Sound card clarification and iPad charging

It can be done, I have a numark idj pro that I bought for the djay app, if I plug the ipad in to it, traktor detects the connection and enables the split output function, I can then use the main out put from the numark for the main out put and the headphones connection for cueing, I can even use the volume and mix balance knobs on the numark to control the traktor out put to the headphones. However at £300 this is a very expensive way of doing it, but it does show that the software can do it

 

Vestax Spin 2

Notice I have another device that can charge the iPad while offering it two stereo outputs, it's the Vestax Spin 2.

Though for now, it would sound quite silly to bring a Vestax controller just for its sound card and dock connector, if one day Traktor DJ does support MIDI mapping, this mixer becomes instantly the best companion of an iPad for mixing.

This controller currently works flawlessly with Algoriddim's Djay, with charging, pre-cueing and MIDI control. It's a dream to use it.

But I would love to have this working with Traktor DJ as Algoriddim lacks some features such as big waveform oriented UI, better FX and things like Freeze mode or Traktor Sync.

I also need to try DJ Player which claims offering the same level of support for the Spin 2 as Algoriddim.


The question I'm worried about is if NI will see benefit on bringing us this MIDI-mapping support or if they'll want to use the iOS opportunity to lock support to its own hardware like it happened with the DVS opportunity.

 

I got my UCA 202 in the post this morning (bought in on amazon, came fast enough) I am using a lightening to USB camera connector and it works, pretty well.

My only concern is that I also tried a couple of other DJ apps that I have bought over the couple of months I have had my iPad, I loaded up crossDj by mixvibes and since they updated it a couple of days ago, the sou d quality wipes the floor compared to traktor DJ.

I prefer the simplicity of the layout in traktor, but if the quality is that good, (and it really is) NI need to update to do whatever it is mixvibes have done!

 

I quite agree, the sound quality on MixVibes CrossDj for IPAD is the best sound so far for Dj App since they update the app.

 

Can you explain why CrossDJ 'seems' to sound better..?

If both apps are using external soundcards the quality is dependant on the soundcard.
Now, Traktor Pro is 'bit-transparent' which means it plays the raw mp3/wav etc. There is no enhancement of the sound. This is why people say such things like "why does iTunes sound better that Traktor on my system" , it's because iTunes does not play the mp3 in its raw format. It enhances it.

I will check with devs but I'd be pretty sure that Traktor DJ is also bit-transparent.

If CrossDJ has some inbuilt enhancement then I would not touch it as I want my tracks to be played by the app in their raw format and any enhancement or EQ to be added to my taste.

 

All I have read is that a new algorithm implemented in the recent update has increased the sound quality 10 fold, I couldn't give specifics on it. I only know from testing both apps while sat in front of floor standing Linn Keilidh's with the UCA 202!

Edit: link to article: http://djworx.com/mixvibes-crossdj-ipad-key-lock/
Interesting reading the comments, which algorithm does traktor use?

 

Focusrite Scarlett 2I4 works fine. Powered USB Hub is needed.

 

A keylock algorithm does not improve the quality of the sound when the track is played at its natural bpm. The quality of the algorithm is only tested when you change the key of the track.
That article on DJWORX claims that keylock is improved not overall sound quality.

The better the algorithm the less break up and artifacts will be heard.

CrossDJ (the full DJ application) uses Zplane élastique efficient V2 algorithm. If they have managed to implement this in their iPad app that's some feat but the don't name it on their website.

I do not know what algorithm is used in Traktor DJ.

 

I was problably quick to post the article, but as I mentionedmbefore, I'm pretty new to all of this, I just read in the first couple of lines that new stuff had been added so thought that might have been the cause for the quality increase!

I can't go back to using Cross because of 2 reasons,
1) waveform view in traktor is amazing
2) who actually uses the little jog wheels?

So I'll be sticking with traktor for the future, sure I can go without a 10% audio increase, but traktor is laid out better and simply works, had no crashes with it at all, no problems to report. (The UCA 202 was a great addition, thanks for the helpful posts on that!)

