sounds poor

[tonto33]

tried to connect my laptop to my cd deck and sound comes out crap but if plays cds sounds fine what am i doing wrong

[Corabar Steve]

OK, 2 things...

1. A little more info might help, exactly what are you doing? I assume yo mean connecting it to your mixer rather than a CD player?

2. Take the time to introduce yourself in the Newbies section of the forum. You'll find you get a better response once people know a bit more about you

[Excalibur]

OK, 2 things...

1. A little more info might help, exactly what are you doing? I assume yo mean connecting it to your mixer rather than a CD player?

2. Take the time to introduce yourself in the Newbies section of the forum. You'll find you get a better response once people know a bit more about you

I'm guessing that we've got some form of homemix system, ie two CD decks and a mixer all in one. Then we're going from the headphone out on the laptop into an auxiliary channel on the mixer. There are many reasons why it could sound poor.

Steve is correct on both counts, first we need more info, the make and model of the players would help, and secondly an introduction in the newbies section is always a good idea.

[tonto33]

hi its an american audio dcd-pro200 mk3 connectedlead from laptop head phones to ch1 phone

[Shaun]

Tonto,

All new members posts have to be manually approved by a moderator before going live. You have a post in here awaiting approval. However, first it might be a good idea to follow the advice two of our moderators have posted. See below.




Take the time to introduce yourself in the Newbies section of the forum. You'll find you get a better response once people know a bit more about you


an introduction in the newbies section is always a good idea.



Please take a moment to read HERE (http://www.forum.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=11711). Thanks.

[Pe7e]

First thing to try is to unplug the laptop charger, if this cures the problem you need to get yourself a 'ground loop isolator' it's a common problem, If this doesn't fix it, more specific details are required to help you.

[katman]

One other thing to consider is if the input is switchable between Line and Phono and if it set to the correct type. If its only designed for a turntable to be connected it aint gonna work !!!

[Excalibur]

First thing to try is to unplug the laptop charger, if this cures the problem you need to get yourself a 'ground loop isolator' it's a common problem, If this doesn't fix it, more specific details are required to help you.

I don't think that's the problem. This is the piece of kit the lad's using,
http://www.adjaudio.com/pdffiles/DCD%20PRO200MK3.pdf
and nowhere on it can I see an input for an auxiliary player. :daft:

I fear he may have connected to an output, ( or digital connector ) unless I'm missing something.:confused:

[Excalibur]

Gordon Bennett, I'm an idiot. No wonder there are no sockets marked "Input" on the blasted thing. It's got no mixer in it, it's a playout only. :doh:

Tony, what is the rest of your system? There's got to be a mixer somewhere.

[tonto33]

this one

[Excalibur]

Right, as far as I can see, that's a Stageline MPX44.
http://www.esr.co.uk/manuals/mpx-44.pdf
They appear to come in more than one colour and layout.

You need to be connecting to channels 3 and/or 4, which are the line inputs.Katman got this bang on. We also need to have sockets we can reach easily to connect and disconnect, so a little modifying of that case looks likely, with a new panel or two being added.

Now the bad news. If you use the headphones out on the laptop, it's likely to not sound too good. Laptop soundcards are not usually very good. So, you get an external soundcard. In order to play two channels from the laptop, you need a two channel soundcard, and a DJ programme capable of doing this. As you've no doubt guessed, the soundcard costs around £75, http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/2254109/art/numark/djio-audio-interface.html?srcid=11270&nopopup=1
and the software around £200.
http://www.virtualdj.com/buy/index.html

If you want to go for lowest possible cost, then just plug a cable into the line input on channel 3, and connect it to the laptop headphone socket. It should work, but it won't be great.

[Corabar Steve]

hi its an american audio dcd-pro200 mk3 connectedlead from laptop head phones to ch1 phone


One other thing to consider is if the input is switchable between Line and Phono and if it set to the correct type. If its only designed for a turntable to be connected it aint gonna work !!!
I think I may have sussed it.

You have the correct setting on Ch1 (if the photo can be believed (I had to look at the manual to check the switch positions as I couldn't make them out in your somewhat blurry picture)) However, I'm wondering if you are plugged into the correct sockets on the back. You need to be in the Line socket, not Phono as indicated in your previous post above.


