CDJ 2000NXS2 Rare distortion sound after firmware upgrade

Dear James I have a Similar issue Except for the fact  that it occurs later And i haven't even updated the latest firmware yet.

greetings Rohan

Mark,

Thank you, I have updated and will let you know if anything persists. 

Rohan, 

It did it again last night, this time I noticed if I turned off the key lock it went away by 80% but was still slightly there. This is nice to know in case you are playing out live and need to to go away very quickly.

Edley, please send me some examples of this.  Also, can you confirm whether or not this happens when Master Tempo is off?  Thank you.

Just got brand new NXS2 units (3 of them) and one of the decks doing same exact thing, right out of the box. Latest 1.81 firmware so will need to send the deck back to you guys, unless there's a fix for this? Really sucks.

The set was being recorded, here's the audio file of that issue happening:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0ctaequ2mly59nj/CDJ-2000nxs2%20distortion.mp3?dl=0

Rohan, surely I will try that, but that's not really a solution to bad CDJ or faulty firmware.

@Anton @Rohan - I am running digital, are you as well? I am kind of bummed that switching to line would be the fix. It would be really nice to not have to worry though. It's always in the back of my mind. "Am I going to have to restart my CDJ tonight?"

@Pulse I understand, I just wish there was some clarity. This is one of the most expensive purchases in my studio and I feel slightly short-changed. I started this thread and have been very patient following up with every post hoping for a solution since almost two years ago. Hopefully, we can have a solution soon. :)

Hi also curious if anything has been done about this issue. I've had it pop up twice on our NX2's (running 1.83) in a somewhat random sense. Like everyone else, the problem seems to fix itself when the CDJ is turned off then on again. The files we've used are mp3 320's off a usb and hhd. I have a suspicion that it's coming from the temp adjustment because both times I've switched the adjustment percentage during a track and that's when the issue starts. In the most recent issue I was trying to play a track (that I've played on this pair of CDJs multiple times with no issues) but trying to adjust the tempo from 140 to 106. I started ±6 then moved the tempo slider all the way down, then moved it to ±10 and moved the slider down again, then to ±16 doing the same thing, then to WIDE while making the final adjustment on the tempo slider bringing the track to the desired 106 point. After all this the bit crush sounding distortion started. 

While this has never happened at a venue it's extremely problematic to happen during a set for us. Depending on the track it can be extremely noticeable and annoying. Considering the only way anyone knows how to fix this is running a power cycle on the CDJ it can be rough dealing with during a live set. Also for our events we record and post sets so it can potential ruin a set if it happens live. 

I'm curious if there's been any progress on this issue and/if there's anything you can do to fix or alleviate these issues for us? 

It's a bit crazy to see that this issue has been brought up in 2017 and potentially there's no fix yet??? Also for how much we paid for each unit it's beyond frustrating to see issues like this continue to happen when there aren't alternative options for hardware. 

Please let me know what can be done here. 

Please update to firmware version 1.7.1 (released April 3, 2017)

Hi, I've had this issue happen to me as well. For a second I thought it was the track I was playing but then when I listened to the track itself in itunes there was no distortion. It happened to me again the last time I was streaming for 3 tracks in a row all played on the same CDJ. I record all of my sets so if you need an example of the sound, Mark, let me know. Like James stated, I think it has something to do with key lock as I always have it on when mixing.

Hi Mark, here's a WeTransfer link to an mp3 file of my mix, https://we.tl/h1qte4w7YS. I included the second half of the mix so that you can see it wasn't only 1 track. Please skim through the mp3 as needed.

As for Master Tempo, I always have it on so I'm unsure if this issues happens when it's off. The thing is though, the issue corrected itself during the mix without ever turning MT off. Also, I record in stereo and when listening back to the mix, I noticed that the distortion only happens on the right channel. I'm unsure if it's the same with the others in this thread.

Below is the track order, the CDJ the track was playing on, time stamps and whether there was distortion or not:

CDJ Right: Snakes (Esteban De Urbina Remix) no distortion
CDJ Left: Euphoria (Original Mix) 4:10 no distortion
CDJ Right: Help Me (Original Mix) 8:45 distortion begins
CDJ Left: Feel It (Shur-I-Kan Vocal Mix) 12:50 no distortion
CDJ Right: Sauna (Original Mix) 18:45 distortion continues
CDJ Left: Transformation (Original Mix) 22:35 no distortion
CDJ Right: Take Me Higher (Original Mix) 28:45 distortion ends
CDJ Left: Rooftop (Original Mix) 33:15 no distortion
CDJ Right: Kill Frenzy (Original Mix) 37:50 no distortion

1. The issue only happening on the right CDJ but not with every song, correct?  
2. Does it always happen when playing those particular tracks?  
3. I would like for you to play one the tracks that was distorting on the left CDJ and tell me if you experience distortion.
4. Also, in your mix the first and final tracks were on the right CDJ and had no distortion.  I would like for you to send me those two tracks and two of the tracks that ARE distorting.  It could be a file issue.   

Mark,

It happened again, on the other side. I turned keylock off, put my back-up USB in the other side, restarted the player and everything is fine after that. What should I do? I was hoping the firmware fixed it. I do not think it is a hardware issue because it has happened on both players.

Thanks,

James B

Man, this is really weird.  I'm going to ask Pulse to chime in.  Hopefully he can shed some light on this for us.

Edley,

Your issue sounds the exact same as mine. The first time it happened to me I thought I blew a speaker. I turned off one side and it was fine. This means my issue is on one channel as well. I am thinking we are having the same problem.

