Why does mine sound better?

[icehockeyboy]

Now I have your attention, it really isn't a Hifi question, but music is involved during my other work as a DJ.

Both my partner in crime and I use a "DJ controller" basically a mixer with hardware that emulates the use of twin CD players. These are fed with a signal from an attached laptop using decent quality mp3 files.

Anyway, the question is why is it that when my partner uses his kit,( identical DJ Controller, but much older laptop) it sounds poor compared to mine, using a much newer laptop?

[Rothchild]

What controller is it? There's not actually any audio signal in it is there? What's the audio chain? Are you using the same files?

[icehockeyboy]

It's a Hercules Steel RMX, I should say they are both, I don't understand your second query, sorry!
The files were copied from my hard drive onto his, so originally they are the same ones, as for the audio chain further up the line that's not really relevant I believe as mine is sounding fine.....

[Rothchild]

Oh, I see, it's a sound card / dac too. So there is signal in there (I just thought it was a midi remote control).

(edit: is it this one http://www.hercules.com/us/legacy/bdd/p/62/dj-console-rmx/ in which case it is just a controller, the sound is coming from the laptop / audio interface it looks like this is just a software controller with a couple of additional IO so you can use real dex or other sources in with it too?)

It could be configuration issue but more likely you're just a better DJ ;-)

[Dartas]

My gess would be that the sound card on your laptop is just better than the one on your friends pc.
Have you tried to play the same files trough usb to see if there is still a difference?

[Stratmangler]

Could be an OS/drivers issue.

What are you both running for OS on your laptops?

[icehockeyboy]

Oh, I see, it's a sound card / dac too. So there is signal in there (I just thought it was a midi remote control).

(edit: is it this one http://www.hercules.com/us/legacy/bdd/p/62/dj-console-rmx/ in which case it is just a controller, the sound is coming from the laptop / audio interface it looks like this is just a software controller with a couple of additional IO so you can use real dex or other sources in with it too?)

It could be configuration issue but more likely you're just a better DJ ;-)

Yes, yes and yes to those questions, and indeed yes I am the better DJ, but it's the audio from his side of things that's in question! :)

And Dartas, I believe what you say is probs the reason too.

Stratmangler, I'm running Windows 7 and my sidekick is on XP, some say that XP is superior for what we are using it for, but it sure as heck doesn't sound that way!

[Stratmangler]

Wasapi on Win7, and Asio on XP?
Drivers are what I'm asking about.

[icehockeyboy]

Wasapi on Win7, and Asio on XP?
Drivers are what I'm asking about.

Ah, great point Chris, I'm on Asio on mine, he is not.
He is just using the " simple" setting as the version of his DJ software can't use Asio.
This might well be the answer, thanks....again!

[Stratmangler]

Ah, great point Chris, I'm on Asio on mine, he is not.
He is just using the " simple" setting as the version of his DJ software can't use Asio.
This might well be the answer, thanks....again!

Bear in mind that his hardware might not have had ASIO drivers written specifically for it.
ASIO4All might provide a solution if this is the case, although it's not guaranteed.

[icehockeyboy]

Bear in mind that his hardware might not have had ASIO drivers written specifically for it.
ASIO4All might provide a solution if this is the case, although it's not guaranteed.
Hi Chris, his hardware can use Asio, it's just that he's using a "light" version of the software which does not have the Asio option. :)