Channel gain trim issues

Questions
1
  • Device model: MacBook Pro M1
  • Version of operating system: MacOs 15.6.1
  • Version of djay: 5.4.2
  • Hardware/controllers used: custom

Good day!

For some time now I’ve been struggling with the channel gain trim. This is the context. I changed headroom from 0 to -6 dB a while back. After that, the stored channel gain trim settings seem to incorrectly reflect the headroom change. I dealt with it by switching “settings > sound > save and restore manually set gain values” off. But this was unsatisfying to say the least, so switched it on again, did load my most frequently played tracks, adjusted the gain and stored. And carefully monitored the sound during performances. This was comparable to loading fresh never played tracks and a good compromise.

But.

After the update to 5.4.2 it became unusable, having the store setting “on” loads the tracks with a too loud volume, “off” not loud enough. Not just a bit, but with differences that are very noticeable, i.e. > 3 dB. And if I apply a new gain trim setting on the controller, the volume jumps, I think to the correct volume as stored, but not sure, at least to a usable volume. But a very ugly jump that seems not to be avoidable.
I use Beatport playlists and streaming.

Questions.

  • Anyone with the same experience? I could not find topics.
  • Can I delete the stored channel gain trim settings and start fresh?
  • Is this a bug?

Thanks and cheers, Bart.

1 Like
3
  • Auto gain: decoupled manual gain on hardware controllers from auto gain in software to allow for independent adjustments

If I understand what you’re saying correctly, there is a setting that was part of rhe 5.3 update I think to fix this. Check the settings.

2 Likes
4

Thanks! Let me check, maybe that was the issue from the start and not the headroom change. But it got way worse in 5.4 and did not have big issues before that …

1 Like
5

Thanks for the suggestion @jmoak311.

@Brainbox please report back if changing that setting solves your issue or not. Thanks!

2 Likes
6

I was a -6db guy for a while but this month went to “none” and think it improved the sound overall. Hopefully it’s the auto gain issue.

2 Likes
7

Removed. Was too quick. I use relative 01H/7Fh controllers for almost everything, also for the gain trim. I’m pretty sure that after the update to 5.4.2. the processing of relative 01h/7Fh controller input on the gain trim stopped working correctly. I will write the scenario’s.

8

Ok, these are the scenarios.

1/
Proof that I use a relative encoder. Duh.

2/
Settings, auto:off, save:on, unlink:off

  • Load track, adjust gain trim, eject track
  • Adjust gain trim to some insane low value on the controller
  • Load same track, observe the on screen knob jumping to the saved value
  • Start playing track and hear the correct volume
  • Very slightly turn the gain trim control on the controller
  • Observe on screen and hear the giant gain jump
  • This looks like the volume control is absolute, but the fact is it is not.
    This is a bug.

3/
Settings, auto:off, save:on, unlink:on

  • Load track, adjust gain trim, eject track
  • Set the gain trim neutral on screen if needed.
  • Adjust gain trim to some insane low value on the controller, note that due to unlink this is invisible on screen.
  • Load the same track
  • Start playing track and hear the volume. It is already wrong because it uses the value previously set on the controller in stead of the saved value.
    This is another bug.

Very creative work. :innocent:

Thanks and cheers, Bart.

9

Sorry, I’m cooking dinner. I’m not sure I digested (pun intended) everything you said lol.

I came from serato. My settings are auto gain On, unlink controller from auto gain On, save and restore gains off. This lets it behave exactly like sdj pro. No gain jump in the UI when touching the knobs.

Auto gain does a pretty good job, but when unlinked from controller you can tweak trim when needed and acts like it would were it not connected to a software program.

10

I use a custom controller that uses relative encoders where most standard controllers use simple pots. That requires a kind of shift in thinking but at the end is more simple if implemented correctly.

I will try the auto gain, maybe that partly masks the bug. But a bug it is.

1 Like
11

Can you please share a short video of this @Brainbox?

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(post deleted by author)

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Please manually copy the link, the video player plugin does not work …

Cheers!

[type or paste code here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/r06lv2qw60khgyi31x9mq/IMG_0851.MOV?rlkey=1qind63qd5sptedmz7pq7a9e6&st=w87ekit6&dl=0)
14

I am also facing the same issue

1 Like
15

Ok. Isolating the bugs is one thing and it looks quite dramatic. But I tried to mix some tracks and looks like it is still usable.

  • Use prepared tracks of which correct gain trim is stored.
  • Only use the save gain option, other 2 not selected.

This way I did not experience big gain jumps. Probably because you will never turn the gain trim between tracks and track volumes are sufficiently equal so that the jumps that are still there are small. I don’t have enough time to check why the problem became so big during my set last Saturday, but solving the bug(s) is highly recommended if you ask me.

Thanks and cheers.

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@Slak_Jaw : Can you please report back when you DL’ed the video so that I can remove it?

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Hi @Brainbox, I’ve downloaded the video, but haven’t had time to review it yet.