Rekordbox 7 timescale?

I've always kept up to date with firmware/rekordbox versions, and I have been impressed with the look and feel of Rekordbox 6 since it first came out.

However, I can't help feeling that the build of RB6 is fundamentally flawed. Since it's inception it has caused a lot of issues that just were never there on 5.8.5.

I posted a list of the things I found out I have to do just to make it work on a Macbook Pro which I will paste below.

Computer: Macbook Pro 2015 15 inch Intel i7 2.5ghz / 16 GB Ram / OSX Mojave

Additional Optimisations to cater for Rekordbox 6

Turbo Boost = Off (to avoid overheating, stuttering to a stop) using http://tbswitcher.rugarciap.com/
Graphics card set to = Intel only (to avoid AMD crashing Rekordbox) using https://gfx.io/
Mac File sharing = off (to improve responsiveness, able to lower latency)
Auto Brightness = Off (to avoid Graphics stuttering RB6) in Apple System Settings
Waveform Drawing Reduced = MEDIUM SPEED (Rekordbox > View Settings)
This has been required using all versions to the latest version 6.5.1

Despite this, I've personally experienced even more issues lately and I bet the team at Pioneer have been working harder than ever to respond to messages about this and try workaround/fixes that they didn't have to on 5.

That entire list above, I didn't have to do any of it on RB5. It just worked. I don't like the idea of going backwards because RB6 does look and feel better when it is working. In fact I don't even think I can get my music database to reverse from 6 to 5 if I wanted to.

I'm hoping the next major version will take care of these problems as, when all is said and done, we shouldn't have to be doing the above list but a huge percentage of RB users (maybe the majority?) are on Macbooks.

I'm wondering is there any approximate timescale for RB7 where I hope the need for all of these extra steps and software are addressed?

Nasser AlazzawiTV March 29, 2021 11:14 Answered

Official comment

1) Intel Turbo Boosting is not a function of the software, but rather the demands placed on the system as it requires additional cycles to execute the necessary task(s). This only causes a problem on some computers and can be avoided.

2) Graphics issues typically cause a crash because of a bad driver. This has nothing to do with the CPU -- by the way, AMD is now on the supported CPU list.

3) File sharing should be off simply to avoid any networking issues. If you have problems with latency, I'd say a 6yo computer is more likely to have software bloat causing problems.

4) Auto brightness is a system function, not something rekordbox controls. I always recommend users disable it anyhow.

5) A reduced waveform draw rate is only necessary on older computers, but even then, there are other ways to improve the performance of your computer to compensate and keep this at the HIGH setting.

Our team is always making improvements and trying to optimize efficiency, unfortunately we cannot provide any information on future products. We thank you for your feedback!

Pulse March 30, 2021 20:30

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5 comments

Thanks Pulse. I appreciate software/hardware variances are a bit of a nightmare for software developers.

Although this particular Macbook is now 6 years old, barring the leap to the M1 chip it's speed / quad core i7, ram etc stand up to all of today's higher end tasks (it is very nearly top of the line in it's year of release and was still selling in 2017). More importantly - many professional DJs who play via laptops DJ on higher settings with worse machines (including my good lady's Macbook Air 2012, i5, 4GB ram with only intel graphics that works perfectly well on RB6 and 5).

This machine can encode high bitrate and be used for graphic design - this is just a waveform. So I was wondering if a later release in RB6 would redesign it or more likely in RB7.

Re Turbo boost - that never caused an issue in RB5 that I saw. Neither did graphics card switching.

The brightness thing is probably a good shout when DJing in clubs with lighting systems is just gonna cause issues anyway.

Re: The Waveform drawing rate - the reason I brought this topic up is partially related to this. That waveform (beautiful as it is..) is really not something that should cause anywhere near any issue on a machine of this calibre or even, say, something way older like a 2009 machine - that issue is more to do with how the waveform drawing was designed to work with a graphics card / integrated chip.

One to feed back to the software developers: I have personally noted that I can deliberately make the issue happen when Chrome is open with media like facebook tabs open (videos / images loading as you scroll down) with Chrome's "Hardware Acceleration" switched OFF but with the AMD Discreet Graphics card turned ON with Rekordbox 6 playing. Scrolling down on Facebook REALLY throws a fit on the audio after a few moments. It's as if the Chrome setting is fighting RB6 (one wanting to use Discreet, one wanting to use Integrated).

I appreciate the guys can't test every machine, but most professional DJs I come across use Macbook Pro or some use Macbook Air and they were pretty sound (as far as I know) on all Macbooks on RB5.

I just want to feel confident in the software again as I do love RB6 and moreover I am absolutely loving the workflow I have going with Beatport Link.

I've been doing these shows with Link every week since October and I don't want to switch away from it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x6095pUOwM&t=345s

I actually intend on using it in clubs / at my events when things re open.

Nasser AlazzawiTV March 31, 2021 08:04 0 votes

Nasser,

...many professional DJs who play via laptops DJ on higher settings with worse machines (including my good lady's Macbook Air 2012, i5, 4GB ram with only intel graphics that works perfectly well on RB6 and 5).

Illustrating that it's likely a lack of resources caused by other software or background tasks.

I have personally noted that I can deliberately make the issue happen when Chrome is open with media like facebook tabs open (videos / images loading as you scroll down) with Chrome's "Hardware Acceleration" switched OFF but with the AMD Discreet Graphics card turned ON with Rekordbox 6 playing. Scrolling down on Facebook REALLY throws a fit on the audio after a few moments. It's as if the Chrome setting is fighting RB6 (one wanting to use Discreet, one wanting to use Integrated).

Case in point; Chrome is a resource hog, even on new computers, so this really doesn't surprise me. If you know it's going to happen, then my recommendation is to avoid it.

Sorry if I'm coming across as dismissive -- I'm aware of the shortcomings of rekordbox and the fact it's also a very resource-intensive application, but I also recommend that DJs make the time to clean their "work" computers of junk that prevents their "work" software from functioning at its best. And if you get paid to DJ, it should be in your business model to upgrade your computer regularly - don't forget, that's a tax-deductible expense!

Pulse March 31, 2021 21:55 0 votes

Can I just say how completely ridiculous it is that a widespread problem like the Turbo Boost problem in RB6 is STILL being treated as some sort of user-created problem having to do with background tasks. This issue is extremely easy to reproduce and having seen weird fluctuations in CPU usage on RB6 on multiple laptops now, I think it is insulting to your users to not even take them serious.

I had to disable TB to get RB6 running right, and where TB would boost it to 4 mhz to the point of overheating, after which the crazy sound issues began, without TB, my laptop runs at a steady 2Ghz and without any sound problems.

Part of good service and support is at least taking your customers serious, so please before you give any more "support" do some googling and find out what Rekordbox users deal with after upgrading to RB 6 before you "help" us again.

Jakko Ter Borg December 03, 2021 03:29 0 votes

This isn't something isolated to rekordbox - that's how your computer manages the Intel CPU's available resources. You can thank Intel for that.

Pulse December 03, 2021 17:47 0 votes