Native Instruments Audio 2 DJ Operation Manual

OPERATION MANUAL

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a
commitment on the part of Native Instruments GmbH. The software described by this document is
subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media. No part of this publication
may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior
written permission by Native Instruments GmbH, hereinafter referred to as Native Instruments. All
product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners.

Operation Manual written by: Patryk Korman, Christoph Laue

Document version: 1.3 (04/2009)

Product version: 1.0 (04/2009)

Special thanks to the Beta Test Team, who were invaluable not just in tracking down bugs, but in
making this a better product.

Germany

Native Instruments GmbH

Schlesische Str. 28

D-10997 Berlin

Germany

[e-mail]

www.native-instruments.de

USA

Native Instruments North America, Inc.

5631 Hollywood Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90028

USA

[e-mail]

www.native-instruments.com

© Native Instruments GmbH, 2009. All rights reserved.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 4

1 Welcome to AUDIO 2 DJ!

Thank you for purchasing the

AUDIO 2 DJ

! The

AUDIO 2 DJ

is a studio-quality audio
interface that connects to your computer via high-speed USB 2.0. With its professional
features it is also a perfect match for your laptop-based DJ applications:

Robust and portable design for the harshest traveling and live stage conditions

2 high quality audio outputs

24 bit converters for crystal-clear audio quality

High output levels let you feed any external mixer or effects device

Monitoring LEDs let you check the status of your system at a glance

Have fun with your AUDIO 2 DJ!

The team at Native Instruments

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AUDIO 2 DJ – 5

2 Safety Considerations

The following sections contain important information regarding the use of the

AUDIO 2 DJ

.

Please read them thoroughly before using the AUDIO 2 DJ!

2.1 Warning

The

AUDIO 2 DJ

, in combination with an amplier, headphones or speakers, can pro­duce sounds in decibel ranges that may cause hearing damage. For protection, set all
volume levels to a minimum before using AUDIO 2 DJ. Gradually raise the volume
controls while music is playing to set the desired listening level. If you experience any
hearing problems or ringing in the ears, consult a hearing specialist immediately.

2.2 Caution

Before connecting the

AUDIO 2 DJ

hardware to other electronic components, turn off
the power for all devices. Before powering your system up or down, set all volume
levels to minimum.

The AUDIO 2 DJ hardware contains no user-serviceable parts. Do not open it or attempt
to disassemble or modify any internal hardware. If there appears to be a hardware
malfunction, immediately stop using the hardware and contact Native Instruments.

Do not expose the

AUDIO 2 DJ

to rain, and do not use it near water or in damp or wet
conditions. Also, never place anything on top of the controller, and be careful that no
objects or liquids of any kind enter the unit.

The AUDIO 2 DJ hardware is powered via USB. Operation can be guaranteed only as
a single device with a USB 2.0 controller or with a self-powered USB 2.0 hub.

Do not place the

AUDIO 2 DJ

hardware in an unstable position where it might acci-

dentally fall to the ground.

Before moving the AUDIO 2 DJ hardware, remove all connected cables.

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AUDIO 2 DJ – 6

Never subject the unit to extreme temperatures (e.g. direct sunlight in an enclosed
vehicle or near a heat source) or high levels of vibration.

Do not use excessive force on the buttons, knobs, switches or connectors.

When cleaning the

AUDIO 2 DJ

hardware, use a soft, dry cloth. Do not use paint thin-

ner, solvents, cleaning uids, or chemically-impregnated wiping cloths.

2.3 Important Notes

Disclaimer: Native Instruments GmbH cannot be held responsible for damage or data

loss caused by improper use of, or modication to, the

AUDIO 2 DJ

hardware or software.

It is your responsibility to back up data you do not want to lose.

Specications subject to change: The information contained in this manual is believed

to be correct at the time of printing. However, Native Instruments reserves the right

to make changes to the specications of software and hardware at any time without

notice or obligation to update existing units.

Nameplate location: The nameplate is located on the bottom of the AUDIO 2 DJ hard-
ware and lists the Production ID.

Copyright: © Native Instruments GmbH 2009. All rights reserved. This publication
may not be reproduced in whole or in part, summarized, transmitted, transcribed,
stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language, in any form or by any
means without the prior written permission of Native Instruments GmbH.

All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their re­spective owners.

2.4 Disposal Notice

Should this product become damaged beyond repair, or if you wish to dispose it, please
observe the regulations of your area and country that relate to the disposal of electronic
products.

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AUDIO 2 DJ – 7

3 System Requirements

For latest system requirements, compatibility and support of the latest operating systems
please see our website at:

www.native-instruments.com/audio2dj

AUDIO 2 DJ – 8

4 Installation

This chapter provides step-by-step instructions explaining how to install the drivers and
software needed for using the AUDIO 2 DJ.

To make use of the

AUDIO 2 DJ

, you need to install its driver rst. The driver handles

communication between the AUDIO 2 DJ hardware and your computer.

The driver itself is not accessible: like any other driver on your operating system, it is a piece
of software loaded in the background when your system starts up. The driver takes care of
all audio coming from the AUDIO 2 DJ hardware through the USB 2.0 connection.

Although the driver itself is inaccessible, you can edit some of its settings to modify its
behavior for your audio setup.

These settings can be edited. How to achieve this will be explained in detail in chapter 8

“Understanding the Control Panel.”

!

Do not connect the AUDIO 4 DJ

hardware until the driver installer
prompts you as the operating system
may install the wrong drivers.

!

Do not connect the AUDIO 4 DJ

hardware until the driver installer
prompts you as the operating system
may install the wrong drivers.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 9

4.1 Installing the AUDIO 2 DJ Driver on Windows XP and Windows
Vista

Do not connect the

AUDIO 2 DJ

to your computer until the installation of the driver is

completed!

1. Place the installation DVD-ROM in your computer’s CD/DVD-ROM drive.

2. Use the Windows Explorer to browse the content of the DVD.

3. Double-click the installer le named “Audio 2 DJ Driver Setup.”

4. Click “Next.”

5. To continue, you need to accept the license agreement rst. After you have read the

license agreement, check the according checkbox and click “Next.”

AUDIO 2 DJ – 10

6. Select the Windows Program Folder you would like to add

AUDIO 2 DJ

shortcuts to.
To use the default path, just click “Next.” To set a custom folder, type in a path and
name, then click “Next.”

7. The InstallAware Wizard will prompt you to begin the conguration by clicking “Next.”

Click “Next” to proceed.

8. During the driver installation a Windows security warning will appear. This does not

indicate a problem. To proceed with the installation, click “Continue Anyway” (on
Windows XP) or “Install” (on Windows Vista, pictured).

AUDIO 2 DJ – 11

9. Once the installation has been performed successfully, click “Finish.”

10. After the installer has nished running, connect the

AUDIO 2

DJ to a USB 2.0 port
on your computer, using the USB cable included in the package. Windows will identify
the AUDIO 2 DJ and begin the nal installation process.

11. Choose “No” if Windows asks you to search the Internet for a driver.

12. Choose “Automatic” when Windows asks you how to install the software.

13. Click “Finish” to complete the installation.

14. After you have completed the installation procedure, the installer will start again. You

need to pass through the same sequence of installer steps once again in order to in­stall all required driver components. This is an intended behavior, so just follow along

in order to nish the installation.

!

You cannot install the AUDIO
2 DJ on a USB 1.1 port – a

USB 2.0 port is required.

!

You cannot install the AUDIO
2 DJ on a USB 1.1 port – a

USB 2.0 port is required.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 12

4.2 Uninstalling the AUDIO 2 DJ Drivers on Windows XP and Windows
Vista

Windows XP

To uninstall the AUDIO 2 DJ drivers from your computer:

1. Open “Control Panel” and choose “Add/Remove Software.”

2. Choose “Native Instruments Audio 2 DJ Driver” from the list.

3. Click the “Remove” button.

4. Choose “Uninstall” from the wizard.

Windows Vista

Open “Control Panel” and choose “Programs and Features”

Choose “Native Instruments Audio 2 DJ Driver” from the list

Click the “Remove” button.

Choose “Uninstall” from the wizard.

1.

2.

3.

4.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 13

4.3 Installing the AUDIO 2 DJ Driver on Mac OS X

1. Connect the AUDIO 2 DJ to a USB 2.0 port on your computer using the USB cable

provided in the AUDIO 2 DJ box.

2. Place the installation DVD-ROM in your computer’s CD/DVD-ROM drive. Its icon will

appear in the Mac OS X Finder.

3. Double-click the “AUDIO 2 DJ” DVD icon to display the content of the DVD.

4. Double-click the installer le. The installation procedure will start, and a Welcome

screen will appear.

5. Click “Continue” to proceed.

6. Select a destination volume and proceed by clicking “Continue.”

!

You cannot install the AUDIO

2 DJ on a USB 1.1 port – a

USB 2.0 port is required.

!

You cannot install the AUDIO

2 DJ on a USB 1.1 port – a

USB 2.0 port is required.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 14

7. Click “Install” to install the driver in the default path.

8. Mac OS X will prompt you to authenticate the installation. To authenticate, enter the

name and corresponding password of a user who has administrator privileges.

9. The next screen informs you about the progress of the installation procedure.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 15

10. Once the installation has been performed successfully, you will be prompted to restart

your Mac. Click “Restart” to restart your computer.

11. After you have restarted your computer, the AUDIO 2 DJ should be ready to use.

4.4 Uninstalling the AUDIO 2 DJ Drivers on Mac OS X

To uninstall the AUDIO 2 DJ drivers from your computer, delete the following les manually:

/Library/PreferencePanes/NIUSBAudio.prefPane

/Library/Preferences/com.caiaq.Native Instruments.MIDI.plist

/System/Library/Extensions/NIUSBAudio2DJ.kext

4.5 Installation of the Control Panel

This section describes the installation and the uninstall process of the Control Panel.
Information on how to use the Control Panel can be found in chapter 8 “Understanding

the Control Panel.”

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!

Only delete these les if you

are not using any other Native
Instruments audio interface (such as the
AUDIO 4 DJ or the AUDIO 8 DJ).

!

Only delete these les if you

are not using any other Native
Instruments audio interface (such as the
AUDIO 4 DJ or the AUDIO 8 DJ).

