# Problems with limiter in Traktor **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [February 11, 2013, 10:37am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237 "2013-02-11T10:37:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Taka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@Taka](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Taka)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 10:37am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/1 "2013-02-11T10:37:18Z")
**Problems with limiter in Traktor** Howzit guys. I am having problems with the sound coming from my setup. Here is a run-down of my setup: • Numark Mixtrack Pro • Traktor Pro software • Hybrid B1600 stereo club amp (similar to a Behringer EP2500 in terms of power output) • 2 X 15inch Wharfedale Pro XVPX15’s The L & R rca’s from the Mixtrack Pro soundcard is connected directly to the channel A and B XLR inputs on my amp and the amp is running in stereo mode. In Traktors “mixer” menu I generally set headroom on the “none” setting and the “limiter” is activated. Problem: due to the fact that bass doesn’t sound as good as it can when all my EQ knobs are on the halfway mark I turn the bass all the way to max. The speakers have no problem at all with this and they play beautifully however Traktor master control level indicator keeps hitting the red when I up the master volume and then it limits the midrange and treble frequencies resulting in a muffled sound output. If I leave the master volume down then the sound is good but way too soft. I have tried reducing the master volume in Traktor to prevent the Traktor master level from hitting the red and thus limiting the frequencies and I turn up my amp gains instead but because Traktors master volume hits red so easily due to the bass EQ knob being turned to the max, I have to pull the master volume so much that my amps gains needs to be turned up close to ¾ of the way and even then the sound does not sound great. It is dangerous as well because should anyone come and push up the Traktor master, my speakers will be on their way to heaven. The bass kicks really nicely at max on the EQ knob in Traktor with limiter preventing distorted signal but the fact that it limits all other frequencies at the same time is annoying. When Traktor master is hitting limiter and I turn down the bass EQ then a loud burst of mid and hi comes through and when I turn the bass back up the mid and hi gets limited and sounds muffled again but the bass thumps nicely. If I turn all my EQ’s to the halfway mark I can up the Traktor master quite far and the sound is really loud and clean but lacks a lot of bass. Crank up bass and limiter comes and spoils the show. If I switch the limiter off then the bass distorts easily. It seems the beast bass is at max low EQ with limiter activated. So what do I do? Do I get a better sound card? Do I get an external mixer to up all the frequencies without Traktor knowing this ie: keeping knobs on halfway mark in Traktor while cranking up the frequencies on the mixer? Do I get an active cross over??? Apologies for the long read. Your help will be much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Era\_7](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/era_7/32/12597_2.png) [@Era\_7](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Era_7)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/2 "2013-02-11T13:50:22Z")
low EQ to the max?! what the hell? turn it down. ---
**Author:** ![Karlos\_Santos](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/karlos_santos/32/13263_2.png) [@Karlos\_Santos](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Karlos_Santos)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/3 "2013-02-11T14:01:59Z")
And turn the limiter off. Its rubbish. ---
**Author:** ![Audeo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/audeo/32/12972_2.png) [@Audeo](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Audeo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/4 "2013-02-11T14:19:51Z")
Traktors limiter is a really weird compressor/brick wall limiter. It makes music sound really muddy and goes huffy puffy when it’s triggered. Disable it = everybody happy. ---
**Author:** ![Taka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@Taka](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Taka)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 3:20pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/5 "2013-02-11T15:20:28Z")
Thanks for your responses. I have tried removing the limiter but then the low EQ becomes very sensitive. It’s not punchy enough at the halfway mark but when you push beyond that it distorts easily before it even gets nice and punchy. When I have the limiter activated and I go 3/4 to all out on the low EQ then the limiter prevents distortion and I end up with nice clean punchy bass but at the expense of the mid and hi frequencies. With limiter activated and with low EQ knob pushed beyond 3/4 all the way to max I get better bass with no distortion than with limiter removed and EQ just past halfway mark at the same volume. This is why I thought maybe I should stick to halfway mark and and keep Traktor happy and get an external mixer and increase the low frequencies there to keep myself the crowd happy. ---
**Author:** ![padi\_04](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/padi_04/32/56291_2.png) [@padi\_04](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/padi_04)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/6 "2013-02-11T15:44:43Z")
The problem might just be the Mixtrack’s soundcard, the only time I had weak bass frequencies was when I rocked a BCD3000 back in the day. I’m not entirely familiar with your PA and speakers so I can’t comment on them other than saying that getting a sub might solve your issue just fine. On the cheaper side, go grab yourself an external EQ and put that between your mixtrack and PA in the signal path. ---
**Author:** ![brocklambert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@brocklambert](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/brocklambert)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/7 "2013-02-11T17:25:59Z")
Dude… get a subwoofer. ---
**Author:** ![SirReal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/sirreal/32/15235_2.png) [@SirReal](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/SirReal)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/8 "2013-02-11T17:54:04Z")
Have you checked the phase on your speakers? Nobody should have to max out the low end eq to get good bass. Just reread your initial post. I see you’re going rca to xlr unbalanced to balanced). Is this a factory made cable? ---
**Author:** ![makar1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@makar1](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/makar1)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/9 "2013-02-11T18:36:23Z")
Test your speakers using a decent sound card with a balanced output (use a mixer if you have to). It could be that your amp isn’t capable of handling unbalanced signals properly. Your speakers should be capable of putting out a half decent amount of bass so it sounds like something is wrong in the chain. ---
