I’ve been doing tons of research and keep coming up with conflicting answers… hoping to get a nudge here.
I’m looking to get a usb audio interface that has balanced 2 channel output (trs, xlr whatever) with a separate channel for phones (trs). Here’s the problem… when I record bedroom dj style I use akg k702 headphones… these things require quite a bit of power to drive (as most higher end phones do) so I need something that has some pretty massive power for the phones.
I’m assuming something that draws power from the usb bus isn’t going to cut it.
I was pretty close to snagging an m-audio fast track pro until I read a review that said “the outputs were quiet”… whether or not this relates to the phone channel I don’t know, the maudio spec sheet is shit. It only lists outputs in attenuation or only lists the THD… I have no idea.
My phones are 62ohm with a max voltage input of 200mV… I highly doubt that’s rms but like I said… I’m a little lost here.
take your phones down to the local music shop and try out a few devices. Spec sheets differ so much from manufacturer to manufacturer also some reviewers can’t even do a simple output test and say stupid things like “it’s sounds good to us” ..
I have an audio4DJ, Audio8DJ and an S4, they all output loud enough to drive my phones @ 50mm, 3500mW, 32Ohm, 116dB
The fast track Pro I had powered my Sony’s V700 & XBass without any problem, but i swapped it for the ADJ4 before i got the new phones (so i can’t say what it’s like).
I’ve heard pretty good things about NI’s audio interfaces as far as what you are looking for is concerned.
That being said, it’s something that you don’t have to worry too much about if you try using an external mixer at some point. Not sure where you are in terms of wanting to incorporate one into your setup, but that’s what they are made for.
Ya man… that’s what it’s starting to look like I’m going to have to do… was hoping to save some cash.
“Reference quality” headphone have really high impedance and all pretty much require an amp. My hearing is pretty fucked either way though.
You’re right on, but I have hdj2000’s already. I use my akgs when I’m recording sets alone… I got sick of listening to a set in my car or on another set of speakers and realizing that mixes that sounded good in the hdj’s sounded like SHIT through other sources. Monitor headphones are awesome.
probably, but this is NOT the recommended way to start to learn how to digital DJ.
Firstly, you will never get a decent response time from the pairing of the soundcards. Even one of those $1.00 USB soundcards on eBay will work, just not very well - but as well as the 202/222.
Secondly, how are you going to control Traktor ? You are still going to need some kind of controller, or you will have to get to learn the keyboard shortcuts extremely well.
You would have been better of getting something like this instead of the 303. My mate still uses one, and it performs as well as my S4, he swears by it.
[quote]Firstly, you will never get a decent response time from the pairing of the soundcards. Even one of those $1.00 USB soundcards on eBay will work, just not very well - but as well as the 202/222.
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Blasphemy! … Cost me $4 for the 8x8 channel
But seriously, get a 4ch sound card like the Audio2, Numark IO, Fastrack …its well worth while it’ll drive you insane needing to chain stuff up on an ongoing basis and its never stable (unless you are on a mac
JSM, I disagree completely. The hercules things are not the same experience as mixing on a real mixer. They’re controlling software, so it doesn’t matter as much if all you’re worried about is the final product, but they feel like toys…more than basically any other controller out there.
Also, the nox303 is a rip off of one of my favorite mixer designs ever, which vestax made several versions of (275, 17a 170, 180, 185, etc.).
IMHO, the best thing to do for that on a reasonable budget is either an NI Traktor Auidio 6 or Serato SL3.
A lot of Behringer’s gear is good for the price, but I don’t think I’d trust them to make an audio interface. Their DJ gear has been spotty at best, though the nox series is supposed to be decent. I’d love to try a nox303, but I can’t bring myself to pay $350 for a Behringer copy of a long line of basically $200 mixers from a more reputable manufacturer.
Also, on OS X at least, aggregated sound cards seem to work okay for me the couple times I’ve tried it.
Bought one a while ago. Sounded like a good idea. Wouldn’t charge within a year.
On-topic: My Presonus Firebox is quite loud and has balanced outputs like you asked for. It’s firewire and discontinued, but you might look into the Audiobox USB instead http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=53 . Headphone output on the back which is kind of annoying but aside from that, seems up your alley. And as mentioned, check out NI’s Kontrol audio cards.
Firebox is loud as hell (louder than A2DJ). The front panel headphone pot is marked 0-11, which I find quite true. It is sad that Firewire is getting phased out, hopefully someone makes thunderbolt-Firewire interface one day.
So my mate isn’t outputting two stereo pairs into my my old mixer, and controlling Traktor from the buttons/jogs on the MK2. I must have been seeing things, as for looking like a toy … he painted his piano black, re-labelled it … and now it looks like a small version of my S4 … again, i must have been seeing things.
It also has amazing latency at 24Bit, … but I suppose I’m wrong about that too … come to think of maybe my mate isn’t real either … and I haven’t been DJ’ing with him for the last 4 years, whilst I go through a ton of new kit, and he keeps using the Herc Mk2.:eek:
Good news! I bought the new traktor audio 2 and it has plenty of gain for these phones. Back when I had my s4 you could hardly even hear anything coming from the phones port but this thing has no problem.
