Precueing using external USB sound cards

BEHRINGER UMC204HD

The UMC204HD should work for headphone preview/cue. I’m not familiar with it, so I can’t be 100% sure; but it has 4 outs (2x stereo channels) - you should be able to route the audio correctly in djay Pro.

Hi @miche,

Thanks for the question. A very interesting topic indeed!

While we don’t have any native support for some of the hardware in question (particularly when it comes to pre-cueing) you can always check our gear page for additional information on hardware you’re looking to use with djay.

Also, big thanks to @Michael_Wisniewski for providing your own insight on this topic as well!

Have a great weekend everyone!

1 Like

Thanks everybody for the support.

The BEHRINGER UMC204HD works just fine. It is an alternative to a DJ controller to precue.

2 Likes

@Michael_Wisniewski you seem to have a pretty solid experience so I kindly ask to confirm if the following set up will work properly:

-Djay running on iPad with a usb hub
-first connect a Reloop Mixtour
-second connect a Apogee Duet 3
-select Apogee Duet 3 as master and cue out
-I should be able to control the app via Reloop Mixtour, have the master out on the duet and the cue out on the duet’s headphones out

Can you confirm that? Thanks a lot for your precious advices

1 Like

I can check later, but I suppose it works as long as the Mixtour only works as a midi controller.

I’m not completely sure if the automatic detection Djay does messes things up though… :thinking:

What would be your goal though, as Mixtour already has separate outputs… Better quality sound?

Yes the Mixtour + Apogee Duet 3 “should” work with the iPad (but no guarantees, as I haven’t used that particular setup). It’s a good idea to use the internal power supplies on both the Mixtour and Duet 3. Make sure the USB Hub and Apple adapter are quality/legit.

One tip - if you have problems connecting the Mixtour or Duet 3, try closing all programs and re-booting/re-starting the iPad.

On the Facebook Group: Algoriddim djay Pro AI (MacOS, iOS & iPadOS). There’s a guy running a similar setup (DDJ-200, Duet 3, iPad - all battery powered).

Yes, absolutely.
I want to use this setup for professional gigs and I need a top quality output to be combined with a standard Pioneer Nexus setup without using a MacBook.
I made a research about a proper test about interface results but I didn’t find nothing specific.
I suppose the apogee is the best match between dimension / portability + sound.

2 Likes

Thanks Michael.
I think that guy posted something on youtube and I checked: with ddj 200 should be easier running it in Bluetooth, but I’m experiencing a very nice ue with Mixtour because of gain controls, fx merged with filters and other hardware features that I like. Otherwise the sound is very far away from pioneer mixers standard, that why I need a pro interface as output.

If you have any other suggestion about adapter / hub to be sure that the setup will work you’re welcome! (I think I need a powered usb C hub with usb B ports like this UGREEN Hub USB C).

2 Likes

I just tried it with a second USB destination and I couldn’t get it to work. The thing works fine for the iPad (e.g. Spotify). It’s dead when using Djay and the Mixtour. It works fine again (with Djay) when the Mixtour has been disconnected.

The misleading thing is I can actually see, select and mix & match all outputs in Djay (so Mixtour 1-2, 3-4 and the secondary destination).

I suspect Djay somehow assumes the Mixtour to always be the output (due to its fancy detection feature), no matter what you select in the settings. The inconsistency is that the signal gets lost in space as all outputs are silent when you try to set them manually to a different destination in this case.

1 Like

If this is true you could report it as a bug and it might work in a future release @andreacasta.

I used to work with Mixtour only for cue and master out from iPad headphones (using a Radial passive di the sound is much better than the mixtour rca).
Maybe you have to try Michael suggestions to unplug and replug in order the gears

1 Like

Already did that. I tried a whole bunch of sequences and disconnects. :slight_smile:

Like I said, Spotify does work, indicating the iPad (setup) isn’t the problem here.

OK. I got it working once. But I can’t figure out the correct sequence of connecting and restarting the app.

The thing is, Djay seems to dislike changing sound destinations and does not follow the settings. Even changing to the iPad speakers doesn’t work correctly when the Mixtour is connected.

The one time I got it working I first had both the Mixtour and the iPad speakers working at the same time. Connecting the additional USB destination at that point worked.

It’s hit and (mostly) miss right now…

2 Likes

Cracked it. This sequence works:

  1. Start Djay
  2. Connect Mixtour
  3. Go to [Settings] → [Audio Device Setup] and turn on [Output to iPad Speaker]
  4. You should now be able to hear music coming from the iPad
  5. Connect additional USB output
  6. You should now be able to hear music coming from the secondary output

In settings you can see that at this point Djay doesn’t see the outputs on the Mixtour anymore. It will only show your secondary destination.

Every other scenario (app restart, USB disconnects, etc.) didn’t work for me as Djay gets lost when it shows both sound outputs.

It is most certainly a flaw in Djay, as the extra output works under all conditions on the iPad (testing with Spotify). The routing in the app fails somehow. When this happens you can’t even use the iPad speakers anymore as they simply stay silent when you flip the switch in Djay’s settings.

3 Likes

I see, thanks MT and it makes sense because it’s the same steps I do to properly use the di connected on the iPad headphones controlling the app with the mixtour.

The last questions are:

Which usb interface are you using?

does the cue working properly now? I suppose is coming out from usb interface headphones out?

If yes, are you controlling the cueing via mixtour or via app/screen touches controls?

1 Like
  1. StayGo USB-C Hub

  2. I only have a 2 channel USB output with me now (as I’m traveling). I can test multichannel in a week or two when I’m back home. But it looks like all channels should be available.

  3. As the Mixtour is working as before I expect this to work fine too. Again, I can tell you in a week or two.

Meanwhile, I filed a bug report here: iPad USB sound routing issue

1 Like

Update. I got this actually working while trying to reproduce a bug…

Long story short: you can use multiple USB destinations. That is to say, at least with one supported controller. I’m not sure if it’s generic support, but I’ll test somewhere next week.

1 Like

Here’s the setup that’s up and running…

[edit: now with correct shot]

3 Likes

With my multi-channel interface the Mixtour works fine too, but I can’t get mixed USB audio destinations (see previous shot) working as of now. I’m not interested in it, so I won’t try any further but there you go.

As an example here’s the separate outputs setup…

1 Like

This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.