Laptop to PA auto volume level control solution Wanted

I'm using a laptop (Windows Vista) to play AVI video files from the internal an an external hard drive using VLC media player that works fine, as some of the clips are recorded at different volume levels they spike and sometimes I'm not close enough to the volume control to turn it down or up as is sometimes needed, is there a software programme or hardware solution available? I'm using the head phone socket as my audio out. Any feedback on this would be appreciated

On a side note...the headphone jack or line out on your laptop will not give you good sound. Smarter people here will elaborate...

You might look into a software/software solution for video DJing...I'm sure many on here can recommend some programs.

Unfortunately I have no choice with the Audio out at this stage, it would have been good if the laptop had RCA's out. I've run it through a 60, 000 watt PA and desk, the audio quality for most was very good. still I think everything can be improved on and thanks for the input. I've seen a programme available called Auto Volume Control 2.1 doesn't look like it's vista supported and requires the use of a sound card for Audio In and out, this would be if I was hooking in a DVD player or some other external device and not internal AVI video files i think?

PCMCIA sound card

Virtual DJ or Tricerasoft - both programs will do a gain scan of your A/V media, mostly eliminating the need for additional programs.

If you play the files with virtual DJ there is a internal gain setting to make the all very close to the same level.

Option #2 by a compressor.

Unfortunately I have no choice with the Audio out at this stage, it would have been good if the laptop had RCA's out. I've run it through a 60, 000 watt PA and desk, the audio quality for most was very good. still I think everything can be improved on and thanks for the input. I've seen a programme available called Auto Volume Control 2.1 doesn't look like it's vista supported and requires the use of a sound card for Audio In and out, this would be if I was hooking in a DVD player or some other external device and not internal AVI video files i think?

So...your laptop does not have USB ports?

If you have a USB port you have an option to get good quality stereo out.

Couple this with a video mixing software that features an auto-gain and you will be good to go!

PCMCIA sound card

Virtual DJ or Tricerasoft - both programs will do a gain scan of your A/V media, mostly eliminating the need for additional programs.

Would I need to get a PCMICA sound card? And I will try one of the DJ programs you suggested. My Laptop doesn't suck more than likely it's my lack of Tech experience hence me joining this forum. I live and work in Bali where certain hardware is hard to get so if it's a software solution and can be downloaded all the better for me. Thanks for the input

So...your laptop does not have USB ports?

If you have a USB port you have an option to get good quality stereo out.

Couple this with a video mixing software that features an auto-gain and you will be good to go!

Yes the laptop does have USB's didn't realise you can use them as an audio out source. Would the cable be a standard one that can be brought from a computer store, and I guess they would have RCA's on the other end. Also would I need to configure the laptop to direct the sound to the USB port?

If you play the files with virtual DJ there is a internal gain setting to make the all very close to the same level.

Option #2 by a compressor.

I'll try to get hold of virtual DJ and hopefully it's an inexspensive download any help with that would be appreciated and if you could share a little more light on the compressor that would be helpful too, I can hopefully make the right choice. Thanks again.

www.virtualdj.com

If your are trying to do this on a budget, which it seems to be, you could...

a) purchase a potentiometer that will attenuate the sound from a 1/8" jack to another 1/8" jack. Radio shack might have these.

b) Purchase a relatively inexpensive mixer, a cheap one/two channel behringer seems like it may do the trick, call our forum sponsor NorthernLightFX (http://www.northernlightfx.com) for a rad price.

If you want it to sound the best, I'd suggest an external sound card, some great models have been mentioned before, some may even feature on-board knob volume controls, so you have the best of both worlds as above.

Welcome to ODJT, and let us know if we can be of assistance, sometimes there is a lo-tech get 'er 'dun method that us vets overlook sometimes, we all start somewhere.

Maybe someone can recommend a good USB external sound card for use with Virtual DJ?

M-Audio Fast Track Pro USB has worked for me without a single problem with all the versions of Virtual DJ I've run.

Yes the laptop does have USB's didn't realise you can use them as an audio out source. Would the cable be a standard one that can be brought from a computer store, and I guess they would have RCA's on the other end. Also would I need to configure the laptop to direct the sound to the USB port?

