Z2 Traktor Button & the Level Meters

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Z2 Traktor Button & the Level Meters
Posted on: 30.11.2012 by Ignacio Rutner
When running audio from Traktor with the "Z2 Traktor Button" OFF the level meters for A &/or B dont display. The Master Leds display but not A & B.

I understand the Traktor button toggles audio handling between the Z2 and Traktor for Gain, EQ and Volume.

The manual says we can switch between the two on the fly and as far as the audio goes and the master Level Meters I can do that. However, I want the A & B level meters to display regardless of which mode I am in. At present they only display when the "Z2 Traktor button" is on.

Yes, I could leave the "Z2 Traktor button" on but I bought an external mixer so I could mix externally. So, why dont the level meters work when I send audio from Traktor to the Z2 mixer?

Maybe there is some setting I am missing, but I cant find anything in the manual.

NB: This is only when running audio from Traktor. Audio in via the Line / Phono works fine.
Ralph Alderette
05.12.2012
Originally Posted by kooper1980
Am I reading this right? You only get post fader effects on the z2 if you are in internal mixing mode? Actually as a standalone mixer this makes the z2 a bit of a damp squib!
Originally Posted by brocklambert
Press shift while you hit the Traktor button, and you will be able to apply effects to your external sources.
Ya in external mode its nothing more than a mixer.. no midi control surface. But if you set up an external device deck through traktor in "thru" mode than you can still apply fx, as in previous traktor versions.
Ignacio Rutner
03.12.2012
Originally Posted by rishi
So, now my question is why does the Z2 only allow INTERNAL mixing mode and not EXTERNAL mixing mode in Traktor Preferences.
Other USB Soundcard mixers surely work this way. I wonder why the Z2 doesnt??
I believe the answer to this question is to allow for Post Fader FX. External Mixing with Post Fader FX would require setting up a Send/Return. Internally, it can be processed without extra physical routing. ????
Albertina Fay
03.12.2012
Originally Posted by rishi
When running audio from Traktor with the "Z2 Traktor Button" OFF the level meters for A &/or B dont display. The Master Leds display but not A & B.

I understand the Traktor button toggles audio handling between the Z2 and Traktor for Gain, EQ and Volume.

The manual says we can switch between the two on the fly and as far as the audio goes and the master Level Meters I can do that. However, I want the A & B level meters to display regardless of which mode I am in. At present they only display when the "Z2 Traktor button" is on.

Yes, I could leave the "Z2 Traktor button" on but I bought an external mixer so I could mix externally. So, why dont the level meters work when I send audio from Traktor to the Z2 mixer?

Maybe there is some setting I am missing, but I cant find anything in the manual.

NB: This is only when running audio from Traktor. Audio in via the Line / Phono works fine.
Check out this video. He is using the right deck on external mode and is getting LED feedback. Is this what you are asking?

Ignacio Rutner
30.11.2012		When running audio from Traktor with the "Z2 Traktor Button" OFF the level meters for A &/or B dont display. The Master Leds display but not A & B.

I understand the Traktor button toggles audio handling between the Z2 and Traktor for Gain, EQ and Volume.

The manual says we can switch between the two on the fly and as far as the audio goes and the master Level Meters I can do that. However, I want the A & B level meters to display regardless of which mode I am in. At present they only display when the "Z2 Traktor button" is on.

Yes, I could leave the "Z2 Traktor button" on but I bought an external mixer so I could mix externally. So, why dont the level meters work when I send audio from Traktor to the Z2 mixer?

Maybe there is some setting I am missing, but I cant find anything in the manual.

NB: This is only when running audio from Traktor. Audio in via the Line / Phono works fine.
Ralph Alderette
05.12.2012
Originally Posted by kooper1980
Am I reading this right? You only get post fader effects on the z2 if you are in internal mixing mode? Actually as a standalone mixer this makes the z2 a bit of a damp squib!
Originally Posted by brocklambert
Press shift while you hit the Traktor button, and you will be able to apply effects to your external sources.
Ya in external mode its nothing more than a mixer.. no midi control surface. But if you set up an external device deck through traktor in "thru" mode than you can still apply fx, as in previous traktor versions.
Harley Zitka
05.12.2012		Press shift while you hit the Traktor button, and you will be able to apply effects to your external sources.
Kristofer Krauel
05.12.2012		Am I reading this right? You only get post fader effects on the z2 if you are in internal mixing mode? Actually as a standalone mixer this makes the z2 a bit of a damp squib!
Ignacio Rutner
04.12.2012		So I asked NI Product Design to comment on why that did it this way. Here's their response...
These are some of the major benefits:

- 64bit audio engine, no signal degradation

- All scratching processed in same time domain. Qbert, Craze, Shiftee, Jazzy Jeff
all love it.

