3 Channel mixing soundcards

[robbadobdob]

Hello all
i need a soundcard and preferably one thats gunna give me 3 or 4 channel mixing capabilities. I was wondering what your suggestions are for soundcards or methods to get 3 channel mixing (i hear stuff about playing the third channel through the headphone jack). I really don't want anything to pricey and at the moment the audio dj 2 is looking my best bet but i really want something with an extra output

Thanks again

[DvlsAdvct]

Well, keep in mind, that the Audio2 has two channels for one stereo pair.

If you are mixing internally (three decks in Traktor) and are not using a mixer then you don't need anything more than the Audio2. The only time you need more than that is when you are outputting those channels individually to a 3 channel mixer.

If that's what you are doing then you need a soundcard with 3 stereo pairs, or 6 channels. So, the Audio2 won't let you mix externally, the audio4 will let you mix 2 decks externally (hence Traktor Scratch Duo) and the Audio8 will let you mix 4 decks externally.

Make sense?

[robbadobdob]

yes, do you know anyway i can mix 2 externally and 1 internally would that work? could i control the third channel with a midi controller and then play that through the master as well? Or alternatively do you know any cheap soundcards which mean i can control 3 channels externally? (by the way im using ableton not traktor)

[DvlsAdvct]

Well, if you want to mix 2 decks externally and 1 internally you are mixing 3 decks. If you're mixing 2 externally and 5 internally you're still, technically, mixing 3 decks for a sound card's needs.

I use an Audio8 which would serve your purposes, something like this would do it as well. I don't know your budget, though. You want something that's not pricey, but once soundcards get above very basic outs the prices go up a lot

[BentoSan]

Presonus Firebox has 3 analogue output channels and is pretty decent