Hello All, I am a DJ as well as a nightclub owner. I just added the x1850 and 2 SC6K’s as our house set-up, but can’t seem to connect 2 laptops for seamless transition while our DJ’s run Serato. Does anyone use this setup for multiple DJ’s and do you have connection recommendations? I looked for videos, diagrams, etc… Can’t find anything and the manuals do not show anything.
Thanks
Do you mean using both USB 1 and USB 2 ports on the top right of the X1850?
I don’t use Serato myself but you can connect two different laptops to the X1850 for audio out via two USB cables then use the switches at the top of the mixer to select USB 1 or 2 to assign the laptop output to channel 1,2,3,4. (Check your crossfader assigns with switches at the bottom of the mixer)
For the SCs and Serato (assuming you are not using DVS, but MIDI control) think you can only attach to one laptop at a time, so you will need independent USB cables for the first and second SC6000 controller/players. The exiting DJ has to work with player 1 while the new DJ has to take the cable for player 2, so I think you can handle a seamless switchover that way without interrupting music. Once ready, the new DJ plugs in player 1 too.
The essence is that you switch over audio over in a seamless way, the x1850 can do this, no problem there.
Switching the SC6000s over requires indeed a bit more thought, but its just a controller. The first few tracks can be triggered to play on the laptop. Or switch the SC6000s over one by one, or play a few MP3s from USB stick in the mean time, or…
For the record, CDjs would pose the same problem. Did encounter that once or twice with traktor, but we indeed made sure we had audio first, played a few tracks using solely the laptop, and in the mean time switched the CDJs over to our laptop.
With the SCplayers daisy chained or plugged to the same usb hub
Exiting DJ plays a track from Deck 1 or 2 (Serato)
You can unplug both SCplayers usb, Serato will not stop playing (it will continue playing the track internally via the X1800)
Plug the SC6000 usb to new laptop
Toggle the X18xx mixer to incoming dj USB number (1 or 2)
Thanks TJDJ.
I did try that originally, but noticed the 6k’s weren’t communicating with each other. Maybe I need to add one more usb cable somwhere. Right now I have one cable from the left sc connected to the right sc and the right sc going to a powered hub. I also have the ethernet from each sc going into the mixer ethernet 1 and 2. I have laptop connected to hub as well as usb on mixer.
Thanks mufasa,
I will connect both SC's to hub and try that.
Much appreciated
dont forget to unmount the SCplayers internal drive / usb sticks from the first laptop so it doesnt give you the disk not ejected banner.
I’m having the same issue & can’t figure out a simple way to transition from one DJ to another. DJ changeovers are challenging enough without having to move cables about.
Also, if the playing DJ is using Serato, is there any way to handover to a USB stick DJ, without having to switch the SC6000 off to exit computer mode, & restart in standalone player mode?
It has been the only real challenge. I DJ off my hard drive and all my resident DJ’s use serato. The way I have my system currently set up is cat6 cables from SC 6K Pair to 1850x, blue usb cable from each SC 6k to a powered hub that connects to the laptop. The usb-b cable can be connected from hub to usb 1 or usb2. We load a “Tidal” track to the player that does not have my hardrive connected so I can switch to standalone and disconnect laptop.
Thanks for the swift reply!
Do you use the DVS Expansion Pack? Apparently Serato shouldn’t recognise a player without it, but my setup plays fine without it.
I currently connect one SC6K and the X1850 into the other SC6K & connect that to the laptop & Serato recognises them, giving me full control of everything.
I also have the ethernet cables from SC6K 1 and 2 going into the X1850 & that’s connected to the laptop. I dunno if that’s why it recognises everything, but removing the cable makes no difference, but I’ve just left it connected anyway.
How do your DJ’s swap from Serato laptop to Serato laptop?
We do tell all our guest DJ’s they need the club kit. Your serato may already have it.
For swapping they use my Tidal account also
I don’t have DVS. I’ve checked & was about to add it to my expansion packs, but everything works fine without it. I just need to figure out how to transition from one Serato DJ to the other, as I can using the XDJ-AZ.
In theory you should be able to connect one laptop to usb 1 and the other to usb 2 and redirect on the mixer. The player is supposed to be able to play the last track while connecting to the new laptop. Hasn’t worked so well. That’s why we use a tidal track when swapping.
I’ll keep trying different permutations & I’ll keep everyone updated with any progress. A controller solves all these problems, but when faced with one, guest DJ’s start acting like you’re asking them to play on a Fisher Price toy!
I’m also gonna throw the curve ball to Serato & Denon to see if they have any solutions. The other odd thing is I need to understand why my setup works fine without DVS.
Thanks for your help & advice. I’ll resume my search for a solution in the morning.
Thanks Gavin…
Much Appreciated. My DJ’s have grown to love Denon
As per other topic, you need to connect both players and mixer separately to your laptop. If you daisy chain everything, you don’t have the freedom to connect one of those three devices to something else (the DJ handover).
I’ve tried that & still can’t get around the issue, as most Macs don’t have enough USB ports. Others have mentioned using a powered hub, but again I can’t see how you can select which deck is being controlled by which laptop
TBF, it’s the only thing I’ve not tried.
Because HID mode of using CDJs and SC players (INT control of Serato decks) does not require DVS expansion for Serato.
Tbh I do not understand the issue you and Gaian have with switchovers between Serato->Engine users.
Each SC player needs to be restarted when switching, that is mandatory. You have two of them so you first switch one. Each player can control up to 4 decks in Serato or 2 decks using Engine (dual layers).
That’s the theory. But what does not work in practice? I still miss that info reading this thread???
So we know my setup is 2 x SC6K & X1850 connected to a PC running Serato. To make things easier for me, can you explain how you’d set them up & transition from one DJ to another with the least amount of rewiring & without a break in music.
This is what I’m trying to achieve, but like many others in the community, I’ve found it not to be straightforward, hence seeking help for the best/easiest way to achieve this. Thanks in advance.