USB Audio Interface vs. USB Audio Mixer( Akai vs Behringer)

DJ Gear & Hardware Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear
1

USB Audio Interface vs. USB Audio Mixer( Akai vs Behringer)

Hi,

my setup :

  • CMD Stuido 4a
  • Korg Volca Bass
  • Korg Volca Sample
  • Elektron Analog Four

My target is to semi-live perform based on Traktor Pro + live Analog Sound
Volcas are sync with Traktor via MIDI Interface.

Question :

Which choice will be smarter/better ( also for my pocket) for live play . USB Audio Interface or USB Audio Mixer ?

USB Audio Interace:

USB Audio Mixer:

This is my amateur hobby setup. I’ve rather play live for myself or perform from a tree in the garden :wink: than record .
I’ve already spent too much on it :slight_smile:. I will be glad if you can help me with this decision because I don’t want to mess it up with bad choice.

2

The mixer would be a better choice - I don’t see any reason that it needs to be USB though unless for recording purposes ?

3

So here are the pros and cons to those two pieces of equipment which you should really look at;

Akai EIE Pro;
Pros: On paper it looks to provide better fidelity than the Xenyx
Cons: Any channel processing will have to be done by the computer and “may” add latency to your overall setup

Behringer Xenyx;
Pros: Will handle channel EQ’ing and some basic compression withouth the need of a computer
Cons: On paper it does not offer the same fidelity as the EIE Pro

So with all of that out of the way I would suggest you ask yourself this. Do you need to do any EQ’ing or processing on any of your other gear? If not the EIE pro will offer you better fidelity according to the white papers. Otherwise the Xenyx can work as well.

4

Thx for answers.

Budget option:

  1. is it possible to transfer Audio thought USB directly to traktor; to play it as a Deck or Live Device ?
5

Because the rest of the equipment doesn’t have an interface.

6

With the UCA 222 you “should” be able to use it as a live input deck while also using it as your main output for traktor.

7

With the behringer desk or UCA222 you can run the input into Traktor if you use an Aggregate Audio device (Mac) or via AISO4ALL on a windows PC, which will basically combine the soundcard in the desk & your controller into a single soundcard that will be recognized buy Traktor.

Personally I’d go with the desk, it will give you far more control pre-traktor resulting in lower latency if you decide you want to run your stuff that way.

*However i’d run your CMD4A output into the desk rather than inputting into traktor. You’ll have Zero Latency that way and you will be able to record your master output on the desk via the USB into audacity or a DAW

*unless effects are the reason for running the synths into traktor

8

Adding more gear to the audio chain would actually add latency.

9

Analogue source to mixer is almost zero latency vs routing through traktor via a soundcard which would result in a A/D + Software Latency + D/A conversion(s).

10

Thx for answers. Everything is working fine with UCA-222. I need to solve some issues with live input in Traktor, controlling live device as Deck C causes some mapping problems with faders etc :wink:.

My setup is ready !!! Thx a lot ; deevey ; pacific808 ; happydan .:thumbsup: