Kontrol DJ 500 under MIXXX sofware (windows XP version)

[kdjdem]

Hi,

I'm a new user of MIXXX, for now under windows XP because there is no USB driver for my controller (I hope I'll be able to migrate to linux one day, if a USB driver appears), a Kontrol DJ 500 :

http://kontrolprodj.com/content/view/3/11/




So...This morning, I tried last version of MIXXX, under windows XP, since now MIXXX 's got a learning feature for midi controllers.

The installation was made without any problem. Before starting with MIXXX, I launch Konverter ("switch" software to activate the controller), using the "no preset- hardware" option (instead of other presets for well known dj softwares).

Then I launched MIXXX, went to the audio setup, and easily configure my sound card for master and headphone (audigy with 2 separate stereo out). THen, I wen to the controllers menu, and happily discovered than the KDJ was correctly and directly recognized by MIXXX.






So, now since KDJ 500 MIXX presets are not available, I just launched the learning feature. It's very simple, the software asks us what control is used for each mixing typical basic features (pitch, crossfader, etc...) . You just have to manipulate each control on your KDJ :





Once you've done that, you can use MIXXX ! Of course, it's just a very basic setup (just basic mixer functions, CD-like seeking, etc...) but it's working out of box.


Tonight after work I'll try to go deeper in the software. There is a lot of things we can customize, like on other software (basically, the same things)

Especially for two things : the ASIO creative driver seems to not be recognized (so I use the less good standard windows driver), and the jog wheels, because the jog wheels works very similar to old CD dj plates for now.


I'll post the results, of course.

[kdjdem]

Hi,

I don't understand why ASIO is not recognized under MIXXX

It's fully working under traktor under MIXXX I can use only the windows sound driver, with a much bigger latency...

[Pegasus]

That's weird. Are you running a 64-bit version of Windows? If so, are you running the 64-bit version of Mixxx? If so, you need 64-bit ASIO drivers for your sound card or it won't show up. (I've seen this on my 64-bit XP system.) If 64-bit ASIO drivers aren't available, try running the 32-bit version of Mixxx.

[kdjdem]

Hi,

thank you for your answer, but I use a 32bit windows xp and 32bit mixxx version too. I use a audigy (old one, the first with glod plated out) with creative sound drivers. I've readed that the audigy could make problems with mixxx ?


MIXXX send me the message "can't find sound device" when I select ASIO in audio prefs.

[kdjdem]

Hi,

This evening I made another try. I used the good old technic : uninstall>reinstall

I set up MIXXX with creative asio driver, and MAGIC : it's working great. I obtain a great useable latency (about 10ms without using any effects -I don't know if MIXXX 's got some, BTW- but 2decks playing, I even can go to 2ms but after that, sometimes sound glitches appears ). For electronic music it's already very useable with very similar performances to closed source software I tried before.

One thing : I don't know if MIXXX 's got scratch emulation features with the jogs, to have a little fun with my controller ? I know I will not obtain the same feeling and perfomances than real vynil or timecoded vynils, but even in a techno or DandB mix, sometimes a little scratch can be nice.

Now I have to find other skins (I can't find any !), and configure correctly my kontrol DJ controller (especially jogs)...and come back for new questions I guess


I'll read the doc and wiki first !

thanks



EDIT : for information purpose (since it should be quite easy to find on used market), I use a create card similar to this (but older version : I bought the first "pro" audigy available, in that period it was a high end expensive sound card, about 200 USD)




This sound card is really good for latency (at least on my own setup ! ), even on my old DJ dedicated PC (celeron 1.3ghz, 512mo). WIth a better PC, I certainly can go for minimum latency, I believe.

[kdjdem]

Hi,

I'm currently trying to map the KDJ, the problem is that the KDJ 500 documentation doesn't give (as far as I know) which messages and note/control numbers correspond to the DJ controller functions & LEDs.

IN the manual, we've got tables and stuff like that, but anything I understand

http://kontrolprodj.com/download/kdj500_user_manual.pdf



Any help will be appreciated...For now the only way I found is to test each knob or button in the basic wizard (for example, I push effect button instead of the crossfader, then I change in the menu the crossfader to flanger, etc...). Very boring method, and not eficient for some special KDJ functions (shift, track select rotary clikable knob, etc...).


thank you !

[jus]

Midi-Ox may help:

Video: How to troubleshoot your MIDI keyboard with MIDI-OX

This software tutorial teaches you how to troubleshoot your MIDI Keyboard with MIDI-OX no matter what audio recording and editing software you use. If you suspect your MIDI keyboard isn't working, you can troubleshoot it with MIDI-OX and this tutorial.

[kdjdem]

THanks,

I'll take a look on it, even if my KDJ500 is fully functional. My problem is that I didn't find (for now, maybe I missed something in the manual) any list of knobs-buttons >MIDI "value" for now (english is not my first language so it's difficult to explain ). With such a list, I should be able to at least map all the basic functions of my controller.

THe hardest thing after that will be to map the jogs and other "special" features, like track selection rotary knob ("Infinitely variable push encoders" = 2 special knobs with endless rotation, one for each deck, you push it to select the track and send it to the deck), or the "shift" button (allowing to add a secondary function to all the knobs and buttons on the controller), or "select" buttons (allowing for 2 to 3 other functionalities for several buttons, like FX for example).

The KDJ 500 is a great pro (metal case, ALPS knobs, etc...) club-oriented controller, but quite complex !


BTW, you can see the specifications of that controller here :

http://kontrolprodj.com/content/view/3/11/


THe biggest issue IMHO is the non-support of linux for now...and since I'm not a develloper, once again I can't do anything for it

the dev kit including linux is here :

http://kontrolprodj.com/download/kdj500_sdk_v1_2_0.zip



EDIT : By the way, @Pegasus, concerning the ASIO problem : I found the reason of the problem. The ASIO error appears only when I set up the sound rate at 44khz in prefs. I have to set it up to 48khz to work. So now, I'm playing at 48khz, 10ms (but I tried a little the flanger, I believe I 'll have to increase a little the latency if I want to use the effects) with CREATIVE asio drivers. If I use another DJ wellknown softwares, I can use both 44khz and Creative ASIO at the same time (with quite the same settings for latency, BTW).

[Pegasus]

If you want to tweak your controller, read this: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=949
There is also information on reading the values the controller sends.

[kdjdem]

OK, thanks, if I understand correctly, I have to use this :

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files\Mixxx>mixxx --midiDebug

I also asked help on KDJ500 forum, but I have no answer for now. I'll keep you informed about my progress