Please Help?? DDJ-S1 Low OutPut Signal and Hum/Buzzing(sounds like the speakers have air blowing out of them)

I used the DDJ-S1 running the RCA output to a DJM-700 mi=xer for about 6 months, and the output volume off the mixer was a little low?  Then I plugged the S1 directly into my powered speakers via XLR and it sounded AMAZING.  There are a couple of things with the output, if the external power is off or an issue the XLR outs will not work properly.  The RCA output always works out, but the XLR can be an issue.  I would use the RCA for the external mixer, and use the XLR for the speakers directly.  I don't think you'll have problems going direct, but if possible use the RCA for the other mixing board..

Well on this day I was connected directly to the sub speaker by XLR because thats the only way to connect to it. Every thing was working fine for soundcheck. Then an hour later for showtime when I turned my computer back on and tried to play music the problem started happening.

I always have my DDJ-S1 connected to the power I did not even know that it worked without it.

Thanks to you I will always carry a back up pair of rca's for emergencies but here's my problem...if I only use RCAs then I can't utilize the sub that the club has.

Something had to of caused the problem to start in the first place. Could it be an issue with my computer or my DDJ-S1?

Is there a proper start up procedure for that kind of connection like pc -> serato -> ddj-s1 -> sub -> mixer -> amp

My guess would be a ground-loop caused by the laptop. You can try these two things to see which is causing the problem:

1) Disconnect the power supply of the laptop.

2) Remove the battery (keeping the power supply connected, of course).

Hi

Im also having this very same problem with this unit. Tried it on 3 different sound systems and put ground loops on the RCA outputs to the external mixer channel. When i do this the bass is dramatically effected by loss of quality however the sound is not buzzing as much however it is still present at mid/high freq. I unplugged the power of the Laptop & hey presto conflict resolved however my battery on laptop is pretty much dead without exteranal power.  Do i have to take the battery out every time or is there another way around it?  Is the signal any way amplified when leaving the T1? Thanks in advance ;)

Ben,

After you unplug the laptop you should be able to plug it back in with no problem

What I did was by this for my laptop: http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-EBT-HUMX-LIST

also do some other things:

Made sure all speakers, computer, amps, everthing is plugged into the same power conditioner. This is very important in eliminating problems like this.

Also the way you power up and down your equipment is important.

Power up:

1. Laptop

2. Controller

3. Mixer (if any)

4. Amp

5. Speakers....

Power off is just the reverse

Thanks for that advise i certainly will double check everything again with that reference,also i was wondering would a DI box resolve any of these issues,from what i gather its the groundings from say laptops & keyboards that bring about this hum,i have before eliminated it with ground loops going into the seperate lines into the back of the DJM 500 and works well but now its a the T1 thats confusing me. Thanks for youre help btw :)

Hi,

I have an Apple I mac when I connect it via USB to my DDJ S1 and xlr out to my Active QSC Speakers I get this humming / buzzing noise, when I discount the usb lead from the mac it stops, any ideas??

I cant remove the Power lead as the imac wont work and when I remove the power lead on the DDJ S1 no sound comes out of speakers but the controller still has lights on,

Thanks

Gareth,

1st thing you should try:

• Make sure all your equipment is turned off and that for best results that all your equimpent is plugged into the same surge protector (very important often overlooked step)
• turn the volumes all the way down on all your equipment (DDJ and Speakers)
• turn you laptop on and open you dj software. Turn on you DDJ. Play a loop of song
• turn the master volume and gains up to the 12 oclock positions exactly.
• turn the fader volumes up
• Now turn you speakers on. (You should not here any sound since volume is turned down on speakers) Do you hear humming at this point?
• If no humming turn the volume up on your speakers and you should have good clean sound coming out of them.

If you heard humming whn you turned your speakers when there was no volume then 3 things can be wrong:

1. You said you cannot unplug your power supply im guessing because there is something wrong with you batter? this could cause a bad electronic connection between the outlet-laptop-ddj causing hum. Best way to test is with different laptop
2. electricity is causing humming. You can purchase a power outlet with a hum eliminater. I purchased monster surge protecters from american musical supply. I bought them so that I had a surge protecter and enough outlets for my mobile gigs but they also eliminate humms caused by electricity.
3. Worst case is your DDJ is messed up but I doubt it

let me know if it works...