Xone:DB4

Hey, Mix, I got my mixer back a few weeks ago and I swear that the OS it's running has been tweaked (positively).

I say this because I usually run a lot of loops with analogue sources and I routinely check the timing of the of original source (to jump back smoothly after a long run) and I've found that the sampler isn't going out of time like it used to. I swear that over the last few weeks the timing seems to be near flawless now and I know it's not me ...I'm not that perfect, I always have to adjust a bit. and....if nothing has happend, I'm just experiencing the placebo effect (without being told).

 

I'm about to buy the DB4. I read somewhere that OS Lion is not supported yet for the DB4, can anyone confirm or deny this?

 

I think it will work but AH will not officially provide support for it yet. Not 100 percent on this tho. Email their support and ask em. They are very quick and helpful with support responses.

See chart below link.. This looks like they suport lion..

http://www.allen-heath.com/uk/CategoryDocuments/AH_Software_Driver_Support_Chart.pdf

 

New public beta firmware available via Mix Architekt!
Can't wait to try it out.

Remember it is beta so use with caution!

http://www.djtechtools.com/forum/showthread.php?p=424536#post424536

 

K2s aren't out yet but I wonder if A&H updated the X-link in this beta? (reason: K2s are listed as coming out Feb/Mar on some sites)

The Beta is great but if you happen to get a K2, I hope it will work with the Beta and not have to wait until the official release?

I also have to ask if anyone has ever connected two DB4s on the same computer system. ? What happens? I know that the manual says DB4's on midi channel 16 but would two DB4's on one system cause some confusion?

Example: one DB4 tsi controlling/routing Traktor, other DB4 midi-mapped control/audio routing Ableton Live sync'd by Traktor virtual midi. In Live you can enable the particular device but would it cause confusion with the same controls on the same channel sending signals?

Most of you'd think it was impractical but .....Anyone?

is Midi channel changing possible?

 

Impractical for your bank account yes.

Seriously i'd either stick with Traktor/maybe add maschine or just DJ with Ableton, too many sounds/mushy too many loops etc.

The TSP2.5 update with pretty much eliminate Ableton's needs when using TSP IMO

 

Xone DB2 has been released. Price appears to be in the $1600-1800 range. Now let's see if it gets certified.

 

In the end I could not resist. I just sold my Pioneer DJM 900 ten minutes ago and will fetch a DB4 and a Native Instruments Audio 10 tomorrow at the shop. I will set it up for timecode vinyl but will also use the DB4 for liveacts.
So, I know that some people have the setup with an Audio 10 soundcard for timecode vinyl. I would be pleased if someone could give me a detailed procedure on how to setup the DB4 with the Audio 10 combined with a MBP to run timecode vinyl. Hope to get fast advice so that I can turn my turntables already tomorrow evening with a new mixer.

 

Very easy to setup.. just follow the guide that comes with Audio10 under the section for external mixer. I had no problems doing it. In summary, you run rcas from Audio10 outs into the DB4 RCA ins. You then run your cdjs/tts into the Audio10 rca ins. Some minor config in traktor to setup your Audio inputs to use the Audio10 channels. Lastly, switch your DB4 input matrix to analog (assuming your just using traktor and not ableton too) and off you go. Calibrate your timecode signal within traktor and it works perfect.

The other nice thing is that you can then use your DB4 soundcard to route to Ableton or something similar if you ever wanted.

Im not too displeased with using Audio10 with it.. just sucks that I have to have a million wires instead of one USB cable. But whatever.. something I quickly got over.

 

While you can set up the card-to-mixer channels straight, I find that it's most function with using Traktor Scratch Pro when you use the backside of the card (channels 3-10) and hook them up in the C-A-B-D deck order.

Meaning, for the routing

Deck C - TA10 Channels I/O 3-4 - DB4 analogue input channel 1
Deck A - TA10 Channels I/O 5-6 - DB4 analogue input channel 2
Deck B - TA10 Channels I/O 7-8 - DB4 analogue input channel 3
Deck D - TA10 Channel I/O 9-10 - DB4 analogue input channel 4

Set-up DB4's record-out to connect to TA-10's frontside input channels 1-2
and then do the internal routing preferences like above.

Set-up/connect your physical decks like this: Deck C, Deck A, Deck B, Deck D (left to right - faders will match)
You have to set-up the internal Traktor routing in preferences this way.
You set-up the Traktor decks this way: in preferences put decks C-D on top of A-B.

Download and use Mixarchitekt's tsi because it will help you understand the routing and will aslo work very well to give you midi takeover/switch from absolute to internal play modes with Scratch.
www.mixarchitekt.com

Caution: I would probably not use this routing if you are setting up for shared usage, the routing would confuse the uninitiated. If you inform them it would work but you don't want another laptop trying to use it without all of the preparation it takes to make this work.

