Help U46 mk2

[sandyman]

Hi,

I've looked everywhere for my problem, and I really can't find a solution. Let me first explain my setup.

I want to use Traktor Pro with 3 Decks. Therefore, I bought the MixVibes U46 mk2, which has 6 outputs (3 stereo) and 4 inputs (2 stereo) and is supposed to be full duplex.

So, I have physically routed the outputs 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6 to stereo channels on my mixer (I have a Behringer DX2000USB). The output of the Behringer mixer goes to the inputs 1-2 on the U46 mk2. Deck A uses outputs 3-4, Deck B uses outputs 5-6 and Deck C should be using outputs 1-2 (this is for historical reasons).

However, for some reason, the outputs 1-2 ALWAYS carry the signal of the playing Decks A or B (which, as said, use outputs 3-4 and 5-6). It also happens with Cross LE, by the way (so it doesn't seem to be a Traktor problem).

I have looked inside my Windows 7 sound configuration, and I can't find any setting that resolves the issue. I have installed the latest drivers and even tried to use Asio4All drivers, to no avail, as you may have guessed....

What am I missing? Can anybody shed some light on this? I am at my wits end and am considering replacing the U46 mk2, for instance, with the much more expensive Native Instruments Audio8 (although I want to make sure it's not some weird Windows setting, because then it might happen with any other multi-channel sound card as well)... Such a waste of money if it turns out that the U46 mk2 isn't capable of doing full-duplex 4-in 6-out audio...

Thanks!
Sander

[Blackbrook]

Hey Sander,

I am afraid if I am helping you out of it you will benefit from it because you are using Traktor with the config. So don't be angry if am saying nothing till you registered your LE version.

Greetings,

Steve

[sandyman]

Silly me. Okay, it's been done (meaning I have submitted my serial number). I'm looking forward to your answer (which is hopefully the solution of my problem).

Cheers,
Sander

[Blackbrook]

In the Cross preferences you can select different routing modes. One if it is "External Mixer" with which you have to be able to send out the sound on the different channels. But as far as I can see you can only use two outputs as Cross offers only two decks. I do not know how Traktor works, if it is a pro version it has to work with more than two outputs as a friend of mine told me.

Greetings,

Steve

[sandyman]

In the Cross preferences you can select different routing modes. One if it is "External Mixer" with which you have to be able to send out the sound on the different channels. But as far as I can see you can only use two outputs as Cross offers only two decks. I do not know how Traktor works, if it is a pro version it has to work with more than two outputs as a friend of mine told me.

Greetings,

Steve

Steve,

thanks for your prompt answer!

The weird thing is, that although Cross only offers two decks, the outputs of the two decks are always *also* routed to the third pair of outputs... I really think it doesn't have anything to do with either Cross or Traktor, but rather with the driver (or driver settings) or Windows 7 sound settings.

At first I thought the inputs 1-2 and 3-4 of the U46MKII are directly routed to the outputs 1-2 and 3-4, but this isn't the case (in my setup my main mixer outputs are connected to the inputs 1-2 on my U46MKII).

It seems that the remaining outputs (being 1-2 in my case, since I use 3-4 for Deck A and 5-6 for Deck B) are used as some sort of monitoring output. However, there's just *no way* I can find any settings revealing this.

There's another thing. After installing the drivers from CD, there is an application installed that can supposedly be used to control the levels of the U46MKII. I mean the application with the sliders (see image below). However, there are no buttons on any of the sliders that can be operated. This seems to indicate that the drivers aren't installed correctly. Can this be confirmed?



Is there a fallback scenario that I can use?

I will try to remove all drivers and install them from scratch using the CD, although I don't think this will solve the issue, since it's been there ever since I started using the U46MKII. It's only just recently that I wanted to start using all outputs...

Cheers,
Sander

[Blackbrook]

thanks for your prompt answer!

No problem

The weird thing is, that although Cross only offers two decks, the outputs of the two decks are always *also* routed to the third pair of outputs... I really think it doesn't have anything to do with either Cross or Traktor, but rather with the driver (or driver settings) or Windows 7 sound settings.