AUDIO 2 DJ – 16

4.5.1 Installing the Control Panel on Windows XP and Windows Vista

This section describes the installation and the uninstall process of the Control Panel on
a Windows PC.

Installing the Control Panel

The Control Panel will be installed along with the driver of the AUDIO 2 DJ. Please fol­low the instructions on installing the

AUDIO 2 DJ

driver given in chapter 4.1 “Installing

the AUDIO 2 DJ Driver on Windows XP and Windows Vista.” There is no interaction re-

quired.

Uninstalling the Control Panel on Windows XP and Windows Vista

The Control Panel can be uninstalled along with the driver of the AUDIO 2 DJ. Please follow
the instructions on uninstalling the AUDIO 2 DJ driver given in chapter 4.2 “Uninstalling the

AUDIO 2 DJ Drivers on Windows XP and Windows Vista.” There is no interaction required.

4.5.2 Installing the Control Panel on Mac OS X

This section describes the installation and the uninstall process of the Control Panel on
Mac OS X.

Installing the Control Panel

The Control Panel will be installed along with the driver of the AUDIO 2 DJ. Please follow
the instructions on installing the AUDIO 2 DJ driver given in chapter 4.3 “Installing the

AUDIO 2 DJ Driver on Mac OS X.” There is no interaction required.

Uninstalling the Control Panel on Mac OS X

There is no option to uninstall the Control Panel automatically. Simply follow the instruc­tions in chapter 4.4 “Uninstalling the AUDIO 2 DJ Drivers on Mac OS X” to uninstall the
Control Panel.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 17

5 Registration and Product Authorization

Registering the AUDIO 2 DJ is not mandatory. Nevertheless, registration is recommended,
as it can be helpful in case of a support inquiry or a theft. To register your AUDIO 2 DJ on
the Native Instruments website, use the serial number from the product activation sticker
inside your AUDIO 2 DJ product package.

To register your AUDIO 2 DJ:

1. Open your standard internet browser.

2. Open the Native Instruments website: www.native-instruments.com.

3. In the navigation at the top of the page, click on “Support.”

4. On the next page, click on “Product Activation.”

5. Since you only need to register the serial number, please read further in section B) Serial

Number Registration and click on the link labeled “Register the serial number here.”

6. If you have never registered a Native Instruments product, choose “Create User

Account.” Choose Additional Product Registration if you already are a registered user
of a Native Instruments product.

7. In any case, the subsequent web pages will provide a step-by-step guide through the

registration.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 18

6 AUDIO 2 DJ Hardware

In this chapter you will learn about the

AUDIO 2 DJ

’s controls and connectors. We will refer
to some of the terms introduced here later on, so please use the information provided in
the following sections as a reference.

The AUDIO 2 DJ provides the following features:

24 Bit/96 kHz analog-to-digital/digital-to-analog converters

Hi-gain output levels on all channels

2 audio outputs

¼" headphone connector

Status LEDs displaying the AUDIO 2 DJ’s activity

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6.1 Overview

The AUDIO 2 DJ hardware device is the external connector between your computer and
any peripheral equipment used for audio playback, such as headphones, a DJ mixer,

an amplier or active speakers. Here is an overview of the AUDIO 2 DJ’s connectors

and controls:

Top View: Connectors and Controls

1 USB Port

2

Channel B Status LED

3

Channel B Volume Control

4

Channel B Output Socket

5

Channel A Output Socket

6

Channel A Volume Control

7

Channel A Status LED

1

USB Port

2 Channel B Status LED

3 Channel B Volume Control

4 Channel B Output Socket

5 Channel A Output Socket

6 Channel A Volume Control

7 Channel A Status LED

AUDIO 2 DJ – 20

6.2 Outputs

Front Panel: Output Sockets

1 and 2 - Outputs (Line and Headphone)

Use these ¼" stereo output sockets to connect the

AUDIO 2 DJ

to your headphones,

your DJ-mixer or your amplier. Specications are identical for both outputs, so you can
connect your headphones, amplier or DJ mixer to either output. If you want to connect

the AUDIO 2 DJ to a device that does not offer ¼" input sockets, e.g. a DJ-mixer or hi-

amplier, use the cable (¼" jack to RCA) provided in the AUDIO 2 DJ box. Please note:

Connecting the

AUDIO 2 DJ

to powered speakers may require additional cables and ¼"

stereo jack to 2 x ¼" mono socket adapters (not included).

AUDIO 2 DJ – 21

6.3 Volume Controls

Top Panel: Volume Controls

1 and 2 - Volume Controls

Use the Volume Controls to adjust the output level of the corresponding output channels.
Volume Control 1 corresponds to output channel A while Volume Control 2 corresponds
to output channel B.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 22

6.4 USB

Back Panel: USB port

1 - USB 2.0 Port

This port connects the AUDIO 2 DJ to your computer. The USB 2.0 connection handles
data transmission and provides bus power to your AUDIO 2 DJ. No external power supply
is needed.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 23

6.5 Status LEDs

Top Panel: Status LEDs

1 and 2 - Output A and Output B LEDs:

These LEDs monitor the connection and output activity of the AUDIO 2 DJ:

When connecting the Audio 2 DJ the LEDs light up shortly to indicate that the audio
device has been detected by the computer. If the LEDs stay lit, no valid driver for the

AUDIO 2 DJ could been found.

