“Issues with Headphone Cueing on Traktor Z1 MK2 — Is This Normal?”

Axioma
Axioma Member Posts: 10 Newcomer
in Traktor Software & Hardware

I recently bought the new Traktor Z1 MK2, but I’m having an issue with headphone cueing. When I plug my headphones into the Z1, I can’t hear the cue or mix directly through them. The only way I get it to work is by setting Output 3/4 for the monitor in the software settings, and Output 1/2 for the master on the RCA outputs. Is this normal for the Z1 MK2, or should it function like other mixers where you can just plug in headphones and hear the cue/mix? Is there something wrong with my unit, or is there a setting I’m missing? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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Answers

  • maniacintosh81
    maniacintosh81 Member Posts: 646 Guru

    Cannot try it myself as I don't own a Z1 Mk2, but would expect that Traktor makes these settings itself if you connect a Z1 Mk2. At least with Traktor Pro 4.1 or newer. But you described settings sound pretty much correct to me. Don't get what is the issue with these settings. Your post sounds like it works this way.

    There is one thing you seem to get wrong: Z1 Mk2 is not a mixer! It is a controller and an audio interface. The controller part of Z1 Mk2 just controls the mixer within of Traktor Pro software. Mixing is not done in the unit itself.

    In general headphones have to be connected to the front output of Z1 Mk2. The rear one just mirrors the RCA outputs. To adjust amount of cue and mix signals in the headphone you can use the headphone mix pot above the headphone volume pot on your Z1 Mk2. Should be adjustable from mix only over equal mix and cue to cue only.

  • Axioma
    Axioma Member Posts: 10 Newcomer

    I think you’re misunderstanding how the Z1 Mk2 works. While it’s technically a “controller” and “audio interface,” in practice, it functions as a mixer for songs, and for many DJs, it serves that purpose without additional setup.

    The issue I’m reporting is that when I plug in my headphones and activate cue, there’s absolutely no sound, even with the volume at 100% and the cue mix pot adjusted. It only works if I go to Output > Output Monitor and assign the output to 3/4 R/L. This is very different from how a regular mixer or even the Z1 Mk1 works, where you simply connect the headphones and activate cue without needing to adjust any settings.

    So my question is whether this is a Traktor Pro configuration issue, if it requires a specific plugin, or if it’s actually a defect in the Z1 Mk2. I appreciate any help in clarifying this.

    This response makes the problem clear and communicates your expectation for the Z1 Mk2 to function as a mixer without complex settings adjustments.

  • Stevan
    Stevan Traktor Mapping Mod Posts: 2,043 mod

    Should be plug and play. It is rather a software issue so please report it to support.

  • Axioma
    Axioma Member Posts: 10 Newcomer

    Yes, it does work with plug and play, but only after configuring the settings under Settings > Output Routing and assigning output 3 and 4 to the monitor. Currently, I have Output Master set to RCA: Speakers 0 (Right) and Speakers 1 (Left), and Output Monitor to Speakers 2 (Right) and Speakers 3 (Left). This setup is necessary to hear anything through the headphones for cueing. If I remove outputs 2 and 3, I can’t hear the cue at all—though the plug and play activates, the volume knob and mix knob move, but there’s no sound unless I go into Output Routing and reassign them.

    I’m not sure if this is how it’s supposed to function, or if this might actually be a software issue, a specific configuration needed, or something off with the unit.

  • Stevan
    Stevan Traktor Mapping Mod Posts: 2,043 mod

    Did you try to reinstall Traktor by now? It definitely sounds like a software bug which slipped through. Give the customer support the info about your computer and any other controllers that you may have in your setup.

    We (who care to help other members here) did not have a chance to test the unit yet so maybe ask some of the reviewers on Youtube and see if someone can duplicate the issue. DJ NUO sounds like a someone who would care to help you out.

  • Axioma
    Axioma Member Posts: 10 Newcomer

    Thank you for the help and suggestions.

    I’ve already tried reinstalling Traktor Pro 4 on two different PCs, but the issue remains. The only way I can get cue audio through the headphones is by manually configuring Output Routing in Traktor and assigning outputs 3 and 4 in the Output Monitor section. Without this setup, although plug-and-play activates and the volume and mix knobs respond, there’s no cue audio through the headphones.

