S4 Output Problems..

[Macklefinch]

Hi All,

Recently when I plug in to the mixer in a club or a bar, it seems to be a complete guess as to the output I'll get. In general, there is just too much bass and I'm having to have the external mixer settings so the bass is on almost zero and the mids and highs cranked right up.

Combined with this, I sometimes need to have the internal master output on Traktor up full and the master on the S4 at almost zero or the signal is horrible. It never occurred to me before this but... if the signal on Traktor and the S4 are in the red what does this mean for the signal coming out of the external mixer and in to the PA? What is the best way to set up assuming everything is working perfectly?

This is not a disaster if I am the only person playing or I play first but it's making transitions from one person to another a nightmare.

[coupon]

"I sometimes need to have the internal master output on Traktor up full and the master on the S4 at almost zero or the signal is horrible."

Does that mean if you put the traktor output at -10-6db and the master on the S4 up, you get a bad signal? This is what you should be doing.

If things are in red in Traktor, then no matter what you do with the external mixer, things are going to be distorted at all volumes.

Best way to set up for me is set the traktor volume somewhere between -10db and -6db, bump up the master volume on the s4 to maybe 3 o clock so i still have a tiny bit of room to go up. On the external, set everything to 12 and fidget with the master as needed.

[sss18734]

You never want to have the internal master all the way up. Keep the software level meters out of the red, much like you would an analog mixer. Turn them up as high as it gets before it starts touching red, then turn up your S4's master knob until it too, stays just out of red.

Any distortion that comes out of your sound card will translate even more strongly into the external mixer.

Are you sure that the "bass-heavy" problem isn't due to the location of your booth? This is why we use monitors. Judge by the sound you hear out in the bar.

[Macklefinch]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes I'm sure about the bass. I would have the internal master much at -10db but the result is normally not enough overall output. I know this sounds backwards hence the question...if I have the internal master at -10db I get red signal as soon as I have the master on the S4 much above zero and the master on the external mixer has to try and compensate but the signal is too low at the result is not enough overall volume.