**Author:** ![Timbo21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/timbo21/32/14061_2.png) [@Timbo21](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Timbo21)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/10 "2013-02-11T19:16:10Z")
Sounds like you are trying to create club-like mega turbo base in a home environment, and cranking the Traktor EQ to do it, which just isn’t going to work out. Sounds like subwoofers would be the best way to go, but clubs have an advantage since they have big rooms, and bass frequencies are big. ---
**Author:** ![Audeo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/audeo/32/12972_2.png) [@Audeo](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Audeo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 11:27pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/11 "2013-02-11T23:27:56Z")
Oh lol yeah. I read past that part. You got two tops, zero subs. There’s your problem. those 15" are allright for lowmids to highs, but no bass. ---
**Author:** ![makar1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@makar1](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/makar1)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/12 "2013-02-11T23:34:43Z")
If you’re having to turn your low knob to max to get a good sound out of 15" PA speakers, either something is wrong with your system somewhere, or something is wrong with your hearing. To fill a club with bass you’ll of course need proper subs, but you also wouldn’t be using these more mobile speakers in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![baller95](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/baller95/32/12197_2.png) [@baller95](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/baller95)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/13 "2013-02-12T01:00:09Z")
> [@Era\_7](#): > > low EQ to the max?! what the hell? turn it down. This! If you ain’t gettin enough bass from 2 15’s add a sub or upgrade your speakers. ---
**Author:** ![Audeo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/audeo/32/12972_2.png) [@Audeo](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Audeo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/14 "2013-02-12T01:35:31Z")
Knowing mid-class 15" full range speakers.. they’ll probably have a roll-off @ 100 ~ 80hz. ---
**Author:** ![SirReal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/sirreal/32/15235_2.png) [@SirReal](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/SirReal)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/15 "2013-02-12T01:48:20Z")
A simple test you can do to check the phase of your speakers is to pan the master to either the left or right and see if you get a fuller signal from that channel. It if feels thinner as you pan to both speakers, you’ve got a phase issue. ---
**Author:** ![Taka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@Taka](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Taka)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 5:29am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/16 "2013-02-12T05:29:10Z")
Thanks for your input guys. I also suspected that the Mixtrack Pro’s sound card isn’t up to scratch. On the sound side, no I am not expecting club bass from my Wharfedales. They are midrange speakers but they are capable of producing decent clean punchy bass notes. I am not after deep sub 40Hz bass. I have heard many EVP’s in action and they perform very well without a bass bin. The problem seems to be on the signal side of things. The RCA into XLR cables were bought from a sound shop. The power amp just amplifies whatever signal you give it. So the issue is definitely on the signal side. I am going to put a mixer in line this weekend and see what difference it makes. The amp can receive both balanced and unbalanced input signals and I have tried changing the cables as well. I had a chat with another buddy last night and he says whenever they do gigs with there S2 and S4’s they always plug into a mixer before sending the signal to the amp. Thanks for all the responses. I will keep you guys posted. Oh and my setup is in a large room, not a club. ---
**Author:** ![Taka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@Taka](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Taka)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 5:44am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/17 "2013-02-12T05:44:00Z")
> [@SirReal](#): > > A simple test you can do to check the phase of your speakers is to pan the master to either the left or right and see if you get a fuller signal from that channel. It if feels thinner as you pan to both speakers, you’ve got a phase issue. I have done that as well as run the amp in mono mode with a single signal input. No luck. Mind you two weekends ago I plugged my mixtrack into another setup at a house party. When I was done playing, the owner plugged in his laptop and played music via Windows Media Player. I remember now he told me that the music had much more bass compared to when I played. I played with headroom at -3db, limiter on and low EQ at halfway mark. His setup was a smallish Gemini power amp hooked up to two 12 inch tops. Short unbalanced RCA to 1/4 jack cables with no interference issues. The little setup churned out more bass than mine and I was left baffled. That is when went home and turned up my low EQ’s to max and was impressed by the bass I then got from the setup but at expense of the other frequencies. I’ll plug in some other sources and check tonight. If it works then it may just be that the Mixtracks sound card is not up to scratch as a another user suggested whom also had bass issues with his BCD3000 which as is the case with the Mixtrack is a budget controller. ---
**Author:** ![SirReal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/sirreal/32/15235_2.png) [@SirReal](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/SirReal)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 5:54am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/18 "2013-02-12T05:54:31Z")
Sounds like the mixtrack may be the culprit then. ---
**Author:** ![Taka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@Taka](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Taka)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 6:15am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/19 "2013-02-12T06:15:56Z")
I think so too Sir. I’ll keep you experts posted. If it is the Mixtrack then i wonder is it faulty or are all Mixtracks not suited for direct connection to power amps. I see so any packages being sold on the net where Mixtracks are sold with RCA to 1/4 inch jack cables and power amps and tops. I’m plugging in a S4 this weekend as well to test soundcards. ---
**Author:** ![makar1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@makar1](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/makar1)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 8:11am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237/20 "2013-02-12T08:11:34Z")
The Mixtrack only has unbalanced outs which are generally unsuitable for amps, unless they specifically have unbalanced inputs available. The best test would be connecting the Mixtrack through something that can generate a balanced signal like a mixer or DI box. I’d also check the difference between using the unbalanced RCAs and balanced 1/4 inch jack outputs of the S4 when you get around to testing that. [Next page](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/problems-with-limiter-in-traktor/53237.md?page=2)