Help with Recording from DJ Controller to Laptop

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Help with Recording from DJ Controller to Laptop

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#317810 18-Nov-2024 08:01

I would like to get the audio from a Numark Mixstream Pro+ transferred onto my PC (to use in Audacity). Laptop has USB and headphone sockets, so nothing special.

The controller has the following outputs:

2 XLR outputs (main left/right,balanced)

1 RCA output pair (main left/right, unbalanced)

(Photo included)

But I’ve read that I need what’s called a soundcard in between the controller and laptop.

Some of these are quite expensive and some of them cheap.

Can someone here recommend a good cost effective solution and what I should be looking out for this to work? My knowledge around this is next to zero.

Would this one do the trick?

https://www.rubbermonkey.co.nz/Behringer-UMC-22-U-Phoria-2x2-USB-Audio-Interface?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAxea5BhBeEiwAh4t5K6VhlyWMkEwd7bcVDlWMcjBw8naHfj7QzaKGLvENJnW535lFEYY97xoCPdoQAvD_BwE

nzben

31 posts

Geek

#3310038 18-Nov-2024 10:30

Hi I don’t have any info in front of me however look into virtual soundcards. This is a software install that mimics a read sound card. I used a numark or similar mixer that was controlling computer via usb (serato) in the settings choose to output to the virtual sound card that will route the sound internally and you can choose to record using audacity or similar from the virtual sound card.

littlehead

214 posts

Master Geek

#3310099 18-Nov-2024 12:47

According to the Numark product page, there is a USB to computer port that uses USB-B. You could try connecting a USB-B to USB-A or USB-C cable and seeing if it shows up in Audacity. If you have a printer, these usually use these cables so you may have one lying around. You may need to change the Mixstream to Computer mode for it to show up as an audio source. No idea if it will work but if you have the cable already, worth a test.

Apparently you can also use dj specific software with it in computer mode:

In addition to being able to DJ in Standalone Mode with Engine DJ OS, the Mixstream Pro +’s Computer Mode allows you to use the device as a DJ software controller for Serato DJ and Virtual DJ (Serato DJ Lite is supported for free, a paid license is required for Serato DJ Pro and Virtual DJ).

https://www.numark.com/product/mixstream-pro-plus#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20being%20able,DJ%20Pro%20and%20Virtual%20DJ).

If all you want to do is record then edit in Audacity afterwards, you could plug a USB drive into the Mixstream and record your session directly to the drive. Then plug that into your laptop to edit in Audacity. Only need an exfat or FAT32 formatted usb drive, likely have one lying around. Shouldn't need to be too big. If you are already using a drive for your source files, can just record to that same drive.

xpd

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#3310102 18-Nov-2024 12:55

As above....

Circled port should work fine AFAIK. Daughter has various mixer boards etc and all have same USB for connecting output to PC/laptop.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#3310117 18-Nov-2024 14:15

xpd:
As above....

Circled port should work fine AFAIK. Daughter has various mixer boards etc and all have same USB for connecting output to PC/laptop.

I’ve tried to connect the USB cable from the port that you outlined onto my laptop. Nothing shows up / laptop doesn’t recognise it.

CYaBro

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#3310169 18-Nov-2024 14:50

danepak:
xpd:

As above....

Circled port should work fine AFAIK. Daughter has various mixer boards etc and all have same USB for connecting output to PC/laptop.

I’ve tried to connect the USB cable from the port that you outlined onto my laptop. Nothing shows up / laptop doesn’t recognise it.

Did you put into Computer mode?
And you may need to download the driver from their site:

https://cdn.inmusicbrands.com/Numark/Install%20Numark%20Mixstream%20Pro%201.0.3.exe

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#3312155 23-Nov-2024 12:40

I managed to work it out.

I purchased a USB Audio Interface:
https://surplustronics.co.nz/products/9234-usb-audio-interface-with-software

The DJ controller is connected to the USB Audio Interface with RCA cables.
Then a USB cable from the USB Audio Interface to the laptop and voila, I can now record via Audacity.

There’s however an issue. There’s an annoying background sound which can be heard here (before the music kicks in):

https://youtube.com/shorts/h-xeo-AmLaM?si=BxztOoZTe_kOCZqb

What can the issue be?

kiwiharry

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#3312169 23-Nov-2024 13:39

danepak: I managed to work it out.

I purchased a USB Audio Interface:
https://surplustronics.co.nz/products/9234-usb-audio-interface-with-software

The DJ controller is connected to the USB Audio Interface with RCA cables.
Then a USB cable from the USB Audio Interface to the laptop and voila, I can now record via Audacity.

There’s however an issue. There’s an annoying background sound which can be heard here (before the music kicks in):

https://youtube.com/shorts/h-xeo-AmLaM?si=BxztOoZTe_kOCZqb

What can the issue be?

Sounds like an earthing issue. If you haven't already, try operating your laptop on battery only; i.e. without the power supply. See if that eliminates that noise.

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richms

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#3312171 23-Nov-2024 13:40

danepak: I managed to work it out.

I purchased a USB Audio Interface:
https://surplustronics.co.nz/products/9234-usb-audio-interface-with-software

The DJ controller is connected to the USB Audio Interface with RCA cables.
Then a USB cable from the USB Audio Interface to the laptop and voila, I can now record via Audacity.

There’s however an issue. There’s an annoying background sound which can be heard here (before the music kicks in):

https://youtube.com/shorts/h-xeo-AmLaM?si=BxztOoZTe_kOCZqb

What can the issue be?

Ground loop between 2 devices. This is the whole reason to use the XLR connectors and balanced audio instead of consumer grade RCA unbalanced stuff.

You can try an RCA ground loop isolator between the 2 devices - common in car audio but I have found they tend to have their own distortion.

I think the inbuilt USB is just to use it as a control surface for software on a computer like the much cheaper DJ controllers, not as an audio interface.

Richard rich.ms

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#3312172 23-Nov-2024 13:44

richms:
danepak: I managed to work it out.

I purchased a USB Audio Interface:
https://surplustronics.co.nz/products/9234-usb-audio-interface-with-software

The DJ controller is connected to the USB Audio Interface with RCA cables.
Then a USB cable from the USB Audio Interface to the laptop and voila, I can now record via Audacity.

There’s however an issue. There’s an annoying background sound which can be heard here (before the music kicks in):

https://youtube.com/shorts/h-xeo-AmLaM?si=BxztOoZTe_kOCZqb

What can the issue be?

Ground loop between 2 devices. This is the whole reason to use the XLR connectors and balanced audio instead of consumer grade RCA unbalanced stuff.

You can try an RCA ground loop isolator between the 2 devices - common in car audio but I have found they tend to have their own distortion.

I think the inbuilt USB is just to use it as a control surface for software on a computer like the much cheaper DJ controllers, not as an audio interface.

So with an XLR connection, this issue won’t happen?

richms

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#3312177 23-Nov-2024 13:53

danepak:
richms:

Ground loop between 2 devices. This is the whole reason to use the XLR connectors and balanced audio instead of consumer grade RCA unbalanced stuff.

You can try an RCA ground loop isolator between the 2 devices - common in car audio but I have found they tend to have their own distortion.

I think the inbuilt USB is just to use it as a control surface for software on a computer like the much cheaper DJ controllers, not as an audio interface.

So with an XLR connection, this issue won’t happen?

Shouldn't, assuming they are proper balanced inputs and outputs. Some things put a XLR port but just use one side of the signal so are still unbalanced.

Richard rich.ms

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#3312195 23-Nov-2024 15:21

Thanks, just went back to the shop and purchased one with XLR. Thanks for your advise.