S4 ruined my gig last night. Help.
S4 ruined my gig last night. Help. Posted on: 11.03.2012 by Eliza Auble Okay, I've been using TP2 since the day of release and TP1 before that. I have used various controllers and have lots of experience tweaking my machine to work flawlessly. About a week ago I decided to buy the s4, I'm so invested in TP2 that I might as well have the flagship controller right? After countless hours of testing at home becoming comfortable with the layout and not having a single issue (None what so ever)... I decided to use it for a gig. Fresh restart, ran my optimization code for win7 as always... And when I started playing a song would get about halfway in and then start to slow down progressively to a crawl and eventually freeze. The tempo faders on the screen didn't move, the BPM values for the tracks didn't change on screen. The fix I found during the set was to simply yank the USB to the S4 and plug it back in quick and audio would be back playing normal for another 5-15 minutes before doing it again. This happened at least 5 times in my hour and a half set. And it had never happened in the countless hours of practice at home. I made zero changes to the settings and everything was plugged in to the same USB ports I always use (I label them). Be aware my CPU usage never spike above 40-50%, and I can play for hours on end at home with zero issues. What in the hell could have happened last evening
? I have seen a few posts on the net about this but it seems no one really has looked into why this happens. They blame CPU manufacturer (AMD) or the whole Win7 thing and like I said, countless hours I have played on this exact setup at home with no issue (and gigging with control vinyl/CDs and other midi devices before purchasing S4). So its not the laptop. I just can't fathom why this happened last evening
only. I'm extremely frustrated and embarrassed over what went down last evening
and I refuse to use the s4 live until I nail this issue down. Does anyone have a clue? | |
| Eliza Auble 07.04.2012 |
Originally Posted by rawzombie
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| Lisa Lochotzki 06.04.2012 |
Originally Posted by geminimech
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| Verlene Geevarghese 05.04.2012 |
Originally Posted by SlayForMoney
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| Onie Sarandos 08.06.2012 | Damn. I've been playing out w/ my S4 for over a year and haven't experienced any problems like that, but that is some scary stuff right there. I do hope that it was just a fluke/defective unit (knocks on wood...) |
| Otto Harlin 05.06.2012 | Just like @smitten, I assume the problem might be: -the USB outputs of your laptop (my laptop only has one USB output which provides enough power to my Audio 6, others can't handle it), or- -your S4 couldn't get enough power. Try to plug the S4 into a separate power strip (or wall outlet) than the other electronics. |
| Claire Auyeung 05.06.2012 | Back to solving problems: Did you try process hacker / DPC lat, just to check out what windows is doing?? Maybe ACPI is messing things up? I dunno, just trying to help. http://www.native-instruments.com/knowledge/questions/847/__print9 help on acpi disabling: http://community s.presonus.com/posts/list/3535.page |
| Kareen Kreft 04.06.2012 | +1 apparently SlayforMoney (cute name ) only spins on 100% certified steal. He refuses to shoot glocks too, ewwww plastic. Jesus people just accept the fact that not everyone likes to do things your way....and sometimes that means they're gonna be better than you at something. gear doesn't matter as long as the party is slammin. Cant wait till the diamond encrusted cdj-15,000s come out tho, I should definitly get a world tour with those in my flight case. |
| Kellie Myrum 22.05.2012 | I've seen this issue before with dell laptop, behringer unit and TP1. |
| Eliza Auble 07.04.2012 |
Originally Posted by rawzombie
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| Lisa Lochotzki 06.04.2012 |
Originally Posted by geminimech
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| Len Lukawski 05.04.2012 | Couple of things: 1. Did you check the windows event logs to see if anything was logged? 2, Did you change the USB setup i.e. use one hub at home, use a different hub or no hub at the gig? Did 3. Did you use the PSU in the club? 4. Any mapped network drives or other networked based connections set up on the laptop? |
| Verlene Geevarghese 05.04.2012 |
Originally Posted by SlayForMoney
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| Dj Tykarma 05.04.2012 | If only the VCI-400 was Traktor Scratch certified, I would have no hesitation... Still got my VCI-100 as backup unit BTW... |
| Isa Erik 05.04.2012 | I would never consider a midi controller made out of plastic, w/o XLR outputs and standalone capability a PRO unit ...no matter what the manufacturer claims or what DJ's are paid to use it. |
| Armanda Yankauskas 05.04.2012 | me and my partner had a similar issue as well, i was running an errand while he was running the set at the time so i dont know exactly what happened but i'll def look into our issue and see if its the same as yours. this is a big deal because as you know, this would totally suck if it happened again. |
