Headphone jack signal level:

[Charles Jenkinson]

At my 40th do, I used a domestic CD/DVD player for the audio I was contributing to the event. My DJ-friend used a macbook and its headphone jack out, and in one case his phone jack out, for a request track he'd downloaded there and then. The gain structure had initially been set up for the level from the CD player - it was pumping and we didn't want to go any louder, on unity gain on both the strip and the main out. On the macbook headphone jack output, both the channel strip and the mains out had to be wound up to considerably past unity gain to get a similar volume level. I think I can accept that the pretty much 2:1 mismatch is normal (?), but is there anything that ought to be done about it? I have a 2 in - 2 out USB powered audio box for my laptop (which I wasn't using and haven't yet compared with the CD player) - I'm wondering if the macbook should have something similar, or is it best to set the gain structure up for the lower signal, so that anyone with a phone/i-pod can play something? ...I'm tending towards this being a noob question and the mixer being a versatile tool in the SE's toolbox, so go easy on me please.

Thanks,

Charles

[Grant Bunter]

Charles,
In short, yes.

Occassionaly I get asked to play a song off a phone, or someone elses ipod etc, say at a multi artist event with dancers or someone basically doing karaoke, or, I don't have the song and they do.

While sound wise it's probably best to be below max volume, I always wind volume on any device to full initially.
I have found with ipads and phones that about 70% volume on that device seems to need the cranking you described. After tweaking channel strip and master (on a seperate channel strip) I reduce volume to about 90% and tweak on the fly.

The other thing I insist on is that lock screens be disabled.

If somone else wants my system for DJing (I run the desk/PA) and they are doing the DJing via laptop, I run the outputs through my DI's then into the mixer.
Despite the "don't run your gain in the red", "I promise I won't" discussion, many of them do.
At least with the DI's I can pad them 10dB, or, if it's really bad, hit them with 20dB pad and drop the fader while doing the thing lol. It usually takes two of these to stop the behaviour...

[Charles Jenkinson]

If somone else wants my system for DJing (I run the desk/PA) and they are doing the DJing via laptop, I run the outputs through my DI's then into the mixer.
Despite the "don't run your gain in the red", "I promise I won't" discussion, many of them do.
At least with the DI's I can pad them 10dB, or, if it's really bad, hit them with 20dB pad and drop the fader while doing the thing lol. It usually takes two of these to stop the behaviour...

Thanks Grant. Do you mean something like this? http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/DI20.aspx
How do you know they're running their gain into the red - is it just crap sound and hot signal? (...this is me noobing)

FWIW: My 'mixer' is a Mackie Tapco 6306. It wasn't going into red even though it was wound up. But it wasn't absolutely maxed out.

[Grant Bunter]

Charles:
Couldn't find info on your mixer, so to use that Behringer DI, because it's active you have to have phantom power, or run it using 9V batteries.
I use these passive ones (cheap as chips but do a great job):
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PASSIVE-DI-B ... b9e&_uhb=1
So do a couple of guys on the forum from the US.

How do I know? A number of ways. I know where I set my gain structure on my mixer, and the fader level or volume knob on their computer that got that setting.
So if I PFL that channel strip and it's running above where I set it, they have upped their setting.
If they up it further, I can begin hearing the distortion that occurs.
I can never understand how they think it (that distortion) sounds good, but the simple matter is they are usually behind the speakers and can't hear it.

I half wonder if part of the problem with puters, or more to the point laptops, is their internal onboard soundcard, and it's usual inherent lack of quality.
I am half thinking of getting a USB soundblaster (or similar) add on device myself, if for no other reason than to increase quality...

[jose99a]

DAC = digital analouge converter, should solve the problem.

[Grant Bunter]

DAC = digital analouge converter, should solve the problem.

Jose,
Which particular problem are you referring to?

[MissileCrisis]

He's talking about the poor laptop sound quality. Preferable get a usb dac with balanced out for less gain issues or use a art clean box pro like I do and use its gain know to compensate for home level audio.

[jimbo7]

I bought this: http://www.music-group.com/Categories/B ... 2/p/P0484# and have had great success pairing it with MIXXX

[bitSmasher]

I used to keep a UCA202 in my bag when attending warehouse/free parties, as inevitably someone would want to plug their laptop headphone out direct to mixer then crank the channel gain... which generally sounds ordinary.
Universal usb driver means no install, just plug and play. Stronger output than headphones, which solves half the problem.

You can even use basic USB audio devices with phones, if you have the right cable.
For Samsung Galaxy/Note, a USB-OTG connector is simple and easy. For iOS, you could use the "camera connection kit" with older OS and 30 pin connectors, but likely Apple killed that functionality with recent updates now there are products specifically for iphone audio.

Keep in mind that there are many names for what is essentially the same device - External soundcard / usb audio interface / USB DAC / etc

[safebet]

I used to keep a UCA202 in my bag when attending warehouse/free parties, as inevitably someone would want to plug their laptop headphone out direct to mixer then crank the channel gain... which generally sounds ordinary.
Universal usb driver means no install, just plug and play. Stronger output than headphones, which solves half the problem.

I bought this: http://www.music-group.com/Categories/B ... 2/p/P0484# and have had great success pairing it with MIXXX

+1 +1

The UCA202 is one Behringer product everyone should own. Tremendous utility and performance for $30. Get two so you're more likely to have it available when you need it.

[Rich4349]

So where's the 1/8" in jack for the phone? Or do you use an 1/8" to RCA adapter, too?

[safebet]

It has a set of RCA outputs (inputs too) as well as optical and 1/8 stereo headphone out with a physical volume control. If you're asking about use as an audio device accessory for a mobile phone I have no experience in that area.

[Think]

For this problem I bought a tiny Behringer 302USB mixer https://www.ebay.com/p/Audio-Interfaces ... /710150683 years ago as I also needed a mic in and the usb soundcard in it is so much better then then onboard junk in laptops etc.
I use it at home in with my laptop and outputs to my PA2
One other great feature is that it is usb powered, so with a simple and cheap 12v to usb adapter I could use it with a 12v battery when used mobile to feed a car amp.
I used it for 4? years now and it is almost 24/7 power on; one of my best buys ever.

//edit: it is really small, about the same size of my lepai/lepy 2020+ amp; "Length: 5.35 inch Height: 1.81 inch Width: 4.49 inch Weight: 0.84 pounds" and the basis EQ is very nice to have as I use it often to add or dim high's or low's.