 

Is there a limiter in Traktor DJ or more importantly can we switch it off!

 

Come On Karlos You know and I know even if you using a external sound card and the signal that is sent to that sound card is crap then the output of the sound from sound card would be affected.
I dont know what MixVibes did, but I am using App through the iPad headphone jack,play the same sound and the quality from MixVibes is more clear and crisp than that of Traktor DJ.
Dont get me wrong I love the Tractor App very much, the approach with the interaction with the waveforms is a first.
The only thing missing is AutoMix,the ability to split outputs between headphone and usb to use one for cue and one for master like DJay does and sample deck.
All I could say is NI Team keep the updates coming to make a great App even better.

 

I don't understand what the point of that statement is dude? Who has said that either app has bad quality output?

Traktor is not sending a "crap signal", it should be sending a bit-transparent signal which is what I want. I don't want EQ or enhancement adding at source, I want to add that to taste.

I don't have the Cross app so I cannot test it against Traktor but I have used Traktor DJ on a big system and I am very happy with the quality of the sound.
If I wasn't happy I wouldn't use it and I would have raised the issue on the beta team.

If the Cross app has some enhancement inbuilt then it is not something I would use.

 

Karlos, get the Cross app, dude. You will enjoy it. Regardless if you'll use it for real or not, it's nice & beautiful for sure. A very good screen layout and library browser. And it costs small money, so why not ...

The Cross has louder output. It runs hotter for sure. Besides that, I can't really compare the output quality on an iPad, since I can only run one of the apps at a time. Perhaps I can with a phone & pad, or 2 pads, if I take an iPad2 from the office, but don't think it counts or worths. Anyway, the Cross is louder ad that's easy for some people to perceive as "better". Other than the that, it's EQs are nice and the FX too.

CrossDJ is one of the strongest contenders in the iPad DJ space. If it just gets proper MIDI, it'd be great ...

 

uca 202 vs. vmx 100

hi,
for those who are interested, i tryed the uca 202, cause the output of headphone jack wasn't loud and good enough for me. got an ipad 4. now i tryed the vmx 100 usb pro mixer from behringer, and i must say, it is now min. 30% louder than the uca 202 and the sound is ok for me. it is the right solution for me. i got a cheap 2 channel mixer with an usb interface for my ipad, no need a powered usb hub, and on the other channel i got my laptop with a s2 running. in case that my old macbook makes trouble, i play some tracks with the ipad and restart the mac....
cheers..

 

DJ Hombre did a compare test of the iPad apps with Key lock at:
http://newswire.digitaldjtips.com/post/17713904045/dj-player-next-version-details

Furthermore, he mentions that this weekend the Cross is just a a dollar (or a EUR), and that makes it quite an attractive purchase.

Finally, his compare tests show that the Trakotr DJ app has the worst Key lock implementation among all the other apps.

 

Remember this is version 1 of Traktor DJ. Let's see what comes next.

 

Interested to see what the update would bring.

 

Ok I got the Cross app... It definitely is not playing a raw file. There has to be some enhancement of the audio going on under the hood. It is definitely EQ'd.

I did a quick comparison of the same track in TDJ and Cross, both with no EQ and no bpm adjustment and I simply played the tracks (blind) to my girlfriend and she instantly picked Cross out as sounding "better".
With some adjustment of the EQ in TDJ I got the sound very close to what was coming out of Cross naturally.
Cross is louder and this will be perceived as better, I agree on that point but I maintain that Cross is enhancing the audio.

For what it's worth, I think its a good app. Way better than any of the others on the market but not better than TDJ simply because I personally don't want my app to enhance the audio. I'd like that job left to myself.

As for the keylock algorithm in Cross, it is fantastic. I was very surprised (although it still gets very muddy when pushed to the limit, which is a useless test as no-one should be using the 100% setting) but it is good.

Good things, very good things.

 

Oh man! Super happy about that! Got a 1600 on the way this week!

 

Respect! Proof our mod is impartial. Kudus for giving that a try am hoping traktor can improve their keylock and give us fine manual bpm/grid adjustment.