How to get better sound quality in headphones?

[snf]

Hi all, when I beatmatch in my headphones, i noticed im having a real hard time listening to some tracks because its distorted or the volume is too low or too high....I want both of the track volumes even...usually when i beatmatch on the djm600 I wouldn't have a problem with this. Is there a way I can assign different knobs or crossfaders for the volume, cue/mixer control?

[brocklambert]

Haven't experienced those problems, but a couple things to check:

Make sure the headphone output in the software isn't at 100%... it should be set to 80% or so to minimize the possibility of distortion in the software.

Are you setting the channel gains properly for each track after loading, or using autogain?

If you have the cue/mix knob centered, then the master output level should be close to the cued channel.

[ksandvik]

I assume you have used the volume output knobs on the front of the S4 unit.

This posting has some helpful info:

http://www.native-instruments.com/fo...d.php?t=129454

[snf]

Thx for the reply guys, very useful info. After doing what you guys suggested, the sound is better but now that I turned off auto gain and limiter, i noticed my speakers are clipping even after i set the gains low and if i go even lower the sound output is very poor. How accurate is the gain meter on the s4?

[Mix:d Entertainment]

How accurate is the gain meter on the s4?

I have also experienced some issue with this. My conclusion is that "oldies" tends to have a lower sound volume compared to "modern" music, even if the gain meters are equal for the both tracks. I guess that sound compression and dynamic range is the key to this problem.

This has made me very conscious and careful when I play bigger venues (800+ people).

[snf]

how accurate is the auto-gain?

[JonathanBlake]

Thx for the reply guys, very useful info. After doing what you guys suggested, the sound is better but now that I turned off auto gain and limiter, i noticed my speakers are clipping even after i set the gains low and if i go even lower the sound output is very poor. How accurate is the gain meter on the s4?

Check the software and hardware outputs - they are not the same. Software output should ideally sit around 12 o' clock.

[JonathanBlake]

how accurate is the auto-gain?

Find it pretty good, but 'older' tracks can be dicky. Take it up a few clicks, but watch for clipping, especially if recording.

[Waterfree]

Just home from a gig in a nightclub. And I have had some distortion in my HP, so i tighten the nut for the HP and the sound is much better now:-) Didnt use force or anything, but i was able to turn the nut about 0,5 cm...