Oh, yeah...I know I'm missing alot because I set this up a long time ago and haven't looked back but launch the TA 10's control panel and then choose the option to keep it in the dock. You need to set-up the default mode for use with the mixer. Everything going to the DB4 needs to be line-inputs from the TA-10 so make sure the buttons on the back of the DB4 are set-up for line only. The TA-10 control panel can run alongside Traktor and allows you to switch to thru mode and amped phono or line input modes.

You can use the DB4's soundcard for running another program like Maschine or Abelton (switch to USB input) so it's not a complete waste....plus you can record digitally to another program if you card can handle it but recording isn't that important with the TA-10 sounding really good in analogue.

PM me if you need more info. I could try to send you my tsi with all the set-up done, but it's important for you to learn this because it's complicated and you need to know.

Don't forget the extra analogue Line input pair that you can use for someone or something else to patch-in to channel one.

 

Thanks for the help, everything is running fine now. The DB4 is much more then expected. After having several hours on it the possibilities become clearer and new options for mixing come to your mind. I really should have made the change before, but better late than never.
The idea with the integrated soundcard to run Maschine or Ableton along the timecode option is interesting as I am a user of both and am into producing my own beats.
The DB4 is not cheap but compared to what most other companies offer at the time in this segment it is not expensive at all.

 

Hey guys,

Ive read that the fx on the db4 are chainable, how do i do this?
Also i noticed that the db2 can have one effect on two channels, how do i do this on the db4? Can i route one effect over the master out? Can i do these things without the matrix inputs?

Thanx

 

DB4 Midi Signal, Send to 2 computers?

Hi,

Funny how this is the best place to chat about the DB4. Thanks Mixarchitekt for all you're doing on here.

I have a question about sending the midi signal from the DB4 to more than one computer. I am using the DB4 as the main mixer for my setup but I want to start sending the midi signal from the DB4 or my controllers to another computer running visuals. Basically I want to run some Moire patterns or simple visuals that get affected by the midi (during effect usage or mixer operation).

I tried just plugging the DB4 X-Link port into another computer but it didn't even register midi signal using Midi OX. I'll be spending more time on this with variations and different drivers but I just started doing this.

Andy C is doing something similar but I think it is all going to one central computer running traktor AND the visuals for his ALIVE show. In any case I can't figure it out right now, maybe someone with more knowledge of the X-Link, the K2, or just midi signal pathways and sending would be able to assist.

 

I don't think there's any chance X-Link will work connected to a computer since it is a different protocol than the Ethernet that the computer would be expecting through that port. Your best bet is probably to do it via another soundcard if you are using an Audio 10 to get timecode compatibility for example.

Another question is why use another computer for this? Is it possible to run the visuals from the same computer? Then you can just send the midi clock directly from the DB4 or from your audio software (traktor, ableton, etc.) Most of the VJ software I've seen has been designed to be used this way, so that it can receive MIDI clock from the software already running on the computer.

As for chaining FX on the DB4 (Funky One's question), I don't think it can be done directly. I would think you'd need to send the output of one channel to the input of another to chain effects in that way, or just set both channels to the same input and cut the volume but that won't really chain the effects, it will just sum them on the same signal. Actually now that I think about it, it will probably sound a hot mess as you'll be running both effected and uneffected signals to the output. hmmm.... I do hope a firmware update will eventually allow easy chaining of FX in order to develop new combinations.

 

PM Mixarchitekt or Rainerh. They could tell you if there is a possiblity to do so.

I think that one of them mentioned that there is a way to sync two computer systems to one Master clock through the X-Link but I'm not sure who it was. (were referring to K2 connected to a DB series mixer).

I've read the manual for K2 recently and it doesn't talk about that at all. If there is a way to connect a second laptop, they would know best.

 

Quick question on the DB4 (and possibly on the DB2):

Does the cross fader need to be turned on for the FX to be used?

I have a Xone 62 right now, but one gripe I always had was that it had to have the cross fader turned on to use the Filters.

Has anyone tested a DB2? Does it require the X-fader on to use FX?

 

The DB4 has 1 FX per channel and the crossfader position doesn't matter. Another thing on the DB4 that isn't on the DB2 is 1 sampler per channel - it's great.

I recently noticed that Dubfire isn't using the DB4 and he has been seen using the Xone 92s again. What up with that?

I can't wait for the K2s to come out....here that is.

 

Thanks for the info.

As for Dubfire, I am not sure what's going on there.
Perhaps the club he was playing only had the Xone 92?
I know top jocks usually have equipment in their contract riders, but I've seen recent photos of Sasha using both the DB4 and Xone 92. I'm guessing it depends on what the club has access to.

 

There's nothing wrong with using the 92's - I still love them. I just noticed it because he usually brings his own kit and I thought that included the DB4 since he's a Pro User...but it doesn't matter.

 

Make sure people hit up the Traktor on the Record session