Rockit can be used with a single sound card, or with multiple cards for better sound and cueing ability.

Most desktop and laptop computers, come with low quality internal sound cards, and are only useful for home applications, such as Windows sounds, etc. By utilizing an external USB or FIREWIRE sound card, you will increase your sound quality, and be able to utilize the cueing facilities built in to Rockit, or even run each deck to separate mixer channels for the ultimate in sound. Here are a few sample setups, and below you will find a small listing of sound cards that our users recommend, and instructions on how to map Rockit's deck outputs to the cards.

   New - Multi Channel Sound Cards

Basic Single Laptop Output

Here we would employ a laptop computer with a single sound output. No cueing is available with this configuration, but it is well suitable for the startup digital DJ. Simply pick up a cable at Radio Shack (part # 42-2551), that has an 1/8" stereo to dual RCA jacks, connect to the headphone output (this laptop has no speaker or line out - line out would be preferred if available), then connect to your mixer device, or powered speakers.

One Internal, one External Output

In this configuration, we would use the internal sound of the laptop for cue monitoring on the computer, and an external USB sound device for the mains output to the mixer or speakers. Please note, the sound card picture is a representation, and not necessarily the card of choice.

Two External Split Main Deck Output

This is the preferred laptop setup for optimum fidelity and monitoring capability. You would actually be doing the mixing and monitoring off your mixer, and each deck in RockIt is mapped to a separate sound device running to a separate mixer channel. You will get much finer control of your monitoring this way, and since each deck has a dedicated sound device, the sound will be much cleaner.

Two Main Deck Outputs to Dual USB Mixer

This is the easiest laptop setup for optimum fidelity and monitoring capability. New USB enabled mixers have two sound cards built in, and you simply connect the USB cables to your computer. No software drivers are needed with most of these mixers (when running on Windows XP), so it's easy plug and play! In this particular setup, a Numark CM200USB mixer, with 2 USB inputs, is connected via two USB cables to the computer, and each deck is mapped to a separate channel on the mixer.

Dual Channel Sound Cards

Rockit does not utilize ASIO for multi-channel cards, but there are a couple that have enhanced Windows drivers, and Rockit can map to the separate channels. We've recently been testing the AUDIO 2 DJ card from Native Instruments, and have been very pleased. It is a small sound card, has dual output channels, and volume controls for each channel. It also comes with a nice length USB cable to your computer, and two sets of breakout cables, to convert from the 1/4" outputs, to dual RCAs. The output is very hot on these cards (+9 dB gain), and they sound great.

You can purchase one through our Amazon affiliate link below, or find them at online music stores.

Sound Cards and Links

These are in no particular order, but this is a small sampling of external sound cards available, and links to more information. We do not recommend any hardware specifically, so read the reviews, ask other DJs on the DJ message boards, etc.

Most of these sound cards / mixers can be purchased from Amazon or their affiliates

Setting up Rockit's Deck Mappings

Rockit can accommodate any number of sound cards, that is only limited by Windows itself. Each main deck, the jukebox and the effects player, can all be mapped to separate sound cards if desired. To map a main deck's output, go to Config->Audio Decks. You will see the following screen:

Note: Version 4.2 and above, you set the output mappings in the Master Mixer section of Rockit.