    Here are my current PC specs, in case this helps identify any compatibility issues:

    •Motherboard: MSI X570 EDGE WIFI
    •Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5800x

    •Graphics Card: MSI RTX GeForce 3070 Ti
    •RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro SL DDR4 3600 (32GB, 2x16GB, CL18, AMD Optimized)
    •SSD: Samsung 870 QVO SSD 2TB SATA3
    •SSD PCI NVMe: Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB SSD NVMe M.2
    •Cooling: Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L V2
    •Power Supply: Corsair RM750x Full Modular

    If there’s any other configuration I should try or if this is a software bug that needs addressing, please let me know. Also, I’d appreciate it if someone could let me know how to contact Traktor support to report this issue in case they can help directly.

    Thanks again for all the advice and recommendations.

  • Axioma
    Axioma Member Posts: 10 Newcomer

    There’s a user who commented:

    “Buy a Mac!”

    Comments like this are not only unhelpful but also disruptive to both me and the community. This is a serious topic, and I’m looking for constructive input—not pointless opinions and personal biases. Windows has more than enough capability to run Traktor, and my setup has plenty of power, likely outperforming many Macs.

    So, if you genuinely don’t know what you’re talking about, please refrain from cluttering the discussion with irrelevant and unproductive comments.

  • ErikMinekus
    ErikMinekus Member Posts: 110 Advisor
    edited November 3

    Of course you need to route the headphones to a separate output to be able to preview tracks without them going to the master output, this is the same with the Z1 MK1. The only issue you’re having is that it’s not automatically configured while plugging in the Z1 MK2, but you should only need to done this once and it should be remembered for the next time you plug it in.

    If you need to do it every time you plug it in, that’s a bug.

  • BJQ1972
    BJQ1972 Member Posts: 58 Helper

    I've just plugged mine in for the first time and the OP is correct. It doesn't configure the outputs automatically like it does with other NI gear.

    The labels of the outputs also aren't correct, they should be labelled as main out and headphone out in the software, but they aren't.

    It's not the end of the world but it is an oversight/bug.

    Also, I only seem to have WASAPI selectable, with no ASIO option?

  • Stevan
    Stevan Traktor Mapping Mod Posts: 2,043 mod
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/187730#Comment_187730

    Thanks for the confirmation. It is likely the software issue then - the fact that ASIO is not supported yet is adding to the issue.

  • BJQ1972
    BJQ1972 Member Posts: 58 Helper

    Actually, I've just found and installed the ASIO driver. It has given me an error in Device manager for one of the generic Windows drivers, but all seems to be working fine with ASIO. I still had to select the output routing, but they are now labelled correctly.

  • BJQ1972
    BJQ1972 Member Posts: 58 Helper

    I didn't find the driver first time because I scrolled down the list, and expected it to be listed, alongside Traktor X1 MK3, as Traktor Z1 Mk2, but it's listed as Traktor Kontrol Z1 Mk2 instead.

  • Axioma
    Axioma Member Posts: 10 Newcomer

    Thank you very much for the information! I really appreciate it.

    I’d like to try the ASIO driver solution as well, but I’m currently only seeing options for WASAPI and Exclusive modes, not ASIO or Traktor Kontrol Z1 Mk2. I followed the installation steps from the Native Instruments website, but I haven’t been able to get the ASIO option to appear. Could you please let me know how you installed the ASIO driver?

    If this solves the cueing issue, that would be fantastic, as it would be much easier than having to set up Output Routing Monitor every time.

    Thanks again for your help!

  • BJQ1972
    BJQ1972 Member Posts: 58 Helper

    Here is the driver file. Unzip it and run the exe.

    https://www.native-instruments.com/fileadmin/drivers/audiohardware/NativeInstrumentsTRUsbAudio_v5.70.0.zip

  • Miks_Max
    Miks_Max Member Posts: 12 Member

    I used four controllers from different manufacturers and each time in Traktor Pro I had to specify separate outputs for monitoring. I don't see any problem with this at all. This is not an analog device. A digital audio interface. As far as I know, routing is always configured in them

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