Allen & Heath DX ...?

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Allen & Heath DX ...?
Posted on: 23.09.2009 by Shameka Wartgow
Whats this i spy?

http://www.xone.co.uk/dx/
Madlyn Trocino
24.03.2010
Originally Posted by hesitant
I'm sure Allen & Heath would of done extensive research into making this unit
Well Not Exacly....LOL
Madlyn Trocino
24.03.2010
Below is the official responce I got from A&H today after I created a trouble ticket. Seems A&H missed a pretty obvious flaw in this unit....Jeez it took me 3 minutes to notice this issue...Who on earth are they using for Beta Testers?


Hi,

Thanks for your message regarding the XoneX Right Jog Wheel.

A couple of people have brought this to our attention today.

I will forward this information to our R&D team for further investigation.

Please bear in mind that our R&D team are away in Frankfurt at Musikmesse between the 22-26th March so they won't be able to act on this information until the week beginning 29th March when they will be back in their offices.

-

Best Regards
Allen & Heath Technical Support
Yon Gigler
24.03.2010
Thanks thictool for the advice. I will open a ticket now.

I will post this into the itch and A&H community s then.
Madlyn Trocino
24.03.2010
Called A&H in UK today.

Seems this is a known issue that was confirmed by an A&H specialist in the last couple of days. All the A&H crew is currently at Messe UK at the moment which is where one of the guys on the team had noticed the right Jog Wheel issue. SO it seems this is affecting all Xone DX's.

The Tech Support number (if calling from America) is 011 44 1326 370106

The Tech Support reprisentative said it was very important to send a Trouble Ticket through the support site http://allen-heath.helpserve.com/ and you dont have to be registered to make a ticket.

He also said there would be an update created so that we could flash our DX directly through our computer with an attachment we get from the A&H website or an email that they send. Or if Serato has an ITCH update planned in the next couple weeks they might fold the update in to the ICH update.

But since most of the A&H crew is at Messe, they wont get a chance to deal with it till the end of the week or early next week.

Please to all who have experienced this problem (which is problably everyone)....please make a trouble ticket http://allen-heath.helpserve.com/ so we can get this resolved.

Also post in the A&H / Serato community s so people can jump on this as well...

Thanks








http://allen-heath.helpserve.com/
Yon Gigler
24.03.2010
Originally Posted by thictool
Well the love affair is over.....

There is something wrong with the Right Jog Wheel. It has a lag problem going in reverse.

At first I noticed it in Traktor and tryed every imaginable tweek to get it to stop this behaviar.

Then I switch over to ITCH and got the same behaviar.

What happers is the Right Jog Wheel scrolls ever so slowely when scrolling backwards through the track. Its only while scrolling Backwards. Forward scrolling is normal

If you compare this behaviar with the left Jog you can see a huge difference.

It also screws up "Nug" while in "Play" mode.

Can anyone confirm this is or isnt happening to them?
Yip this is the exact same for me.

I've posted this in the itch dx community to see what they say.
Madlyn Trocino
23.03.2010
Well the love affair is over.....

There is something wrong with the Right Jog Wheel. It has a lag problem going in reverse.

At first I noticed it in Traktor and tryed every imaginable tweek to get it to stop this behaviar.

Then I switch over to ITCH and got the same behaviar.

What happers is the Right Jog Wheel scrolls ever so slowely when scrolling backwards through the track. Its only while scrolling Backwards. Forward scrolling is normal

If you compare this behaviar with the left Jog you can see a huge difference.

It also screws up "Nug" while in "Play" mode.

Can anyone confirm this is or isnt happening to them?
Clarice Papenfuss
24.03.2010
Originally Posted by mix architekt
doesn't yours have the little cable tie/holder thingy above the usb port? that could keep it from falling behind your desk... :-)
Yes you are right i am not using it :-) .
And thanks for your tsi for traktor, I am using it with sucess
Brant Briski
24.03.2010
doesn't yours have the little cable tie/holder thingy above the usb port? that could keep it from falling behind your desk... :-)
Clarice Papenfuss
23.03.2010
Is not the issue for me too, but the power button is better than take off the power cable on the back every time, even worse when the cable slips behind the desk.
Apart from this I am very pleased with my xone dx.
Yon Gigler
23.03.2010
Originally Posted by Felpz
The BAD
They forget to put a power button
I really don't see why this is an issue? Doesn't bother me at all.

I'm sure Allen & Heath would of done extensive research into making this unit and if it really did require a power button they would of put one on it.
Clarice Papenfuss
23.03.2010
The BAD
They forget to put a power button
Madlyn Trocino
22.03.2010
Futher testing....