- Less complexity in routing. Audio engine can dynamically reroute for post fader
as opposed to introducing sends, etc (more latency). Less audio stream (less CPU
load).

- Switchable audio components (EQ/filters models)

- Can add audio components (more decks, loop recorder)

- Ability to disconnect controls from engine (remapping eq's / filter controls)

- All in all, it a more future believeing concept compared to the traditional way.
Its more of a software approach because we believe in the power of our software.
I still believe they should give users the option to select Internal or External mixing. The Pioneer TM1 Mixer with the latest firmware offers Internal Mode now with Post Fader FX as well as the Original External Mode.
Ralph Alderette
04.12.2012		exactly.
still sucks though. I wanted to use the external mixer capabilities with post fader fx.. like the DN-X1600
Ignacio Rutner
03.12.2012
Originally Posted by rishi
So, now my question is why does the Z2 only allow INTERNAL mixing mode and not EXTERNAL mixing mode in Traktor Preferences.
Other USB Soundcard mixers surely work this way. I wonder why the Z2 doesnt??
I believe the answer to this question is to allow for Post Fader FX. External Mixing with Post Fader FX would require setting up a Send/Return. Internally, it can be processed without extra physical routing. ????
Ignacio Rutner
03.12.2012		Thanks but not what I am after. I now understand that my level meters work per specifications.

To explain.... With the input routing turned off in preferences, pressing the traktor buttons allowed audio from traktor when on or off. This made me believe that I could process audio in Traktor or in the Z2. However, the Meters werent working when the Traktor buttons were off. So, I thought there was a problem. Soon as I setup input routing I could no longer play Traktor audio with the Traktor button off.

So, now my question is why does the Z2 only allow INTERNAL mixing mode and not EXTERNAL mixing mode in Traktor Preferences.
Other USB Soundcard mixers surely work this way. I wonder why the Z2 doesnt??

As DJ Asand correctly points out Traktor mode is for Traktor and external is for external sources only.
Albertina Fay
03.12.2012
Originally Posted by rishi
When running audio from Traktor with the "Z2 Traktor Button" OFF the level meters for A &/or B dont display. The Master Leds display but not A & B.

I understand the Traktor button toggles audio handling between the Z2 and Traktor for Gain, EQ and Volume.

The manual says we can switch between the two on the fly and as far as the audio goes and the master Level Meters I can do that. However, I want the A & B level meters to display regardless of which mode I am in. At present they only display when the "Z2 Traktor button" is on.

Yes, I could leave the "Z2 Traktor button" on but I bought an external mixer so I could mix externally. So, why dont the level meters work when I send audio from Traktor to the Z2 mixer?

Maybe there is some setting I am missing, but I cant find anything in the manual.

NB: This is only when running audio from Traktor. Audio in via the Line / Phono works fine.
Check out this video. He is using the right deck on external mode and is getting LED feedback. Is this what you are asking?

Ignacio Rutner
03.12.2012		Other Traktor Certified Mixers process audio from Traktor. The Z2 has 4 stereo IN's. So, why doesnt a Traktor Mixer get to process Traktor audio?

I actually expect that the mixer could function this way but is limited from doing so because Traktor Preferences - Output Routing - Mixing Mode is set to INTERNAL and EXTERNAL is greyed out (unavailable).

Why cant I change it to External mixing and route Traktor audio to the Z2 stereo INPUTS?

There may be a valid reason for this I dont know???
Zetta Radlinger
03.12.2012		map the vu meters for internal to those leds on the controller(Z2)...similar to what we have to do for the vci-400 EGE on the outer channels C&D
Rosina Steinkuehler
03.12.2012		Call NI support and voice your displeasure. Also mention that its lame to grey out the mater out volume level in Traktor when the Z2 is plugged in.
Ignacio Rutner
03.12.2012		It's still got 4 stereo of inputs.... why dont they allow me to route the audio to each of the inputs like a normal soundcard mixer?

I have an NI mixer that only works as a midi controller when using NI Traktor. Seems to defeat the purpose ... no?
Ralph Alderette
03.12.2012		External mode is only for external devices (cdj/turntable/ipod) only.
The Z2 only has 2 sets of physical outs. One is the Headphone Cue, the other is the Master Out.

In short, you can't do it. Traktor mode for Traktor decks.

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