Kontrol s4 Microphone Level and Quality (thru mode) HELP

DJ Software & Apps Traktor
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Kontrol s4 Microphone Level and Quality (thru mode) HELP

Hello All

I recently bought the Kontrol S4 as I saw it as a more compact set up than my vci 100, audio 2 dj and Xone 62

Anyway to the point, I play out as a mobile dj and often have Karaoke.

For Karaoke I switch from Traktor to Virtual DJ and use the mic, in ‘thru’ mode, and the kontrol as the audio interface.

The problem is basically the mic gains on the back need to be turned all the way up (both mic gain and channel d ‘thru’ gain) to even hear it compared to the audio coming from Virtual DJ.

In turning up the gains the mic distorts and sounds garbage to be honest,

the only solution i have come up with so far is to turn the mic gains up as far as it can go, turn the pa up to a loud enough level to hear the mics and turn Virtual dj (software) master volume down without having quiet music.

This seems like a terrible thing I am doing which is why Im here now, looking for a solution

It really is a dilemma and I hope I have made it understandable?

The only other option I can think of is to go back to using an external mixer with a separate mic channel (independent volume control). If I have to do that then it ultimately begs the question, why did i even bother getting an S4?

I only got the s4 to achieve better sound quality and improve my audio chain by taking out the need for an external mixer, you could say a bit of audio vanity on my part.
I have well and trully shot myself in the foot or so it seems (especially for my djing needs)

Finally, If I do have to use an external channel for mic can anyone recommend me a 2 channel ‘device’ shall we say, not even a mixer, that will basically give me a line in and a separate mic channel (of equal volume)

Thanks for taking the time to read my concern

2

You can set deck D to live input run it through that.

3

Ye I know but that would mean having traktor open at the same time as virtual dj which wouldnt be good for cpu power.

Although its worth taking the risk because at the moment the ‘thru input’ is absolutely useless

Is the mic ‘louder’ running through channel d in usb mode than ‘thru mode’??

Thanks alot

4

Yeah I was wondering of you had traktor running. I think it’s a little louder running through deck D. My gains are almost all the way up to, but I don’t have a problem with sound distortion.

5

Ye thru mode is not sounding too good for me at the moment.

Will thoroughly test the microphone in channel d (usb mode) and post the results if it is louder.

If not any louder will look into getting a preamp and plugging that into rca’s of channel d (in thru mode)

That then changes the focus of the question somewhat to - Whats a decent preamp under $200 preferably with some kind of eq

6

I’m not 100% on this as I haven’t got my S4 yet, but surely Thru is running at line level, as its designed for playing a CD or iPod ‘thru’?
If so, then a mic would, as you say, need a LOT of gain to be audible and it would distort.

Can I ask why you need to run VDJ for karaoke? Why not do it in Traktor and use one deck as your mic input?

7

Thanks for your input Alex

Virtual DJ is my karaoke software for playing Karaoke zip files?

Yes ipods and other line ins (‘thru’ channel d) have no issue with volume, and easily compete with audio coming ‘out of’ the laptop connected to Kontrol s4.

Maybe I should plug the mic to my reverb unit then go straight into channel d rca’s instead of mic 1/4 jack??

If I do that though then I wont have a back up ipod running.

decisions decision

I really dont understand why im having to compromise here on a £750 piece of kit, native instruments need to sort out the mic levels or at least give me a pre amp (free of charge) ha

8

But a mic isn’t line level, thats my point. Is the S4 supposed to automatically switch to mic gain when a mic is plugged in or is there a setting somewhere you’ve missed? As I said, I haven’t got my S4 yet :rage:, so I cant help more, but have you read the section of the manual about using a mic? I found some possibly useful info here: http://www.native-instruments.com/forum/showthread.php?t=121110

9

Thanks for the link Alex

Ye read over it a couple of times now, both gains on the back of the controller affect the mic volume in thru mode, S4 wont let you have a line in and mic running at the same time on channel d ‘through mode’

Funnily, the mic knob on the front is actually irrelevant in thru mode, it should really be called ‘auxiliary volume’

I think im coming to the conclusion that the mic input is simply not good enough and dosent give enough volume at all, which of course is very disappointing

10

That’s a shame, but I’m sure you cant be the only one with this problem, if it is actually a design flaw with the product. Out of interest, what mic are you using?
On the promo video it shows Shiftee (i think thats his name?) using his headphones plugged into the mic input, so it cant be that bad!

11

Its a shure sm 58, I know i seen that video, very strange. I think I have calmed down abit from my panic a few days ago, the mic can be made louder in usb mode than ‘thru’ mode this i can confirm, due to the extra gain knob on channel d, however, as per usual with more volume comes deteriorated quality.

haven’t tried the mic running through T2 yet but will give this a thorough testing over the weekend

12

also screwed if your using timecode

my turntables stop working when i use the mic, well atleast deck d stops working. anyway to solve all that?

13

I asked the same question in the other thread, but this one seems more appropriate. Are you running the mic through the Aux? I don’t have TS so I can’t really answer the question very well though.

14

you cannot run a line input or phono input (on channel D) at the same time as having a mic plugged in as they are not routed to bypass each other. You can only have one plugged in, I think this is the same in Aux as well

15

bought a mic today, xlr to 1/4inch jack to fit into the s4, no response, anyone any ideas as what to do?

16

What mic is it?

17

hey its a jts tx-8. Its brand new, got it at my local music store