D) MULTI-CHANNEL USB SOUND CARD If an external Multi-Channel USB Soundcard is available, the computer’s soundcard is not required and can be bypassed. Both the speakers and headphones can be connected to the external card. The connections made will be dependant on the manufacturer and the type of interface.

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One of the most perplexing things that new DJs often have trouble with is finding the right sound card. What are sounds cards and why do we need them? Can’t I just use the sound card on my computer? And even, how come I don’t need a sound card for all my DJ controllers?

1. Best External Sound Card Top 5 best external sound card in 2017. Are you looking for Best External Sound Card? Then you are in the right place for getting.
2. How to configure Multiple Sound Cards in Virtual DJ 8's Audio Setup menu.

Once these questions are answered, it will be much easier to decide on the right sound card. After that decision has been made, it’s time to decide on the sound card that fits your needs as well as your bank account.

Learn more about these budget DJ sounds cards when you keep reading…

Sound Cards 101

The first thing you should know is that your computer or laptop already has a built-in sound card, but YES you still need an additional one. Why?

First, the quality of the sound card that comes with your basic laptop is not really up to par for DJing. The other, bigger problem is that traditional sound cards have just 1 output and to be a good DJ you need at least two outputs: one for your speakers and one for your headphones.

Typically you use one of the outputs so you can listen to the next track and make sure it’s good to go. So you need 2 outputs to make sure you can do your job properly, which means laptop sound cards simply can not get the job done.

Some DJ equipment comes with a built-in sound card so you may not need to buy one. The best way to tell is to check out what’s included in your DJ kit, but sometimes the equipment is called a “DJ interface” instead of a DJ controller. Do your homework before you buy and you might just get what you need and save yourself a few dollars.

Native Instruments Audio 2 – $99

I’ll let Native Instruments give you the big sell on their Audio 2 sound card and I’ll just give you the facts. This is little plastic box with a USB socket and 2 jacks that include volume controls and a few LEDs. It is easy to use; simply plug it into your speakers and headphones and you’re ready to commence with the business of DJing.

This Native Instruments Audio 2 sound card is easy to use, compact and produces great sound: everything a DJ needs to be successful. It would be absolutely perfect if only it had a mic input.

Numark DJ iO – $74

The Numark brand sound card is portable and compact, which is important if you need a reliable sound card that travels easily. The DJ iO is slightly bigger than the Audio 2 DJ and it comes with a mic input. It has RCA outputs rather than the quarter-inch jacks, so it is more convenient than the Native Instruments sound card.

If you use a microphone then you’ll find the Numark DJ iO a bit more usable than the Audio 2 DJ. If you don’t use a mic often then the functionality and features are quite similar to the Native Instruments sound card.

ESI Maya44 USB – $108

Although this sound card isn’t initially meant for DJing, it is a good idea depending on your needs. The Maya44 USB has 4 analog input and output channels that come with RCA connectors. It’s ideal for recording and even mobile live applications, so you’ll find it useful for multiple purposes.

The biggest problem with the Maya44 USB is that the headphone socket is just 1/8”, but that can easily be solved with convertible headphones. The price is right, particularly with 4 input and 4 outputs, and excellent sound quality. If you need more options at a good cost then you’ll like this soundcard.

ESI Gigaport HD – $118

The ESI Gigaport HD is a sleek looking sound card that will appeal to your basic DJ on the road. If you do most of your DJing from a laptop or notebook, then you’ll love this budget sound card. It works with your favorite software and has 8 outputs and as many as 4 channels. This will allow you to add effects, mix and cue at the same time.

The ESI Gigaport HD doesn’t require drivers for Mac users, so you don’t have to worry about additional set up. This bargain sound card is great for pre-listening to signals and most digital DJs will find the 2 headphone outputs useful. The Gigaport HD would be perfect it had a mic input, but it gets the job done!

Mixvibes U-MIX44 – $85

If you’re looking for a compact sound card then you’ll love the small stature of the U-MIX44. It has two analog input and two analog output channels with RCA connectors. If you have a MIDI controller that is without a built-in sound card then this is a perfect DJ tool for you.

The Mixvibes U-MIX44 has the best combination of features for DJs and it’s priced for any budget. You get professional monitoring, hardware volume and switchable inputs all at a great price. And the body of this sound card is sturdy and meant to travel.

Save money by clicking HERE to get your Mixvibes sound card!

Reloop Play – $85

If you’re looking for a sound card that’s convenient to transport then you may want to take a closer look at the specs for the Reloop Play. Billed as one of the smallest sound cards on the market for DJs, it is as powerful as it is tiny. Despite its small stature it has signal LEDs let you see everything that happens in the dark of a dance club.

The option of having RCA outputs and headphones is ideal, as are the independent volume controls. The only drawback is that the Reloop Play doesn’t come with mic inputs. Even still, this sound card is ideal for a DJ looking for a basic sound card with good sound.

Get a good price on your Reloop Play HERE!

