clintd
I recently purchased the Hercules DJ Console RMX with the expectations that it was an all in one solution and all I would need to bring to gigs would be laptop + dj console rmx. Since having it for about a week now I have come to realize that if you want to have an output for a house system and one for your monitor then you will either need to use another sound card or use a mixer. The reason for this is output channels 3 and 4 share output with your headphone jacks. I contacted Hercules tech support to verify this and they confirmed it. It seems like this is either an oversight or a way to cut down on cost. I'm somewhat disappointed in this. I would gladly pay extra to have the extra output needed.
Another quirk I've noticed is that the pitch controls are somewhat insensitive. Sometime when you are trying to match bpms they want to jump around so that you cannot put it on a certain bpm. It will keep skipping it. I also asked tech support about that and they said they hadn't heard anything about it but would get back to me if they find a solution. I know one semi-solution is to lower the pitch control percentage to the lowest but it does not completely fix the problem.
I also noticed on my unit that the top mic input must have a loose connection b/c if you barely bump it it it sends out a VERY loud electrical crackle noise through all my outputs. The bottom jack does not have this problem.
Other than the items I've mentioned the controller seems to be pretty solid. All the buttons work great. All the pre-assigned effects (flanger, beat grid and loop in-out) work good. (I'm going to play with re-mapping effects once I start using virtual dj pro trial edition) I love the 4 directional buttons along with the deck load buttons that allows you to scroll through and load your music without having to touch the keyboard. if you hold the up or down button while turning your jog wheel you can scroll through huge playlists VERY fast. The mic attenuation also works good and is adjustable. The sound quality sounds really good on my home system.
I'm going to play with it a little more but I'm afraid I will end up returning it due to lack of outputs. We'll see. If I do decide to keep it though, I will be RMA'ing it for the top mic input. I'll update this thred with more info as I play with it more.
Another quirk I've noticed is that the pitch controls are somewhat insensitive. Sometime when you are trying to match bpms they want to jump around so that you cannot put it on a certain bpm. It will keep skipping it. I also asked tech support about that and they said they hadn't heard anything about it but would get back to me if they find a solution. I know one semi-solution is to lower the pitch control percentage to the lowest but it does not completely fix the problem.
I also noticed on my unit that the top mic input must have a loose connection b/c if you barely bump it it it sends out a VERY loud electrical crackle noise through all my outputs. The bottom jack does not have this problem.
Other than the items I've mentioned the controller seems to be pretty solid. All the buttons work great. All the pre-assigned effects (flanger, beat grid and loop in-out) work good. (I'm going to play with re-mapping effects once I start using virtual dj pro trial edition) I love the 4 directional buttons along with the deck load buttons that allows you to scroll through and load your music without having to touch the keyboard. if you hold the up or down button while turning your jog wheel you can scroll through huge playlists VERY fast. The mic attenuation also works good and is adjustable. The sound quality sounds really good on my home system.
I'm going to play with it a little more but I'm afraid I will end up returning it due to lack of outputs. We'll see. If I do decide to keep it though, I will be RMA'ing it for the top mic input. I'll update this thred with more info as I play with it more.
发表时间 Wed 09 Jul 08 @ 1:57 pm
clintd
Oh I also wanted to mention that the volume, cross-fader, pitch controls and even all the rotary knobs feel a lot more sturdy and better quality than compared to something like the numark total control or Ion Icue.
发表时间 Wed 09 Jul 08 @ 8:07 pm
richphillips
clintd
You have two output channels on the back of the RMX for the main sound (channels 1&2). One of the outputs is a pair of RCA 1/4" connectors the other a pair of 1/2" connector.
I have the main sound system plugged into the 1/4" outputs on the back of the RMX and my monitor is plugged into the 1/2" outputs (with a 1/2" to 1/4" convertor).
You can also use y-splitters to connect two sets of speakers into one of the outputs, but may as well use the two sets (with adaptors) that are on the RMX.
Rich
You have two output channels on the back of the RMX for the main sound (channels 1&2). One of the outputs is a pair of RCA 1/4" connectors the other a pair of 1/2" connector.
I have the main sound system plugged into the 1/4" outputs on the back of the RMX and my monitor is plugged into the 1/2" outputs (with a 1/2" to 1/4" convertor).
You can also use y-splitters to connect two sets of speakers into one of the outputs, but may as well use the two sets (with adaptors) that are on the RMX.
Rich
发表时间 Thu 10 Jul 08 @ 3:23 pm
clintd
Hey rich. So you're saying that on channels 1 & 2 you are using the pair of RCA outs and the 1/4" outs at the same time?
