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Serato Problem

I don't use it myself, but I was recently using my turntables for a gig where some other people where using Serato and every now and again - especially if that box was moved - the track playing would start slowing down. I recently had my tables reconditioned so they should be in good shape, but I am not going to rule out that I have an issue. Has anyone ran into this or know of any good troubleshooting methods? Whats a good way to test an RCA? I haven't really had any problems when playing vinyl.

I saw a couple things on the Serato forum, but I wanted y'alls opinion.


Thanks!

That's a good question. I don't use Serato but my Dj partner does, and I have worked with a lot of Serato users. Most of time when I see one Dj leave the other one will either plug into the existing interface two dj's sharing the same interface. Another I see others do is, the incoming Dj will throw on a real piece of vinyl while they switch out and then mix into serato control.

It's sounds like once you unplug the USB it's no longer under serato control seeing signal from the control vinyl. Which would make sense why your tt is slowing down. Similar to turning off the turntable with real vinyl. Once again I'm no expert with serato and I'm sure others will be able to give you a better explanation. I'm definitely gonna try this test the next time me and partner Dj again as I'm curious myself.

It would happen when the boxes where being switched out, but it also happens sometimes while a track is playing. The music would slow down like the turntable had been slowed down, but the TT is still going the same speed.

Maybe the usb cable is faulty?

It just uses a standard A-B USB right? That might be easy enough to swap out.


The USB also seems like it goes into the box loose. Is there usually play going into the box or should it be snug?


Thanks guys!

I haven't run Serato for about 4 years now, but I'm pretty sure the USB was snug in the soundcard.

I never thought of the USB cable. Any faulty cable or Jack could cause that. I seem to remember my partner used to complain about how cheap the connections on the sl-1 interface were. It would explain why he moved over to sl-3. Well one reason.

Would the music stop playing if you unplug the interface from the computer or is there like a buffer built in which can continue to play the music? When you're swapping out dj's of course. Most of the time I just see guys throw on a piece real vinyl then mix into serato control.

Re: Serato Problem

quote:

Originally posted by ChrstnMchl I don't use it myself, but I was recently using my turntables for a gig where some other people where using Serato and every now and again - especially if that box was moved - the track playing would start slowing down. I recently had my tables reconditioned so they should be in good shape, but I am not going to rule out that I have an issue. Has anyone ran into this or know of any good troubleshooting methods? Whats a good way to test an RCA? I haven't really had any problems when playing vinyl. I saw a couple things on the Serato forum, but I wanted y'alls opinion. Thanks!

That usually means a dirty needle. Serato is picky, you have to keep cleaning the needles constantly and your records as well.

Next time it happens, look at the scopes and compare them to this. It will tell you what's wrong.

http://scratchlive.net/articles/scr...the-scope-views

BTW, make sure to use the AC Adapter when switching boxes or else your audio will drop really bad.

Explain quickly to me how you'd swap out boxes?

And how would not having an AC adaptor make it drop? Surely the music would just stop if you unplugged the usb with no where for the audio to go?

I don't know why i'm confused this should be simple having owned serato in the past.

quote:

Originally posted by n3lly Explain quickly to me how you'd swap out boxes? And how would not having an AC adaptor make it drop? Surely the music would just stop if you unplugged the usb with no where for the audio to go? I don't know why i'm confused this should be simple having owned serato in the past.

Ooops, I meant switching laptops. When switching laptops if your Serato box isn't AC powered, your audio will sound like crap. Essentially you're loosing power because the box is USB powered. You need regular vinyl or cd's to make the switch.

Switching boxes is still a hassle. You have to unplug one turntable or CDJ and plug it in directly into the mixer. Than, you have to play regular vinyl or CD's on that deck. Than do the same to the other. Than do the reverse. It's a pain, but once you do it a bunch of times, it becomes second nature.

I have two friends that tag team and they each use their own laptop and box. The switch out by just doing it a channel at a time. Box 1 will feed channels 1 & 2 on the mixer and box 2 will feed channels 3 & 4 on the mixer. When they switch out they just switch the turntable out from one box to the other for whichever turntable isn't controling Serato. Sounds convoluted but it works. I ended up getting the RCA Y splitters so each turntable would send a signal to both boxes. That works so long as the both of the channels that were not in use were closed (as in the line switched off, not just faded down with the line fader).

I think the problem here might have been the RCA inputs on the SL1 (or maybe still the USB in) from all of the swapping. I took my tables to our local record shop (BeatLab) to have them looked at and they both scoped out fine. Then it happenned with my friend's turntables too. Her tables didn't check out though. It had an extra long RCA that was going bad.

And it all could have been just dirty needles as the first DJ had dirty records...

At the end of the day, with all the checking we have done (and $ spent on reconditioning the TTs) the only conclusion I can come up with is to just play vinyl. lol

Thanks for that link for how to understand the scope readout! That is going to come in real handy.

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