Part of Track displayed blurry - no sound

Esteban5R2T8

Hello,

I'm using Traktor 4 Pro (Windows) on the following hardware:

Dell XPS 13-inch Core i7 Windows 10 Pro 22H2 (64-bit) Traktor Pro v4.2.0.34Kontrol S4 MK3Audio Device on Traktor: Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3 (ASIO)

Sometimes tracks (source is MP3) are displayed blurry and then they produce no longer any sound, i.e., from the moment the track is displayed blurry. If I go back in the track, I can play it, but generally the playback is interrupted, and I have to close (via Windows TaskManager - close the Traktor.exe-Task) and reopen Traktor 4. That's really annoying. I only use it as a hobby, not professionally, but I also don't want to combine four recording snippets of a 20-track mix into one file just because Traktor isn't able to function properly. I didn't have this problem with Traktor 3. My research didn't yield a satisfactory solution, and I haven't figured out how to report bugs to NI yet.

Thanks and best regards

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/45539/part-of-track-displayed-blurry-no-sound

I notice that your profile says : CPU = i7-1195G7 , but could you also please tell exactly what model of Dell XPS 13-inch that you have ? as well as amount of RAM ?

@Martiniix_NI , the above appear as needing scrutiny by you .

Esteban5R2T8

Hi,

it's a Dell XPS 13 internal Code 9310 with 16 GB RAM and FHD non-touch Screen.

I bought it in late 2021. The first thing I did was downgrading to Win10Pro x64… I never had any Problems with Traktor since I upgraded to 4 Pro.

SpirosG

Welcome to the Club.

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/15976/traktor-3-9-is-almost-crashing-no-sound-blurry-waveforms/p1


This issue has been reported by multiple users. No one cares about it.

I found two solutions. Live with it, and be ready to be embarrassed if you are a professional, or leave Traktor.

ilove1981

Yeah, it's a well-known problem that seems to affect both Windows and Mac users. Reports suggest it's connected to S4Mk3 use. I've certainly experienced it with my MacBook (Intel) and S4Mk3 about four times (thankfully only once at a gig) and I now have an iPad permanently connected to my DJ setup so that I can play a track if Traktor bombs and I need time to reboot my laptop.

It's not quite Russian Roulette but almost as stressful.

Esteban5R2T8

oh, wow. And nobody fixed it? Apple and Windows - both - affected? I think nobody can use this Software for professional DJing :-(

I will check if the problems appear on old Traktor 3 (v3.11.17) - I think I never had it with 3, only after upgrading to 4.

Sunborn

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/228735#Comment_228735

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/228789#Comment_228789

As a professional DJ (among other things) i can guarantee you that those assumptions are completely wrong.

My laptop is 8 years old so it is "ancient" comparing with your machines yet i play without the slightest problem in big festivals and events. And i do not have any of the problems you mentioned. I'm on Windows 10 and I trust Traktor 100% (as almost any other professional DJ that i know).

The reasons that i do not have such problems are:

• I do have constant administrator privileges on my computer. This is a must, no matter if Microsoft or Apple advice you otherwise. This is crucial and by doing this, will fix dozens of known "problems" posted here in the forum. If you are serious about Pro DJing, music production and video editing you have to forget the "standard user" account. You have to grow-up from an average user to a power user. Remember, those apps were originally made for professionals and only the recent years were spread to the average public.
  
• I use optimal settings everywhere, i have tweak my Windows to the maximum, literary hundreds of generic settings or hidden features. A small example, the Network options, 127 tweaks which made a huge difference to my network performance. So, do not afraid to use a tweaking application. You will see huge differences in your computer performance, It does not matter if you have a "state of the art" CPU or 128 Gb of RAM. A correctly tweaked computer with the half power than yours, can easily beat you down when it comes to performance.
  
• I have disabled (or set to "manual") more than 40 Windows services that have absolutely no use for me, apart of "eating" my resources for no reason. Same for all start-up programs, i kept only the absolutely necessary. In my case, antivirus + audio control panels, nothing else!

Those are the top-5 useless and resource consuming services:

Windows Search
You can start it manually if you want

SysMain (previously Superfetch)
One of the most useless services ever. If you have an SSD and plenty of RAM, this service isn’t actually doing anything productive. In fact, from time to time, you will experienced unnecessary disk reads and writes that, in turn, caused performance dips.

Windows Update Delivery Optimization
Stop wasting your bandwidth for something that has possible meaning only few times a year.

Remote Desktop Services
Use it if and when needed only, it doesn’t need to run all the time. The service is simply an unnecessary background process for everyday work. Besides consuming resources, it can be a security risk for your computer.

Connected User Experiences and Telemetry
The absolute worst of all! You really no need to send data to Microsoft!

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So, what i want to say is that your problems might be mostly elsewhere, not in Traktor itself. Those below are the most common scenarios for your issues, so start from here:

1- You are using your computers with their generic, default settings and not with the optimal ones.