In operation, the LEDs light up green to indicate an audio signal is present and has

sufcient level.

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AUDIO 2 DJ – 24

6.6 AUDIO 2 DJ Technical Specications

GENERAL INTERFACE SPECIFICATIONS

Output (D/A)

Channels

2

Sampling Rate

44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 KHz

Bit Resolution

24

Converter

Cirrus Logic

Output Specications

Line Headphone*

Cross Talk

87 dBu 87 dBu

Impedance

100 Ohms unbalanced

200 Ohms balanced

8... 600 Ohms (Load)

Maximum Output

Level

9.6 dBu

9.3 dBu 4.26 V rms,

100 mW @ 100 Ohms

THD + N

0.007 % 0.012 %

SNR

101 dB (A-weighted) 95 dB (A-weighted)

Frequency

Response

10 - 40 kHz

±0.5 dB

10 - 40 kHz

±0.5 dB

*specications only in effect when line channel is feeding a headphone

AUDIO 2 DJ – 25

7 Using the AUDIO 2 DJ

This chapter describes the most common use cases for the AUDIO 2 DJ. Your personal
setup may differ from what is shown here, but you should easily be able to customize this
information to suit your needs.

7.1 Using the AUDIO 2 DJ as a Standard Output Device

In the following sections you will learn how to set up the

AUDIO 2 DJ

as a standard audio

output device on your computer.

7.1.1 Windows XP

1. Open Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound.

2. In the “Sounds and Audio Devices Properties”, select the Audio tab.

3. From the “Default Device” drop-down list, select either one of the AUDIO 2 DJ entries.

4. Click “OK” to conrm your selection and close the window.

5. The AUDIO 2 DJ is now selected as the standard audio output device.

7.1.2 Windows Vista

1. Open Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound.

2. In the “Sound” control panel, select the Playback tab.

3. Select the AUDIO 2 DJ’s pair of outputs (Ch A, Out 1|2 or Ch B, Out 3|4) that you

want to set as default by clicking the corresponding entry.

4. Click “Set Default.”

5. Click “OK” to conrm your selection and close the window.

6. The AUDIO 2 DJ is now selected as the standard audio output device.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 26

7.1.3 Mac OS X

1. Open the System Preferences by selecting the corresponding entry from the Apple

menu.

2. From the Hardware panel, select “Sound.”

3. In the “Sound” control panel, select the Output tab.

4. Select the AUDIO 2 DJ’s entry from the list of available devices.

5. Click OK to conrm your selection and close the panel.

6. The AUDIO 2 DJ is now selected as the standard audio output device.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 27

7.2 Using the AUDIO 2 DJ with TRAKTOR

In the following sections you will learn how to set up and use the AUDIO 2 DJ for DJing
with Native Instruments

TRAKTOR

products. Please note that we will refer to all products
from the TRAKTOR product line simply as TRAKTOR because the functions described are
identical in all TRAKTOR product versions.

7.2.1 Laptop-Only TRAKTOR Setup

Physical Setup

1. Make sure the volume controls of both your

AUDIO 2 DJ

and your amplier (or powered

speakers) are turned down!

2. Connect Output A of the

AUDIO 2 DJ

to your amplier or powered speakers using the

cable (¼" jack to RCA) provided in the AUDIO 2 DJ box. Connecting the AUDIO 2 DJ
to powered speakers may require additional cables and ¼" stereo jack to 2 x ¼" mono
socket adapters (not included).

3. Connect your headphones to Output B of the AUDIO 2 DJ.

To use your AUDIO 2 DJ for laptop DJing, connect the devices as pictured in the above diagram.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 28

Software Setup

1. Start TRAKTOR.

2. Open Preferences > Audio Setup > Audio Setup.

3. From the Audio Device list, select the AUDIO 2 DJ entry.

4. Open Preferences > Audio Setup > Output Routing.

5. Choose Internal Mixing Mode.

6. Assign 1: Out and 2: Out to the Output Master.

7. Assign 3: Out and 4: Out to the Output Monitor for pre-listening to the Tracks.

8. Close the Preferences.

9. Turn up the volume of your amplier to the level you would like to use during your

performance.

10. Play a track and double-click the Main VoluMe knob in the Master panel of TRAKTOR

to set the output volume amplication in the software to 0 dB. Adjust the output vol­ume of the Audio 2 DJ with the Volume Control for Output A on the left side of the
AUDIO 2 DJ.

11. Turn the Mix knob fully to the left and activate the HeadpHone Cue button in the mixer

strip of the playing deck. Double-click the VOL knob in the Master panel to set the

headphone output amplication to 0 dB. Finally adjust the headphone volume with

the Volume Control for Output B on the right side of the Audio 2 DJ.

Test the Setup

1. From

TRAKTOR

’s Browser List, drag tracks in both decks and hit the Play/Pause

Buttons.

2. Drag the crossfader all the way to the left (Deck A).

3. Click on the HeadpHone Cue button next to Deck B. You should hear the track playing on

Deck B in your headphones while the track in Deck A is playing via your speakers.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 29

7.2.2 TRAKTOR Setup with a DJ-Controller

1. Complete the steps described in section 7.2.1 “Laptop-Only TRAKTOR Setup.”

2. Connect your DJ controller to a USB port on your computer.

To use the AUDIO 2 DJ with a DJ-controller, connect the devices as pictured above.

