CrossDJ and Gemini Firstmix Pro - audio sync issues

[russbmw]

Hi all

Before I sack this whole setup off and start again with different software and a different controller, I thought I'd ask on here to see if anyone has any bright ideas.

I have CrossDJ (can't remember what version, but pretty sure it's the latest one) running on a 2014 (maybe 2013...again, I'm at work now and can't remember) Macbook Pro. Running the latest El Capitan OSX. Utilising a Gemini Firstmix Pro usb MIDI controller. Output from the RCA is connected into a stereo - this uses an ipod dock to 3.5mm converter.

So problem 1 - sometimes the software just crashes out for no apparent reason (seem to have read a lot on here about this).

Problem 2 - more annoying. probably about 60% of the time I try using the setup, the audio from the Firstmix headphone output is out of sync with what is playing on the stereo from the RCA output on the Firstmix. Not by much, but enough that mixing is really bloody awkward. Other times, without changing any settings whatsoever, it is fine. Seems to be if I restart the software it fixes it. Which is pretty weird seeing as I'm not using the Macbook soundcard, I'm using the Firstmix Pro's built in one.

Would messing around with the latency fix this?

[RoJeC]

Regarding the crashes, please add the crash report as this will give more info.
This will also tell which Cross version you use.
El Capitan is supported by Cross 3.3.11, so if you have an older version upgrading would be the first thing to do.

Latency difference for different channels of a soundcard is pretty strange, don't recall to ever have seen anyone mentioning this. Cross runs by itself with a latency of <1ms. As this is less than can be noticed it most likely is a driver issue. What I would suggest is to slightly increase the latency of your soundcard (preferences > audio). This may free up some CPU capacity that possible has influence on the situation.
It will be hard to investigate this without having your setup (/devices).

[russbmw]

How do I get a crash report on a Mac please?

I'll check the version of CrossDJ later - although as it's purchased through the App Store, it should automatically update.

What other info would you need to see, and I'll try find out.

To get the Firstmix audio to work, I had to create an aggregate device on the mac's audio settings. Not sure if that makes any difference to anything?

It used to work ok, hence the confusion, as I've not changed any settings.

[RoJeC]

I've seen posts of other users not getting the msg an upgrade is available. Might be an issue in 3.3.10...

Not a mac user, so don't know. If you google you likely get the ifno straight away on location of the reports.

[russbmw]

I'll check that out later then and report back.

[DJ Vintage]

It's odd that you have to create an aggregate device on your Mac. This is usually only necessary if you use more than one sound card that you all want available in your DJ software (e.g. you have two CDJ2000s, each with their own sound card).

If your controller has a sound card built-in (provided it is at least a -stereo channel one, which it must be for it to play both headphone and master sound simultaneously), no aggregate device should be needed.

This could be an issue.

p.s. The Firstmix pro is USB-powered and I have had some problems with Macbook USB-ports in the past. You might want to try hooking the controller up through a properly powered USB hub and see if that changes anything.

[russbmw]

OK, CrossDJ is 3.3.11 (64bit)

With regards to the aggregate situation, the mac picks up 2 seperate Firstmix Pro sound cards, the Master output and the headphone output. So in order to use it for both master and headphone outputs to be used on the Firstmix Pro, an aggregate device needed to be setup.

[RoJeC]

Seems strange that 2 sc are in place. Normally it are 2 stereo channels of 1 sc.
I would suggest to check with Gemini if this is the way to work.

As mentioned a powered usb hub is strongly recommended especially if you have multiple usb devices.

[russbmw]

Yes, well...that was a discussion I had with some of you guys just after I bought the controller.

The thread has screenshots of the audio setup, etc.

viewtopic.php?f=358&t=33791

[RoJeC]

Seems like it's the way best to get it to work..

In the screenshot of your agg. soundcard it shows your sample rate. You might want to set this to 44,100 (likely this is what you have for your tracks).
Hard to predict if it has any effect; all depends on quality of the 'cpu' of the soundcard. It will save capacity on resampling by the sc. It will however only result in a change if the sc ran at max cap when using 2 outputs.