Mixvibes Output/Cable/Bypass Questions

[B.W. Bear]

Hi there,

I'm deciding whether to purchase the Mixvibes DVS Mk2 Kit. I'm afraid I have a number of questions I'd really appreciate if people here could help with.

(1) Can people who have bought it confirm whether or not it comes with all the necessary cables?

(2) Am I right in thinking that the interface has switches so that you can switch between DVS and actual vinyl, without having to use a software pre-amp/start unplugging cables and replugging direct from deck to mixer? (3) Are the cables included with mixvibes capable of performing this function or would I have to go out and buy multicore cables or the like?

(4) Is the USB connection a standard one as I expect I'll have to buy a longer USB cable to reach my laptop; does anyone know how long the provided cable is? (5) Would anyone happen to know, in terms of performance/sound quality, whether it is bad to use a long (~7m) USB cable (or long phono cables from U46Mk2 to mixer/decks).

(6) I see there are 4 stereo outputs at the back on the U46MK2. My mixer has 3 channels, so I would connect this up so that channels 2 and 3 on my mixer originate from 1/2 and 3/4 (which would in turn originate from my 2 vinyl decks). Now how do I control what is coming out of the these other 2 stereo outputs (5/6 and 'Mix Out')? I would want 5/6 to be used to play music from my computer from media players such as iTunes/Foobar via the USB cable. Is this possible? (7) Finally(!), what is the Mix Out output for?

Sorry for so many Q's - I'm really close to buying this kit, just want to make sure I know any shortcomings before I take the plunge!
Cheers,

Chris

[phadedvision]

Welcome to the forums!

I'm deciding whether to purchase the Mixvibes DVS Mk2 Kit. Can people who have bought it confirm whether or not it comes with all the necessary cables.

Yes

Am I right in thinking that the interface has switches so that you can switch between DVS and actual vinyl, without having to use a software pre-amp/start unpluggin cables and repluggin direct from deck to mixer? Are the cables included with mixvibes capable of performing this function or would I have to go out and buy multicore cables or the like?

The switches on the interface are for mic and instrument purposes, the actual bypassing is done on your mixer via phono/line switches. The pack comes with Y-cables so you can have a direct connection from your deck to your mixer, but also from your deck to the interface, to the mixer.

Finally, is the USB connection a standard one as I expect I'll have to buy a longer USB cable to reach my laptop; does anyone know how long the provided cable is? Would anyone happen to know, in terms of performance/sound quality, whether it is better (less bad) to use a long (~7m) USB cable or long phono cables from U46Mk2 to mixer/decks.

The provided cable is about 3 feet long. I'm no expert on cords and cables, but I know for sure there are pros and cons to either solution.

Hope this helps you out a little bit.

Peace

[B.W. Bear]

Hi Phadedvision,

Thanks for the quick reply - I'm sorry, I committed the sin of completely reediting my post after I submitted it! With regards this Y-cable idea, is it a problem is the RCA cables that come out of my decks are fixed and cannot be unplugged? Or does the cable out of the deck still go into the back of the U46Mk2, and then a Y cable is connected from the interface output, with 2 of the plugs going into the mixer line in and 2 into the mixer phono-in, per deck?

Thanks,

Chris

[phadedvision]

No worries Chris, happens all the time.

The Y-cables hook onto the already existing red/white cables coming out of your deck. Using the red cable as an example, the wiring would go something like this:

Deck (red) -> Y-splitter -> (1 split) Into U46 input -> U46 Output into Line

(1 split) Into "Phono"


This makes it so all you have to do is switch from phono to line on your mixer if you decide to use real vinyl or timecodes. There's a bypass button in MixVibes that you push so that MV doesn't read your regular vinyl as timecode.


Feel free to ask more questions if you have any.

[B.W. Bear]

Aaaah. I see; well that's pretty damn clever isn't it! I'm trying to fathom whether this is also possible with the Conectiv Torq setup, but I don't know if that's your forte. From what I can gather there are no Y-cables, but instead there is a dial on the conectiv interface that you turn to mix from vinyl to USB output (i.e. mp3). I can't see how this would work as surely if you turned the dial to bypass the computer, to play vinyl from the decks, the output would be a phono signal from the decks going into a line in on the mixer!? I can only presume that the Conectiv has a pre-amp built in, but that seems a needlessly complicated way of doing it compared to the Mixvibes Y-cable approach.

Anyway, back to Mixvibe questions - could you have a look at questions 6/7 in my original (reedited!) post please?

Thanks ever so much, you're a star!!!

