Traktor Scratch Poor (a.k.a. Ghetto Timecode Control)
Traktor Scratch Poor (a.k.a. Ghetto Timecode Control) Posted on: 09.04.2009 by Aurelia Lenox So after a few hours of tweaking, I have a working timecode vinyl control setup within Traktor Scratch Pro without the Audio8, or any other pricey 4in/4out card. In fact, my external soundcard only has 2 inputs! Since Traktor only allows you to use one sound device at a time, combining your available devices involves a little bit of software trickery. Here's my current setup:
Oh, and a free copy of Traktor Scratch Pro from a friend who bought it and decided he liked Serato better Total: $1360. Here's how my current setup is connected: 1) Technics Deck A: Connect barrel connectors to phono output, then use RCA-to-1/8" to connect to Macbook Pro's stereo line-in. 2) Technics Deck B: Connect barrel connectors to phono output, then use RCA-to-1/8" to connect to HarmonyAudio's stereo line-in. 3) Onto the software trickery! Open up the Audio Midi Setup app in /Applications/Utilities and create an Aggregate Audio Device. More information here: http://www.apple.com/pro/techniques/aggregateaudio/. My Aggregate Device is: Macbook Line-In (2 in, resampled) HarmonyAudio (2 in / 8 out, set as clock) You'll want to set the clock to whatever device you're outputting to, and resample all your other devices to keep them in sync. The order of your devices in the list is that order that Traktor will see the inputs/outputs on the Aggregate Device. So if my list is in the above order, then in Traktor I would see: "Aggregate Device (4 in, 8 out)" ...which would correlate as listed below, for me. Aggregate Device In 0 -- Macbook Line-In Channel 0 Aggregate Device In 1 -- Macbook Line-In Channel 1 Aggregate Device In 2 -- HarmonyAudio In Channel 0 Aggregate Device In 3 -- HarmonyAudio In Channel 1 Aggregate Device Out 0 -- HarmonyAudio Out Channel 0 Aggregate Device Out 1 -- HarmonyAudio Out Channel 1 Aggregate Device Out 2-7 -- HarmonyAudio Out Channel 2-7 You'll likely have a different soundcard, and therefore a different quantity and combination of inputs/outputs, so I'm just defining the connections to clarify my example setup. 4) Now open up Traktor Scratch Pro. Set your audio device to the Aggregate Device, map your Input Routing/Output Routing, and go to Timecode Setup. Should now be seeing a timecode signal for Decks A and B! I had to adjust my inputs until I got a strong enough signal for Traktor to read the timecode. On my HarmonyAudio box I just turned the input gain all the way up, and for the Macbook Pro line-in, I went to Sound Preferences and set it Line-In to 75% gain (just before the 4th tick). Once everything was set, I had a solid, responsive vinyl setup, with a 2.5ms latency. Right now, I'm only using two of my soundcard's outputs into my monitors. For when I use this in a club, I would just use the HarmonyAudio's 8 outputs into the club mixer. 4 for Decks A&B into the mixer, 2 for monitoring and 2 for rec/ other line out. I'll put a vid of this setup working if anybody wants it, but a lot of you should have similar enough gear to try this out for yourselves. Good luck! -- Charlie Tran, Brooklyn bedroom DJ / web developer | |
| juan garcia 02.06.2009 | yes it can be, but like bento said you may be less then happy with the results of using it. |
| Camie Conrads 02.06.2009 | i know i can use any soundcard , but exactly BCD3000 can it be used as soundcard for dvs? |
| Xavier Emanuels 02.06.2009 |
Originally Posted by Rokas
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| Camie Conrads 02.06.2009 | PLEASE ANSWER MY QUESTION , can i use bcd3000 only as soundcard, for dvs system? |
| Antonia Dodgens 02.06.2009 |
Originally Posted by ctran
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| Adolf Hit 01.06.2009 |
EDIT:
If your mate has got Traktor Scratch but only uses the soundcard for production he could (i believe) transfer his registration to you for free then you could upgrade for 99usd (is that what you meant by Free). Now i would check with NI about that as the Audio 8 is part of the package but i could see that working out (and very nicely). The registration may mean that any support for the Audio 8 would have to be via you cus its you it would be re-registered to but theres no point in your mate having TS when he only uses the card. (does that make sense) |
| nayit ruiz jaramillo 01.06.2009 | Hey Midifidler, Hope this helps:
Originally Posted by midifidler
Originally Posted by midifidler
Originally Posted by midifidler
Its a toss up between buying the Original Traktor Scratch and then the TSP upgrade at ???usd Or The TSP Certified Upgrade at 399usd Either way this will inevitably mean you end up with Traktor Pro that is useless. But you can sell it and there are plenty of people looking to buy a second hand Traktor Pro (boxed or not). So maybe get 60usd back on that?
