Perplexing sound quality issue with my digital set up in club

**mostapha** · 06-23-2012, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by manchild

Hey top gun, ONE guy suggested the analog theory.

On a more serious note though, there really is no need to act condescending. We're all just trying to help each other

I'm with him. There are no DJ mixers I've heard that actually sound better when driven hard and CDJs are just as digital as computers are. Arguing about irrelevant shit is countrproductive, and the thread hasn't reached anything like it's logical conclusion yet.

I would like to know about his gain staging, though…I think that's probably where the issue is. I have no idea what a "wooly" sound is, but it could mean digital distortion from running traktor too hot……which is really easy because NI doesn't believe in meters.

**loverocket** · 06-23-2012, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by mostapha

I have no idea what a "wooly" sound .

yeah the "wooly sound" lol threw me off too. "Wooly" doesn't sound like an overdriven signal discription. I wonder if it's a phase problem? If one of his channels somehow is inverted or out of phase. That would cancel out the bass response. Just a thought.

>

**deevey** · 06-23-2012, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by loverocket

yeah the "wooly sound" lol threw me off too. "Wooly" doesn't sound like an overdriven signal discription. I wonder if it's a phase problem? If one of his channels somehow is inverted or out of phase. That would cancel out the bass response. Just a thought.

I would suggest perhaps Transpose or Perhaps just Keylock to more than a -+4% being the culprit or being set in "low quality" mode.. it does tend to make music sound a lil "fluffy" and non-exciting ..

Also the limiters in Traktor, off, Autogain off and bring the gains on the channels in Traktor wayyyy down even mixing externally.

Oh and no - you certainly don't need to invest big bucks on cables, I've played on pretty high end systems with both $1 RCA's (stuck) and $20 RCA's and neither made no audible difference, but obviously a big diff in reliability.

My happy medium is a few sets of $5 shielded Car Stereo RCA's for gigging (ok so they are a lil more expensive @ $12 on amazon) - won't fit an Audio4 though (too fat) or id link them.

Alot of the car audio stuff is as good (if not better and cheaper) than "hifi" cables costing considerably more and alot are shielded well to take into account all the extra electricals/grounding etc going on in a car and no doubt sold in every corner shop in Tokyo.

BTW did I mention your a lucky git

hope I get a chance to play there sometime.

**mostapha** · 06-23-2012, 08:28 PM

Cables are cables to a great degree. If they're not broken, they work…differences are in how long they last, how easy the connectors are to fix, and how well they coil.

**ekwipt** · 06-23-2012, 10:09 PM

There's the same discussion going on at Traktors forums with a guy saying his CDJ2000 sound much better compared to his Audio8. I thought maybe the limiter, gain, main volume could be the problem, but it wasn't it.

I guess the difference of the converters could be the problem, but I guess we're getting into Gearslutz audiophile discussion.

Double double blind listening tests?

**deevey** · 06-23-2012, 10:15 PM

Keylock/Transpose methinks... I know for sure causes a "Mushy" "Wooly" "Cushiony" sound on some tracks.

A double blind with another CD player (doesn't need to be a pioneer) with all options turned off e.g. Keylock. Tracks pitched to Zero% on both, auto gain/limiter off and then start turning on stuff at different % to see which holds up better or causes a mushy sound.

**diezdiazgiant** · 06-23-2012, 11:21 PM

speaking loosely about my experience with my audio 4 - its been a problematic card. i wouldnt rule that out.
im looking forward to ditching this piece of shit...

**scamo** · 06-24-2012, 03:45 AM

Interesting discussion. Hope the OP comes back to report what he found and if some of the suggestions here helped at all. Would be pretty cool to know as a "beginner".

scamo

**oneapemob** · 06-24-2012, 04:09 AM

I'd look into the direction Mostapha has given : the gain staging. It's ultimately what has the biggest impact on sound quality, along with the key lock and the quality of the audio file itself (but that isn't the problem apparently).

Plus the op is mixing internal, and well, the traktor internal eq are ok, but i'm not totally convinced by them. Maybe try a different set of eq from the list. I changed several times the one i use. In the end i found the xone 4 band to be the more convincing one (i use it with 3 knobs, with the bass mapped to both low bass and mid low with a 25% curve and zero reset at the center for the mid low).