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Forum: VirtualDJ Technical Support

Topic: Rane Four: issue with Stems EQ on 4 channels
Hi everybody, I would like to use the EQ stems (EzRemix) on my new Rane Four, but when I connect the controller vdj shows me the message that is it possible to use them only on the decks 1&2 (using the knobs on channels 3&4).
With this configuration is not possible to use EZRemix if I loaded some tracks or samples on the other decks.

Is there any workaround to force this configuration and use EZRemix stems in the classic way?

One note: if I connect to the PC two different controller at the same time (my old SX3 and the Rane Four in my case) the EQ EZRemix configuration of the DDJ SX3 wins on the rane hardware config, so I can control stems on all 4 channels moving the related knobs on the Rane four. This "glitch" resolves perfectly my issue, so I think that is possible to find a configuration that allows to bypass the hardware configuration on the Rane Four.

Someone could help me? Thanks in advance.
 
Posted Tue 22 Aug 23 @ 3:57 pm
not possible as it's a hardware mixer, the dials send midi but they also boost/cut eq as eq does.
 
 
As an experimental idea, could you route master thru the sampler channel and disable the "fake" mixer settings?
I've not 100% thought it thru, hw fx wouldn't work, and cueing seems like a problem. It feels like an "almost" idea,
dedicate deck 4 to headphones, and you could have 3 deck stems?

too weird for a public idea, but theoretically possible?
 
Thanks for the rapid answers!
The idea sounds good, when I use 3 decks for mashups is usually a fast mix all focused on stems (no effects). In this way you have all in control with knobs (no needs to change decks to control them with pads)

Are you talking about the button "Sampler Assign to Channel 4" or some other configuration to set?

(However it's weird that with two controllers connected the hardware mixer seems bypassed..)
 
A very experimental idea, I'm not 100% it would work, I was thinking out loud and asking an experts opinion. It goes against how the device is intended to work, but maybe it could work that way.

my idea is everything [decks 1,2,3] goes to the sampler channel software mixed, it receives vdj master output so vdj software mixes, it can read all the dials & upfaders and xfader , because those sw decks aren't going thru the hw mixer you won't have the hw eq cut/boost issue, but you still have stem control [actually full control].
Deck 4 would be for cue monitoring, so deck 4 hw channel would be designated as headphone, the pfl for deck 4 would always be on and it would be fed from the pfl buttons of deck 1,2,3 what is fed deck 4 will only be headphones

your 2 controllers method doesn't bypass the hw mixer, the sx3 is just a box of buttons that shapes [stems] the sound before it hits the individual rane4 hw channels [which will still eq/gate fader/xfader whatever they're sent]

I'm thinking outside the box here, but it's a just a novel way of routing.
Don't get too excited, my idea stunned me for a second [could it work?] I figure even top tier experts like djdad will need some thinking time.
 
Should indeed work I think, if it has a sampler output separate from the decks
 
While "possible" it would be better IMHO to just sell Rane Four and get a different controller.
I mean the proposed "hack" is one heck of a hack and you also loose control over effects (you would not be able to apply any meaningfull effects via the controller on any deck)

The issue here as mentioned above is not that VirtualDJ does not allow control of stems via EQ knobs on all 4 decks at the same time.
The issue is WHY VirtualDJ does not allow it:
Because with an External Mixer audio setup you loose some flexibility that's required for Stems operation. And you cannot really bypass that.

At this moment, the two main "Stems" controllers (Rane Four and Pioneer FLX10) differ on many aspects. One of them is the mixer mode.
Four is hardware mixer, FLX10 is software mixer.
Each approach has its pros and its cons.

However "hacking" them that hard doesn't really worth it IMHO.
 
@phanton, I don't disagree, a hack so weird I pulled a face when I had the idea.

@PignaDj you might be missing an easier solution, if your problem with stems pads is just deck switching, then just make a custom pad [well 2 actually] one deals with deck 1&3 stems & a second for decks 2&4, that would be pretty normal thing to do.
 
Looking at the mapper it seems like the effect buttons also send midi, so although indeed you can't use the hardware effects in that case, you could still use the buttons to control software effects I think.

Edit: Just learned that the PFL button on the Rane Four is exclusive, so using PFL button on deck 1 would turn off PFL on deck 4, so not ideal since PFL on deck 4 is supposed to stay on for this hack to work.
If your laptop's headphone output is strong enough you could use that (or add a headphone amplifier and use that) instead of the mixer's headphone output though.
Added bonus is that you can still use 4 decks on the mixer in that case. (or could use deck 4 as the dedicated sampler output since the sampler output was used up for the master)
 
@PhantomDeejay
I understand that hacking in this way the controller could be risky, especially during the gigs!

@locodog I didn't thought about a custom pads to controls 4 decks at the same time (I always used them for a single deck). This could be a good solution.

Rane Four seems more solid and responsive Vs the Pioneer hardware, so I prefer to refresh my habits of mixing and try something new.

@Adion
I'm not sure if I understand how to use the 4th channel, however I'll make some test on it. I love the flexibility of customisation with virtual DJ!

Thanks everybody for support!
 
I’m experiencing the same issue. Please need this fixed asap.