Originally Posted by midifidler
But what is often glossed over is that the DVS Plugin is a huge bit of technology that was developed separately from Traktor. Its a bit like buying a car and saying to the sale guy why cant i have that model, its the same as this and pointing to one with an extra 200bhp and a soft-top and alloys. Same car but one has way more features. EDIT: If your mate has got Traktor Scratch but only uses the soundcard for production he could (i believe) transfer his registration to you for free then you could upgrade for 99usd (is that what you meant by Free). Now i would check with NI about that as the Audio 8 is part of the package but i could see that working out (and very nicely). The registration may mean that any support for the Audio 8 would have to be via you cus its you it would be re-registered to but theres no point in your mate having TS when he only uses the card. (does that make sense) Karlos |
| Adolf Hit 01.06.2009 | Hey Karlos, As you seem to know more about how the different software/hardware packages interact than is layed out on the online store can you help me out with a slightly OT question. I own Traktor Pro which I have used with my firebox since it was released, I recently brought a Korg Zero 4 which is a certified mixer. My friend is giving me his control vinyl as he only uses the card for production (bizzare! -I know) I want to start using the DVS functionality, for now I will use the demo version of Skratch pro, but once I start using it out I will need to upgrade to the full version of Skratch Pro. Now given I own Traktor Pro & a certified mixer surely I have more options than buying the Traktor Skratch Pro Crossgrade - $599 USD, which contains the software crossgrade as well as the audio 8, cables, control vinyl etc. Or the Traktor Skratch Pro Certified Upgrade ($339 USD) which is the full version of Traktor Pro with the DVS plugin ( so I assume this means Traktor Skratch Pro). Maybe my best option is to get hold of Traktor Skratch for cheap or free and buy the Skratch Pro upgrade for 99 USD, which effectivley makes my purchase of Traktor Pro worthless. Hmm maybe the answer is to sell Traktor Pro, buy Traktor Skratch, and then upgrade that to Skratch Pro. Its complicated being legal! |
| Doug Bieling 01.06.2009 |
Originally Posted by Chilly
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| Homer Chavarin 01.06.2009 | http://www.native-instruments.com/in...&L=1&prid=1986 I clicked "Add to Cart" and read the click-through Agreement carefully. While it carves out quite a few cases (upgrades, bundles, etc.) that would prohibit someone *else* from selling me just the software half of a Traktor Scratch hw/sw bundle, there is actually nothing in that Agreement that indicates I would be violating EULA by a) purchasing the certified upgrade package from NI, then b) using it with non-certified hardware. I'm not saying NI condones it, or that I should be entitled to support when running that configuration, I'm just saying the language doesn't appear to carve it out as a license violation. And if I can send money to NI, for which NI will send me the software and vinyl control media, and I can install and operate the software without violating the license...that sounds to me like I can purchase the software separately. |
| nayit ruiz jaramillo 01.06.2009 |
Originally Posted by Rokas
You cannot buy the software alone without one of the conditions i laid out in my last post. |
| Vernetta Sulenski 01.06.2009 |
Originally Posted by feralchimp
Almost time for a new pair of decks I guess.. They're only about 5 years old. Maybe I'll switch back to 1200s. First I"m going to check the needles though. Hopefully thats a cheap fix |
| Nick Ross 01.06.2009 |
Originally Posted by feralchimp
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| Camie Conrads 01.06.2009 | you can buy software...http://www.native-instruments.com/in...1c26b48fb25a9c |
| Homer Chavarin 01.06.2009 |
Originally Posted by Karlos Santos
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| nayit ruiz jaramillo 31.05.2009 |
Originally Posted by feralchimp
You must buy it with a package that includes the Audio 8 or Audio 4 or already have a Traktor Scratch Certified Mixer or already own an Audio 8/4. If you do not own an Audio 8/4 or Certified Mixer you cannot buy Traktor Scratch Pro/Duo. So the answer to your original question is no. Not unless you use a pirated copy of TSP. Just sayin' |
| Homer Chavarin 31.05.2009 |
Originally Posted by Chilly
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| Doug Bieling 31.05.2009 | Definatley not for cd as had it working myself with no issue at all ... Not sure on vinyl but at the end of the day all that's happening is the audio 8 is pre amping the turntable cd so oif you did have issues with the vinyl and your sound card a couple of cheap phono preamps should sort it. All you gotta do is make sure the doundcard you are using has enough ins and outs! |
