Last Friday I was playing my first set in a real pro environment. I usually do friends partys or small club/bar. It was a society party with more than 300 people. For the first time a sound engineer was helping me to install my material. Everything was perfect until he asked me “Where is your booth output ?” .
I told him that I didn’t understand what he says, and that I have the sound return in my headphones…So he explain to me why I will need this. The speakers where really far from me…So I played and I realize how important a booth output is needed in a situation like this. I tried to do my best but I did some huge mistake due to this lack of return (Larsen, not enough bass).
I looked into the forum and saw that the problem is coming for the S4 hardware itself. There is no booth output on it. The S2 buyer will be happy, there is one on it. Many of you propose differents kind of solutions, but I need more details on it.
First, where do you plug it?
Did you test it in a real situation? (friends partys and room doesn’t count)
What are the bests solution?
I’m sure that pros like Ean Golden of Porter Robinson figure out to manage the trick.
Well, there are two separate main outs (RCA and 1/4") on the S4. So the one which doesn’t serve as the master out can be repurposed as a booth out. The only downside is that you don’t have a volume control for it. but you can buy a volume control designed for active speakers on the cheap.
…except that I’d always use the RCAs for booth and the Balanced output for mains…cable runs to the booth monitors are a lot shorter.
If you’re in a club:
Also, IHNFC if you were responsible for that, but if someone calling himself a sound engineer couldn’t look at the back of the S4 and figure that out, he needs to be fired. Like…not kidding. He’s a waste of space and probably made more money than you. It’s not like the signal routing on the S4 is the least bit complicated, even if you’ve never seen it before.
An “audio engineer” who can’t read the word “output” is kind of like a taxi driver who gets confused at the big round thing between him and the windshield.
Just pick up an inexpensive mixer with a separate monitor level control. These are $49 at Guitar Center right now and are perfect for this purpose. Just run the output of the S4 into one of the channels of the mixer, and you’re good to go. I also use this when I have multiple DJ’s playing my events. Everyone can easily plug in without disrupting the music.
I agree with brocklambert. That is what I use for my set up now. I originally bought it to for the additional mic inputs, but I run out from a $75 mixer to my mains and the booth. I find the s4 mic control to be poor at best, so there are many benefits to going this route. Give it a try…
Here is my suggestion. I am a mobile DJ gigging everywhere from clubs to weddings to corporate functions and everything in between. I use a simple behringer mic mixer as an output just for additional mic control and simplicity of gain controls. Im at a gig right now, so the pic quality is not so good.
From the ROLLS MX42 user manual :"This unit is a stereo, four channel passive mixer for expanding a console mixer, mixing instruments, cd or cassette players, or other signal sources. It requires no batteries or other power source. The unit may be used as a stereo 1-in 4-out box when all controls are turned completely clockwise."
Connect this unit to your Kontrol S4’s main ouput and enjoy 4 outputs with independant volume control.
Here’s a quick good and bad points review :
The Good :
Very compact and very well built unit with gold-platted RCA connectors,
Ultra simple and quick to install, it’s a passive unit so no need for external power or batteries,
Offers 1 input and 4 outputs or 4 inputs and 1 output depending on how you connect it,
The volume/input level of each output/input can be adjusted with great quality encoders,
Fairly good documentation for a so obvious use.
The Bad :
As the unit is very compact, the RCA connectors are very close to each other which can make it quite difficult to quickly connect and disconnect multiple RCA cables,
I guess because the unit is passive, the overall output volume provided is lower than if you directly connect from the S4 to the sound mixer.
If you use it as a mixer, it will allow you to quadruple the number of inputs for other devices such an iPad or a second PC with Maschine for example. Each will of course also have its own volume control.
But in this scenario, prefer following the mixer paradigm by connecting the S4’s master out to one of ROLL’s inputs alongside other devices and then connect ROLL’s master-out to the sound system. As opposed to the port multiplier paradigm which would consist of connecting the output of the ROLL’s to the unique analog input of the S4.
Of course it all depends if you want to record from these other devices to Traktor or not (in which case the second paradigm only works). The drawback of the first paradigm being you’ll have a higher level on the audio coming from Traktor than on the audio coming from the other devices even if you turn ROLL’s channels volume to full.
So here is the skinny on my set up, and why i go this route. Is there a better way? Maybe. This is super cheap and easy…& RELIABLE!
I found the levels going directly out of my S4 to be relatively low. Even adjusting settings within the software, I still found the levels either low or distorted at higher levels. Keep in mind, I often run directly to powered speakers (ie mackie 450’s or bigger).
I run the 1/4" main outs from my S4 to the mixer as 1 channel (as shown R&W). I have even further level controls (hi mids lows) on the mixer. This also helps me cap my headroom manually. This mixer is powered.
I often find myself running more than one mic. Whether there is another M/C or host, or i simply prefer to have a wired mic close by, i feel better having two. I can control both mics independantly and with all of their eq’s without occupying a channel(s) on the S4. In this pic, only one mic is used in channel 1 and the S4 in channel 4.
If I have any additional inputs needed (ie ipod, slideshow or movie, or even another dj), I can simply add it to another one of the channel inputs and boo ya…we’re live.
If I want to record externally or run to booth monitors, the mixer has the ability to do both…at the same time. Keep in mind you could simply run out to a house system or monitor with the 2 x RCA main outs on the back of the S4 also.
So all in all, this works for me and my daily set up. I do about 140 gigs a year and this setup has helped me accomodate darn near every issue I have come up against. It also helps me with a piece of mind that I could always run my Serato SL box into it as a back up if I ever had an issue with the S4. OBVIOUSLY WORST CASE SCENARIO THOUGH!!! LOL.
Hope this helps you out. There isnt another controller I would choose out there right now. It just takes time…and i learn something new everyday with this thing! Good luck.
I’ve got a simple booth cheat I use for the S4 - an old Apple Ipod Hifi
Connected to the rca output with a 3.5mm stereo jack connection on the other end - it even has a remote control to adjust the volume and is lound enough to work anywhere.
Apple dont sell these anymore, I used to use it in the house but it is tough enough to cart around in the van - useless if you are travelling light though…
I’ve got the same! But I never thought to use it as a booth output. Most of the time the speakers are arealdy here. I need to find a solution to connect my S4 on those speakers. Carrying the S4 with the flight case is so heavy, I can’t imagine If I have to take my own speakers to manage the output. But It is a good solution when speakers are not provided (small bars, partys).
I think I’m gonna buy the Level Pilot from TC Electronic because it is really small, but I need to figure out what are the cables to add. There is no XLR output on the S4.
In my opinion, i would go with a basic mixer in opposed to the level pilot. I have never used this product, but based on the tech specs and details on their site, the unit is a specific application that will really limit anthing you are trying to do. A mixer is no doubt WAY less money than this unit and will give you long term relaibility and useability in all areas that you may expand to. This item is what it is. Thats it.
Use this item with a DI Box if you ONLY want to be able to control your main/monitor outs. That will accomodate the XLR’s you are looking for. Keep in mind this unit doesnt gove you any EQ’s for those monitor either. What is coming out the main is what is coming out of your monitors. Just my thoughts…