The Good

The travel on the DX buttons (small black ones & Square FX) are not bad at all. The buttons engage at about the 1/4th of the way down while pressing the button. Meaning they engage really quikly and dont require the buttons to be down all the way in order to engage whatever their controlling.

Jogs are great accually....small yes....but using the Rotary option 7Fh (in Traktor) you can get really fine adjustments as well as broad adjustments if you set the acseleration properly within Traktor.

Sound quality is stellar and super loud. The master volume is an analoge source so you can control the volume of the mixer itself in addition to controlling the master volume thru Traktor.

Its not as heavy as I thought....clocking in at about 10 pounds.

The spinning LEDs around the Jogs work automatically (with no midi paramiters to setup) as well as the Master Volume Meters (at The top center of the unit)....No setup means happier me.

Headphone Volume is VERY LOUD. Has its own Preamp. BTW you have to set headphone monitoring on channels 7 & 8 within Traktors Output Routing options in order to hear the headphones.

Im able to set the Audio Latency to 0.5 (within Traktor) and ASIO Reolution (within Xone DX Soundcard Control Panel) is 32 BIT by defauly.....SWEET !!!

Xone DX Midi implemetation is so easy and is broken down beautifully in the manual.

Mic works perfectly with no hassles....just plug in and use...

This unit will save loads of setup time.....plus no more external sound card to carry, no more headphone preamp to carry, no more Direct Line Convertor to carry because it is loud as hell with XLR outs built in !!!

My load just got 15 pounds lighter with 50 percent less wires to carry...
Yon Gigler
22.03.2010
Originally Posted by thictool
Well it arrived today.....the revered Xone DX

I had about 20 minutes to play with it before going to the gym.

First impression wasnt that great.

First of all every single button on this unit has a SUPER LONG TRAVEL....even the FX buttons. Havent accually tryed the unit so I dont know when the button engage will happen. Meaning perhaps the buttons will trigger in the beginning of the button press, and not have to be pushed all the way down before it triggers.

FX knobs on the Top on the unit are really tight and cramped....like I cant even come close to turning the knobs with my fingers without accidentily hitting the other knobs in the proccess. Theres simply not enogh room. Especially between the Endless Rotary Enconder and the Normal FX knob next to it.

Unit IS HEAVY as sh+t

No real locigal place for EQ kill buttons....I can improvise.....but not logically

Jog wheels are unbelievably tiny

WHen I shake the unit, it sounds like there's a bag of sand shaking around in there.

The X /Y toogles switches feel like they will break pretty easily.

Ok well more later.......I need to hook this up to do a proper review.....But aint all that thrilled at the moment.
Yeah there is slightly more travel on the buttons compared to other controllers ie vestax ...... But it only takes the slightest press and the function is engaged or disengaged in traktor.

The effect controls are about the same as my Vestax TR1 so I don't mind this. You want more space, you'll end up with a bigger unit. OK the endless control knob at the end is a little too close the knob 3 but it ain't bothered me and I can still use it no problem.

Jog wheels are the same as on the xone 1d, 2d 4d etc. I don't scratch so they are fine for me and do their job just fine whether its scrolling through a track or searching for a track in the browser.

I agree it is heavy but I'd rather it had weight about it than being light and plasticy. Its good Allen & Heath build quality.

Never ever thought about shaking any dj gear when I first get it but thought I'd try this to see and nope no noise coming from inside mine.

Hope you enjoy the unit once you get a proper chance to play with it.
Tori Steese
22.03.2010
Originally Posted by thictool
Well it arrived today.....the revered Xone DX

I had about 20 minutes to play with it before going to the gym.

First impression wasnt that great.

First of all every single button on this unit has a SUPER LONG TRAVEL....even the FX buttons. Havent accually tryed the unit so I dont know when the button engage will happen. Meaning perhaps the buttons will trigger in the beginning of the button press, and not have to be pushed all the way down before it triggers.

FX knobs on the Top on the unit are really tight and cramped....like I cant even come close to turning the knobs with my fingers without accidentily hitting the other knobs in the proccess. Theres simply not enogh room. Especially between the Endless Rotary Enconder and the Normal FX knob next to it.

Unit IS HEAVY as sh+t

No real locigal place for EQ kill buttons....I can improvise.....but not logically

Jog wheels are unbelievably tiny

WHen I shake the unit, it sounds like there's a bag of sand shaking around in there.

The X /Y toogles switches feel like they will break pretty easily.

Ok well more later.......I need to hook this up to do a proper review.....But aint all that thrilled at the moment.
Hmm....this is against all which I heared before.
Ok, the button travel specially for the cue point seems to be really long, but that would not be an issue for me.
Sice of the wheels doesn't matter for me as well, I would prefer if it has no wheels.