| Yan Brandenburg 04.04.2012 | jeffolivarri, guitar center just let you swap them out just like that? wow they are usually pretty anal and they rush you to 'send it in for repair' did you have a warranty plan or something set up or you have a secret handshake, just curious how were you able to pull this off? PS. Im glad you were able to get a replacement, I am on the look out for issues as I am purchasing an S4 this week, and found it for a great deal online, but GuitarCenter also had a sale so I am debating my options Thanks |
| Eliza Auble 02.04.2012 | Actually i have had zero issue with the new unit. I have used it quite a few times out at gigs now and it has performed each time the way it should. Even at an outdoor 5am set when it was covered in the morning dew (water was all over the S4, X1 and my Laptop) it worked flawlessly. I did have an issue in my studio one day with it where I would tap it and the lights would dim as if I unplugged the AC adapter. But I hit the power button once to turn it off, turned it back on and no issue. That issue never came back either, even after a few gigs. I guess it was a fluke. |
| Le Quilantang 26.03.2012 | jeffolivarri, have you seen your problem re-occur since you got the new one? I bought an S4 new myself from Guitar Center (great move...) and this is my 4th setup to date. I have been having the EXACT same issue as yourself, the audio slowdown and pops then comes to a complete halt. It wasn't like this at all when I first got it, I had one minor drop out that fixed itself, but it's really aggravating to see this issue on a $900 piece of gear , the worst part was being so torn between this and the ns6, and choosing the buggier of the two because Golden holds it in such regards. |
| Tennie Dornburg 11.03.2012 |
Originally Posted by jeffolivarri
Same BS that was said when cdjs first came out.... I have friends that are stuck in the same mindset on dj gear . |
| Eliza Auble 11.03.2012 | Problem seems solved with the new S4... Been playing on it all day, rebooting, playing some more, rinsing, and repeating. Been solid as a rock. I got this week off from gigs before they pick back up next Wednesday. So I'll be testing pretty extensively. One thing i do notice about this new unit, it seems to be much brighter when at 100% and it also seems to have more increments of brightness. I only had no light, medium light, or alot of light. No real inbetween on the first S4. I'm pretty sure at this point it was just a faulty unit. |
| Kami Sawan 11.03.2012 | You didn't buy it from dj tech tools? I'm starting believe maybe thats what I should have done.... went to guitar center |
| Addie Engbrecht 11.03.2012 | Thats crazy... |
| Eliza Auble 11.03.2012 | Okay after much frustration I just took the S4 back to Guitar Center and swapped for a fresh unit. Now home again testing and everything seems fine. I'll keep you all posted. If it happens again I then pretty much know it's my laptop. But all signs pointed to the problem being in the s4 itself so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. |
| Eliza Auble 12.03.2012 | So I wake up today and first thing I notice after not being able to recreate the issue lastevening
(and I didn't change anything)... is that it's now doing it again. Out of nowhere. Same cable is plugged in from lastevening
s tests, nothing has been moved or touched at all while I slept. I simply woke up and it started happening again. Soooooo I filmed it and got it up on youtube for you to see. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmQLhCIGGFc Also what I said about losing control of traktor via S4 may have been a figment of my imagination in the moment of confusion on stage... Because this morning it does the audio slow down, but I still had control over traktor. Check it and see for yourself. |
| Eliza Auble 11.03.2012 | I can't recreate the issue. The S4 is working completely fine now... I played 3 hours and had not one hiccup. The tests continue tomorrow. |
| Monroe Vandeslunt 11.03.2012 | The cables for my X1 and TA6 and twitch look identical. Will have a closer look when I get home |
| Eliza Auble 10.03.2012 | Booting up now to begin some heavy trial runs. I'll definitely keep the community in the loop on what goes down. |
| Kami Sawan 10.03.2012 | interesting observation on both units. keep me posted. |
| Eliza Auble 10.03.2012 | Not to mention the abundance of electrical gear and cables running right next to that unshielded cable on stage. Many factors that could mess with the S4's mass amount of data moving over that cable. |
| Eliza Auble 10.03.2012 | Okay so I believe i figured it out. My live rig consists of a Traktor Kontrol S4 running alongside a Traktor Kontrol X1. The USB cables look identical, but upon further inspection they are not. The cable that comes with the S4 is shielded, likely because of the audio interface and whatnot. The X1 cable is not shielded, or at least it fails to say on the USB cable where it does on the S4 cable. It has all the same info printed on it minus the word "shielded". There was a powered monitor last evening literally a foot or 2 from my S4 last evening . I'm believeing this might be the issue if I mixed up the cables. I'm going to label the shielded one and test the s4 with both cables and a monitor right next to it to see if it creates an issue. But knowing that, it makes perfect sense. I just gotta be sure. |
