How to load and use Mix Architekt's Xone:DX .tsi:

Now updated with CHAINED and ADVANCED FX control!

This map is nice and easy, working off of the existing label system that is on the face of the Xone:DX. For the most part you'll find the functions as you would expect. There will be a few exceptions that tie into some specific features of Traktor Pro.

The Basics:

There are 3 versions of this .tsi available, to offer you 3 different ways of working with Traktor's FX section:

...2fx.tsi = 2 FX units only, just like it's labeled on the DX
...2x2fx.tsi = 2 FX units per side - FX1/3 for Deck A/C; FX2/4 for Deck B/D
...4fx.tsi = 4 FX units as dedicated insert for each Deck

To load the .tsi, open traktor's preferences and click the import button on the bottom left of the preference window.

Select mix_architekt-xonedx-tp125v5-??fx.tsi (which will be where ever you saved the expanded .zip) and click on open.

A dialog will come up asking what settings you would like to import, and you should make sure all boxes are checked except for file paths, short cuts, etc.

Please check to make sure that the In-Port and Out-Port settings on the top right of the controller manager are set to Xone:DX. Most of the problems that users have had stemmed from this being set to something else...

In the even that you don't have the audio settings imported, set the traktor's output routing preferences to work in INTERNAL mode. Output Monitor gets OUT 7/8, and Output Master is set to OUT 1/2. Input routing is up to you...

A side note about the DX is that the Master and Booth controls on the unit are VCA's that control the analogue output of the master and booth outputs. What this means for you is that in the unfortunate event that your computer takes a dump and won't repsond or vomits noise and chaos, you can always turn down the outputs. There is a mini-plug available as a direct input for an iPod to keep the party moving.

The DX needs you to stimulate it:

Since we're dealing with soft take over with the controls, in many cases you'll need to sweep all the knobs, faders, gains, etc. to get them to a synchronized state. At the very least, sweep the channel faders and the gain knobs so they are on point.

Channel Layout:

We're revisiting a few of the concepts that exist in the Xone:4D map i put togehter. The deck layout is once again centered on the mixer:

TP - C A B D
DX - 1 2 3 4

Traktor's decks A+B are intended to be controlled channels 2+3 on the Xone:DX. Decks C+D will be set to channels 1+4.

We feel this is the most natural way of translating the software GUI to the control surface of the DX. Both decks which are on left side of the GUI in Traktor (A+C) are on the left side of the DX, and those on the right (B+D) are on the DX's right.

You may note that when we're switching layers, the LED's on the DX CUE buttons are going to flash a different color than the deck layer we're working on. Please ignore that, as it's something written into the firmware that I can't change. In this map, RED deck layers are always for the top decks in the GUI (A+B on CH 2+3), and GREEN deck layers will always be for the bottom (C+D on CH 1+4.)

The "Mixer":

One of the big misconceptions about the Xone:DX is that it's an analogue mixer. It is not a traditional analogue mixer, which will be revealed through the implimentation of this midi map.

The Xone:DX is a MIDI control surface with an integrated 24bit/96K 20 ch sound card. The A/D and D/A is set up to allow you to route up to 4 stereo analogue sources and 1 stereo digital source into your host application, and send 4 stereo analogue outputs (and 1 digital) from the DX. In the case of Traktor Pro, Itch, or pretty much any host application you'll be using with it - your summing will be happening in the digital domain (for instance, Internal mode with Traktor...)

Audiophiles should not be worried. The sound quality of the DX continues to impress. It's got all the right moves, especially if you know how to manage your gain structure.

To further emphisize just how much the Xone:DX is not an analogue mixer, take a look at the channel meters. The meters operate off of MIDI CC values - not analogue levels. Your host application needs to be able to send level to CC for them to function as expected. In the case of traktor, we've got them setup as PFL from each deck.

Gain knobs on the DX are mapped to the gain knobs in Traktor. The faders are mapped similarly. I don't have the X-fader mapped.

EQ and Filters:

A straight forward EQ configuration is mapped here - HF MF LF all are set to the knobs as you would expect.

The DECK FILTER in Traktor is engaged via the X-Fade toggle switch below the channel meters. Push it to the left for channels on the left side of the DX and to the right for the right side...

When engaged, the LOW EQ knob becomes the DECK FILTER control. Rotating it clock wise gives you a High Pass Filter, and counter clock wise is for the Low Pass Filter.

What is nice about this set up is that you don't loose your LOW EQ settings when the Filter is engaged - so you can crank the bass, engage the filter and sweep it a bit, then drop it back in at the right moment with the toggle. It's easy enough to re-configure it if you would like it to work differently.

Cue Monitor Controls:

Pressing the CUE/THRU button on any channel will FOCUS the deck in Traktor and route the audio to the headphone monitor.

Pressing the SPLIT CUE button below the Headphone Level toggles between 75% ADD MIX and CUE ONLY for efficient switching of monitoring states.

Library Navigation + Master Clock:

This section of the DX takes care of getting to your tracks and also controls the look of the GUI. We've also added control of the Master Clock

The AREA button will change the WAVEFORM SIZE of the focused deck.

The arrow buttons above and below the SCROLL knob moves the focus of the browser between the File Tree and File List of the browser. By holding either of the two SHIFT buttons, these controls will now function as -/+ PITCH BEND for the Master Clock

Twisting the SCROLL knob moves you up and down the focused list. Pushing it toggles the BROWSER ONLY view. Using SHIFT with this knob will change the MASTER CLOCK BPM.

The VIEW button will change the LAYOUT of the GUI.

