How do I monitor a new track while one is playing?

[Christabel Zamor]

Hey
Im just using my MacBook plugged into a tiny mixer which plugs into speakers. How would I monitor a track that I want to mix in, in a way that doesn't require it to play through the speakers? Seems like i need some kind of hardware I don't have... Thanks!

[daniel clark]

what software are you using and sound card set up ,,more info ,, you will need two stereo out puts to monitor ,,one for master out and one for monitor ,,if routing to mixer with pre fade listing /monitor out put then two stereo out puts from sc is necessary also ,, give more info ,to help ,

[Christabel Zamor]

Hey I am using the free Cross DJ software

[daniel clark]

check the product page ,,comparison ,,Cross DJ free doesnt support a second sc out put for monitoring ,, it was set up to give a feel for the software and also use on android systems where a second sc is not avaible for use ,,
posting link for product page/comparison

http://www.mixvibes.com/products/crosscross-dj-macpc

[Stormcaller]

The free version of Cross doesn't support cueing, before we start.

If you have the paid version of Cross DJ, then it does, but you need a soundcard, audio interface or DJ controller/USB enabled mixer containing an audio interface that has 2 different outputs, one for your headphones, one for your speakers/PA system. If you have two separate soundcards there are hacks you can use that will let the system see them as one single soundcard.

If you have this, open the audio preferences in Cross and make sure that this soundcard/interface is selected instead of your built in one. You will also need to use the drop-downs to set what Output 1 and Output 2 are. Also make sure you aren't in external mixer mode as that will assume you are using the mixer's hardware to cue instead of Cross, and will disable it.

After that, it should work fine.

[RoJeC]

just to avoid misunderstanding: the 'hack' stormcaller mentions is a normal way of working for any audioprogram that requires more inputs and/or outputs than a single soundcard (driver) can support.

Apple has the Core audio method where you can create 'aggregate soundcards', whereas for windows the Asio4all virtual soundcard is mostly used as this is not just software to combine soundcards, but also is able to use (default) WDM drivers for ASIO audio, resulting in significant lower latency (/responsiveness).