Audio Interfaces
Currently, for production I’m using the soundcard in my DJM 900 NXS. I’m wondering however about the latency I get. I’m got my input and output buffers set at 256 which isn’t bad, but I’m a bit OCD when it comes to latency and actually playing. It is however, livable with without having to drop the extra ching for another audio interface. (The RME Babyface looks like the best bet for Windows laptop, super-low latency, expansion for potential future hardware and quality drivers and support)
So, are any of you using your mixer sound card for production? Are there advantages/disadvantages to doing so other than getting full-blown ASIO drivers to help latency? (output audio quality better, etc) I know if I were to ever splurge on hardware, I’d likely want the separate audio interface. Are there any other advantages/disadvantages?
Thanks all.
What drivers do you use with the DJM 900 audio interface? I’m sure there should be an asio driver with very low latency as well. I use the audio interface of an XDJ-R1, which does absolutely fine. I’m using either ASIO4ALL or the pioneer ASIO drivers. I assume that the 900 has an interface and drivers of at least the same standard. So concerning the latency: When using ASIO drivers you SHOULD get a low latency already. What is your latency right now?
Concerning the other audio interfaces: How many in- and outputs do you need? I assume you are not a professional so usually the steinberg UR 22 or up should do fine and is a lot less than the babyface. But that really depends on what you need it for and what your standard is.
I’m using a version of Asio4all. I’m not sure if they’re the drivers that came w/ Traktor or with the Pioneer mixer. I’ve got the updated drivers for the mixer. It’s not life-ending latency, it’s just annoying latency, expecting to hear what I’m playing as I’m playing it. I could always slow down the tempo and play slower to help with the latency issue. It’s just more of an annoyance than anything. I’ve read somewhere that ASIO4ALL drivers aren’t true ASIO drivers though so the latency isn’t as good as full-on ASIO drivers?
Anyway, I guess what I’m getting at is, are there other advantages to having a production-only soundcard such as better audio, obviously the ability to plug in hardware which I don’t have right now, I’m guessing better latency as well. 7 bills for better peace of mind isn’t worth it to me, but if there were other reasons to upgrade, I’d consider it when I had some stuff saved up.
Ins/Outs needed are minimal as currently I would only be using it to connect to my laptop and then have balanced outs to my monitors. My problem is the occasional stop at guitar center and seeing something shiny. So, ideally if I were to eventually buy something, I’d like it to be expandable to accomodate the crap I might pick up. I’d rather pay up front for something and not have to worry about buying something in the future.
I’ve read great things about the Stienberg’s, 22, 28 and I think 44, but also seen that the drivers aren’t always fun for some. I take it you have one? What’s your experience with it? And keep in mind, I’m on windows, where things don’t plug and play nearly as well as on Mac.
I don’t have a steinberg myself, sorry. I only use the XDJ-R1’s interface.
Try these drivers: http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/support/software/DJM-900NXS/page.html
As far as I know they are ASIO drivers. What is the latency you have at the moment? You will never get to 0 latency, but close to not noticeable. My diver is bugged at the moment (due to installing clashing behringer asio drivers 
), but when they worked I had a latency of about 5ms which is more than fine.
Yes, that’s the driver version I have.
I actually went back through the audio I/O configuration “wizard” in Live and was able to set the latency stuff considerably lower without any glitches. (think it’s down to 6 ms input and 8 ms output now?) I haven’t had a chance yet to try actually playing anything on my controller to test the latency.
RME do indeed make fine sound cards, but to be totally honest you’ll struggle to hear $700 worth of difference unless your room is really well acoustically treated and you have some seriously gangsta monitors.
Does Guitar Centre have shiny speaker stands and bass traps? I’d try those before a new sound card.
That’s what I was looking for…I rent, if that’s any indication of how well acoustically treated my room is. 
But I do have speaker stands and pads under the monitors. No traps.
Soundwise you should be fine with what you got. Same for latency 6ms is super. The only reason you might want a new audio interface is for inputs. But unless you do a lot of live instruments and vocals you are fine. Maybe 192khz might change the audio quality a bit compared to the 96khz of the DJM900, but that is not a huge deal I’d say.