Hi Nerves,

That sounds as if some of your audio files are corrupt and causing ITCH to freeze.

Please have a look at the following page and remove all corrupted files from your library: serato.com > Detecting and removing corrupt files

Let us know if the problem persists.

Nerves wrote

Thanks Daniel,

I will do what you said and definitely let you know the reults.
I'm hearing that it can be a million different things.. USB power, corrupt files, not having an external hd with a power supply...

At 11:34 AM 30 March 2010
Nerves wrote

Hi Daniel,
I did what you recommended and analyzed my HD the way you mentioned. I clicked ANALYZE and the scan began, but it said that it was scanning a total of around 25,000 files, and I have around 97,000 files. So this morning the scan was finished. I then clicked the empty box to group all of the files by type and found and deleted around 30 corrupt files. I realized after the fact that Serato states to remove the files from my hd as well. I can't do that for 2 reasons. 1 - I don't know what the names of the files are because I deleted them from my Serato Library and 2 - even if I didn't delete them from my library, my hd is not organized and is a total mess.. it would take me a year to find all of the tracks. Is this going to be a problem or is it ok that I deleted them from the Serato library? Also because I feel that the entire hd was NOT scanned, I started a new scan by clicking CONTROL & A (highlighting all the tracks) and dragging them over to the ANALYZE TAB. This time it said that it was scanning around 65,000 files. Shouldn't it say 97,000?

You're right, there can be several reasons for that problem. The most common reasons are corrupted tracks, though. Let's check that first to see if that fixes things.

We recommend to remove the corrupted files from your Scratch Live library and your hard drive to prevent that you re-import them to Scratch Live at a later date. However, it's OK to only remove those files from Scratch Live for now.

Are you sure, that you've imported the whole 97,000 tracks to Scratch Live? Or can it be that you've only imported 65.000 files and the rest is till sitting in your music folder?
Is 'read iTunes library' selected in Scratch Live's library setup?
Are you using an external hard drive?

Please try this:
1) Open Scratch Live
2) Click on 'files'
3) Locate and drag your entire music folder incl. all 97000 tracks on 'analyze files'
4) Remove the corrupted tracks

Does that work?

Hey Daniel,
I'm confused about a few things.
First, I'm aware that there are many variables that can cause issues with digital DJing.
As I have read on the forums and heard from the guys at Serato, corrupt files seem to be the main concern... but Ihave been spinning with Serato for the past few years with corrupt files (even playing them) and NEVER had a problem.
Second, I attempted to analyze all of my files again last night before going to sleep (which would take at least 3 days due to my huge libray), and when I woke up I noticed serato was closed due to an automatic computer update. So I re-opened Serato to start the analyze process all over again, but before doing so, I went to check how many more corrupt files were found... and at least 50 more showed up. Files that DID NOT show as being corrupted before. Why would that be?

As far as iTunes goes, I don't use that program. I soley use scratch live directly with my seagate TB drive which is USB powered. When I load music into the drive, I then import that folder directly into serato. I don't see a need for using iTunes. Doesn't iTunes just tag the music as serato does?

A few things that I failed to mention.. I lowered the buffer size so that I would eliminate the mic delay on the Vestax (the freeze issue happened shortly after that) and the Sony Vaio comes with a ton of unwanted software that runs in the background. If I had to bet on it, I would say that between lowering the buffer size and using the sony with many programs running in the background, that caused the freeze issue.

Also, the night before while DJing with a denon hc4500 using scratch live and a Dell PC that I've had for 3 years (with no issues), the dell crashed (I got the blue wall of death). I did notice that I wasn't using the most current version of scratch live, so I updated it. Could that have caused that crash? Needless to say, it was one heck of a week end!

Yes, some corrupt files might not cause crashes and some might even be playable. That depends on the art of corruption. However, it is definitely better to remove all corrupted files from your system, as most of them are causing crashes sooner or later.


That is odd. Can it be that you dragged a folder on 'analyze files', which hasn't been imported so far. (A folder including new files, which haven't been in your library before?)
Did you analyze those files with a newer version of Scratch Live? Is any other (music) software using those files?


You are totally right. It's actually better to not use iTunes with SL. I just wanted to check that.


