Traktor is unstable.

[Tenova]

I've had a long history of Traktor screwing me over at live gigs.

After 8 months of relative security (minus the very occasional 1 second audio drop out), it did it again.

I gig out over 200 times a year. It has a rate of failure of about 1%, but last night that jumped up exponentially, crashing twice in the same set.

Macbook Pro 2013 Retina Display / Traktor S4 MK II managed to crash in the middle of a set, meaning I had to turn on a mix on a CDJ, restart my computer, and mix back in. No other programs running, WIFI was turned off, all new cables, and the USB port that is closest to the screen.

This is completely unacceptable. This has happened to me 3 times prior to this with Traktor, and the most recent program update seemed to iron the issues out. Before that, it was the fact that the MKI S4 is just completely incompatible with new MacBooks.

This is akin to a car manufacturer selling automobiles that can just randomly stop accelerating for an unbeknownst amount of time while driving.

How is Serato Scratch Live's stability these days?

[DJAdeSands]

I've had some issues with newer releases of Traktor, I've reverted back to 2.0.3, and no issues at all

[julianpetric]

I think you're being to rough.
I understand you had problems and want to move to another software, but that being said, I don't think NO ONE should use it.
I've always used Traktor (up to date) at my gigs (unluckily they're not as much as you do) along with a Mixtrack Pro and had no issues at all.
Likes are always subjective, and experiences too. Try expressing your thoughts in a more impersonal way.
As for your issues, I'd try making a backup of preferences and collection and re-installing the software.
PS: Nice gear mate!

[ImNoDJ]

I've had a long history of Traktor screwing me over at live gigs.

After 8 months of relative security (minus the very occasional 1 second audio drop out), it did it again.

I gig out over 200 times a year. It has a rate of failure of about 1%, but last night that jumped up exponentially, crashing twice in the same set.

Macbook Pro 2013 Retina Display / Traktor S4 MK II managed to crash in the middle of a set, meaning I had to turn on a mix on a CDJ, restart my computer, and mix back in. No other programs running, WIFI was turned off, all new cables, and the USB port that is closest to the screen.

This is completely unacceptable. This has happened to me 3 times prior to this with Traktor, and the most recent program update seemed to iron the issues out. Before that, it was the fact that the MKI S4 is just completely incompatible with new MacBooks.

This is akin to a car manufacturer selling automobiles that can just randomly stop accelerating for an unbeknownst amount of time while driving.

How is Serato Scratch Live's stability these days?

Tone your ridiculous thread title down. There are about 10 things I would point to that you should check on your own setup before you start throwing stupid accusations around.

One corrupt file could cause the problems you describe. Have you run your files through a checker to look for corruption?

I havent had a crash in over a year.

All Controllers and laptops crash eventually. Get over it.

[ProfessorStrangeman]

Never had a crash that I can recall in the past three years, one of those years being a weekly residency. Let's dial the hyperbole back.

[SlayForMoney]

Is it funny that, as soon as I saw the thread title, I knew it was a mac user? Yeah, defintely tone it down.

[niknok]

In the world of complex, real-time control and multi-track playback plus effects in an often hostile environment using multiple interconnected machines I'd call 1% pretty freakin' amazing rather than unstable. Without being 'mr in the bad old days', try playing vinyl gigs with 1% failure of needles, decks, crossfader etc etc...plenty of cdjs just up and die too.
It's 100% shitty when it happens during a gig but you did the right thing and were prepared. Did the party die? Probably the biggest thing that got hurt was your pride. If Serato is in any way more 'stable' it can only be in orders of decimal points and tbh we have no idea what your Mac setup is like. Did you post at the NI forum, send your crashlog? Just for reference do you keep a full clone of your Mac?

[Chubby Racer]

This is akin to a car manufacturer selling automobiles that can just randomly stop accelerating for an unbeknownst amount of time while driving.

How bout a race bike that occasionally blows up?



Yup, it happens. And this guy has an entire TEAM of people with him at all times to make sure it doesn't. A 1% failure rate is not "unacceptable." Sorry dude, I think you're being unrealistic. I've had CDJs shit the bed, pitch controls on decks flake out, and even mixes go dead on a channel. NOTHING is 100% reliable.

[mostapha]

I think I remember being told to use the USB port farther from the screen. I don't think that would cause an actual crash, but it is something. You can check the USB bus in System Profiler....the audio interface (your S4) goes on the port with the fewest internal things (e.g., Keyboard/Trackpad, Bluetooth Controller, IR receiver (if they still have those)).

Other than that, which version of OS X are you using? Is it properly patched (but not bleeding edge, well...as close to bleeding edge as Apple gets)? Is your drive in good shape? Are your cables good?

There are a lot of things to be sure of. Switching platforms doesn't actually solve any of the others.

FWIW, Serato DJ was flawless for me, but I haven't used it nearly as much as you've used Traktor lately.

[ProfessorStrangeman]

I think I remember being told to use the USB port farther from the screen.

The USB further from the screen on non-retina MacBooks is just MARGINALLY faster. I always put my soundcard on that one. Probably more superstitious than anything at this point.