Pioneer DJM 750 alsa configuration

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K3nn3th
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Pioneer DJM 750 alsa configuration

Post by K3nn3th »

hey folks,

i am trying to get single channels of the DJM750 accessible as alsa devices.
it has 4 stereo channels out and a bunch of inputs (not sure how many are actually connected to the internal soundcard).
the mixer's card works with mixxx, i can select channel pairs in the settings. but outside of mixxx, using alsa, i have no clue how to access the channels.

i guess i need to write an .asoundrc file which lets me access the single channels as alsa devices for use with xwax.
having quite some issues with this, though. tried the advice from here.
i can access the output pairs as alsa devices, but somehow input is not working.

can anyone help me with this one?

thanks in advance!
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LAM
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Re: Pioneer DJM 750 alsa configuration

Post by LAM »

Hi @K3nn3th ,

I had the same idea with my DJ controller/soundcard (Behringer CMD Studio 4A, quite low end :lol: ).
I was able to write an .asoundrc to control its 4 audio channel outs, but was long time ago and can't find that config anymore, i guess I was using something like dmix or softvol.

Nowadays I just use JACK and RaySession with Mixxx so I can do complex routings and add some FX chains to it.
I documented a bit my setup in a reply in the Mixxx forum here: Mixxx using Pipewire and RaySession on Linux - Experience

The good thing about this kind of setup is that you have all your audio ports exposed and you can easily integrate JACK (and PA) applications and launch things on a need basis.

Using Mixxx with the JACK engine also allows to have inputs when your controller/soundcard hasn't any, like in my case where I have no physical inputs (see the last screenshot).

in mix, nobody can hear your screen

K3nn3th
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Re: Pioneer DJM 750 alsa configuration

Post by K3nn3th »

thanks for the reply!

i loved the alsa way for its simplicity.. i would just call xwax with two alsa devices. done.

now all this extra software and stringing things up is very confusing to me.. what do i start? can you elaborate ..?
im confused as to how pipewire, carla, jackd, (pw-jack?) and raysession are used... and which ones i actually need -.-
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Re: Pioneer DJM 750 alsa configuration

Post by LAM »

K3nn3th wrote: Sun Oct 17, 2021 1:07 pm thanks for the reply!

i loved the alsa way for its simplicity.. i would just call xwax with two alsa devices. done.

now all this extra software and stringing things up is very confusing to me.. what do i start? can you elaborate ..?
im confused as to how pipewire, carla, jackd, (pw-jack?) and raysession are used... and which ones i actually need -.-
Let's start easy.

Xwax has JACK support. Here's an example: https://wiki.xwax.org/one_deck_setup
  1. Use something like Qjackctl to start JACK
  2. Start xwax
  3. In the Qjackctl connections, or graph view, you can connect your inputs and outputs at your will.
  4. Done.
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Re: Pioneer DJM 750 alsa configuration

Post by LAM »

I was suggesting RaySession because once you save a session, like that one in the screenshot, you have to just load it and everything will setup automatically (start xwax with the right arguments and the connections restored).

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K3nn3th
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Re: Pioneer DJM 750 alsa configuration

Post by K3nn3th »

ok thanks for the help! i got that far. it's all wired up and working!
after selecting the djm in the qjackctl setup as the interface it should use my "system" inputs and outputs are the ones on the djm.

i was able to connect the necessary ports in the graph.
but how to save it? can you explain how to use raysession to do this?


edit: one minute, i believe i have it..
Last edited by K3nn3th on Sun Oct 17, 2021 2:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Pioneer DJM 750 alsa configuration

Post by LAM »

First thing is to install it. :)

There is a well written manual here: http://raysession.tuxfamily.org/en/manual.html

@houston4444 is the main dev and he comes here on the forum sometimes.

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K3nn3th
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Re: Pioneer DJM 750 alsa configuration

Post by K3nn3th »

ok so i have the session set up in the patchbay also.

after reading the output of qjackctl --help i have solved it all using the parameters -s and -a to auto start jack and use my patchbay file.
I had used qjackctl a coupe of years ago but remember a lot of fiddling. but assisted fiddling is so much less of a hassle!

thanks for the help, guys!!!
Last edited by K3nn3th on Sun Oct 17, 2021 4:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Pioneer DJM 750 alsa configuration

Post by LAM »

beside the manual look also in:

Code: Select all

raysession --help

Code: Select all

ray_control --help
For example:

to launch a session

Code: Select all

raysession --start-session START_SESSION
to save and close an already loaded session

Code: Select all

ray_control close

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K3nn3th
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Re: Pioneer DJM 750 alsa configuration

Post by K3nn3th »

only saw this afte editing my post above..

thanks for the feedback! might check it out if run into any issues but so far my testing yields the behaviour i need.
the only issue now is i have to manually select the soundcard input to use the desired hardware channels with alsamixer.

is there any way i could set other defaults?
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Re: Pioneer DJM 750 alsa configuration

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K3nn3th wrote: Sun Oct 17, 2021 4:29 pm the only issue now is i have to manually select the soundcard input to use the desired hardware channels with alsamixer.

is there any way i could set other defaults?
I'm not sure what you are asking. Could you give me a practical example of that?

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Re: Pioneer DJM 750 alsa configuration

Post by LAM »

@K3nn3th
a good resource if you want to achieve an ALSA only setup is: https://www.mail-archive.com/alsa-user@ ... llist.html
I would debate if doing anything "pro audio" without JACK (or PW?) or an ALSA application capable of taking care of the inputs outputs would make sense in 2021, but it's your choice. :wink:

In case you were just asking how to change the capture device in ALSA from commandline: https://unix.stackexchange.com/question ... ng-channel

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K3nn3th
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Re: Pioneer DJM 750 alsa configuration

Post by K3nn3th »

@LAM thanks for the reply! yes indeed i was looking for a way to set up the mixers inputs and outputs via commandline.

ill let you know whats up once ive tried it.
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