5. DJ Hardware
Although Mixxx can be used with just a laptop or desktop computer, fully taking advantage of Mixxx’s features requires specialized DJ hardware. Depending on your budget and application area, your setup and requirements may vary. This chapter provides general background information about various types of DJ hardware.
To make DJing with Mixxx a fun experience, at least the following pieces are needed:
speakers to play the music to the audience,
an audio interface with 4 mono/2 stereo output channels (or 2 mono output channels + a DJ splitter cable),
headphones for prelistening tracks while another track is playing on the speakers, and
audio cables and adapters to connect the equipment to your computer.
Additionally, you might consider getting the following equiment:
a controller,
turntables, an audio interface with phono inputs and timecode vinyl,
a laptop/controller stand,
a surge protector to protect the equipment from voltage spikes,
cases for laptop, controller and headphones, and
custom fader and knob caps to customize your gear.
See also
Instructions how to use DJ Controllers that work out-of-the-box with Mixxx can be found in the Hardware Manuals section of this manual. The Mixxx DJ Hardware Guide on the Mixxx Wiki also lists additional devices, including information about their prices, features, and compatibility with Mixxx.
5.1. Controllers
DJ controllers are devices with knobs, faders, buttons, and jog wheels to control DJ software such as Mixxx. Controllers allow quick access to different controls while providing tactile and visual feedback indicating the state of each control, such as the position of a knob or whether a switch is on or off. This allows you to focus on manipulating the music without needing to look at your computer screen all the time. Controllers also allow using two hands to manipulate two different controls at the same time, which is required for many mixing techniques.
DJ controllers typically do not do any actual audio processing. Instead, they send signals (typically MIDI or HID over a USB cable) to the computer to instruct DJ software how to manipulate the audio. Many DJ controllers include an audio interface with 2 separate stereo outputs built into the device. This allows the DJ to transport and setup only one piece of hardware in addition to a laptop. Some devices can be used as both a controller and hardware mixer.
Mixxx can work with any MIDI or HID controller as long as there is a mapping file to tell Mixxx how to understand the controller’s signals. Mixxx comes bundled with a number of MIDI and HID mappings, which are listed in the Hardware Manuals section. For controllers that Mixxx does not yet support, you can search the forum to see if anyone has started a mapping. You can also start one yourself using the information in the Controller Mapping Documentation on the wiki.
See also
Using MIDI/HID Controllers describes how to configure Mixxx to use controllers.
5.2. Audio Interfaces
An audio interface (also known as a “sound card”, although few of them are shaped like cards anymore) is a device that allows a computer to send output to and receive input from audio equipment. Whether using internal or external mixing, it is recommended to use a single audio interface with at least 4 independent output channels (2 separate stereo pairs).
The headphone jack on most laptops is not a second audio output. Rather, plugging headphones into the jack simply redirects the laptop’s single stereo output from its speakers to your headphones. A splitter cable can be used to separate the stereo output of a headphone jack into two separate mono outputs for headphone cueing, but it is recommended to use a sound card with at least four mono outputs (for two stereo pairs). Such sound cards tend to be higher quality than those built into laptops and allow your mix to be enjoyed in stereo by your audience.
Unlike some proprietary DJ systems, Mixxx can use any audio interface and any MIDI or HID controller that your OS has drivers to use. If your controller has an integrated audio interface, you may choose to use a different audio interface for higher quality audio. Mixxx can also use multiple audio interfaces simultaneously.
Audio Interface Considerations
This section provides background information to help you choose an audio interface to use with Mixxx.
Bit Depth and Sample Rate
Most music is published with a bit depth of 16 bits at a sample rate of 44.1 kHz because this is all that is needed to store all the detail of music in digital form.
Bit depth determines the possible dynamic range of the signal. 16 bits is more than enough for playing back music. While 24 bits is helpful for recording, it is useless for playback.