That is an important information. Can you please make sure, you are doing everything in the following linked articles to improve your general system performance?

VCI-300 / ITCH Technical Quickstart
www.serato.com

Computer optimization guide for Digital DJs
serato.com


Yes that or the corrupted files could have caused the crash.

Please make sure you remove all corrupted files and follow the instructions in the articles. Let me know how you get on. :)

At 4:26 PM 1 April 2010
Nerves wrote

Hey Daniel,

Thanks for staying in contact with me via the forums. I'm writing you this private message as to update you on a few things. Please forgive the long message, but I want to be as descriptive as possible so that you can hopefully help me correct the problems that I'm having.

Let me start from the beggining -

I have been DJing with Serato Scratch Live for the past few years. I have multiple DJ systems. One that consists of the Denon HC4500 midi controler that I use with Scratch Live on a 4 year old Dell lap top which I use strictly for DJing. I don't go on line with it and I have nothing on it as far as software goes, except for Scratch Live. I've never had a problem with Serato or that lap top except for once time when I lost all of my crates because I disconnected the external drive incorrectly. Other than that, I had a great run all the way up until last Friday night when out of nowhere, I got the blue wall of death and the computer crashed.

Now here are the facts from that night -

I was DJing a Friday night wedding.
I was not using the current version of scratch live. I was using the version before it. I also was given a memory stick of some music from the groom of that wedding, which I loaded into my drive at the beggining of the affair.
After the computer crashed, I immediately started doing some research online and speaking to the guys at Rane & was informed that there were many variables that could have caused this crash, such as -
The computer being old, corrupt files, not having the current version of scratch live, ect. One person from Rane did tell me that he didn't think that not having the current version would cause the problem because even though I wasn't up to date, there wasn't a huge difference between the version I had and the current one. Anyway, I updated the software immediately.

The very next day, which was Saturday, I had a small engagement party to DJ, so I brought out a Vestax VCI-300 which I just purchased along with the same Dell lap top that I'm speaking about. I only used the VCI-300 once before, and that was 2 weeks prior to this wedding. When I used the VCI-300, it was with the same Dell lap top that crashed. I have to say, the VCi & the Dell worked absolutely flawlessly together. But since the Dell crashed on me the night before, I was a little skeptical to use it, so I used a 3 month old Sony Vaio which I've never DJ'd with before. I've only used it to go on line with at home. I installed the ITCh software on it and brought it to the job with me. Now Sony Vaios are well built machines (maybe not as good as a mac, lol), but they come with a TON of UNWANTED software, not to mention Windows 7. (The Dell by the way has XP).
I tried disabling as much as the software as possible, but I know that I didn't get all of it. Needless to say.. 30 minutes into the party the Sony froze up. The music kept playing but I lost all control of the VCI. I rebooted the Sony and was up and running for about 5 minutes until it happened again. At that point, I shut down the system and re-connected the VCI to the Dell. I was fine for the rest of the night.

Yesterday, while at home, I connected the Sony back to the Vestax for a test. I was able to play with no problems for about 4 hours.. then ITCH froze. Being that I was home, I didn't panic. Instead, I took note of exactly what was going on. The ITCH software froze but the track kept playing. The VCI locked up. Even the sound meter got stuck in the position it was prior to it freezing. The only part of the VCI that I could control was the cue point and the tempo by spinning the platter.

So my next test was to disconect the Sony & try the VCI with the Dell.
I started playing at 8:00 at night all the way up to 11:00. At 11:00, I put in a track that was 72 minutes long. I ended up falling asleep before it finished. When I woke up for work this morning at 4am, I noticed that the track of course finished playing, but the virtual deck was still spinning! GREAT NEWS! That meant that the computer did not hang up. I then started loading tracks into both decks and everything still worked fine. So I'm hoping that this freeze issue has to do with the Sony lap top. i am going to test the VCi with the Dell again when I get home from work tonight.

What do you think of this whole thing? lol.

AGAIN, THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT TO READ THIS WHOLE MESSAGE.

Mike S

PS- If you find it easier to speak over the phone, my # is 718.306.2525



At 11:57 PM 5 April 2010
Daniel K wrote

Serato, Support

Hi Mike,

Sorry for my late reply. We have been out of the office for the easter holidays.
Please stop cross posting in several threads, as that makes it harder for us to focus on the individual problems.