发表时间 Fri 11 Jul 08 @ 12:28 am
richphillips
That's it. The AMP is plugged straight into the RCA's and my monitor (a pair of active speakers) is plugged into the larger 1/4" sockets (sorry I thought these were 1/2" sockets in my previous post; just checked and they are the 1/4" connectors). Both are labelled channels 1-2 so you get the main sound (channels 1-2) as opposed to what you would hear over the headphones (channels 3-4). My monitor has RCA connectors as well as the AMP, so i just bought a pair of 1/4" to RCA Phono adaptors from ebay for a couple of quid to allow me to plug it in.
I thought that there may be an issue with the DBu being to high for the active speaker being as the 1/4" sockets are +4DBu and RCA are-10DBv, however it works absolutely fine with my setup. Perhaps somebody else could explain the difference in the two output levels for the two types of connectors on the back and what you can and can't use them for?
As i noted before you could get a pair of y-splitters and do it and run the two sets of speakers from the one pair of channel outs. I reckon this way is more messy, tho, with loads of adaptors and wires coming out of the back of the RMX. Using the two sets of outs makes more sense.
Rich
I thought that there may be an issue with the DBu being to high for the active speaker being as the 1/4" sockets are +4DBu and RCA are-10DBv, however it works absolutely fine with my setup. Perhaps somebody else could explain the difference in the two output levels for the two types of connectors on the back and what you can and can't use them for?
As i noted before you could get a pair of y-splitters and do it and run the two sets of speakers from the one pair of channel outs. I reckon this way is more messy, tho, with loads of adaptors and wires coming out of the back of the RMX. Using the two sets of outs makes more sense.
Rich
发表时间 Fri 11 Jul 08 @ 3:09 am
clintd
Yeah I thought about splitting the channels but you will usually get signal degradation when you do that. Man I'm sure glad you mentioned this. I don;t know why I didn't think about using both damn plugs!. LOL I guess in the back of my mind I was thinking you could only use either or but I guess not. I'll be going to radio shack this weekend to get some 1/4" adapters to test this out. I'll let you know how it turns out. So I wonder what would be best for the main house system. The 1/4" or the RCA's?
发表时间 Fri 11 Jul 08 @ 9:14 am
richphillips
I agree with not splitting channels, you are bound to have some degradation in quality. The manual that comes with the RMX doesn't explain how to it which is a bit strange,considerint its aimed at pro djs not just bedroom ones. Having a monitor is pretty fundamental when playing out if you ask me. Its ok at home but any bar or club sound system you would expect one. Personally, I would have liked to see a second set of RCA outs marked up 'Booth' or 'Monitor', just as you would get on any standard analogue mixer.
I figured out to use the two sets of outs from when I used to have the Hecules MK2. With the old MK2 the second sets of out were a mini-jack so had to use a mini-jack to RCA connector but that worked OK. With the RMX they've done away with the mini-jack and have the 1/4" connectors instead. The 1/4" outs are really meant for PA systems cos the output level is different to that of RCA. Test the 1/4" outs with your monitor just so you don't blow the house system (tho I dont think would happen, it would surely just sound distorted or it would trip the AMP, but just to be on the safe side...) and then use the 1/4" for this purpose. Thats the way I've got mine setup, main system in the standard RCA & monitor plugged in the 1/4". Post whether it works, I'm sure others reading this will also be interested in this setup.
I would still like somebody to explain what the difference in the two output levels is and are there any limitations or does or dont's when hooking the 1/4" up to a standard AMP? Are there any sound engineers or people who understand the difference between the two types of system reading this and can shed some light ?
Rich
I figured out to use the two sets of outs from when I used to have the Hecules MK2. With the old MK2 the second sets of out were a mini-jack so had to use a mini-jack to RCA connector but that worked OK. With the RMX they've done away with the mini-jack and have the 1/4" connectors instead. The 1/4" outs are really meant for PA systems cos the output level is different to that of RCA. Test the 1/4" outs with your monitor just so you don't blow the house system (tho I dont think would happen, it would surely just sound distorted or it would trip the AMP, but just to be on the safe side...) and then use the 1/4" for this purpose. Thats the way I've got mine setup, main system in the standard RCA & monitor plugged in the 1/4". Post whether it works, I'm sure others reading this will also be interested in this setup.
I would still like somebody to explain what the difference in the two output levels is and are there any limitations or does or dont's when hooking the 1/4" up to a standard AMP? Are there any sound engineers or people who understand the difference between the two types of system reading this and can shed some light ?