You do NOT just use the USBs as an audio output. What folks are referring to here is that there are external sound cards with USB connections. On the sound card itself, there will be mini pin or rca outputs. Some even have xlr outputs. I use the ESI Gigaport, just make sure its compatible with your DJ software. My DJ softway that I use is Traktor.

Would I need to get a PCMICA sound card?


A PCMCIA sound card adapter will give you the most flexability and power for external sound card solutions - especially over USB options. As has already been mentioned, USB cards contribute more so towards annoying ground loop hum, sound card latency (thanks to the USB bus) and other artifacts/signal distortion than Firewire cards or PCMCIA cards. A simple Google search will reveal dozens of options for PCMCIA sound cards - although my first recommendation is not to use a laptop at all, rather a dedicated Computerized Performance System (CPS for short).

download Mp3 Gain or Wavgain (depending on your file type) there free and will normalize all your sounds volume ive had a good history with both them...

download Mp3 Gain or Wavgain (depending on your file type) there free and will normalize all your sounds volume ive had a good history with both them...

I'm using AVI video files I'll download one of these as you have suggested and see how if it works for these files. Thanks

Oh video...not sure if theyd work sorry! but there should be some freewere out there for the same thing...Found it! PSP Video 9, made for PSPs and Ipods this freeware will let you normalize sound and quality of your video files...trust me this is a good peice of software!

An inexpensive usb sound card should do the trick. I have found some that are thumb-drive sized, this will give you a headphone and mic input. Run to a mixer as suggested by me above.

Do you guys?

Buy an expensive sound card to get quality sound and then run material that has been ripped at 160 or less!

Do you guys?

Buy an expensive sound card to get quality sound and then run material that has been ripped at 160 or less!

:sqlaugh::sqlaugh::sqlaugh::sqlaugh::sqlaugh: No :sqlaugh::sqlaugh::sqlaugh::sqlaugh:

Do you guys?

Buy an expensive sound card to get quality sound and then run material that has been ripped at 160 or less!

Nope :D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Behringer has a usb audio interface for about $30. I have two of them. One came with one of my mixers and the other I bought as a backup.

UCA-202 is the number, here is a link to one.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-UCONTROL-UCA202-USBAudio-Interface?sku=702540&src=3WWRWXGB&ZYXSEM=0

Do you guys?

Buy an expensive sound card to get quality sound and then run material that has been ripped at 160 or less!

No, I buy quality PCI sound cards, install them in a dedicated CPS and I use lossless audio files only.

A PCMCIA sound card adapter will give you the most flexability and power for external sound card solutions - especially over USB options. As has already been mentioned, USB cards contribute more so towards annoying ground loop hum, sound card latency (thanks to the USB bus) and other artifacts/signal distortion than Firewire cards or PCMCIA cards. A simple Google search will reveal dozens of options for PCMCIA sound cards - although my first recommendation is not to use a laptop at all, rather a dedicated Computerized Performance System (CPS for short).

I've bought a USB card just for the moment and you are absolutely correct about the hum, because of my location (Bali) it's hard to get certain hardware, I have someone going to Sinapore to try and get a PCMCIA card do you recommend any particular species EG: 24 Bit 192 kHZ. I will then try autolevel control software to try and handle that issue, It doesn't look like wavegain or Mp3gain would work for AVI files, VLC media player is working well for me as I can change aspect ratios to 4.3 defaults and create a playlist of hundreds of AVI's at a time, I'm not sure if Virtual DJ or Traktor can do this? I will then look into using a PC computerised Performance System. I'm not really D J ing the material rather than having it on a set play list however it would be better to have both options.

a CPS is a glorified computer system, just a buzz word.

Most DJ/mixing programs have some sort of gain scanning utility built into them. Even most ripping & encoding programs have some form of gain scanning or normalization effects built into them or available as a plugin. For instance, ripping audio only files to WAV or FLAC, I like using CDex. For recording non-CD media, Adobe AUdition is my tool of choice.

PCMCIA sound cards that are at least 24-bit and have multiple I/O ports will do nicely - there are quite a few to chose from.

I'm not that familiar with Traktor, but I do know that Virtual DJ will do gain and BPM scans on every sort of audio, video and karaoke file. Same thing with Tricerasoft Swift Elite.

The term Computerized Performance System or CPS is a bit more than a buzz-word, it is a widely used term in the industry with the Computer DJ Summit, me in all the books and articles I write, the ADJA, Denon, Tricerasoft, etc.