I can not confirm this, but it sounds possible

At first I thought the inputs 1-2 and 3-4 of the U46MKII are directly routed to the outputs 1-2 and 3-4, but this isn't the case (in my setup my main mixer outputs are connected to the inputs 1-2 on my U46MKII).

Exactly, you can route the sound in the software you are using. There is no direct "hardware routing" as far as I can see.

It seems that the remaining outputs (being 1-2 in my case, since I use 3-4 for Deck A and 5-6 for Deck B) are used as some sort of monitoring output. However, there's just *no way* I can find any settings revealing this.

The only monitoring output I know is the headphone jack plug on the front. There every outgoing signal can be heard.

There's another thing. After installing the drivers from CD, there is an application installed that can supposedly be used to control the levels of the U46MKII. I mean the application with the sliders (see image below). However, there are no buttons on any of the sliders that can be operated. This seems to indicate that the drivers aren't installed correctly. Can this be confirmed?

The panel looks like it is the latest driver, I can not remember the last panel :-( But be aware that you are using the latest ESI driver (v. 3.0). You can download it from here if you are not sure what version is on your CD:

[PC] [WIN XP, VISTA, SEVEN] U46MK2 v3.0

Is there a fallback scenario that I can use?

I will try to remove all drivers and install them from scratch using the CD, although I don't think this will solve the issue, since it's been there ever since I started using the U46MKII. It's only just recently that I wanted to start using all outputs...

I can recommend a total uninstallation including cleaning up your registry using CCleaner. For Cross there is also a reset.exe in your Cross home folder. This may be helpful too. I wil test this on my U46 MK II to see if I can adress all outputs with Cross or any other media player. Keep you informed!

Cheers,
Sander

Greetings,

Steve


EDIT: I am not sure in how far this LE (=Limited Edition) versions are limited. It may be that this is the reason why you can not use all outputs and why you can not route it properly. Do you have to chance to set a "smaller" media player up that way that you can try to send out the playing track trough all outputs - one after the other? This will show if it is a hardware/driver failure or if it is software related.

[Blackbrook]

Okay, so I guess you will not be happy with this. I have tested it and played a track with media monkey through all 3 stereo outputs:

http://steve.boxbox.org/transfer/u46mk2_output_12.png
http://steve.boxbox.org/transfer/u46mk2_output_34.png
http://steve.boxbox.org/transfer/u46mk2_output_56.png

The first one does not show a signal but the screenshot was made when the track was too silently to show it up.

Please try a clean reinstallation of the ESI driver and test if you can route the outputs with a casual media player.

Greetings,

Steve

[sandyman]

Okay, so I guess you will not be happy with this.

Well, at this point I'm happy with any information that may shed some light on my problems.

I will take up your suggestions later on today and will let you know my results! :-)

Cheers,
Sander

[Support@MixVibes]

I have tested the routing with the demo version and it work for me :
- uninstall your drivers 1.041 properly : disconnect the soundcard THEN remove software.
- install the 3.0 (you will find them into the download center/drivers section (right pane here)
- check that you can use the U46 control panel
If you can then it's ok, go into what you know and set as you would like (worked for me).

But a the end I didn't have any sounds, I guess the asio mode is not available in the demo version.

On a side note 1&2/3&4/5&5 don't interfere with each other, only the mix out will give you all the outputs on the same channel.

[sandyman]

EDIT: I am not sure in how far this LE (=Limited Edition) versions are limited. It may be that this is the reason why you can not use all outputs and why you can not route it properly. Do you have to chance to set a "smaller" media player up that way that you can try to send out the playing track trough all outputs - one after the other? This will show if it is a hardware/driver failure or if it is software related.

Ouch. I really hope they don't cripple the hardware because they ship an LE version with it... I bought the hardware, the software came free. I'd be very disappointed (to say the least) if this turns out to be the case...

Still, I'll first try your suggestion using a simple player.

Cheers,
Sander