Half the sample rate determines the maximum frequency that can be represented by the signal. Humans generally can’t hear frequencies above 20 kHz, so a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz, representing a maximum frequency of 22.05 kHz, is fine for playback. Higher sample rates like 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz can be helpful to reduce aliasing distortion when recording, but have no benefit for playback and make your computer work harder.
For a more thorough and technical explanation of why 16 bits at 44.1 kHz is all that is needed for playback, read 24/192 Music Downloads Are Very Silly Indeed.
Specifications
When considering specifications, higher dynamic range, higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), higher maximum output level, lower THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise; look for a more negative dB value or smaller percentage), and lower crosstalk (more negative dB value) are better. Cheap audio interfaces tend to not have these specifications published.
Connector and Cable Types
If you are unfamiliar with professional audio equipment, read Digital DJ Tips’ Essential Guide to Audio Cables for DJs to understand the different kinds of connectors on audio interfaces. It is better to use an audio interface with balanced outputs, especially if you will run long cables directly into an amplifier or active speakers without going through a hardware mixer. Balanced signals reject interference and are less susceptible to ground loop hum issues (which can be a problem when plugging unbalanced gear into separate power sources).
However, most venues have DJs plug into hardware DJ mixers, which typically only have RCA inputs (RCA cables cannot be balanced). Most home/computer speakers and amplifiers have RCA and/or 1/8” TRS stereo inputs. Most live sound mixers have balanced 1/4” TRS mono inputs. If you need to interconnect balanced and unbalanced gear, refer to this guide from Presonus (deleted, via archive.org) and this guide from Rane (deleted, via archive.org).
Number of Channels
Audio interfaces sometimes have multiple connectors for a single channel, resulting in more connectors than channels. So, not every connector can send or receive and independent signal. For example, some audio interfaces made for DJing have 4 output channels with 4 mono output connectors and 1 stereo headphone connector. This does not mean that the audio interface can send out 6 different signals at the same time; rather, the signal on 2 of the mono outputs and the stereo headphone output would be the same. Also, many controllers have separate master and booth outputs with independent volume controls, but they both play the same signal.
Vinyl Control and Phono Preamplifiers
Turntables output low voltage (phono level) signals that need to be amplified to line level before most audio equipment can work with them. So, if you want to use Vinyl Control, sometimes referred to as a Digital Vinyl System (DVS), it is best to have phono preamplifiers (one for each deck) somewhere between your turntable and sound card to boost the turntable’s phono level signal to line level. Mixxx can amplify phono level signals in software, but it is better to do it in hardware. The phono preamp can be in the turntable, in the audio interface, or a stand alone device. Most audio interfaces do not have phono preamps; these are generally found on audio interfaces specifically made for controlling DJ software with timecode vinyl. Mixers with audio interfaces have phono preamps on their deck inputs, but not necessarily on every deck input. Many higher-end all-in-one controllers also include audio interfaces with phono preamps.
Driver Support
Unlike some proprietary DJ programs, Mixxx works with any audio interface that is compatible with your operating system — including for timecode vinyl (DVS) use.
USB Audio Class compliant audio interfaces should work out of the box on all operating systems supported by Mixxx. This is the case for the integrated audio interfaces in most DJ controllers. Sound cards that aren’t USB Audio Class compliant need a driver for each OS.
Note
On Windows, you should install the manufacturer’s drivers even for USB class compliant audio interfaces to be able to use the recommended ASIO sound API.
Hint
If you are considering buying a controller or audio interface, the easiest way to tell if it is USB class compliant before you buy it is to search for macOS drivers for the device on the manufacturer’s website. If it is advertised as compatible with macOS or iOS but there are no drivers to download for macOS, the device is USB class compliant.
5.3. Mixers
Mixers are devices that combine audio signals. DJ mixers are different from live and studio mixers because they have multiple stereo channels with phono preamplifiers for connecting Turntables. It is conventional to use a DJ mixer with Vinyl Control, but vinyl control can be used without a hardware mixer.