3. Start TRAKTOR.

4. Select the Start Setup Wizard entry from TRAKTOR’s Help menu.

5. From the Setup Wizard’s upper drop-down menu, select the manufacturer of the DJ

controller you want to use.

6. From the Setup Wizard’s lower drop-down menu, select your DJ controller’s product

name.

7. Click apply. The Setup Wizard will now load the MIDI mappings for the DJ controller

you selected.

8. You should now be able to control

TRAKTOR

with your DJ controller. You can test this

by pressing buttons or moving faders on the DJ controller.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 30

7.2.3 TRAKTOR Setup with an external DJ Mixer

Physical Setup

1. Make sure the volume controls of your

AUDIO 2 DJ

, the master output volume of your DJ

mixer, and the amplier (or the pair of powered speakers) connected are turned down!

2. Connect the outputs of the Audio 2 DJ to the mixer inputs. Use the ¼" jack-to-RCA

cables to connect each stereo output channel of the AUDIO 2 DJ to one of the stereo
channel inputs of the mixer. Switch the mixer input channels to “Line” input mode.

3. Connect your headphones to the mixer’s headphones output.

4. Connect the mixer’s outputs to the inputs of the amplier system driving your speakers

(or to your pair of powered monitor speakers).

To add a mixer to your DJ setup, connect the devices as pictured in the diagram above.

Software Setup

1. Start TRAKTOR.

2. Open Preferences > Audio Setup > Audio Setup.

3. Click on the Audio Device list and select the AUDIO 2 DJ from the drop-down menu.

4. Now open Preferences > Audio Setup > Output Routing.

5. Choose External Mixing Mode.

6. For Out Channel A, choose the rst output pair from the dropdown menu, e.g. 1: Out

and 2: Out.

7. For Out Channel B, choose another output pair from the dropdown menu, e.g. 3: Out

and 4: Out.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 31

Test the Setup

1. Play a track in Deck A.

2. Double-click the Main VoluMe knob in TRAKTOR’s Master panel to set the output vol-

ume amplication applied by the software to 0 dB.

3. On the DJ mixer turn the input gain knob of the channel controlling Deck A to 0 dB

(center position).

4. Adjust the output volume of the AUDIO 2 DJ with the Volume Control for Output A on

the left side of the AUDIO 2 DJ until the input level meter on the DJ mixer reads 0
dB input level.

5. Repeat for the previous step for Deck B.

6. Finally turn up the master volume on both the DJ mixer and the amplier.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 32

8 Understanding the Control Panel

This chapter will introduce you to the Control Panel and its settings.

For in-depth information about buffers, samples and latencies, consult appendix chapter

11.1 “What is Latency?” and the subsequent chapters.

8.1 The Control Panel on Windows

On Windows operating systems, the Control Panel allows you to change the performance
settings of the AUDIO 2 DJ.

To open the Control Panel: click on Start > All Programs > Native Instruments > Audio 2

DJ Driver > Control Panel.

8.1.1 Sound Card Latency Settings

Any audio signal coming out of the computer has to pass two buffers, one for the USB
and one for the audio streaming input and output (ASIO). Both buffers will delay the signal
by a small amount of time. By adjusting these buffers carefully you can determine how

AUDIO 2 DJ – 33

“tight” TRAKTOR will respond to your actions. When doing this, be aware that reducing
buffer sizes will increase the CPU load, as audio data must be processed in less time.

Presets

Select a preset that has already precongured values for the USB and the audio buffer
size. Choosing user dened settings allows you to choose a USB buffer size independently

of the audio buffer size.

USB Buffer Size

If you have chosen user dened settings, you can choose a USB buffer size value here.

Available values are 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 16 milliseconds (ms).

Audio Buffer Size

If you have chosen user dened settings, you can choose an audio buffer size value here.

The values depend on the chosen USB buffer size value. Choosing a high USB buffer size
will result in lower audio buffer size values not being available. If you chose the lowest USB
buffer size value (1 ms), all values will be accessible; 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16,

32 and 64 ms. Click on “OK” to conrm your changes and to close the Control Panel.

Buffer Format

In this area of the Control Panel, you can select the sample rate that the AUDIO 2 DJ
handles audio streams at. The value selected here always applies to all audio input and
output streams.

To select a sample rate, choose a sample rate from the Sample Rate Menu. 44100 Hz is
the most common setting. Other available options are 48000 Hz and 96000 Hz. Click

on “OK” to conrm your changes and to close the Control Panel.

About

Click on the About Button to open the About Screen. The About Screen displays the driver
version number and the interface version number. In case of a support enquiry you may
be asked for these details. Click on “OK” to close the About Screen.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 34

8.2 The Control Panel on Mac OS X

On Mac OS X, the Control Panel displays the rmware version, the driver version and the

number of USB streaming errors. It does not provide any options or settings, as these can

be congured from within the audio software you want to use the AUDIO 2 DJ with. You

can access the Control Panel by selecting it from the Mac OS X system preferences.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 35

9 Troubleshooting

The information provided in this chapter should help you to solve most of the problems
you may encounter while you are using the AUDIO 2 DJ.

