Laptop for TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 + X1 + TRAKTOR PRO 2

Hi all,
I would like to buy new laptop Sony Vaio SVE14A2M1EB which will be used for DJ-ing only. (TRAKTOR PRO 2 + TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 + TRAKTOR KONTROL X1)

Laptop parameters:
Intel Core i3-3110 ~ 2,4 GHz
4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz
GPU - Intel HD 4000 + AMD Radeon HD 7670 (switchable)
HDD - 500 GB
OS - Windows 8
USB ports - 2 x USB 3.0 + 2 x USB 2.0

As my gigs are coming soon, I would like to ask - will be this laptop suitable to run TRAKTOR PRO 2.6 with TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 and TRAKTOR KONTROl X1 smoothly? (without any sound poping, crackling, or other sound problems).

Thank you for your quick answer.

 

A few people here are having trouble running Traktor on Sony Vaios. The above machine is well above the recommended spec but there's no guarantee it will work perfectly.

 

Thanks for repyl but I think, there is no guarantee on any laptop.. a lot of people here have troubles with MAC and WINDOWS as well.. On some forum here, I have found, that on the latest SONY VAIOs, TRAKTOR definitely should work smoothly but we need to do some tuning in WINDOWS operating system...

 

Don't get a Viao, I had problems and so do others.

 

I have already bought this laptop. Looks great and very fast. 14 inches display large looks very comfortable and very practical for transport.. Looks like MAC, but nicer.. Of course, it is not so essentially, but how is powerfull. Now I am in the process of WINDOWS 8 tuning.
I have uninstalled all unused software, drivers and today I will continue with other things. (turn off wifi, battery, etc.) I do not have installed TRAKTOR yet, but I do not see any reason why it should not work. My plan is to install latest driver (3.1.0) for S4 and TRAKTOR software (2.6.3). Hopefully will work without problems.
Laptop can not be a problem!! It is brand new VAIO model 2013. Powerfull 2,4GHz Intel i3 processor with 3MB cache and 1GB ATI graphic card and 4GB RAM has to be more than enough. Under preinstalled Windows 8 and USB 3.0 should work without any problem, as I have red many forums already. If not I will try to install WINDOWS 7 instead... Do you have any more recommendations for me what to do yet to run TRAKTOR PRO + S4 smoothly?

 

Neither do any other buyers. Specs and "power" mean nothing once you meet the recommended requirements. There are plenty of complaints on this forum from people who have high-spec computers.

 

Sorry, but it CAN be a problem. As the guy above said, problems with Windows laptops are often not related to power.

Windows machines are all built differently (unlike Macs) so seemingly identical spec machines can behave very differently due to the software and components used.

I wish you luck, you have Windows 8 and USB 3, I use Windows 7 and USB 2, so you might be OK!

Here is the thread I started on the issue with Viaos:
http://www.native-instruments.com/f...top-drops-outs-every-hour-ish-any-suggestions

 

OK, I am done. WINDOWS 8 preinstalled + USB 3 + all latest drivers and TRAKTOR:
TRAKTOR PRO 2.6.3 (latest)
TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 - 3.1.0 driver (latest) - USB 3 connected
TRAKTOR KONTROL X1 - 3.0.1 driver (latest) - USB 3 connected

After first install of TRAKTOR, I have changed absolutely nothing related to latency (it was defaultly set to 256 samples and 1 ms) - just plug an play
After one hour of playing the result is absolutely no AUDIO glitches, cracks or pops..

Looks new model of SONY VAIOs (2013) helps. I will try to play today longer than one hour, but hopefully there will be no audio problems.

My recommendation - connect every gear you have to USB 3.0 (S4+X1), and use WINDOWS 8.

I have decided between 15,6 inch VAIO model laptop (looks too big) (2 x USB2.0 + only 1 x USB 3.0) and this one - 14 inch model (2xUSB2.0 + 2xUSB3.0)

Believe me or not 14 inch wide display is realy enough, including: smaller dimensions, more transportable, handy and practical.