Right, as far as I can see, that's a Stageline MPX44..
Should've gone to Specsavers, it's a 42

[Excalibur]

Should've gone to Specsavers, it's a 42

It is indeed. Thank you, Hawkeye. Manual here.
http://www.europe-audio.com/document.asp?document_id=1385&link=datasheets/monacor/mpx42.pdf


I think I may have sussed it.

You have the correct setting on Ch1 (if the photo can be believed (I had to look at the manual to check the switch positions as I couldn't make them out in your somewhat blurry picture)) However, I'm wondering if you are plugged into the correct sockets on the back. You need to be in the Line socket, not Phono as indicated in your previous post above.
Depending on whether we're all alking about the same thing. I'm assuming that the CD players are plugged into channels 1 and 2, and so we should be referring to channel(s) 3 (and possibly 4 ).

[Corabar Steve]

Depending on whether we're all alking about the same thing. I'm assuming that the CD players are plugged into channels 1 and 2, and so we should be referring to channel(s) 3 (and possibly 4 ).
Now, this could be it. When he said in the post I quoted Ch1 (which is set to line in the pic) & phone (which I'll assume means phono sockets on channel 1 until I'm corrected) I assumed that nothing else was connected to Ch1. If the CD is connected to the line sockets on Ch 1 then the lappy could well be in the phono sockets.

Switching the toggle to phono would result in sound from that input coming through from the laptop, but it would be truly atrocious

[tonto33]

maybe bin it and buy better one as think it older than guy brought it of said it was as he reckon he brought it new 2 years ago

[Corabar Steve]

Have you tried Pe7e's suggestion from post #6, & made sure that you are going into one of the Line inputs?

Would seem a shame (& somewhat pointless) throwing away a working piece of kit.

Please don't turn out to be like some of the other youngsters we've had on here who ask for advice & then don't listen to it.

[Excalibur]

maybe bin it and buy better one as think it older than guy brought it of said it was as he reckon he brought it new 2 years ago

Steve and I are singng off the same hymnsheet here, although we're on different verses. He's referring to the picture, and I'm going on theory. We do however agree totally on the probable cause of the problem.

I'm not sure that replacing it will necessarily give a huge improvement, for a start simply plug a cable from the headphone socket on the laptop into the line input on channel 3. Keep the volume on the laptop down as far as possible, since that doesn't help matters if it's too high. If you find we're making progress, then we'll consider what happens next.

An external soundcard of some description would also make a big improvement.

[katman]

Tony, where in Norfolk are you ?

I am in Great Yarmouth. If you are fairly local to me you are welcome to come round and I will take a look.

[tonto33]

wicked im in wymondham mite have to get my dad to bring it over to you if that ok

i was looking at doing kids disco's but not sure at moment as my dad paid £600 for this disco for me and i can't get it to work as it should as cd 2 works not cd 1 and if need other software to run it via laptop dad wont lend me any more money as he said i should of just brought another bouncy castle would of been easier

[CRAZY K]

Now the bad news. If you use the headphones out on the laptop, it's likely to not sound too good. Laptop soundcards are not usually very good. So, you get an external soundcard. In order to play two channels from the laptop, you need a two channel soundcard, and a DJ programme capable of doing this. As you've no doubt guessed, the soundcard costs around £75, http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/2254109/art/numark/djio-audio-interface.html?srcid=11270&nopopup=1
and the software around £200.
http://www.virtualdj.com/buy/index.html

If you want to go for lowest possible cost, then just plug a cable into the line input on channel 3, and connect it to the laptop headphone socket. It should work, but it won't be great.

I disagree--have had a few strange punters come up with Laptops and Plug straight from the headphone into the mixer and the sound has been extremely acceptable--depending on the quality of the MP3 being played of course.

If you are using inadequate amps and speakers different matter.

In the long term I guess soundcard is the way to go.

Earlier I noticed Steve requesting a visit to Specsavers--you are going to able to find York on the 19th July I hope :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[katman]

wicked im in wymondham mite have to get my dad to bring it over to you if that ok

No problem. email me on keith at timewarproadshow dot co dot uk and we can sort out a suitable time.

[djtrev]

Tony if you live in Wymondham there is a fairly good dj store there who could help.
Aside from Katman who has kindly offered to help, you could also ring Chris at Abracadabra Disco in Spixworth.He's a helpful guy.