Chris

[phadedvision]

(6) I see there are 4 stereo outputs at the back on the U46MK2. My mixer has 3 channels, so I would connect this up so that channels 2 and 3 on my mixer originate from 1/2 and 3/4 (which would in turn originate from my 2 vinyl decks). Now how do I control what is coming out of the these other 2 stereo outputs (5/6 and 'Mix Out')? I would want 5/6 to be used to play music from my computer from media players such as iTunes/Foobar via the USB cable. Is this possible?

(7) Finally(!), what is the Mix Out output for?

6 - Just to clarify, you'd purposely be leaving channel 1 open for 5/6? If that's the case, it seems like you would be able to use the 5/6 outputs for your media players. [[Note: I haven't tested the 5/6 output for media player usage, but I use it on 1/2 on a regular basis, so you should be able to do the same on 5/6 ]]

7 - Haven't used this much either, but I'm pretty sure it's mostly for internal mode users and monitoring. Corrections are welcome from anyone else reading this.

[B.W. Bear]

Yes, I'd want Channel 1 on my mixer for iTunes etc. as my crossfader is between Channels 2 and 3. So with your setup, how do you get a programme such as iTunes to only come out of the U46Mk2 channels 1 and 2, and not the others? What then happens if you were to startup Mixvibes and play a song on deck 1 - would that come out of the same channel on top of the iTunes song? I suppose what I'm asking generally is how do you assign the U46Mk2 outputs?

Thanks for your knowledge!
Chris

[phadedvision]

I have a couple basic ideas on computer streaming through the U46 in here: viewtopic.php?f=207&t=10889

It also goes a little more into detail on how my setup is. As of yet, I'm not sure how to set specific U46 channels. A little more experimentation can solve that I'm sure. With the way I do things, yes it would come out on top of the iTunes song.

[gakto2009]

(6) I see there are 4 stereo outputs at the back on the U46MK2. My mixer has 3 channels, so I would connect this up so that channels 2 and 3 on my mixer originate from 1/2 and 3/4 (which would in turn originate from my 2 vinyl decks). Now how do I control what is coming out of the these other 2 stereo outputs (5/6 and 'Mix Out')? I would want 5/6 to be used to play music from my computer from media players such as iTunes/Foobar via the USB cable. Is this possible?

(7) Finally(!), what is the Mix Out output for?

6 - Just to clarify, you'd purposely be leaving channel 1 open for 5/6? If that's the case, it seems like you would be able to use the 5/6 outputs for your media players. [[Note: I haven't tested the 5/6 output for media player usage, but I use it on 1/2 on a regular basis, so you should be able to do the same on 5/6 ]]

7 - Haven't used this much either, but I'm pretty sure it's mostly for internal mode users and monitoring. Corrections are welcome from anyone else reading this.

The output channels of the audio device are assignable, if you want to use outputs ½ and ¾ for mixvibes then set that up with mixvibes its self, then use the windows audio properties to assign output 5/6 as the default output for windows... any sounds played by windows/media software outside of mixvibes will pass though these channels.

Would anyone happen to know, in terms of performance/sound quality, whether it is bad to use a long (~7m) USB cable (or long phono cables from U46Mk2 to mixer/decks).

The usb cable will be fine up to 10 meters, the better quality the cable is the better it will be shielded from outside interference such as mobile phones and other wireless devices.

The audio cable from your turntables may create a problem for you though, the standard length is aprox 1 to 1.3 meters and you don’t really want to extend them due to the fact that there is such a low current passing through them, adding couplers to the cable in order to extend them as well as adding different types of cable changes impedance and will most likely increase resistance thus lowering the quality of the signal passing through it.

If you are using cd decks then you may get away with it as the output from line level devices is far greater to that of a turntable, though you may still compromise the timecode quality.

Am I right in thinking that the interface has switches so that you can switch between DVS and actual vinyl, without having to use a software pre-amp/start unplugging cables and replugging direct from deck to mixer?

The Mixvibes “pass-through” feature is very good, it would be worth trying this before you use the Y cables on a permanent basis, it would be mostly down to your preference.

[B.W. Bear]

Thank you so much phadedvision and gakto. Between the two you you've abated all of my fears! Gakto for some reason your karma button has vanished - not sure how to make it reappear but consider it well and truely owed.

My last concern was that Mixvibes doesn't seem to have a dedicated technical support number or email address, and whilst this would be good, you tw have been so helpful and informative I think I'll glaze over it and am happy to say I shall be ordering the DVS pack in the next few days .

Out of interest, do Mixvibes have paid technical support on these forums or is it left for users to help eachother?

Cheers,
Chris