Rich
发表时间 Sat 12 Jul 08 @ 7:15 am
clintd
Ok I got some 1/4\" to RCA adapters and tested them out this morning. I plugged the the 1/4\" outputs into my main amp and the RCA outputs into my monitor and it worked and sounded great. I also noticed that with my laptop plugged into it\'s AC adapter I did not have to use a ground loop isolator while using the 1/4\" outputs. When I plug my laptop into it\'s AC adapter while using the RCA outputs I have to use a ground loop isolator to get rid of line noise.
I didn\'t have time to test any other configurations this morning so this afternoon I will be playing around with it some more. I will definitely switch the 1/4\" to my monitor and use the RCA\'s on my main amp to see what the difference is. I\'ll post my findings tonight.
I did a little reading on the whole -10dBv vs the +4dBu and it looks like dBu and dBv should mean the same thing. Check out Wikipedia here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel#Voltage
So you should be good using the 1/4\" outputs as long as the equipment you are plugged into can handle the voltage increase.
How can I edit my first post in this thread? I would like to update it with my new findings. I don't see any editing functionality.
I didn\'t have time to test any other configurations this morning so this afternoon I will be playing around with it some more. I will definitely switch the 1/4\" to my monitor and use the RCA\'s on my main amp to see what the difference is. I\'ll post my findings tonight.
I did a little reading on the whole -10dBv vs the +4dBu and it looks like dBu and dBv should mean the same thing. Check out Wikipedia here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel#Voltage
So you should be good using the 1/4\" outputs as long as the equipment you are plugged into can handle the voltage increase.
How can I edit my first post in this thread? I would like to update it with my new findings. I don't see any editing functionality.
发表时间 Mon 14 Jul 08 @ 4:24 pm
clintd
Ok I went back and forth multiple times between using the 1/4" outputs and the RCA outputs on my main system. There is a significant volume increase when using the 1/4" outputs. Given I have a certain volume level using the RCA outputs I will get roughly the same volume level when using the 1/4" outputs by turning my amp gain down about 1/4 of the way.
At first I thought the 1/4" outputs were somewhat stronger in the mid-high frequencies but I believe this is not the case now. I realized that when I was initially doing the comparison I was not sufficiently adjusting the gain on my amp to bring both to the same volume level between comparisons. Once I figured out my gain offset they sounded pretty much identical.
I also noticed that where my equipment is currently hooked up now I do not have any ground loop problems. I was able to use a regular RCA cable while my laptop was plugged into it's AC adapter without any noticeable line noise. I'll have to hook everything back up where I initially had it to do more ground loop testing.
At first I thought the 1/4" outputs were somewhat stronger in the mid-high frequencies but I believe this is not the case now. I realized that when I was initially doing the comparison I was not sufficiently adjusting the gain on my amp to bring both to the same volume level between comparisons. Once I figured out my gain offset they sounded pretty much identical.
I also noticed that where my equipment is currently hooked up now I do not have any ground loop problems. I was able to use a regular RCA cable while my laptop was plugged into it's AC adapter without any noticeable line noise. I'll have to hook everything back up where I initially had it to do more ground loop testing.
发表时间 Tue 15 Jul 08 @ 1:16 am
richphillips
clintd,
Glad to hear it works and that you may have inadvertently sorted out your ground loop issues. I didn't do any testing on the level differences between the two sets of outs, I'll take your word for that. It makes sense to me tho that the 1/4" is a stronger output than the RCA (+4Dbu c.f. -10Dbv).
Im quite happy with the setup, I used mine to play out on Saturday night and had my monitor connected up to the 1/4" and main room sound from the RCA. All worked a treat and I really like the RMX and VDJ combo!
Rich
Glad to hear it works and that you may have inadvertently sorted out your ground loop issues. I didn't do any testing on the level differences between the two sets of outs, I'll take your word for that. It makes sense to me tho that the 1/4" is a stronger output than the RCA (+4Dbu c.f. -10Dbv).
Im quite happy with the setup, I used mine to play out on Saturday night and had my monitor connected up to the 1/4" and main room sound from the RCA. All worked a treat and I really like the RMX and VDJ combo!
Rich
发表时间 Tue 15 Jul 08 @ 3:17 pm
clintd
Rich, thanks for chiming in on this bro. I'm now definitely going to keep the RMX. I just need to get it exchanged for another since my upper mic input is messed up. I'm sure I will be purchasing VDJ Pro within the next couple of weeks. I've been pleased with the demo thus far.
发表时间 Tue 15 Jul 08 @ 4:12 pm