Transport Overview:

The basics are what you would expect from reading the labels on the Xone:DX. CUE and PLAY/PAUSE are just that. CUE sets a cue position, PLAY will start playback and PAUSE will pause it. This time i did not enable SYNC on them by default, but that is an easy change in the midi map.

The LAYER button shifts the deck controls from one MIDI channel to another - something that is built into the firmware of the DX. It also changes the LED backlight color from RED to GREEN.

Interestingly, the Xone:DX operates on 5 midi channels - one for the main mixer and effect controls, then each deck state gets it's own channel. In Traktor's Controller Manager preferences, you can create a new device for each MIDI layer on the DX, as we've done in this .tsi. The result is that each virtual device will receive it's own set of modifiers, which makes mapping LED states and other complex controls much easier. Take a look at the maps for each device to see what I mean.

The LOAD buttom loads the selected track into the deck. You knew that already.

The JOG WHEELS allow for track manipulation. When a track is NOT PLAYING, they will SCRUB - advance the track by small intervals. By pressing the SCRUB/SKIP button, it changes to the SEEK state in Traktor - large jumps are possible.

Whe a track is PLAYING, their default state is a PUSH/PULL like you'd find on any CD deck. By pressing the SCRUB/SKIP button above it, the wheel will allow you to SEEK though the audio of your track in large jumps. If SYNC is engaged, it will remain in time. Try that out if you haven't already.

The PITCH rotary adjusts the Pitch obviously. What may not be so obvious is that a single notch of movement in the control brings you up .1% in Traktor, and by pushing and twisting, you can make big pitch changes. Using SHIFT with this knob allows one to fine tune the KEY function, when KEY LOCK is active.

Other Deck Controls:

SCRUB/SKIP we just talked about - it's SCRUB/SEEK in Traktor terms. SYNC engages the Sync feature of Traktor. KEYLOCK engages Keylock. SHIFT is Shift.

CUE's N Stuff:

SET allows you to Set a CUE MARKER at the position you're currently at - in playback or paused states.

ADJUST and CENSOR have become our PREVIOUS CUE and NEXT CUE buttons. If we get the chance to make an overlay, they will be renamed as such. For now, press CENSOR to go to the next cue, and hit ADJUST to go to the previous one.

These controls will move you forward and backward in a track when PAUSED.

When PLAYING, it works a bit differently - PREVIOUS CUE will take you back to the last CUE point the playback head passed, but you will not be able to go back from CUE 4 to CUE 2 with two presses, since after you passed CUE 4 it has become the PREVIOUS CUE. HOTCUEs will get you there.

Holding SHIFT and pressing SET will CLEAR the CUE MARKER you are currently at.

HOTCUE will set a CUE MARKER at your current position if there are no CUEs already set. Otherwise, they will take you to CUE's 1-4 on press. By holding SHIFT and pressing a HOTCUE button, you will CLEAR the CUE MARKER set to that HOTCUE.

Loop/Move Controls:

The LENGTH rotary sets the size of LOOP; pressing and twisting it will change the size of MOVE. Try it out to see what it's doing.

The ON/OFF button is for turning the LOOP on and off at your current position. If you hold SHIFT and press ON/OFF it engages LOOP ACTIVE, meaning that when the playback head comes to the next loop, it will being looping.

The MOVE < > buttons are just like they are in the Xone:4D MIDI map - they'll move your track or loop relative to the move state selected.

To select a move state, the buttons IN and OUT toggle between the different options. Pressing IN switches between LOOP IN and LOOP; OUT toggles between LOOP OUT and BEAT JUMP. The MOVE < > controls shift the track accordingly.

The Effects Section:

As stated at the begining of this document, there are 3 .tsi's which allow for different effects configurations.

...2fx.tsi is the simplest solution - it follows the layout of the Xone:DX in that you have 2 FX units available, and the insert buttons work as labeled.

...2x2fx.tsi is a response to users requesting access to multiple FX units at the same time, so this solution allows each wing of the Xone:DX to have access to 2 FX. Just make sure you're in the right layer state when manipulating the FX unit.

...4fx.tsi has one FX unit per deck. In the same way that the active layer controls the transport of a given deck, the effect units are also controlled in this manner. Traktor FX1 is inserted into DECK A, and controlled by LAYER 1 on the DX, etc.

The LED's for the FX inserts above each channel strip may need some explination in this configuration. They allow you to engage the pre-set insert on each channel - a lit LED is on, and unlit LED is off. They are organized to match the layout of Traktor's GUI - therefor the bottom LED's do not light on the middle channels and the top LED's do not light on the outer ones.

They do not allow you to engage multiple effect units on a single channel. This was done to make controlling the effects easier - when you are in LAYER 1 on the DX, you will control FX1 in Traktor. Each wing on the DX is a complete system.

FX UNIT controls for ADVANCED MODE are intended to match the parameters in Traktor. Starting with the knobs from the left, they will work as DRY/WET, PARAMETER 1, 2, and 3. The buttons are for ON/OFF, RESET, BUTTON 1, and NEXT FX - press the PARAMETER 3 rotary encoder for BUTTON 2. Easy stuff! You can now toggle between ADVANCED and CHAINED MODES by holding SHIFT and pressing BUTTON 2 a.k.a. the ROTARY ENCODER.

FX UNIT controls for CHAINED MODE has the MASTER DRY/WET on the ROTARY ENCODER. Each knob before it is the FX AMOUNT for FX1, 2, and 3. The buttons below each FX AMT knob toggles the FX ON and OFF. By holding SHIFT and pressing those same buttons, you'll cycle through FX SELECT for each FX in the chain.

That's it for now:

Hopefully this will get you up to speed in using the map or in developing your own. Questions and comments are always welcome, so get in touch.

Take care - Tim:Mix Architekt

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