies here. Traktor can see only one soundcard at time, speakers are shown as one. Basicly you are getting audio 2 dj so you can sepparate sound to speakers and to headphones, so what you will need to do is plug headphones to one output of audio 2 dj and speakers to other one.

Ah, so if I was to plug my headphones directly into my laptop, then Audio 2 DJ is not needed unless I want to plug it into a speaker or cue up my next tracks and listen ahead of time. If I am understanding correctly.

If you plug your headphones directly into your laptop, you will hear the master channel in your ears. Its a case of either/either mate. If you have your soundcard plugged in, then that is your source, not your internal audio, which is disabled.

Since you're new to everything, i'll break it down for you.
What a dj is listening to in the headphones, isn't whats coming out of the speakers.
It's the next track thats going to play. This is necessary since you need to get them on beat with each other, and know a good place to start the mix.
So with an audio 2, you would be able to run the main out(master) to the speakers. And also have the next song(cue) in your headphones.

A VCI-100 and audio 2 is a killer starting set up. Hell its a killer pro setup.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Str8upDrew

A VCI-100 and audio 2 is a killer starting set up. Hell its a killer pro setup.

---

hell yes.

I understand completely now. Thanks for the help. I will stick without a soundcard for now and look forward for Audio 2 later. I am planning on picking up a book, and learn some scratching techniques. So about the firmware update kit, is that needed? That should be my last question. Thanks again everyone for helping me so far. I already order my VCI.

If you ordered your vci from djtt's then it will already have firmware 1.4 installed. If your ordered from somewhere else, then you don't really need the update kit since the djtt mappings are designed to work with all firmware versions. However the original firmware on the VCI had some problems with glitches and what not(and no smart knobs), so in order to take full advantage of the djtt's mappings, you'll need to update.

Understood. Thanks Str8upDrew, and thanks again to everyone else that helped answer my questions. I suppose now all I can do is play the waiting game till it gets here.