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Allen & Heath Xone 3D vs.Xone 4D w/traktor pro
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| DJ Eddie Lee |
Ok, so I'm looking to upgrade my mixer once again. I'm currently using a pioneer DJM-3000 but for going completely digital, it just doesn't cut it. And the sound quality is horrendous.
So here's my dilemma. I've heard that the Xone 3D doesn't fully support the newest version of Traktor Pro. The Xone 4D does, but it is almost 1000 more than the older 3D. I've studied both of them closely and I'm aware of the upgraded soundcard and slightly modified midi controls but they essentially look the same....And I can't seem to get a straight answer from anyone about this....Can I run all four decks in Traktor pro using a Xone 3D? |
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| keithos27 |
| i don't know, but have you tried native instrument's forums as well? |
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| Ryan0751 |
As a former Xone 3D owner, I do NOT recommend the 3D.
When using Traktor Pro with one of these mixers, you'll be doing the "mixing" part with Traktor set to "external" mixer mode (using the middle section of the Xone). You COULD use the internal mixer of Traktor Pro, and use MIDI to control it, but that would be silly given that the 3D/4D has a nice big Xone 92 like analog mixer sitting in there (and also note the 3D/4D's mixer controls don't all transmit midi, like the upfaders or EQ knobs).
So... here's why:
1. The 3D's soundcard is only USB 1.1, and can only output 3 stereo channels into the mixer portion of the 3D. Therefore you'll only have 3 discreet channels, unless you want to combine the 3D's soundcard with another soundcard using ASIO4ALL (windows) or an aggregate device (Mac) and connecting the 4th input to the back. This is buggy.
2. The 3D's soundcard was very buggy for me. Dropouts, distortion issues, USB problems. They maybe have fixed this with updates, but when I had it it was very problematic.
3. The 3D is not Traktor SCRATCH certified, the 4D IS. So if you are ever in a situation where you want to connect turntables or CDJ's to the Xone, and use them for timecode control, you can only do this with the 4D (you'll also need a Traktor Scratch license of course).
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ Eddie Lee
Ok, so I'm looking to upgrade my mixer once again. I'm currently using a pioneer DJM-3000 but for going completely digital, it just doesn't cut it. And the sound quality is horrendous.
So here's my dilemma. I've heard that the Xone 3D doesn't fully support the newest version of Traktor Pro. The Xone 4D does, but it is almost 1000 more than the older 3D. I've studied both of them closely and I'm aware of the upgraded soundcard and slightly modified midi controls but they essentially look the same....And I can't seem to get a straight answer from anyone about this....Can I run all four decks in Traktor pro using a Xone 3D? |
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| tubby |
if you buy the 3d you can only run 3 channels out through the soundcard, and you cannot use the scratch part of Tpro. you'd need to buy the audio 8 to get 4 channels or the scratch function.
you've got enough midi controls to be able to handle 4 decks, especially with the modifiers in TPro, but not enough channels in the soundcard |
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| DJ Eddie Lee |
Thanks for the advice. I checked the NI messageboards and noticed people having problems with the xone 3d and traktor pro. I'm a little surprised with that b/c I've owned an Allen and Heath mixer before and it was nothing short of spectacular. As for being traktor scratch certified, if all that means is that it'll be more compatible with using the TTs and CDJs, I couldn't care less about that. I still don't understand why DJs would go through the trouble of going "digital" with their computer, yet still feel the need to use the TTs and CDJs.
But if there are soundcard and midi issues with the 3D, I guess I'd better just shell out and get the 4D. Thanks again for the advice..... |
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| Ryan0751 |
Yes I came from a Xone 92 which I LOVED, and was very dissapointed with the issues I had with my 3D. I wound up selling it after 4-5 months or so. Even the Xone 1D I had (I also sold this) still has issues with USB hubs (like hello, it's 2009). Now the only A+H gear I have left are my Xone 53D headphones. Hopefully with the 4D they have gotten more "digitally aware".
And yeah, I went from the Xone 3D to a Rane 2016a, and now use Traktor Scratch Pro with CDJ's, TT's AND MIDI.
It does seem odd to use timecode when you don't have to, but:
1. It works EXTREMELY well. Also, timecode is still a much higher resolution control mechanism then 7-bit MIDI. In time this will improve with 14-bit MIDI, HID and OSC, but right now it's hard to argue with something that works so well.
2. It's still FUN to play on real, solid, big decks.
3. I still have real vinyl and CD's and have friends play on my setup that do as well.
So that's why I used this setup :)
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ Eddie Lee
I still don't understand why DJs would go through the trouble of going "digital" with their computer, yet still feel the need to use the TTs and CDJs.
But if there are soundcard and midi issues with the 3D, I guess I'd better just shell out and get the 4D. Thanks again for the advice..... |
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| TranceOwnsLol |
| how about the vestax pmc 580? or the ecler evo 4 or 5? you only going for xone? |
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| tubby |
| if you buy a 4d, make sure you get the newer models with the serial number 090000+ the older, 08* serial numbers had a few issues in power supply and other areas, they could be fixed under warranty, but still better getting one of the newer ones |
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| DJ Eddie Lee |
Thanks for the heads up Tubby......
I'm still not sure what mixer out there works best with traktor pro. I'm done with using CDJ's and TTs so I've been doing some research and it seems that so far the 4D is the winner. Any other advice on this would be helpful. |
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| cliffm |
| The 4D works really well with Traktor. I've has 0 sound problems with mine and I play out with it twice a week for four hours straight using timecode. The only things don't like about the 4D are the filters and the eqs. I've never been a fan of complete kills (I also have a Xone 62). It's still a great mixer though. |
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