Traktor Scratch Duo Setup Guide

All the setup action needed for getting Traktor Scratch Duo working with timecode is about getting the signal path between the turntable/CDJ and the Master Out of the mixer properly configured. The following figure shows the signal path when using timecode vinyl.

Even though it seems to be quite simple it can get confusing because there are several places and where configuration settings needs to be done.

This tutorial tries do divide the setup in several small steps and it shows how the settings made impact the signal path. Once you know how the signal travels between the different stages, the whole setup process starts to make sense.

The Steps

• Step 1: Cabling
• Step 2: Check the Input Mode of Audio 4 DJ
• Step 3: Set the Input Mode for Audio 4 DJ
• Step 4: Set the Input Selector on your Mixer
• Step 5: Set the Deck to Scratch Control
• Step 6: Show the Scratch Panels
• Step 7: Check the Scope and Calibrate your Decks

Step 1, Variant 1: Cabling for Turntables

If you are using turntables make the following connections (assuming you are using the multi core cables):

1. Connect the output from your turntable to get two plugs labelled "Player TT/CD" of the multi core cable.
2. Connect the two jacks labelled "Audio 4 DJ Input" to the two inputs of the Audio 4 DJ.
3. Connect the two jacks labelled "Audio 4 DJ Output" to the two outputs of the Audio 4 DJ.
4. Connect the two jacks labelled "Mixer Line/In" to the Line inputs of your mixer.
5. Connect the two jacks labelled "Mixer TT/CD" to the Phono inputs of your mixer.

Step 1, Variant 2: Cabling for CDJs

If you are using CDJs make the following connections (assuming you are using the multi core cables):

1. Connect the output from your CDJ to get two plugs labelled "Player TT/CD" of the multi core cable.
2. Connect the two jacks labelled "Audio 4 DJ Input" to the two inputs of the Audio 4 DJ.
3. Connect the two jacks labelled "Audio 4 DJ Output" to the two outputs of the Audio 4 DJ.
4. Connect the two jacks labelled "Mixer Line/In" to the Line or Line A inputs of your mixer.
5. Connect the two jacks labelled "Mixer TT/CD" to the Line B inputs of your mixer if the mixer channel has two line inputs.

Step 2: Check the Input Mode of Audio 4 DJ

Once the cabling for the turntables/CDJs is done and when the Audio 4 DJ is connected to your computer have a look at the two LEDs in section INPUT MODE on the top panel of the audio interface. The two LEDs indicate which input mode is currently active for the Audio 4 DJ.

	This is the correct mode if you are using timecode CDs with Traktor.
	This is the correct mode if you are using timecode vinyls with Traktor.
	This is the correct mode if you want to record vinyl with the Audio 4 DJ.

If the mode you need is already activated proceed with step 4, otherwise go to step 3 to set the Input Mode.

Step 3, variant 1: Set the Input Mode for Audio 4 DJ in 1.2.2 and lower

The Audio 4 DJ itself has no switch to set the Input Mode. You need to use the 'Audio 4 DJ Settings Tool' to set it.

1. Start the Audio 4 DJ Settings tool.
   
   Windows  You find the Audio 4 DJ Settings tool in your start menu. Open the folder All Programs/Native Instruments/Audio 4 DJ Driver and click 'Audio 4 DJ Settings'.
   
   Mac OS X  You find the Audio 4 DJ Settings tool in the subfolder 'Audio 4 DJ Driver' of your application folder.
   
   When you start the Settings Tool no window is opened. The tool is started as a menulet
   in Mac OS X and as a taskbar application in Windows.
    
2. Click (Mac) or right-click (Windows) the icon of Audio 4 DJ Settings tool and select 'Show Panel'.
   
   
3. The section INPUT MODE of the settings tool offers the three options explained in the previous section.
   Click 'LINE (CD CONTROL)' if you are using timecode CDs, or click 'VINYL CONTROL' if you are using timecode vinyls.

Step 3, variant 2: Set the Input Mode for Audio 4 DJ in 1.2.3

If you are using Traktor version 1.2.3 and higher you can change the Input Mode for Audio 4 DJ direct inside Traktor:

1. Open the Preferences dialog.
2. Select the category Timecode Setup at the left side of the window.
3. Open the list Audio 4/8 Input mod and select the desired mode.
   
   
   
   Select 'Timecode CD/Line' if you are using timecode CDs, or select 'Tiemcode Vinly' if you are using timecode vinyls.

Step 4: Set the Input Selector on your Mixer

Next you need to select the input that is feed into the mixer channel.

• When using timecode vinyl and when the output from Audio 4 DJ is connected to a Phono/Line input of the mixer, set the Input Selector to Line. The audio travels on the Line connection.
  If you select Phono while a timecode vinyl is playing you would hear the timecode signal instead of the audio.
• When using timecode CDs and when the output from Audio 4 DJ is connected to the Line input of a mixer channel that provides Phone/Line inputs set the Input Selector to Line.
• When using timecode CDs and when the output from Audio 4 DJ is connected to one of the Line inputs of a mixer channel that provides Line/Line inputs set the Input Selector to the line input where the multi core cable labelled 'Mixer Line/In' as is connected to.

Step 5: Set the Deck to Scratch Control

Each of the Traktor decks can be set to different deck operation modes. You can see from the buttons in the transport section of the deck which operation mode is selected.

	The deck operation mode is set to Internal Playback. Even when you play a timecode vinyl, the timecode signal is not analysed by the Traktor timecode decoder.
	The deck operation mode is set to Scratch Control. The timecode signal is analysed by the Traktor timecode decoder. However, the timecode controls the playback of the deck only if either relative or absolute timecode tracking mode is selected by clicking one the two buttons showing a turntable symbol.

This is how to set the deck operation mode to Scratch Control:

1. Click the arrow below one of the deck letters.
2. Click 'Scratch Control'.
   
   

Step 6: Show the Scratch Panels

Once the previous steps are made you should slect a layout where the scratch panels are enabled. Open the layout selector in the Traktor header and select either 'Ext. Mixer (Scope)' or 'Ext. Mixer (Sync)'.

If those layout options are not available or if none of the available layouts make the scratch panels visible, check the tutorial How to make the Scratch Panels Visible. This tutorial describes two different methods of how to make the scratch panels visible.

Step 7: Check the Scope and Calibrate your Decks

The scratch panels offer two different views: Vinyl Mode and Scope Mode.

• Vinyl Mode (left figure) shows a virtual vinyl or compact disc: the disc rotates if the deck is receiving timecode signals form the turntable or CD player. The direction and speed that the virtual vinyl is rotating corresponds to the direction and speed that the timecode vinyl or timecode CD is turning.
• In Scope Mode (right figure) the scratch panel displays information about the signal that the timecode decoder receives from the turntable or CDJ player.
  And: Scope mode displays the most important button when using timecode: the RST button. Clicking the RST button calibrates the deck.

Click the scratch panel to switch between Vinyl Mode and Scope Mode.

The Scope Mode is an important source of information for detecting, analysing and solving problems with timecode control. Another tutorial shows how the scope mode can look like and explains what you can do to solve potential problems. You can get this tutorial here.

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