I am trying to grasp your setup here. Just a few questions to help me understand:
DJ-ing:
– Midi/timecode/hybrid/hid on the CDJs (which ones)?
– What software? Rane, so guessing Serato, just making sure.
– I don’t get the audio interface thingy behind the DJ mixer. I would expect the DJ mixer XLR outputs to go to your sub/speakers
Oh, I see what you are trying to do here. You want an extra interface to take both your DJ setup and your production setup inputs.
And in your current setup you are going from the MBP headphone socket to XLR inputs on the speakers, NOT an optimal situation. Apart from it not being a balanced connection (which needn’t be a problem with short cable runs, but still), it’s also a big level mismatch. Now it seems you are going rca to xlr from the DJ mixer as well, so you won’t notice. XLR outputs have a way higher level than RCA, so XLR inputs expect a higher signal. Sending an RCA signal to an XLR input, you will have to turn the masters up way more than otherwise.
Imho, you are overthinking this thing. At the end of the day the Rane should be just a regular 4-in/4-out soundcard (just serato certified so you can use timecode).
And if you use production software, you can set select the outputs you like, including the Rane SL1!
If at all possible, this would be my way to hook things up:
* CDJs into Rane (RCA)
* Rane into MBP (I’d opt for direct connection, not through a hub, but that is just me. I know the MBP has only 2 USBs, but I’d rather have my other gear on a powered hub and the soundcard direct)
* Rane outputs to DJ mixer (RCA), assuming channel 1 (deck A) and 2 (deck B) in Serato
* DJ mixer into sub into monitors (balanced if you can. What DJ mixer are you using, most serious DJ mixers have balanced outputs, if not XLR then at least 6.3 jack. You convert jack to XLR to the subs)
This setup stays hooked up.
In the DJ Software set the channels as appropriate. In the production software on the MPB (which software are you using?) set your master output to use Rane channel 1. Now you can just open channel 1 fader on your DJ mixer and be done with it. Sound quality should be better than what comes out of the headphone socket.
Hope that helps. Not a beer drinker, so don’t worry about that one.
Greetinx.
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