S4 only recognized for a couple of seconds

ddamarra

Can anyone help?

I've had a sudden issue with my S4 Controller, when I first connect to my Mac the volume & cross faders do not show (see 1st screenshot). Other than that thing seem normal and the software recognizes anything I do to the hardware (play a song, EQ's, jogwheel etc.) for the first couple of seconds, after that it I can no longer control anything on the controller.

Weirdly, I can continue to control the main volume through the controller, and the music continues to plays through my speakers. When using internal mixing, the music also plays through my speakers which are only connected to the S4 which is then connected to my laptop via USB port.

Everything was working fine when I last used it a month or 2 ago, I've tried using a different cable from the decks to the laptop, restarting everything, re-downloading and updating on Native Access but no luck. Screenshot of my settings, as I'm guessing most of the time. Mac is pretty old but don't want to buy a whole new laptop.

Anyone have any suggestions?

lord-carlos

You are in external mixing mode, switch back to internal.

External is for when you connect to a mixer, you use a normal controller.

ddamarra

@lord-carlos in internal I have no control on the S4, the couple secs I get only comes in external mixing mode. When I turn the decks off it auto switches to internal, likewise when I turn the decks on it auto switches to external

lord-carlos

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/161438#Comment_161438

Switch to internal mixing mode while the unit is on.

Then please share new Screenshots of audio setup and output routing.

External is definitely wrong.

ddamarra

@lord-carlos ok thanks, here are the screenshots, let me know what you think

lord-carlos

Now the settings are correct and you should see volume faders in the UI.

Do you still have trouble that it stops working after a few seconds?

I wonder if that might be an hardware error.

ddamarra

@lord-carlos Yeah still problems, its completely normal for the first 2-15 seconds - every button works, the volume faders have no longer disappeared but are just frozen in place as are the eq's/tempos with no response to any movement on the hardware… the big A and B stay lit on my laptop and the hardware keeps all its lights even after it stops working, but when I turn it off I lose the A and B and its noticeable that my laptop recognises the decks being switched off (even without them working)

It's biggest threat would be dust, I've had it 5+ years but never used at parties/or had it around drinks… replacing the decks would at least be cheaper than buying a new mac though

Let me know if you think of any other troubleshooting ideas while I save up lol

ddamarra

FYI @lord-carlos and & anyone who has this issue in the future.

NI got me to pay/download Traktor Pro 3, initially it looked to make no difference however after 48 hours it suddenly worked fine… I didn't do any other troubleshooting so I'm guessing the new software was the solution but have no idea why it'd take 2 days to work

lord-carlos

Sounds weird.

I kinda expect the problem to come back at some point.