9.1 Solving Hardware-related Problems

All products from Native Instruments are tested extensively in real life situations during the
development phase. However, if you encounter any problems with your hardware, please
follow these steps for troubleshooting:

Verify that you have installed the latest driver and the latest software update.

Check the Native Instruments website for information.

Make sure that the AUDIO 2 DJ hardware is connected to a USB 2.0 port of your
computer.

Make sure that the

AUDIO 2 DJ

is connected directly to an USB port of the computer

and not through a USB hub.

Try another USB cable.

Disconnect any other USB devices from the computer (except keyboard/mouse).

Try using any other USB ports on your computer.

If none of these tips help, please contact our Technical Support team. The contact infor­mation is available under the following URL:

www.native-instruments.com/contactinfo

In case the AUDIO 2 DJ needs to be returned, the Technical Support team at Native
Instruments will assign you an RA (Return Authorization) number that is required to handle
your return.

Packages returned without this RA number will not be correctly identied and as such

might not be processed properly.

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AUDIO 2 DJ – 36

9.2 How to check whether the AUDIO 2 DJ Driver is installed correctly

9.2.1 Windows XP / Windows Vista

Open Start > All Programs > Native Instruments > Audio 2 DJ Driver.

There you will nd the helper applications Audio Statistics, Control Panel and the Settings

Tool. Make sure that the device is connected to the computer and open the Control Panel.
If all the drop-down menus are grayed out (i.e., there are no presets in the preset drop­down list, no sample rate values to choose from) there must be something wrong with the
connection. If the AUDIO 2 DJ Driver entry in the Native Instruments folder of the Start
Menu is missing, the driver is most probably not installed at all.

If the driver is not installed, you can install it using the setup program as described
in chapter 4 “Installation.”

If the driver is not recognized, check your USB 2.0 connection as described in chap­ter 9.3 “USB Troubleshooting.”

As any other USB device, the driver installs exactly for one USB port. If you connect the

AUDIO 2 DJ

to another port, a standard Windows dialog opens in which you can install

the driver to that port.

If you have previously installed the driver on your computer once, Windows will nd

the right drivers itself.

If you did not install the drivers on your computer, Windows will install the wrong
drivers.

If you do not know whether or not you have previously installed the drivers of the AUDIO

2 DJ

to your computer, it is advisable, to start the setup program of the AUDIO 2 DJ. If

the setup program states that it will rst uninstall the drivers, you already have installed

the drivers on your computer. In this case you can connect the device to any other USB

port and Windows will nd the right driver when it installs the

AUDIO 2 DJ

on another

USB port.

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AUDIO 2 DJ – 37

9.2.2 Mac OS X

In Mac OS X, look into the System Preferences for the Native Instruments USB Audio
Control Panel icon. Open this control panel to see if the device is found. If no device is

found, values will appear grayed out. If the Native Instruments USB Audio Control Panel
icon is missing here, the driver is probably not installed at all.

If the driver is not installed, you can install it using the setup program described in
chapter 4 “Installation.”

If the driver is not recognized, check your USB 2.0 connection as described in chap­ter 9.3 “USB Troubleshooting.”

9.3 USB Troubleshooting

If you experience problems that may be caused by the USB connection between the

AUDIO

2 DJ and your computer, check the following chapters rst; several possible sources for

USB issues are covered here.

9.3.1 USB 2.0 required

The AUDIO 2 DJ is an USB 2.0 interface and will not work at all on an USB 1.0/1.1 port.

In addition, although the minimum power specied for a USB 2.0 port is 500 mA, we

have seen a few cases where the USB 2.0 ports on certain computers do not meet the

minimum requirements (which were dened in accordance with the ofcial USB 2.0
specication). In this case you may see a message saying that there is not enough power

available to operate your device.

In this case you might encounter crackles or the device may not work at all.

9.3.2 Try another USB cable

A bad USB cable can be responsible for audio dropouts and other connectivity problems.
It is highly recommended that you try using a different cable if you are experiencing dif-

culties; make sure to use a cable bearing the ofcial USB logo.

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AUDIO 2 DJ – 38

9.3.3 Using a powered USB 2.0 hub

It is best to connect the

AUDIO 2 DJ

directly to a USB 2.0 port on your computer. However,
in certain situations a powered USB hub can also be a solution if you are having problems
connecting your AUDIO 2 DJ to an onboard USB port. In this case you should avoid con-
necting other devices to the hub if possible, as each bus-powered device takes its share
from the total amount of power available.

9.3.4 Recommended USB-ports (MacBook Only)

As general rule of thumb, do not use the right hand USB port on a MacBook Pro: this port
is connected to the same root hub as the trackpad. With the

AUDIO 2 DJ

plugged into the

right port, you can encounter audio problems like clicks or dropouts.

MacBook Pro recommended USB port(s)

For the following laptops the use of USB audio devices on the right-hand USB port is not
recommended:

MacBook Pro 15" 1.67GHz Intel Core Duo and Core 2 Duo

MacBook Pro 15" 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo and Core 2 Duo

MacBook Pro 15" 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo and Core 2 Duo

MacBook Pro 15" 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo and Core 2 Duo

MacBook Pro 15" 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

MacBook Pro 17" 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo and Core 2 Duo

MacBook Pro 17" 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

The 15" MacBook Pro models have 1 USB port on the left side, and one USB port on the
right side.