And the build quallity should be rock solid as far as all other comments sounds like?!?!?
Well, I will know more details about the DX soon.
Madlyn Trocino
23.03.2010
Well it arrived today.....the revered Xone DX

I had about 20 minutes to play with it before going to the gym.

First impression wasnt that great.

First of all every single button on this unit has a SUPER LONG TRAVEL....even the FX buttons. Havent accually tryed the unit so I dont know when the button engage will happen. Meaning perhaps the buttons will trigger in the beginning of the button press, and not have to be pushed all the way down before it triggers.

FX knobs on the Top on the unit are really tight and cramped....like I cant even come close to turning the knobs with my fingers without accidentily hitting the other knobs in the proccess. Theres simply not enogh room. Especially between the Endless Rotary Enconder and the Normal FX knob next to it.

Unit IS HEAVY as sh+t

No real locigal place for EQ kill buttons....I can improvise.....but not logically

Jog wheels are unbelievably tiny

WHen I shake the unit, it sounds like there's a bag of sand shaking around in there.

The X /Y toogles switches feel like they will break pretty easily.

Ok well more later.......I need to hook this up to do a proper review.....But aint all that thrilled at the moment.
Madlyn Trocino
20.03.2010
Ordered one off ebay from Englad and payed WAY too much for it. But its arriving Monday March 22nd (This Monday). I cant wait to see what the sound card output level is.....hoping its not as weak as every other soundcard on earth.

Currently I use a line level convertor (boosts volume levels to Profectional levels) along with my soundcard just to get a level thats comparable to any CD player that on the market. I get so tired of not having any head room in the volume department.

My hopes are that the soundcard volume is loud enough so I can leave my external Soundcard and Line Level Convertor at home. Saving my self from having to carry two extra units ....not to mention two extremely clunky AC plugs.

Im not concerned about the Jogs being non touch sensetive cause I never use em in that way.

Im also not scared of the lame "high travel" buttons at the bottom of the unit (4 per deck side). I plan on using those for engaging loops.....and since I use preset loops rather than loops on the fly (with set in and out points), I dont need all that much acuracy when pressing those buttons.
Fredericka Pluhar
16.03.2010
Daaaaaaaamn, mine just got pushed back to week 18

Edit: loooool, it's in the building

I will write something about it tomorrow, don't got much time for it atm...
Tori Steese
15.03.2010
Thanks friends.
Everything also has it's disadvantage.

The AA VSM4 isn't a alternative I believe, as far as I know it's weight is about 10kg...so not really mobile.
And it's quallity can be the second point...
Brant Briski
15.03.2010
not at all. sorry!
Tori Steese
15.03.2010
Originally Posted by mix architekt
it runs off of an external 12 volt power supply.
Thanks for your answer.
So no possibility to run it only bus powered from a Macbook?
Brant Briski
15.03.2010
Originally Posted by Akilah

Can anybody tell me if the DX is USB bus powered or if it needs a power adapter?
it runs off of an external 12 volt power supply.
Kecia Wnukowski
15.03.2010
Next to come American audio vsm4. But I wouldn't bet on the quality, but who knows, it may be a surprise.

No, the Dx isn't usb powered. I don't see how it could have been.
Tori Steese
15.03.2010
It looks like the Xone DX is also the best solution for me.
I was looking for a controller for Traktor with a internal audio interface which let me have control of all 4 decks with FX and the loop section and it seems the DX is the one to go for.
Guess there is no other unit out there which fit these specs!?

Can anybody tell me if the DX is USB bus powered or if it needs a power adapter?

Looking forward to read your comments and reviews.

Cheers,
Akilah
Brant Briski
13.03.2010
@ hesitant - did you have all the right categories selected at import? you'll need all of them checked except for broadcasting and the file paths. if you'd like some help getting it to work, hit me up...
Yon Gigler
12.03.2010
Originally Posted by Yul
Sorry to hear that, I know it's frustrating to have to wait.
Meanwhile , I've started to map the Dx so I've just uploaded the following pictures so you can have an idea about what's feasible with it. I don't have time right now to go into explanations, I may make a thread later about it.

But to give a rough idea, each deck layer has 3 modes linked to it (normal: all moves and loop management; hotcue mode: hotcues and slicer trick; Fx mode: fx presets). May be it won't talk without a bit of clarifications but that would come later as I made some specific choices - like the way I'm mixing or how I'm managing FXs and why I've made those choices).

