SETUP

Audio Settings

To open the Audio settings page, click on the Setup button on the Menu bar. In order to get the best out of Deckadance, you may need to take some time to familiarize yourself with the Audio and General, File & MIDI Settings on another page.

Audio Settings

Deckadance can handle both audio inputs and outputs. Inputs are used to accept control signals from vinyl/CDJs and from microphones for PA (Public Address). It is strongly recommended that you select an ASIO driver (ASIO4ALL for example) as Deckadance will run more smoothly using ASIO drivers.

• AUDIO INTERFACE - Selects your soundcard/audio & driver. PC users: We recommend using an ASIO driver, Deckadance installer includes the ASIO4ALL.
• SAMPLE RATE - Select the play-back frequency of your audio interface. 44100 Hz (44.1 kHz) is most common although some interfacces use 48000 Hz (48 kHz).
• AUDIO LATENCY - This is a working buffer (breathing space) used by Deckadance to avoid CPU overload. As the latency is increased the delay between moving a MIDI/interface control and hearing/seeing the result is at least equal to this setting (in ms). The ideal buffer is the smallest your computer can manage without causing glitches. Notes:
  • Generally - For most DJ work there is no need to set a latency below 512 samples (~11 ms @ 44.1 kHz).
  • Elastique - When Elastique master tempo engine is active, a minimum suggested latency is 128 samples. We also recommend multiples of this latency in case longer latencies are required: 256, 512, 1024, 2048.
  • DVS - For DVS 'scratching' we suggest that you disable the master tempo engine and reduce the latency as low as possible around (88 samples for an average computer and soundcard with ASIO drivers).
• CONTROL PANEL - Opens the soundcard driver interface. PC users: If your audio interface does not have native ASIO drivers we recommend using ASIO4ALL soundcard driver. This allows you to use more than one audio input/output device.
• INPUTS - Select audio input configuration. Your ability to use the options below will depend on the number of inputs your audio interface has:
  • No inputs - Using only Deckadance internal audio sources.
  • Mic - You are using a single microphone input. Must we listen to your voice?
  • One deck - You have a single deck, Vinyl or CDJ. Cheapskate!
  • Two decks - You have two decks, Vinyl and or CDJ. You rock!
  • Two decks and a mic - You have two decks, Vinyl and or CDJ plus a mic. Playing with the big league now...
• OUTPUTS - Select audio output configuration for internal or external audio mixing. Your ability to use the options below will depend on the number of outputs your audio interface has:
  • Internal mixing - In this configuration you can select 2 stereo audio outputs. 1. Headphones (Monitor) and 2. Main outputs (Speakers/Mixing desk).
  • External mixing - In this configuration you have the option to configure 4 stereo audio outputs. 1. Headphones (Monitor) and 2. & 3. Two stereo channels feeding the A and B inputs to the Mixer x-fader and 4. Auxiliary output to a sampler or recorder.

    NOTE: If you have a 'surround-sound' (5.1 or 7.1) audio interface, you can use the rear speaker outputs as a second audio out for headphones for example.

Setting up your inputs & outputs

1. Click the Audio button.
2. Select a soundcard - From the Audio Interface field, select a driver (see the screenshot above). This is your Soundcard or audio interface device labeled by the name of the soundcard driver (M-Audio USB ASIO for example). Options available in this menu depend on the soundcard devices connected to your computer. PC users will have access to the ASIO4ALL universal soundcard driver included in the Deckadance installation.
3. Select a sample rate - 44100 Hz is the preferred default CD audio rate, however some soundcards, such as the Creative Audigy series, are limited to 48000 Hz (minimum).
4. Set the soundcard latency - Open the Control Panel (ASIO settings) and adjust the soundcard latency. This is a working buffer with which Deckadance performs mixing operations. Generally, shorter latencies put more load on your CPU (which can cause audio stuttering), however short latencies are desirable for greater 'responsiveness' when scratching, for example. Soundcard latency is expressed in milliseconds or samples. 20 ms (882 samples @ 44.1 kHz) is sufficiently short for most DJ work. 10 ms or less (441 samples @ 44.1 kHz) ) is desirable if greater responsiveness is required. Experimentation will help you to determine what is suitable for your needs.

   Eliminating audio glitches: The shortest latency achievable without overloading the CPU and stuttering, will depend on your soundcard and computer speed. There are a number of options on the General, File & MIDI Settings panel that can aid in reducing CPU load and stuttering if you find increasing the latency AND using an ASIO driver is not successful. Try selecting the 'Slow decoder analysis mode' & 'Disable Elastique master tempo and keylock engine' options.

5. If you have more than one soundcard, or wish to use independent INPUT and OUTPUT devices, you can use the ASIO4ALL driver. This should make all the INPUTS/OUTPUTS on your audio devices available on the drop-down menus for each INPUT/OUTPUT category. Follow this link for more details.
6. Headphone Mix - It is often useful to monitor decks A and B while cueing tracks, without sound being passed to the Main Outputs of Deckadance. Where you see headphone symbols on the main interface, it means that an output can be sent to the Monitor Buss (usually a separate mix for the DJs Headphones). To set up this feature, you need to have either multiple audio devices or a soundcard with more than one output. If your soundcard has surround-sound capability, for example, you can use the rear channels to feed your headphone mix and select those in Monitor Left and Right settings in the Audio & MIDI Setup panel. In another 'low rent' approach, many USB headsets used with Skype etc, have a built in mic and are also headphones. These will appear as a USB audio device and will allow you to use the PA feature (from the mic) and to monitor your cueing, all hands-free (but is it cool? who knows!).