The 17" MacBook Pro models have 2 USB ports on the left side, and one USB port on
the right side.

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These USB port recommenda-

tions are specic to USB audio

devices only. USB keyboard and control
surface products do not have a recom­mended USB port at this time.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 39

Due to the current USB conguration of the MacBook Pro under OS X, use of USB audio

devices is supported on the left-hand USB ports only (the port or ports next to the power
adapter cable). Use of audio devices on the right-hand USB port is not advised because it
may cause audio interrupts and/or dropped samples. However, the use of an iLok dongle

on the right-hand port has been qualied and is fully supported.

MacBook 13.3" recommended USB port
For the following laptops the use of USB audio devices on the USB port closest to the

screen is not recommended:

MacBook 13" White 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo and Core 2 Duo

MacBook 13" White 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo and Core 2 Duo

MacBook 13" White 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

MacBook 13" Black 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo and Core 2 Duo

MacBook 13" Black 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

There are 2 USB ports on the left side of the MacBook models listed above.

Due to the current USB conguration of the MacBook under OS X, the use of USB audio

devices is supported on the front USB port only (the port farthest away from the screen).
Use of audio devices on the rear USB port is not recommended, because it may cause
audio interrupts and/or dropped samples. However, the use of an iLok dongle on the rear

port has been qualied and is fully supported.

9.3.5 Disable USB Energy Saving Mode (Windows only)

If the

AUDIO 2 DJ

is causing crashes or performing badly on a Windows machine, disable

power management to the USB hubs rst; XP turns this on by default.

To disable power management for USB hubs, open the device manager (Control Panel
> System > Hardware) and right-click a USB hub to bring up its properties. On the

power management page, uncheck all boxes. Repeat for each hub and reboot.

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These USB port recommenda-

tions are specic to USB audio

devices only. USB keyboard and control
surface products do not have a recom­mended USB port at this time.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 40

9.3.6 Update the Driver

Check the Native Instruments website regularly for updates of the AUDIO 2 DJ driver.

9.4 How to avoid Ground Loops

Ground loops are a common problem within any environment where multiple electrical
devices are connected to the same power circuit. In complex setups the cause(s) of the

noise can be difcult to nd. Ground loops are perceived usually as a hum or buzz in

your audio signal, but this can also transmit and amplify other sounds from the devices
connected to the circuit. For example, one very common problem is that you hear internal
clicking sounds created by your computer.

The cause of the noise is usually the computer and its internal devices, or devices con­nected to the computer like external hard drives. (Note that even if the power supply of
your notebook computer is not connected, your setup may still be vulnerable to ground
noise from an external device with its own power supply.) The cause can also be any other
device (such as a radio or television).

The reason why this noise is present at the monitor speakers input has to do with a loop
in the setup of your electrical and audio cable connections. Most likely this loop occurs
through the ground of one or more of these cables. With this in mind, the following points
should help to eliminate the ground loop.

9.4.1 Try to eliminate the loop

As a rst step, always connect your devices to the same power outlet (e.g. with a

multi-outlet power strip).

Assuming that you have connected your audio interface, the next troubleshooting step

is to disconnect all devices that you are not currently using, but not the amplier and/

or speakers. This also applies to other peripheral devices you may have connected to
your computer (external data storage, CD recorders and especially radio or television
cables). In case the ground loop disappeared, you can add the devices one after an­other to identify which device is responsible.

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AUDIO 2 DJ – 41

You can test whether the amplier or powered monitors create the ground loop. Monitor

your audio signal from the headphones output of the

AUDIO 2 DJ

via a headphone.

Therefore the amplier or the powered monitors need to be physically disconnected from

the

AUDIO 2 DJ

. In case the ground loop disappears, you need to lift the ground on your

amplier or the powered speakers. Contact the manufacturer of your amplier/speakers
before lifting the ground to nd out if ground lifting is supported on your device.

On laptops, low quality power supplies often lead to ground loop noise. Run your laptop
on its battery, only to see if the ground loop disappears. In case the ground loop disap­pears, you need to lift the ground on your laptop. Contact the manufacturer of your laptop

before lifting the ground to nd out if ground lifting is supported on your device.

On desktop computers, the computer monitor (screen) might cause the ground loop.
Turn your monitor off and disconnect its power supply while you hear the ground loop.
In case the ground loop disappears, you need to lift the ground on your monitor.

Contact the manufacturer of your monitor before lifting the ground to nd out if ground

lifting is supported on your device.

9.5 Physically re-congure the AUDIO 2 DJ

Connect the

AUDIO 2 DJ

to another USB port on your computer. Try all USB ports on your

computer until you nd the one that works best.

9.6 Check your IRQs (Windows only)

IRQ stands for Interrupt Request. This is the way in which Windows allocates resources to
the various devices and ports in your system. If your

AUDIO 2 DJ

is on a port that shares an

IRQ with other devices, you may have an IRQ conict. This means your sound card is not re­ceiving the resources it needs to function properly. Here is how you detect an IRQ conict.

