No sound pioneer DJM-450

[Valde_spin]

Setup:
Laptop - MacBook Air macOS Sonoma 14.3
Turntable - Audiotechnica Audio-Technica At-lp1240-usb XP
Mixer - Pioneer DJM-450

Issue:
- I cannot get playback through computer speakers (or anywhere)
- I cannot adjust levels
- I can see the levels move when in 'check levels' screen and mixer is set to 'computer output' but lose it when going back to 'record' screen (still no playback)
- levels come through very low
- levels come through very hot when bypassing mixer

Attempted solutions:
- reinstall DJM-450 drivers
- restart laptop
- check privacy setting to access 'mic'
- search for ASIO or WASAPI switch

Notes:
- in pioneer Rekord box app I can also see low level movement in record function. That input only move when in 'main output.' When switching to channel 1 & 2  I get no input. Can still record through 'main output'
- I have read about WASAPI and heard Pioneer only runs ASIO, I cannot find that function switch in 'recording options'
- I have plugged At-lp1240-usb XP directly into computer (bypassing mixer) and input shows very hot, clipping throughout with no level adjustment.

Questions:
- what is going on?
- do I need to buy a specific USB DAC device? (I cannot adjust levels when plugging turntable directly to computer)
- is the pioneer mixer the issue?

Thanks in advance. Let me know if you need further information.

[Paul Sanders (AlpineSoft)]

Hi,

Thanks for the detailed post - makes things a lot easier.  Before going any further, I'd appreciate a screenshot of VinylStudio's Check Level dialog when the recording via the mixer please.  You can send it here:

p DOT sanders AT alpinesoft DOT co DOT uk

Specifics:

> Setup...

Can you elaborate on where the mixer is in the chain.  I'm assuming turntable -> mixer -> Mac, where the first connection is via the phono sockets on the mixer and the second is from the USB port on the mixer to a port on the Mac.


> I cannot get playback through computer speakers (or anywhere)

Please visit VinylStudio's Change Playback device dialog and have a fritz around in there (there's a 'Test' button, da da da dum).  If you report back I may be able to help you get things going.

> I cannot adjust levels

The is normal, unfortunately, the recording level with that device looks to be fixed (it certainly is with the turntable).

> I can see the levels move when in 'check levels' screen and mixer is set to 'computer output' but lose it when going back to 'record' screen (still no playback)

Losing the signal is normal.  I it will come back when you start recording.  The missing playback I addressed above.

> levels come through very low
> levels come through very hot when bypassing mixer

Figures.  It's a fundamentally different way of connecting things up, so:

> is the pioneer mixer the issue?

Yes, and:

> do I need to buy a specific USB DAC device?

Looks like it, the FocusRite Scarlett is decent, but there's a zillion others out there

> I have read about WASAPI and heard Pioneer only runs ASIO, I cannot find that function switch in 'recording options'

That's all specific to Windows, you can ignore it

> I have plugged At-lp1240-usb XP directly into computer (bypassing mixer) and input shows very hot, clipping throughout with no level adjustment.

🎵All or nothing🎵  It's annoying, but that's just how it is.  A proper ADC will fix that.

I think that pretty much covers it.  Your fault finding has been exemplary.  I don't know what's going on on the playback side so please follow the advice above and report back. 

Any questions, you know where to come.  Cheers.