Xone:DB4

@runningoutofspace

Was reading that your DB4 is currently in the shop....was wondering what specifically was wrong with it? I just got mine about 2 weeks ago and have noticed 2 things (other than it being the best mixer, IMO, on the face of the planet):

1) The main On/Off doesn't always work, I noticed that when the USB is plugged into my mac and the computer is in sleep mode, the mixer will not turn on. Then when I wake the computer and try turning it on again, it will turn on fine. I also believe this has happened when the computer was not in sleep mode,but had not been touched in a while. The mixer only turns on after the 2nd attempt.

2) There is a random distorting of audio that occurs every once in a while....it's not noise on top of the signal but sounds like the audio coming through is getting distorted, it starts cracking, almost like a bit redux....does this for about 20 seconds then goes away...I've replaced the USB cable, same thing. Tomorrow i'm going to use the mixer on my roommates macbook pro to see if the problem happens.

Either way, I emailed A&H about the power on/off thing and they said i'd be best off just taking it in for repairs (which I wouldn't even know where to go, I live in Florida) What kind of problems were you having on your DB4?



EDIT: I just read over on macforums that the crackling problem is consisten with other coreaudio users, whether their using mac speakers or external soundcard so it looks like that's not coming from the mixer. I'm a relieved and bummed at the same time....i always thought coreaudio was far superior : (

 

Where in Florida? I recently had my Xone 62 repaired in the Orlando area, and the repair shop was excellent. I would highly recommend them.

 

Can anybody confirm that the loopers on the db4 will eventually go out of sync? i have my db4 synced to midi clock, and when i loop with it..is does not stay in sync long, especially when i loop half bar loops or shorter? is this normal?
Thanx..

 

My right XLR channel on the Master output would pick-up a phantom fuzz signal and ruin. It would show up when nothing was playing through the mixer and could be heard through the monitors when everything was supposed to be silent.
Sounded like AM radio on the dead channels...

On my last soundcloud recording you can hear it....and it's bad.
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Mixarchitekt's the expert on this. I believe the answer on how to fix this is buried in this topic. You may have the DB4 set-up for Midi bpm range but you also need to have Traktor send clock to DB4.

Also, if you are using the DB4's sampler loopers on straight channel fed signals (not a midi controlled/sync'd Traktor deck loop), it's natural that this may drift due to where you execute the start and end. If you adjust the length out of time, it can throw it off too so you have to be deliberate and precise. I sometimes will mix to the loop and never bring regular playing parts back, it works better.

 

I just purchased a brand new DB4. When I plug it in and turn it on, absolutely nothing happens - no lights, etc., it's like it's not plugged in at all. Is there something that needs to be done besides plug it in and push the on/off switch, or did I get a bunk unit? Anyone else have such a problem?

 

@ dj proben: the manual says that before you turn it on for the first time, you should first install the drivers. Maybe it has something to do with that?

 

No lights is really bad. A lot of things should be illuminated at initial power-up (FX indicators, FX menu, Channel loop settings, EQ knobs, channel source select setting indicator, Filter setting, etc.). If you see not one light on that is bad and should be taken back.

 

Thanks - yes drivers have nothing to do with it; I confirmed with the US distributor that there's something wrong with the unit, and the place I purchased it from is arranging the return. Looks like I will be getting a new one soon, now the only problem is the wait. It was so frustrating to have it in my hands and have it not work at all....

 

Got good news from A&H today. My DB4 isn't broken. A setting on the mixer was the root source of the XLR interference. They reset that mixer setting back to default and it disappeared. The question now is: what was that setting? They're investigating and I'll find out more soon enough but at least I can state that my confidence is back up. I was in real fear that my 'baby' had some serious hardware issues or technical flaw that would send me on a cursing net tirade....nope! I don't fear the worst anymore. I just hope the identified setting issue isn't a hamper because I stored all to USB prior to shipping.

If and when I find out what it was, I'll let you all know.

-MoMo

 

I just noticed an issue with my DB4. This past saturday while using my DB4 I lost the main VU meter when ever playing a source from channel 3 (deck b, in traktor) when I used channel 2 deck a the meter was fine. I had the meter go out on me once before and just power cycled the mixer and it was fine, but this was while I was using it live so I did not do any troubleshooting or anything.

Anyone else have the main meter go out on them?

 

I am trying to record thru my external, but for some reason i can't find a way the rout the signal back in to traktor so i can record. Help any one?/

 

What meter setting were you on?
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For the simple way to set-up Traktor recording using the DB4 as the soundcard, dig back in this forum topic for the 'USB Send information' posting that Mixarchitekt provided to me when I asked him a while back....but you stated "Through External" so what exactly are you using? (everything involved in the I/O and mix routing)

 

I just got my replacement in the mail just now. My first one had a defective headphone output, hopefully this one is alright.

 

The loopers will definitely go out of sync after a little while.. How long? It really depends on the loop and how many ur trying to keep in sync. If ur timing is good and the loops are straight beats, u could easily keep 2 or 3 in sync for a few mins id say. But if ur loops have more complex sounds and ur timing is off, they can fall out of sync in 10 secs or less.. I dont think midi sync has much to do with this.

Of course running traktor loops internally would stay in sync indefinitely if thats what ur looking to do..

 

I just sent off a request to A&H for a firmware update that would make the DB4 a rotary mixer using the D/W knobs (I'm sure someone must have thought of this?):

Sitting here I realize there is potential to easily turn the DB4 into a rotary mixer with a firmware update. All they would have to do is swap the D/W knob and the volume fader on each channel so the linear fader becomes D/W and the big chunky knob becomes volume. This is absolutely perfect since it is the same knob as the 92R and S2 and is in the correct location, everything would stay the same except D/W would now be on the linear fader and volume would be on the rotary knob.

Seems pretty simple and it is laid out perfectly so that you could actually have a rotary mixer with a firmware update, that is absolutely huge and looking at it now seems like they almost planned it that way. You could switch between rotary mixer and linear mixer with a press of a button. The DB4 is revolutionary as it is, it would take it to the next level if you made it the only mixer ever to be able to toggle between rotary mixer and linear mixer mode. That coupled with post fader FX and this thing will be years ahead of anything else.

 

Pretty clever.. Would satisfy the small percentage who love rotary without having to produce 2 models. As far as prioritization goes, a+h, please give us post fader fx options first !

 

I like the idea. I started on rotary mixers and wondered if A&H would dare doing one like they did the Xone 92R. Recommend putting this in the A&H Xone forums.

 

I'm having a small problem with the DB4. The master meter lights will work fine for a few tracks then will go out for a while then randomly turn back on. Anyone had this problem? Seem strange, only 2 channels are being used and the sources are the same.

 

Do you have CUE turned on for any of the channels when it goes out? If so, its a menu setting that you can change so that CUE doesnt change your master meter I believe.

Dont have the mixer in front of me at moment so cant tell u exactly but I know that the default settings make the master meter behave a bit strange when you CUE a channel..

Let me know if the CUE button is the cause of the meter changing?

 

here is a step by step guide with screen shots of how one configures the db4 and tp for using the mix recorder.

http://mixarchitekt.com/xone_db4_traktor_record.html