The worst that could have happened happened last nite: the power of my mixer cut! The mixer switched off bt I was able to switch it right back on. Nevertheless the music obviously cut. If this was a simple power failure on the plug side I do not understand the second thing that happened:
my midifighters were thrown out of traktor as well and i had to set them up again in the controller setup in traktor… How is that possible? How does that make any sense???
This is my setup:
macbook pro > focusrite saffire 24 pro dsp (firewire) > mixer channels 1/2 > output
the midifighters are obviously connected via usb (no hub!).
CAN ANYONE HELP PLEASE!!! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE POWERCUT OF THE MIXER HAS TO DO WITH THE MIDIFIGHTERS BEING THROWN OUT… PLEASE HELP!
Sounds like a power spike or dip. Did you have speakers/amplifiers on the same circuit? Did you have your mixer & computer on a surge protector or power conditioner?
I brought my own mixer and went from my main outs one of their mixers channels. Everything was connected on their side. My three power plugs (for laptop, soundcard and mixer I plugged into a set of plugs that were entirely empty and ready for a dj to use… allegedly…
Can a power spike or dip throw the MFs out as well though??? I dont understand!
Anyone still ideas why midifighters are reset and mixer switches off at the same time even though mixer and midifighters are not even interconnected in the slightest…
im not originally english so jst for me to clarify “surge protection strips” are basically extension strips with a various number of plugs right? Arent all of these things surge protected???
It was totally random what happened last nite. The mixer switched off. Silence. I instantly switched it back on after abt 10 seconds of long nothingness. Traktor I didnt have to restart, the tracks were still playing in the decks, but I couldnt control them with my MFs nomore. So I had to do what you have to do everytime you open Traktor: tell MF1 to control deck A for in and outputs and do the same for MF2 for deck B.
So even though the MFs were connected to the USB and didnt have any connection to the mixer whatsoever they were both affected at the same time. Also I noticed that when that happened, the MFs gave me the 2-seconds-“lightshow” that you get when you first plug them in, bt obviously i didnt take them out…man completely lost…
It was a big gig last nite and ended in the most traumatic way possible…
Surge Protection strips are similar to regular strips but they do no allow too much hit your gear if there is a spike as there is a Circuit Breaker which cuts out before your gear gets zapped.
Sounds like there was a spike on the whole circuit and it affected the power your laptop supplies to the USB ports.
This is just my hunch, im no electronics expert.
On the subject of the MidiFighters. You may have been able to disconnect and reconnect them so that Traktor sees them again. This is called ‘Hot Plugging’ but, if your USB ports were affected then this might not have worked.
If it happens again just try unplugging and replugging the MidiFighters.
Definitely invest in a Surge Protection Strip dude. I had a power spike take out the whole booth and it shut the laptop down completely. Scary stuff.
Man that sounds scary!!! I was actually soo relieved that the mfs still reflected in the controller editor, coz if i had to unplug them and plug them back in i would have been afraid that they dont get picked up at all unless i restart traktor and that would have been an even greater disaster.
will certainly get one of those circuit breakers. THX A LOT!
I always take my own 4 way surge protection socket, one reason because when you turn up, there isnt guaranteed space you can plug in your laptop, soundcard, controller? plus you know your gear is safe.
Since them are just 4x4 button grids, maybe you could map some keyboard shortcuts, for the next time. (and have a practice session just to remember which is where)
I’d actually go with a power dip or “brown out” or just dirty power. I’m guessing the amps or powered speakers were/are probably on the same circuit. You start cranking the volume, amps draw more and leave things like laptops or a mixer susceptible to not having enough current. @ the OP, if that’s the case even a surge protected power strip may not help. You want to check out the cheaper power conditioners out there. I find MANY clubs have dodgy power and no dedicated leg for gear vs amps. Just my .02 cents.
I thank you all for your feedback and suggestions! I played at a different place last nite and didnt have no problems with the MFs.
It was an expensive lesson to learn bt from now on Im jst gonna use the clubs mixer and not bring my own equipment entirely as originally recommended years ago when i started… thanks!!!
+1
I put the whole soundsystem out using a Strobe light too much just last week.
The strobe was really powerfull and on the same 4 way as the amp rack (temporary soundsystem) and the lamp went tits up and the whole lot went off.
HAHAA, I had troubles with the large strobe a few years ago.
We did a gig in some national minority’s local theater and the mixer would start cutting the sound out when strobe is on. We got a guy to carry the strobe all over to the other side of the theater and plug it in there. And as he did that, the sound starts to cut-out again and the guy does not notice anything is wrong! Twas a fun night.