1. Open Start > Run; type the word msinfo32, then press “oK.”

2. Your system information window will appear.

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AUDIO 2 DJ – 42

3. Click the Plus (+) sign next to “Hardware.”

4. Click on IRQs.

5. Your IRQs will be displayed in the window to the right.

6. Your USB port will show up as USB universal host controller in the list.

7. If the IRQ number listed next to any of these ports is sharing with other devices in your

system, you may have an IRQ conict. Attach the AUDIO 2 DJ to another USB port.

8. If this does not work, and your computer is a desktop, you may be able to change

the IRQ allocation from within the system BIOS (depending on your motherboard).
However, with most laptops it is not possible to change IRQ allocation. You may need

to reinstall your operating system for a better IRQ conguration.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 43

10 Getting Help

Native Instruments provides various sources of support and information to registered users.provides various sources of support and information to registered users.

10.1 Readme/Knowledge Base/Technical Support

Readme

Always read the “Readme” le found on the installation CD. It contains important informa­tion and all last minute changes that could not be included in this manual.

Knowledge Base

You can access the Knowledge Base at

www.native-instruments.com/knowledgebase

To search the Knowledge Base you have to log into your user account rst. For more

information about registering products please see chapter 5, ”Registration and Product

Authorization.”

Technical Support

You can reach the Technical Support team online via

www.native-instruments.com/ > Support > Technical Support

The following form will ask you for all information about your hardware and software en­vironment, to better facilitate the information to our support team. The entries you make
are furnished with cookies, so they should automatically be reproduced when you enter a
second support request.

In your communication with the support team keep in mind that you should offer as much
information as possible about your hardware, your operating system and the software you
are running to give the possibility to help you.

AUDIO 2 DJ – 44

In your description, you should mention:

How to reproduce the problem

What you have already done to try to x the problem

A description of your setup, including all hardware and software involved

The exact model and technical specications of your computer

10.2 Forum

Check out the Traktor forum to discuss all aspects off

AUDIO 2 DJ

and

TRAKTOR LE

withwith

other users:

www.native-instruments.com/djforums

10.3 Updates

Whenever you encounter problems, you should also check if you have the latest software
installed. Click on the AUDIO 2 DJ logo in the Control Panel to display the version num-

ber. Updates are released regularly to x known problems and to constantly improve the

software.

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AUDIO 2 DJ – 45

11 Appendix

11.1 What is Latency?

As with any digital device (including hardware signal processors) that converts audio to data
and back again, a computer adds a certain amount of delay (“latency”) when processing
audio signals. Fortunately, with today’s computers and low-latency sound card drivers, this
delay can be so small that you cannot hear it (as example: 3 milliseconds is about the

same delay caused by ngers snapping one meter away from your ears).

However, typical computers are generally not set up for low latency; attempting to play in
real time with the AUDIO 2 DJ will probably prove unsatisfying due to the delay.

Any computer-based audio system has some delay between the audio input and output.
It is easy to understand that this latency has be kept to a minimum in order to make DJ
applications playable. Even the most powerful computer can only do a certain number of
calculations per second; generating and processing sounds demands a lot from a com­puter. On the other hand, it is important to minimize any computer-based delays in order
to achieve a playing experience without annoying delays in sound playback.

Fortunately, three main factors make delays virtually insignicant, assuming you have a

suitable computer setup.

Today’s multi-gigahertz computers allow for very low latencies.

The AUDIO 2 DJ includes drivers optimized for low latency.

11.2 How low can you go?

1.5 ms of latency approaches the theoretical minimum, because it will always take some
time to process information in a computer. However, note that ultra-low latency settings
(or higher sampling rates) make your computer work harder, which can affect the perfor­mance. So, here are some tips on living with latency.

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AUDIO 2 DJ – 46

11.3 About Samples and Buffers

Audio cannot be handled continuously by a computer, but has to wait its turn while other
operations are being carried out. As a result, sound cards create a “buffer,” which can
hold a certain number of samples, where data can be stored and released as needed to

create a smooth ow of data. An analogy would be if you had a hose that does not deliver

water continuously, but in bursts. So you use a holding tank to store the water coming in
from the hose and have a valve in the tank that releases a steady amount of water in a

smooth, continuous ow.

If the tank (buffer) is large, then you can store more water in case the hose goes dry for a

bit. But it will take longer to ll the bucket, which is equivalent to latency. A smaller tank
takes less time to ll, but the hose needs to deliver water on a pretty continuous basis.

All ASIO audio interfaces and sound cards include a Control Panel in which you can adjust
latency. This may be given as the number of samples per buffer or just milliseconds.

The

AUDIO 2 DJ

provides you with several predened settings (in milliseconds) to choose

from and the option to user-dene the values.

Open Start > All Programs > Native Instruments > Audio 2 DJ Driver > Control Panel.

Read more about the Control Panel of the AUDIO 2 DJ in chapter 8 “Understanding the

Control Panel.”

11.4 Different Types of ASIO

It is extremely important to use the ASIO driver written for the AUDIO 2 DJ. There are
also generic ASIO drivers, typically called (for Windows) ASIO DirectX Full Duplex Driver
or ASIO Multimedia Driver. If you’re not sure which one to use, try them all, and choose
the one with the lowest latency.