new problem i can't solve... distortion, loudness

[synaptic flow]

Hello.

I have the Cross DJ 2.30 update running on my Windows XP laptop, but I experienced this problem with the previous version as well.

I did a fresh XP install a few months ago. XP is up to date with Service Pack 3 and I am using the Native Instruments Audio 2 DJ which is also up to date.

I decided to do some DJ practice and I discovered a problem I have never had before. On many songs, that bass is too loud and distorted (with the eq set to 0) I have never had to touch anything in the past. I don't mess with the gain or the levels and everything has been fine. Now I am having these odd issues. If I mix two songs together it gets even worse many times. Yes I know that you should use eq to help out with the difference while mixing between tracks, but still I never had this happen. Sure I might here one kick drum of one song louder than the other, but now I get an ugly smashed and distorted crud coming out of the headphones.

When I listened to my recorded results, the music sound very smashed with no (headroom) if I am using the right word. It sounded too loud, distorted on the bass of some songs and lacking detail and life.

My computer has never had a probem with Cross DJ before, but here are my specs...

Intel Core 2Duo T5270 @1.4ghz 2 cpus
2046mb ram
Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS 256mb
Windox XP Service Pack 3

Do you guys have any suggestions for me? I also noticed one other problem I hadn't had before, but I don't know if they are related. When I use a MIDI controller to trigger samples, it now takes a long time (meaning a full second) for samples to play. They used to play instantly.

Thanks in advance for any ideas you all might have.

Brian

[HeRo]

Hey,

did you check the mastervolume knob at the top of Cross?
I have set that to halfway.
Do you have the limiter activated?

For your second problem: Deactivate the Quantize function which can be found above the EQ section
This allows you to activate samples right away, quantize synchs your samples with the beat

Hope this helps

[synaptic flow]

Hmmm... master volume is at max. I assumed it needed to be there to get enough volume for performing at clubs. Of course it wasn't an issue before, but I will see if lowering it helps.

Also the problem is worse with the limiter off.

Thanks for the "quantize" tip. I will give these a try and see what happens.

[Support@MixVibes]

Max volume will give you 0dB before limiter kick in. I don't know how you have connected your Audio2 to your speakers but it sound like a Phono/Line level issue.

[Hannes]

You do use the Audio2 Asio-Driver, do you?

[synaptic flow]

Yes I am using the ASIO driver. The Audio 2 DJ is set up right. I still haven't tried it again. I will report on it later today.

[synaptic flow]

Sorry to be so late responding to this post. It seems that only turning down the gains helped solve my problem.

I also found another problem of static pops when I sweep the mid and high eq.

I am only frustrated because all of these issues appeared for me with the latter updates of Cross DJ. I could leave everything at their default settings and have no issue before.

So in conclusion. I tested my recently acquired Traktor Pro 2.5 and have absolutely none of these issues, even with volume and gains at max.

I suppose I can downgrade my Mixvibes to find the one that was working perfectly again, but I hate to downgrade and I don't remember if I saved every version.

Would I find them all online on this site still? I probably need to go back two revision numbers.

[Hannes]

Your library will not be compatible with older versions,
i.e.you might not be able to use the collection from 2.3 in 1.5or so.

Also what buffer setting do you use?

I know that Traktor has a built internal 128-Samples Buffer which you cannot change and therefor acts as a "security" buffer.

Also lookng at you specs again I clearly think your cpu is to weak too run Cross´s Key-Lock which probably is enabled, or is it?