Conclusion

These are six budget sound cards to fit your DJ needs, but it is up to you to decide exactly what you need. If your goal is a simple to use sound card then you should take a closer look at the Audio 2 DJ or Reloop Play. If you need more inputs and outputs then consider the Gigaport HD.

If you want an all-around sound card that gives you what you need, you should take a good hard look at the U-MIX44.

Most important of all, make sure the card you want fits your needs as a DJ as well as your equipment budget.

I hope I helped you find the right DJ sound card for your DJ needs. Email in the box below to get access to Free video DJ lessons that will answer all of your questions on how to become a disk jockey!

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It’s one of the most common questions beginner DJs ask us: I’ve got a budget DJ controller (for Christmas/birthday etc) and I absolutely love it, but it hasn’t got anywhere to plug headphones in. What can I do?

The standard answer is to buy a decent DJ sound card. (Here’s where to find out more about why you need a sound card, and more about some budget sound cards.) However, having to find the cash for another piece of kit when you maybe just want to see if DJing is “for you” is not what many people want to hear.

So when Digital DJ Tips reader Kidsinister got in touch to say he’s successfully set up Traktor on his PC with a sound card bought on the internet for just $1, we thought it was worthy of further investigation!

Before we hand over to Kidsinster, bear in mind the following:

• The DJ sound cards we normally recommend have TWO outputs – one for the headphones, and one for the main speakers. Thus when you use one, you bypass the laptop’s internal sound card altogether. This solution, on the other hand, still uses the laptop’s internal sound card for the main output. As such, the sound quality you’ll get is limited by how good your laptop’s sound is
• We haven’t tested this on any systems other than Traktor on a PC. It probably works in Virtual DJ, for instance, as that software is flexible – however, you may find in some versions of some software that the hardware configuration options are limited. A good thing to do is ask on the software forum to see if anyone can confirm that the software that came with your particular controller can be configured to work with external sound cards like this one
• This is a great, cheap and ingenious solution for practising, for convenience (it’s tiny), and for playing house parties, small bars and so on. However, for bigger gigs, as you’re relying on the internal sound quality of your laptop, you will want to test it on the sound system first to make sure it sounds OK – chances are a proper DJ sound card will outperform your laptop’s internal sound card, and the difference will start to become more noticeable on bigger PA systems

Where can I get it?
It’s a tiny, mass-produced item that looks just like a USB drive, but with a headphone and a microphone socket on it.

For our purposes, we’re interested in the fact that it gives us that extra headphones socket – somewhere to plug out headphones in to while the main headphones socket on the laptop is used to power our speakers.

Buy it from Amazon.com.

How to do it…

These instructions are for Traktor Pro on a PC. We haven’t tested this and we also have no idea whether it works on other software, other versions of Traktor to the one Kidsinister tried, or on the Mac. It’s likely to, but we can’t guarantee it. Then again, it’s only $1 – what have you go to to lose? We’re ordering one today so will report back…

Here’s the instructions from Kidsinster:

• “The process is pretty much plug and play, no real hassles to be had. Firstly, the $1 USB card doesn’t need installation software, you plug it in and there’s a new hardware brief prompt. I’m currently using it with Traktor Pro, on an old Windows XP laptop, 1.5Ghz/2GB RAM with zero lag.
• “Next thing I did was download Asio4All, and after installing there should be 2 devices in the device list in Traktor, one being the on-board sound card, and the second the $1 sound card.
• “The little power button next to both should be highlighted for both sound cards to run. Then in Traktor settings, under Audio Setup, select Asio4All v2 on the drop-down menu for audio device.
• “My friends and I have noticed that once you select Asio4All as the audio device in Traktor for the first time, you have to restart Traktor or else it will not be recognised.
• “After restarting Traktor, go back to the settings and select Output Routing. Under Output Monitor, for each L/R channels, select whatever the $1 sound card is called (mine is USB Headphone Set 1/2), and for Output Master select the on-board sound card. You plug the headphones directly into the USB sound card to monitor.

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How good is it?

Over to Kidsinister again:

“In terms of loudness and clarity, with regard to monitoring only, I’m fairly certain it can be used for an actual gig (I plan to try it anyway).

“However the problem is loudness and clarity of the master output, because it will be determined by the quality of the on-board sound card (the laptop one I have is mediocre).

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With this alternative, it’s possible for beginners to spend next to nothing on equipment whilst learning”

“My plan is to use it for a house party, by using the on-board sound card output and putting it through a channel on an actual mixer, essentially so I can amp the volume, and control the master levels to get a clearer sound.

“With this alternative it’s possible for beginners to spend next to nothing on equipment, whilst learning.”

• Thanks to Kidsinister (twitter.com/kidsincity) for the idea and the instructions for this article.

Have you set up your DJ software/controller using any type of non-DJ sound card? What did you use? Would you like to share any tips or tricks you’ve got with us? Or have you used this particular little device? Whatever, we’d love you to let us know your experiences with us.

Now go to:
All About Sound Cards for Digital DJing
DJ Sound Cards Under $130: Top Models Reviewed & Rated
Coming Soon: How To DJ Properly With Just a Laptop

Best External Sound Card For Virtual Dj Software