| Homer Chavarin 31.05.2009 |
Originally Posted by Cliffm
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| Homer Chavarin 31.05.2009 | I want to be absolutely sure I understand this, because it's directly contradictory to NI's marketing literature: If I purchase some Traktor Scratch vinyl, and purchase Traktor Scratch (Pro or Duo) software, I do NOT need to use them with a Native Instruments-brand audio interface? |
| Brandon Krugger 30.05.2009 | $1360 including laptop, really ghetto indeed. |
| Camie Conrads 29.05.2009 | Hello , i had read your post about TSP and timecode , does this work on PC also , as you only mentioned aggregate audio? or is it the same as ASIO? And my gear is bcd3000 , external mixer , 2 decks... could i use my decks routed to bcd3000(as it has soundcard) , but use my external mixer for those 2 decks and another 2 decks controlled via bcd3000 |
| casey rascal 12.05.2009 |
Originally Posted by ctran
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| Nick Ross 12.05.2009 | Sorry man, but I'm confused. |
| Doug Bieling 12.05.2009 | cus i've already answered what your asking and thats exactly the response you would give a noob who asked a question thats already been answered |
| Nick Ross 12.05.2009 |
Originally Posted by MisterMoleyMole
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| Doug Bieling 12.05.2009 |
Originally Posted by Chilly
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| Nick Ross 12.05.2009 |
Originally Posted by BentoSan
MMM 260 Pounds = roughly 390 usd. So yeah, you paid the same amount. |
| Vinnie Tikka 11.05.2009 | its all good i guess. at least to me - as if you'd give a fuck about my opinion anyways. its like thanks to this workaround you (and prolly others) found out how great NI is, an at least spend a couple of bucks on them. so nobody can really complain. |
| Doug Bieling 11.05.2009 | slow upgrade route for me i'm afraid .. i dont have a wopping amount to blow on the full lot straight away but did sell a set of alloy wheels a few weeks back so had |
| Marshall Aby 11.05.2009 |
Originally Posted by weasel79
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| Xavier Emanuels 11.05.2009 |
Originally Posted by lethal_pizzle
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| Vinnie Tikka 11.05.2009 | well i guess its audio8 + control cds + "demo" version of traktor. MMM, i wish you fun with your new setup! other people might start the hating now. |
| Marshall Aby 11.05.2009 |
Originally Posted by MisterMoleyMole
All versions of Traktor Scratch Pro come with or are upgraded from versions that contain control cd's? But anyhow... Traktor Scratch Pro full package = 599? Traktor Scratch Pro certified upgrade (299) + audio8 (399) + 2 control CDs (18) = 716? Does not compute - haven't you spent too much dinero? |
| Doug Bieling 11.05.2009 | Woohooo i got this workin on a PC with cdjs and i am impressed. I cant believe how good this is i was expecting to feel different from using the cdjs with standard audio cds but it really doesnt does it. Also just to show this does do some good ive gone out now and bought an audio 8 dj and a couple of control cds, i would never have done that if i havent seen and tried this. Back of the Net! |
| Aurelia Lenox 30.04.2009 | thanks again cliff! so, i brought my setup over to my friend's place to test it out, and it turns out that my tables/needles are in fact the cause of the pitch drift. also, i figured out how to get rid of the distortion/skipping that i mentioned after experimenting with the aggregate device editor some more. so, in brief, i've got a timecode setup that's at least 75% as good as the audio4dj or audio8dj, for less than $75 in additional hardware for most people. this will work for any bedroom DJ who's been interested in timecode, but hasn't the benjamins to throw down for of the leading solutions. my friend is a professional DJ who's been making a living using serato for the past 3 years or so, and even he was impressed with the responsiveness of it. important points:
full tut and vid next week . |
| Vernetta Sulenski 29.04.2009 |
Originally Posted by ctran
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| Hertha Fang 29.04.2009 | My Mac's aggregate device editor doesn't recognize the numark DJIO soundcard. Strangely enough the soundcard works fine with Traktor and other audio apps and is displayed in the sound settings under system preferences, however I can't add the soundcard to any aggregate devices as the soundcard doesn't show up on the list. Any ideas? |
| Vernetta Sulenski 30.04.2009 | I have no issues at all. As far as gain levels I'll have to check. |
| Aurelia Lenox 30.04.2009 |
Originally Posted by Cliffm
If you wouldn't mind helping me with this a little bit more, do you experience any problems when you switch between relative and absolute during playback, and what gain levels do you see in timecode setup? |
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