Setting up audio devices and prelisten

MCV DJ distinguishes three audio connections: the main output, microphone input and prelisten output. They can use different devices. For example, you could use a USB interface for the microphone and headphones for listening.

Main output

The main output plays the mix when you enable Monitor through speakers / headphones.

  1. Connect the speakers, headphones or interface you plan to use.
  2. Open Audio > Main output….
  3. Find Main audio output and select the device.
  4. If you just connected it and it is missing, press Refresh outputs and look again.
  5. Return to the console and enable monitoring to check it.

Choosing an output does not enable monitoring by itself. If you select the system default option, the app uses the corresponding Windows choice when opening the output.

The app needs a working audio output even when local monitoring is off, because it uses that output to keep audio running. Avoid disconnecting the device during a broadcast. Check any device changes before going on air.

Microphone input

  1. Open Audio > Input device….
  2. Under Microphone input device, choose the microphone you want to use.
  3. If it is missing, press Refresh microphones.
  4. Close settings.
  5. In the console, press Enable microphone when you are ready to use it.

Selecting a microphone does not enable it. If a saved device is no longer connected, it may appear as unavailable. Reconnect it and refresh the list, or choose another input.

Headphone output for prelisten

Prelisten lets you check a track without adding it to the broadcast mix.

  1. Open Audio > Headphones….
  2. Select a device under Headphone output (prelisten only).
  3. Wait for the output to finish opening.
  4. Return to the console and adjust Headphone volume.

To hear prelisten separately from the main mix, you need two outputs you can listen to independently. These may be different devices or outputs exposed separately by your audio interface. Connecting headphones to an output that simply duplicates the speakers does not separate the signals.

Prelisten to a song

  1. Load a track into a deck that is not controlled by the queue.
  2. Press Prelisten (Space) on that deck.
  3. Listen through the prelisten output and adjust the position if necessary.
  4. Press Pause prelisten (Space) to pause private playback.
  5. When you want to add that track to the program, press Send to mix.

Send to mix adds the track from its current position; it is not a prelisten function. Make sure the deck volume and crossfader are set as desired before using it.

Prelisten is not broadcast and does not change automatic metadata by itself. It is unavailable on the decks while the queue controls them. Carts also let you prelisten to sounds from their settings centers.