Mark,

Thanks!

Hey guys, a few more questions for you so I can escalate this to our engineers to get more info...

- If you experience the distortion, have you tried changing the channel input on your mixer to determine if it's the mixer input or the CDJ output which is distorted?

- What kind of mixer are you using?

- This is only happening on CDJ-2000NXS2's? Or have you had it occur on other hardware?

- Is it only after a certain amount of time that the distortion starts?

- Does it happen consistently with the same songs?

- If you played a song early in the set which did not distort, will playing it again later have distortion?

- What are the filetypes (WAV, MP3, etc) you're playing when there is distortion, or does it matter?

- Which firmware version are you using and do you recall if it happened with other firmware versions?

- If you experience the distortion, have you tried changing the channel input on your mixer to determine if it's the mixer input or the CDJ output which is distorted?

I have not but I am assuming that since turning off the CDJ fixes it instantly that it is not the mixer. It also happens on both CDJs.

- What kind of mixer are you using?

DJM900NXS2

- This is only happening on CDJ-2000NXS2's? Or have you had it occur on other hardware?

I only have CDJ-2000NXS2

- Is it only after a certain amount of time that the distortion starts?

I have had it happen once within the first three songs. It also has happened about an hour in.

- Does it happen consistently with the same songs?

No.

- If you played a song early in the set which did not distort, will playing it again later have distortion?

If the CDJ started making the distortion noise any song I load after that will keep the distortion noise.

- What are the filetypes (WAV, MP3, etc) you're playing when there is distortion, or does it matter?

I will have to check next time it happens.

- Which firmware version are you using and do you recall if it happened with other firmware versions?

When I bought my CDJs 11/24/16 they came with 1.51 and there was never an issue. I upgraded my firmware and the issue came within the week. Then I upgraded to the newest 1.71 and it still occurs. I like the 1.71 update because everything runs way smoother.

Hi Mark,

Sorry that I haven't been able to update you as things have been really busy. I will say that I don't think it's an issue pertaining to my files as I played the same files in the same order on the same CDJs and I experienced no distortion.

James,

Yeah I think you and I are def having the same issue. Hopefully we can narrow down the root cause. I also thought my speaker was messed up, I was live streaming and in the video you can see me fidgeting around with the cable to the mixer since I thought the cable was loose or something.

Pulse,

- I didn't try changing the channel input as I thought it had something to do with my speakers. However as I told Mark, the issue corrected itself in my mix without me changing anything.

-I am using an A&H Xone:DB4.

-I only have CDJ2000 NXS2's so I'm not sure about other hardware.

-It seems to be random at this point. I record all my mixes and the first time it happened was about an hour and 18 mins into the mix. This recent time it happened 35 minutes into the mix.

-Does not happen consistently. I played the same songs in my recent mix in the same environment and there was no distortion this time.

-I am using MP3 files.

-I think James said he was using the most current firmware and it was happening to him. I am on older firmware 1.5...something I think. I've been meaning to update...

Please let me know if there is any other info you might need from me.

Thanks guys, I've escalated this to our hardware team to see if they have any knowledge of this happening to other CDJs. If I require additional information I'll let you know. Thanks for your patience!

hi does any one have an answer to this thread yet as I am suffering the same problem on the NX2 distortion sound from the deck if I reboot it it goes away i now find myself with having to use 2 usbs to over come the problem when playing in public any news would be good and needed as these decks cost a bomb we shouldnt be having these problems

@Tony > There have only been a couple of reports (yours included) with regards to this issue but we have our product manager investigating. Now that you've posted to this topic, you'll be notified of any future posts or updates, and I'll let you know when I hear back with any additional information. Thanks for your patience.

The engineers would like to know if Master Tempo was engaged at the time, and if there was anything specific you did leading up to the distortion occurring (eg. browsing, hot cues, looping, etc).

@Edley > Could you please send the file again? Apparently the WeTransfer link has expired.

Hi master tempo is engaged most of the time all i know is if i reboot it the deck it solves the issue it can happen when i first turn on the deck to use or even at a later stage there is no rhyme or reason with it but i can rule out its not the djm 900 nx2 as when rebooted it goes away . It can happen just simply playing the track with out engaging any loops or hot cues 

kind regards 

Tony

at the moment its more in frequent than frequent but un predictable 

Pulse,

It 100% has to do with the master tempo. If I turned off the master tempo while it is happening it cuts the distortion about 50%. It would still be distorted though.

Thanks,

James B

Pulse,

Here is the WeTransfer link to the mp3 file of the mix that has the distortion, https://we.tl/i5sSvkqT43. The WAV is about 800MB so if you want that file let me know but I figured this would be easier for now.

Also in regards to your question, Master Tempo was turned on so like James said above, I'm almost 100% positive this issue has something to do with Master Tempo.

Thanks!

@Edley > Our engineers have asked the following re: your recording:

1. What tempo % (range and value) did you choose when the distortion occurred? 
2. Please send us the music files below where you experienced distortion.
3. Did you digitally record the mix? If not, how was it recorded?

Pulse,

Sorry for the delay.

1. Tempo is usually set at 6% and the value varies according to the song. However, i'm usually mixing in the 119-123 BPM range.

2. Here is a link to the files. https://we.tl/RrrNVqiCrH

3. The mix was recorded in Audacity. I hook up my DB4 to my Macbook via USB.

Thanks - I'll let you know if they have any other questions.