Using Mixxx with a DJ mixer requires an audio interface with at least 4 mono outputs (2 stereo pairs) to send Mixxx’s decks to the mixer’s stereo channels. Some DJ mixers have a USB audio interface built into them. This lets Mixxx send unmixed audio files directly to the mixer without needing a separate stand-alone audio interface.
Often DJs who use DJ software with internal mixing send their master output to a hardware mixer. This can be helpful to send the mixed signal to both a main speaker output for the audience and booth speakers for the DJ with separate gain controls for each output. It also facilitates smooth transitions between DJs.
However, using an external mixer with internal mixing is not necessary and reduces the sound quality. Each piece of equipment an audio signal passes through reduces the sound quality, so avoiding unnecessary equipment in the signal path can provide better sound quality. Many DJ controllers provide separate master and booth outputs with independent volume controls. Alternatively, a sound card with at least 6 output channels can be used with Mixxx’s Booth output.
Many people confuse “analog mixers” and “hardware mixers”, but these are not the same. Many hardware mixers process audio digitally with specialized signal processors as opposed to a general purpose CPU like those in laptop and desktop computers.
5.4. Turntables
Turntables are mechanical devices that play music recordings cut into vinyl phonograph records. Before software like Mixxx was available, the art of DJing originated with turntables and DJ mixers. Special vinyl records can be used with turntables to control the playback of digital files in Mixxx as if the digital file was pressed onto the vinyl record.
See also
5.5. CDJs
CDJs are devices that play digital audio files and have controls from manipulating the playback of the audio. Originally CDJs played audio CDs, but new devices typically use USB storage drives or SD cards. Some CDJs can be plugged into a computer with a USB cable to function as a controller for Mixxx.
5.6. Microphones
Microphones convert changes in sound pressure in air to changes in voltage (an analog audio signal). Mixxx can work with any microphone that can be plugged into your audio interface.
See also
5.7. Headphones
Being able to listen to what you will play next in headphones before your audience hears on the main speakers or your broadcast stream is an essential part of DJing. DJ headphones are generally better quality than typical consumer headphones. Importantly, they are designed to have good isolation, meaning they block outside sound. This allows the DJ to focus on the sound in the headphones better without having to turn up the volume to drown out sound from the monitors, PA system, and chatter. Also, DJ headphones have hinges or flexible headbands that allow the DJ to take off one headphone cup to hear the monitor or PA output better in one ear and compare it to the headphone output in the other ear.
When shopping for headphones, consider how well they isolate sound and their durability. The most frequent places that headphones break are the cable attachment point and the headband. Look for headphones with detachable cables, metal headbands, and other individually replaceable parts. Avoid Bluetooth headphones because these may be unreliable and will always reduce sound quality. Active noise canceling headphones also tend to have worse sound quality than other headphones of a comparable price. DJ headphones with a closed design block out a lot of sound simply by being closed.
Whether to get on-ear or over-ear headphones is a matter of personal preference. Everyone’s head is different, so headphones that are comfortable for a friend or a reviewer may not be comfortable for you.
In-ear monitors (IEMs) isolate sound better than headphones but are more expensive. They usually cost more than double the price of good DJ headphones with comparable quality. They may be a sound investment for musicians who play often in very loud environments to preserve their hearing.
5.8. Splitter Cables
DJ splitter cables are the cheapest way to get two separate sound outputs from your computer. These plug into the onboard audio interface built into computer motherboards and split the stereo signal into two separate mono signals. However, onboard audio interfaces are not good quality, and you lose the stereo effect of hearing different sounds arranged in space.
Devices marketed as “headphone splitter” instead of DJ splitters duplicate one stereo signal in two jacks. These cannot be used for headphone cueing. Also, generic stereo-to-mono splitter cables or adapters typically have two mono jack outputs. Plugging headphones or stereo speakers into a generic stereo-to-mono splitter will only play sound on one side of the headphones or speakers.