Let see my setup in the attachment from yesterday evening testing (it is little bit dark) and say your opinion...

 

I don't use Windows, but aren't these specs a little low for a new 2013 Traktor machine? Core i3 and 4 GB RAM?

And things might work okay now, but couldn't things start slowing down as more effects/decks are used?

 

I have all 4 decks tested with all effects turned ON:

result:
- CPU load - 13%
- audio problems - none

 

Looking good, but you'll need to test it for several hours to make sure you really are clean . Low CPU load made no difference in older Viao issues.

 

I think the magic is in Windows optimization only. CPU Intel Core i3 - 3rd generation 2,4Ghz has to be mooooooooooooore than enough to run TRAKTOR 2.6.3 smoothly as it is more than above recommended configuration according to NI.

Do you have some tips for me if I will have some audio problems after couple hours of playing? Hopefully it will not be my case, just for sure... :S

I have set latency to 256 samples and 1 ms USB buffer - will be it enough for longer playing or should I change it to higher value?

Somewhere I have read that USB buffer should be set to highest value (4ms) for non problematic mixing.

Thanks.

 

As previously stated, the power is irrelevant to the issues with other Viaos. Mine is way above NI's recommended spec, yet I suffer drop outs roughly once every 1-2 hours. No CPU load at all but it still happens.

Well if you're not having any problems then I wouldn't worry about it! But if you do experience a Viao related drop out, then none of this will help I'm afraid. It's not related to computer power or latency.

In my case, I have changed computer (for now, I am using a cheap desktop machine which works perfectly). If I start to play out regularly, I will probably get a refurb'd Macbook.

 

For 4th of July, I was switching between my iPad and 2.0ghz core 2 duo MacBook aluminum running os 10.7 for my house party. I was being lazy since it was my own party, but there was no flaws in traktor on the Mac the whole night. I'd shoot for a used MacBook that can at minimum run the latest os to protect yourself against being outdated. Traktor doesn't require crazy specs like some people think.

 

For 4th of July, I was switching between my iPad and 2.0ghz core 2 duo MacBook aluminum running os 10.7 for my house party. I was being lazy since it was my own party, but there was no flaws in traktor on the Mac the whole night. I'd shoot for a used MacBook that can at minimum run the latest os to protect yourself against being outdated.

You are absolutely true. Also I think, in presence, there is no difference in hardware between MAC and PC now. All WINDOWS users just need to optimize system (because it is not iOS on MACs) to maximum performance and use LAPTOP for DJ-ing only. No internet browsing before, as there is lot of SPAMS and VIRUSES which do not have to find an antivirus software and can easily affect real time audio streaming..


Just my recommendation..

 

There is certainly some difference in hardware, as I'm sure Apple pick components that are less likely to cause driver conflicts and hence audio dropouts as their machines are expected to perform well in media-related applications.

My Air runs Traktor flawlessly and gets very low numbers from LatencyMon while running Windows 8 without any optimisation, for example.

 

Hello djbrano123,

Could you please advise on the procedure to install the same configuration? Excepting that I am buying S2 and F1.

What needs to be installed first and next and next?

I am on windows 7.

Many Thanks in Advance,
Best Regards,
John Joseph

 

Argh, just ordered a new Sony Vaio touchscreen interface etc.. after reading this that sounds like that might be a huge mistake. I need it for other things other than DJing. Maybe I should invest in a 'cheap' 2nd hand MBP purely for DJing?

 

I did the same - picked up a used Macbook for £250 which runs Traktor perfectly without having to tweak the system at all. Any model from 2010 onwards should work great.

 

I bought a 2010 MacBook pro, should do the trick. After reading a lot of threads on this forum it seems that PC laptops are more hassle than it's worth for Traktor. I need my PC laptop for other things, I can't afford to strip all the drivers out until Traktor works properly. So at least this way I'll be able to use this MBP purely for DJing when I'm out and about.