2- Too many unnecessary (or completely useless) background tasks, start-up programs, services etc..

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Now lets dive deeper into those issues, shall we? 😉

All those reported issues can range from a minor visual annoyance to a critical problem accompanied by audio dropouts and software freezes. This phenomenon appears to stem from a combination of possible software-related bugs, file integrity issues, system performance limitations, and specific operational scenarios.

Known Software Bugs: Many users believe, that certain aspects of waveform rendering, particularly in parallel view when zoomed out, suffer from a known bug in Traktor Pro. This issue has been a recurring complaint across different Traktor versions and persists in Traktor Pro 4, but for some users only. Personally, i never had it.

File Reading and Corruption: One of the most frequently causes is Traktor's inability to properly read track data from the storage device (HDD or SSD). This can be due to:

• Failing Storage Hardware: A dying hard drive or SSD can lead to read errors, manifesting as blurry waveforms and often progressing to audio playback failure.
• Faulty Cables: Damaged or loose USB or data cables can interrupt the data flow between the computer and the storage device or DJ controller.
• Corrupted Audio Files: Issues within the audio files themselves, such as corrupted MP3 headers or over-compressed FLAC files, can prevent Traktor from correctly analyzing and displaying the waveform.

• System Performance and Resource Conflicts:
  • CPU Overload: High CPU usage, whether from Traktor itself (especially when using features like Stems) or other background processes, can strain system resources and impact waveform rendering. By correctly tuning and tweaking your computer, such problems are minimized or even totally eliminated.
  • USB Power Management: Power-saving settings on USB ports can interrupt the connection to external hard drives or DJ controllers, leading to waveform issues. Do not use power-saving if you are serious about performance!

• Concurrent Software/Hardware: Conflicts with other running applications or even connected devices (like an iPhone sharing the USB bus) have been linked to the problem. Do not share USB ports! If you are on laptop with limited ports, then unplug what you do not need at the moment. Or use USB hubs with power supply only.

• Accidental Second Instance: In few cases, users have found a second instance of Traktor Pro 4 running in the background, which can cause various malfunctions including waveform blurring and crashes. If your previous Traktor session ended-up abnormal, always use the Task Manager to see if the app continues to run in the background, and terminate it.

• Graphics Rendering Limitations: The way Traktor Pro renders waveforms, traditionally more CPU-intensive for the main interface, can be a factor, especially with complex displays like multiple decks or Stems.

• Specific In-Software Scenarios:
  • Stems and Cue Points: Blurry waveforms have been specifically reported when using Stems in conjunction with Fade In/Out cue points. So, avoid it if you do not really need it! Especially in a live mix, you do have a crossfader, so you really do not need fade in/out cue points (unless if your purpose is to fool your audience that you are actually "mixing")… 😋 Also, Stems has to be done from before, at home. Never in a live mix situation!
  • Parallel Waveform View: The issue is often more pronounced or specifically occurs when using the parallel waveform display, especially when zoomed out.

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Troubleshooting and Potential Solutions:

• Analyze Tracks: Ensure all tracks in your library are properly analyzed by Traktor BEFORE USE (i emphasize that)! Re-analyzing problematic tracks can help too. Try to do it in smaller steps, lets say 1000 tracks at a time instead of 10000 tracks. Some users suggest deleting the "STRIPES" folder (which stores waveform data) and forcing Traktor to re-analyze the collection.
• Check Hardware:
  • Test your hard drive or SSD for errors.
  • Try different USB cables and ports.
  • If using an external drive or controller via a USB hub, use only a powered USB hub or connect directly to the computer.
• Optimize System Performance:
  • Adjust power settings to high performance and disable USB selective suspend. Both are crucial!
  • Close unnecessary background applications.
  • Monitor CPU load within Traktor and your operating system.
• Software Configuration:
  • Experiment with disabling the "Load only into stopped deck" setting in Traktor's preferences.
  • Ensure your audio interface drivers are up to date.
  • Experiment to find the correct buffer size (latency) for your system, instead of using the lowest setting because you believe that "fast is better". This is not the case in Traktor. It is not a synth.
• Verify File Integrity: Check for and repair or replace any corrupted audio files. Avoid creating or using over-compressed audio files.
• Software Updates and Bug Reporting: Always keep Traktor updated to the latest version, as Native Instruments may release fixes for known bugs. This is the only way to fix bugs! Do not stay on earlier versions unless only if your system can not handle the new one (for whatever reason). If the issue persists, consider reporting it to Native Instruments support (not just here in the forum!) with detailed information about your setup and when the problem occurs.

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That's all. It took me 3 hours to collect and write all that data, I think i cover any possible scenario here and i am confident that if you pay attention to the above suggestions, most (if not all) of your problems will be solved! 🙏