It's the first mapping anyway so it may change depending on actual use (the field test). A lot of tweaking is required and I need to map some other stuff on it. Not finished at all....and there are some mistakes in the pictures
Yul, that is a great looking map for the dx. I've no idea where to start as I've never made a map from scratch. I tried to use Mix Architekt map but for some reason it doesn't do anything. No idea why. Mapped a couple of buttons out myself which worked fine. Will try and get to work on it over the weekend.
Kecia Wnukowski
12.03.2010
I've started to replace some knobs (the top rank ones) by some from the Xone 92 (black/grey on top with the blue liner - to match the above blue leds) and plan to order some colored knobs from Djs-face. I may change the knobs from the Fx units to bright orange ones and if the quality of those new knobs are good I may even replace the Eq knobs to match the color of the decks' layer (red/green).
Wilford Bakalian
12.03.2010
wish anyone had them in stock. :-/
Mac Fly
12.03.2010
Not gonna lie, thats the best looking midi controller I have seen.
Brandy Suchoski
12.03.2010
Nice! hope mine ships this week!
Yon Gigler
11.03.2010
I've got mine woooooohooooooo



Its playtime
Kecia Wnukowski
11.03.2010
Sorry to hear that, I know it's frustrating to have to wait.
Meanwhile , I've started to map the Dx so I've just uploaded the following pictures so you can have an idea about what's feasible with it. I don't have time right now to go into explanations, I may make a thread later about it.

But to give a rough idea, each deck layer has 3 modes linked to it (normal: all moves and loop management; hotcue mode: hotcues and slicer trick; Fx mode: fx presets). May be it won't talk without a bit of clarifications but that would come later as I made some specific choices - like the way I'm mixing or how I'm managing FXs and why I've made those choices).

It's the first mapping anyway so it may change depending on actual use (the field test). A lot of tweaking is required and I need to map some other stuff on it. Not finished at all....and there are some mistakes in the pictures
Fredericka Pluhar
11.03.2010
Lol, just received a mail from the dealer. They allready received a few Xones today but not enough to clear the backorder, so mine will be probabily in in a week or two
Gena Tautolo
11.03.2010
thanks you really are a goldmine of info - if it can bang it out like the 4D i'm sure it won't be a problem

not sure quite why everyone is so obsessed with the fact that the DX doesn't work as an analog mixer - for home use i would always have my laptop up and running whilst i'm using my decks so routing the audio through software is no biggie and when playing out i mix in the box into the line in and leave the decks plugged into the phono channels anyway.....
Brant Briski
11.03.2010
@ tt:

yes, anything coming through the inputs (external or internal) can have effects added to them; the channel stuff is all there too - gain, eq, etc... ditto for traktor.

as for the output level, i don't have a firebox to compare to, but there is no output difference between my 4D and the DX, if that means anything. :-)
Gena Tautolo
10.03.2010
one more q for mixarchitect can you apply FX (especially tempo related FX like gater etc) to analog channels running through ITCH? thanks!
Yon Gigler
10.03.2010
Got a call from the shop and they told me I'll have mine tomorrow woohoo
Yon Gigler
09.03.2010
The dealer where my unit is on order phoned me today to say they are delayed again But should be shipping at the end of the week fingers crossed.
Gena Tautolo
09.03.2010
can it run as loud as a firebox/audio4? my main issue is that the internal VCI soundcard even with the gain turned up is just much quieter than most analog sources (unlike most of the industry standard soundcards out there), which means going back to back with someone on a system that's already maxed out means a noticeable drop in volume every time you switch channels. if that's the case then i'm sold and i'll be getting one asap....
Brant Briski
09.03.2010
you'll have no problem running external sources - i usually have cdj's with the DX for demo purposes. the latency is not noticeable to me for normal beat matching functions. mixing with external and internal sources is very easy in either application, relative to how you have your map configured.

when using itch, the cue buttons on the channel switched to external mode turn a sort of amber/orange color... in traktor it's up to you to program it how you want.

the quality of the sound card in the DX is top notch, derived from the 4D with unique drivers that are of extremely low jitter - much lower than most usb audio devices. that said, your source material is the biggest factor in sound quality, followed by internal gain structure...
Gena Tautolo
09.03.2010
has anyone tried running decks through this using the soundcard ins (with either itch or traktor) - ie is it possible to mix vinyl and digital at the same time? i know it's not a mixer and that you have to run it through software but given that i have my laptop on the whole time i'd love to be able to use 2 channels for my decks and 2 for traktor or itch....

i'm going to wait until someone here has gigged with it at a decent size club - i bought the VCI300 believeing it would be an all-in-one solution with no cabling and sound card set-up issues etc but i've had to stop using itch for playing out as the built-in sound card is so lousy and use traktor and a firebox. if this works out of the box with the built-in sound card i'll probably sell the VCI300 and buy one of these.

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