Hey, I’ve been posting in numerous forums about this problem and cannot come up with a solution, hopefully you guys can help me out.
Firstly, I use the dj-tech hybrid 202 (kontrol one’s and djm 202 mixer) on traktor pro. I run these through a quality self powered logitech usb hub to my 2ghz intel core 2 duo macbook (2gb ram, 160gb HD).
The problem I’m having is during recording. I’ve been testing and testing and testing for like 2 weeks now trying to pinpoint the problem. During a mix, completely randomly it seems, the recording will become and stay completely distorted. I’ve tried changing the master gain in traktor, the channel gains, the gains in audacity (and the traktor recording agent), I’ve tried using two separate usb hubs for the mixer USBs and kontrol one USBs, I can’t think of anything else to try (might have left some out).
In traktor i’ve got my recording settings to the external mixer and the source to channel B (seems that A and B produce the same).
I run an RCA from my master output to speakers and an RCA from record out to my line in on my computer.
Lately I feel like i’m getting closer to figuring it out. Sometimes it’ll happen when in the middle of mixing tracks. at first I though this was due to clipping, but it has happened sometimes where the gain is all the way down.
It’s also happened when I’ve been using an on-board effect on the mixer. No matter what though, it doesn’t happen by itself (I think). I’ve always been doing something and then it will mess up.
I’ve noticed a couple of times that when I hit the fx button on my mixer i’ll hear a little pop or something. Maybe that could be it, but today I recorded a whole heap of tracks while messing around with the effects and cranking them hard on and off and the recording was fine..
My thinking is maybe soundcard issues? Maybe due to connection via a usb hub? (Haven’t been able to test it on a computer with 4 ports).
Should I be doing something different? Please help I am completely at my whits end here and can’t think of anything else to try..
Cheers
Its only when recording? Is your HD full? Maybe try your hub on a diferrent ubs port and let it reinstall your sound card on a different port use the ones on the back of the pc if possible.
Hey, my hd has about 90 gb free. I changed the port and it seemed like it was coping better but then when mixing a heavier song it went distorted again. Also yes it’s only distorted when recording, I don’t even hear any distortion through the speakers.
My macbook only has 2 ports on the side, none at the back. Any other ideas? I’ve contacted the manufacturer but they’re horribly slow with everything.
Is the routing correct on this? record out to line in on my computer? There doesn’t seem to be much information around for mixers with built in sound cards. I was thinking yesterday that maybe I should be routing the outputs from channel 1 and 2 into my computer? No idea.
Hey I haven’t got another controller to test it on. I use a traktor pro 1.2.1. I’ll run the diagnostic deal tonight as I think it’s supposed to take a few hours and post the results.
Is there a way to rout the mixer to send the recording through the soundcard directly into traktor? Or is it impossible to record without line in?
Cheers
Also, I’ve just looked this up about my line in. I use a 24 bit digital mixer with built in sound cards, from my understanding there should be no problem for recording through this input?
Audio line in/optical digital audio in port
Connect your MacBook to a line-level microphone or optical digital audio equipment. The Audio In port accommodates both optical digital audio input and analog audio input.
Analog line and optical digital audio input is accepted through a 3.5mm mini phone jack which does not provide power to a connected device, so you must use self-powered peripherals. The sound input jack accepts line-level stereo signals up to 24-bit stereo 44.1-192kHz sampling rate. It also accepts a stereo miniplug-to-RCA cable adapter for connecting stereo equipment to the computer.
Optical digital audio input is S/PDIF format and uses a standard Toslink cable with a Toslink mini-plug adapter, accepting up to 24-bit stereo and 44.1-96kHz sampling rate.
Thats not the point, mmauve.
Have you tried connecting speakers to the recording output of the sound card? Maybe the distortion is not caused by your pc but by an error in your device..
Well I suppose you probably wouldn’t classify my copy of traktor as legal, so it makes it more difficult to update.
sj03w4t - I have yeah. I never hear the distortion through the speakers while recording, only ever during playback. This is why I’m thinking it’s a settings thing, but lowering gains don’t seem to be doing the trick.
My reason for asking wasn’t to go on some “holier than thou” rant about software piracy, ultimately you get what you pay for, and in this case, it’s evident that you are limited on options because of it. I recommend buying the latest version and with it, getting the support and updates you need to make sure your setup is working the way it should. Considering it’s the brain of your setup, it would be wise.
Other than that, make sure no external EQ handling is in use (some audio equipment installs shit like that when you install drivers for it), or effects in Traktor.
Here’s what I recommend doing next: uninstall your pirated copy, install the demo of the latest Traktor Pro build. If the problem is resolved, then there you go. If not, try switching components out one by one, and resetting settings to factory default. When troubleshooting, removing culprits out of the equations one by one until the problem is isolated is key.
After you mentioned that I ‘updated’ to 1.2.4. It is still distorted but not as heavily which is interesting.
I’ve got 3 LE which came with my controller so I’ll chuck that in and see what happens. As pro’s only like $100 update from 3 le I’ve been meaning to do it, obviously as you said it’s integral to everything that’s happening, just haven’t gotten around to it.
Anyway thanks for the advice. How can I check if my drivers have installed external eq handling? They weren’t even really installed per se, I just plug the usb hub in and away it goes. I just figure as it’s on a mac that’s usually how things operate, should I have installed it differently?
That’s interesting, so the problem is still there, but less severe?. I would read the release notes on the updates to see what they changed to effect playback, and from there check if you can change that aspect in the configuration.
Try going to “System Preferences”, click the “Sound” icon, and select the “Input” tab. Reduce the volumes (whatever they are at) by 50% and try recording again to see if this resolves your issue. You can also check if any other programs or plugins are handling your sound by looking under the “Other” section of your System Preferences panel. 3rd party program options are usually located in that area.
If he hears no distortion through the recording output of the soundcard then it can’t be traktor so I wouldn’t advice upgrading to solve this problem. If you want any other updates and bug fixes, upgrade.
I’m not gonna help somebody with hacked traktor software so please buy it, try it and try this thread again.
This is on 1.2.4, on 1.2.1 it was more of a really fuzzy blown out distortion, now it’s more of a buzz and is a lot clearer than before. Too bad I didn’t save anything else as a comparison.
It seems also that when it changes from good to distorted it skips a little, I haven’t noticed this in any other recording though.
I thought i’d share this as someone might be able to hear and identify a problem that I can’t.
Hey thanks I researched a bit and apparently core audio is the mac equivalent and it comes pre installed.
I did notice that in audacity the default sampling format is set to ‘32-bit float’. My mixer is 24-bit. Should it be set to this, or maybe even 16-bit? Or don’t these things correspond?