| Kami Sawan 10.03.2012 | I seen that video of pete tong, I wonder how much NI paid him? Who knows.... I like tractors software, the unit was made cheaply. ( thats my argument )....... My job wheels would sound like sandpaper rubbing together, and my usb porn broke. I little pissed $399 but if i had paid $899 s4 I would have wanted my money back. I did have a first hand look at numarks ns7 and its built stronger. |
| Wava Zachery 10.03.2012 |
Originally Posted by smiley4822
Did you try a different power source for your controller? |
| Eliza Auble 10.03.2012 | All pro, touring, and making thousands in gigs. All using S4. A Guy Called Gerald live in Ibiza on S4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0KidEjDYao Pete Tong live at Gatecrasher on S4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfHjh9-WwQE Crizzly live at Nocturnal Wonderland on S4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiaHuLYYmX0 Again your argument is invalid... I love my vinyl but I'm not attached to using archaic technology live forever. There comes a time to move forward to keep up with the incoming onslaught of younger talent. I play to packed indoor and outdoor raves as well as clubs and see the S4 often being using by touring DJs that are booked. The S4 is a viable option for any pro DJ, but as with any gear you can run into issues. If you are going to continue living in the past go for it, but you vinyl elitism does nothing to sway a guy who has been slinging vinyl for more than a decade already. I was once spitting your same argument. |
| Kami Sawan 10.03.2012 | jeff, pro dj's are not using tractor all over the world. I'm a 26 year vet, i stood beside the likes of bad boy bill and to kool chris b96 chicago early 90's. they would not dj $5000 per evening with s4/s2. stick to (2 turntables 1 mixer ). |
| Eliza Auble 10.03.2012 | Thanks for the pointers smiley... LOL if you would read I typically play on techs and a mixer via control vinyl. I've been playing for 12 years in front of crowds in clubs and raves, I already do this as a job and have been. Every medium has its issues, bass feedback in the needles in a world of ever increasing bass being a huge reason I made the jump from turntables. The s4 is supposed to be a professional piece of kit, professional DJs use it all over the world so your "Bedroom DJ" argument is invalid but thanks for playing. I'll continue looking into the USB issue, but really if it's a USB issue why doesn't it ever happen any other time? I have played in my studio loud enough to vibrate it to the level that it was at on stage last evening with no issue. But I'll try wiggling it or tapping the USB to see if it ever causes a hiccup. |
| Kami Sawan 10.03.2012 | I believe its the usb port. the prongs inside are touching and shorting out the pc. if i was you jeff, try new controller. I bought into tractor s2 and my usb port was faulty .in this community i've found complaints about usb port. if you really do plan on making living (as a club dj ) i would go with 2 turntables and mixer. tractor s2/s4 was only geared toward BEDROOM DJ. |
| Eliza Auble 10.03.2012 | A little detail though about what is happening on screen when this phenomenon happens... All BPM values on the decks, tempo fader counterparts, and phase meters look as if everything is working fine. No fluctuation. Zero. So this leads one to believe its happening inside the S4 itself. And the S4 loses control completely, it's lit up... But hitting cue or play does nothing while it remains green on screen. But if I yank the USB cable and pop it right back in, music is playing normally and where it should be in time... It's freaking messed up. So I just pay attention to the moments I would begin to notice the controller not working and/or when the music would slightly begin its decent in tempo and yank the cable on first sign. |
| Verona Spradlin 10.03.2012 | Well I've got no idea what could be causing that. I'd say just called up Native Instruments, they'll hook you up. Also, thumbs up for another San Antonio DJ! See you at the DMCs in two weeks. |
| Eliza Auble 10.03.2012 | Yes I calibrated everything as I was setting up during the ealier DJs set. As for Temp being hot, nope it was kinda cool. 68 Fahrenheit to be exact. An area of the club that has a lot of draft from a nearby patio. Cooler than my home studio. People mentioned the fog machine being a possibility too, but surely NI would have thought about that when making a piece of gear for the club/rave. I would hope. Luckily I got quick with yanking the USB cable and plugging it right back in (like 1 second) as soon as I audibly began to tell it was slowing down. Some people hardly noticed after a while just sounded like audio dropouts. But really? Am I going to have to keep doing this nonsense and sacrificing my reputation each time I want to use my new $900 piece of kit? I'm really upset. |
| Viviana Tarno 10.03.2012 | Heat? Consider it may be much warmer on location than when standing in your own room, and maybe your laptop couldn't handle that. It surely always has been the source of problems I had with laptops... |
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