Mixtrack pro - Headphone delay when cueing

[PSYGUY]

Hi Guys

Im having a problem when trying to beatmatch and I thought it was the Controllers fault but when I used my Maya44 sound card the same thing happens.

My problem is that when Deck A is playing through the main speakers and Deck B is playing through the headphones, there is a HUGE delay between the 2 decks and this makes it impossible for me to beatmatch anything. I used the sync button to beatmatch and although the tracks are actually playing in-time through the Main outputs the delay seems to only be when cueing and trying to beatmatch using heaphones.

Basically they are matched through the main speakers but "way out" when listening through the headphones.

My main outputs are going through an entry level Samsung 5.1 Home theater system set to stereo mode. It isn't ideal but its more than loud enough to practice with and the sound is also crisp, with execption of the bass that gets muddy at high levels. The Headphone output goes straight to a pair of Phillips headphones.

I was thinking that because the main outputs have to travel to the amp, then sent to the speakers, this might be the problem as it still has to be process via the amp while the heaphone outputs go straight to the headphone speakers.

I don't have any other amp to check if theres a difference but I was wondering? Wouldn't that be the case in every setup. The main output always goes to an amp for processing, while the headphone outputs go straight to the headphones without processing (unless theres a headphone amp involved), so regardless of setup, the main output signal would theoretically always be lagging slightly.

Could anyone share any info regarding this, as this is just a theory so far. At the moment Im stuck using the sync button and hoping for the best while mixing, as I haven't started moving beat grids yet.

[MattW]

What audio driver are you using, and which software? I use the ASIO4ALL and don't have this problem with my Mixtrack Pro and Traktor 2.6.

[PSYGUY]

What audio driver are you using, and which software? I use the ASIO4ALL and don't have this problem with my Mixtrack Pro and Traktor 2.6.

Im using ASIO4ALL and Traktor Scratch Pro 1.1.2

Even when I use my Maya44 sound card I get the same results when using the "headphone/cue" outputs of that sound card (while the Mixtrack is unplugged) so I think I could safely say that it might be the amp for some reason (Although I went through the trouble of trying a active 2.1 PC speaker system with the same results earlier).

Could it have something to do with the sample rates???

My PC is a Core2Duo 3.2ghz with 7 gig Ram and Windows-7 (64bit), so I know its not PC problems.

[PSYGUY]

I have a related question that might be the answer to my question.....

Why is there a Cue-mix knob on DJ controllers? When doing beatmatching, won't the 1 deck already be playing loud enough through the main speakers for you to beatmatch the next track via the phones, or should I be beatmatching both tracks in the headphones?

My delay comes from listening to Deck-A through the mains, while cueing and beatmatching Deck-B through headphones(cue mix is always turned to 0 because I don't use it).

[sarasin]

I have a related question that might be the answer to my question.....

Why is there a Cue-mix knob on DJ controllers? When doing beatmatching, won't the 1 deck already be playing loud enough through the main speakers for you to beatmatch the next track via the phones, or should I be beatmatching both tracks in the headphones?

My delay comes from listening to Deck-A through the mains, while cueing and beatmatching Deck-B through headphones(cue mix is always turned to 0 because I don't use it).

Its not the Controller that needs to have Cue Mix. Its the software. There is Cue Mix, you just need to display that section of the software. It is to the right of the X Fader. So show X Fader and it shoudl be to the right of it.
There is Cue Volume and the mix\fade knob.

So you will need to either use your mouse to control that, or map it to a free knob on your MixTrack.

[PSYGUY]

There is Cue Volume and the mix\fade knob.

So you will need to either use your mouse to control that, or map it to a free knob on your MixTrack.

Are you guys beatmatching both tracks in the headphones or only 1 track in the headphones while the other is playing out the main speakers?

[sarasin]

Depends on the situation.

If there is monitoring...then I Cue in headphones and listen to the main sound on the monitor.

If not, I will cue mix.

[PSYGUY]

Why not listen to the main sound when there aren't monitors? Just asking so I can get my head around this.

[sarasin]

Because there will be a delay between you hearing the main sound and you hearing the Cued sound.

You will match the beats and when you pull the track in, it will be out.

This is why there are monitors right next to the DJ. So he can have an accurate representation of the sound.

[Jeff Scott]

Sounds like some sort of processing on your home theatre amp to me, do you have anything else to try another hifi etc?

Try turning off any sort processing like surround sound and any room settings etc....