Did you finally analyze all 97,000 files on your laptops and remove all corrupted tracks?
I suggest using your Windows XP computer for ITCH and Scratch Live.

Can you please also let me know the below:
1) What are your system specifications (I.e. model, processor speed, free/ used hd space, RAM)?
2) Which USB buffer size did you choose in ITCH's hardware setup?
3) Which ITCH version build are you using? (You'll find the complete build number in the lower left corner of ITCH's setup screen.)
4) Do you get the same freezes when running ITCH without external hard drive and a USB buffer size of 5? (Drag some songs to your internal hard drive and import them to your library to test this)

Let me know and we'll go from there.

Cheers,
Daniel


At 12:25 AM 6 April 2010
Nerves wrote

Hi Daniel,

I hope youh a nice holiday. Thanks for getting back to me.

Yes, I finally finished analyzing all 97,000 files and 1,180 files came back corrupt.
I analyzed them thru the Scratch Live program rather than the Itch software. I hope that isn't a problem.

I immediately deleted them from the Scratch Live library, but realized after the fact that I did not delete them from my hard drive. It'd too late for me to do so now as I don't know what songs I deleted. I was told by 2 people from Serato that that wouldn't be a problem because the Serato program wouldn't read files taht aren't imported.

I also just recieved the Vestax VCI-300 power supply today. So when I got home from work today, I began the test. I connected the Sony Vaio to the VCI using the AC adapter and using a cleaned up hard drive with no corrupt files. I have been running the system for about 4 hours as of right now, and so far, knock on wood, no problem yet.

To anwser your questions -

I'm using a Sony Vaio VGN NW 240 which has Windows 7. (64 bit)

A seagate TB external drive

The USB buffer size is set on 10

I'm using Itch 1.5

I have no music on my laptops internal drive.

I was told by a tech at Vestax that Windows 7 might be an issue. He said that he has been recieving similar calls and is going to notify the guys at Serato.

What do you suggest?



At 2:50 AM 6 April 2010
Daniel K wrote

Serato, Support


Hi Nerves,

Thank you for your reply and for the information. Which processor type (Intel or AMD) and how much RAM memory do you have? You might have already solved the problem as ITCH was running without problems for several hours. :)

Windows 7 shouldn't be a problem, as long as you make sure your are doing everything in these articles:

VCI-300 / ITCH Technical Quickstart
www.serato.com

Computer optimization guide for Digital DJs
serato.com

Can you please double check your ITCH build number in the lower left of ITCH's setup screen? It's the five digit number in brackets.

Let me know how you get on. :)

Cheers,
daniel



At 10:39 AM 6 April 2010
Nerves wrote

Hi Daniel,

OK, last night at around the 5 hour mark, I went downstairs to check and see if the system was still running. (I was unable to literally stand in my house for 5 hours straight and mix so I lowered my speakers, set the players on continuous and let a crate with a couple of hours of music play straight thru for the last hour and a half). When I got downstairs, everything was still running fine. I then attempted to load a track in the other deck at which time the virtual deck that was playing froze for about 7 seconds and then began to play again. I'm not sure if I lost sound or if the screen just froze because my speakers were off. Once ITCH unlocked itself, I mixed a few more tracks back and forth and everything seemed fine.

What I'm going to do when I get home from work today is load a track in one of the decks, put the deck in "repeat" mode and let it play for at least 5 or 6 hours. Then I will try loading tracks and start mixing again and see what happens.

As for following the VCI-300 Quickstart procedure & Computer optimization guide , I did.

To answer your above questions -

I have a Sony Vaio
Windows 7 Premium
File system NTFS
Intel Core 2 DUO CPU
T6600 @ 2.2 GHZ
4.00 RAM
64 Bit

Itch 1.5.0 (15047)
Buffer level set at 10


At 3:52 AM 7 April 2010
Daniel K wrote

Serato, Support

Hi Mike,

Thank you for the information.

Your computer specifications and the ITCH version number look good. So that should be fine. Yes, please do some further testing with your system.

Please also try this:
1) Open the Device Manager
2) Open Universal Serial Bus controllers, right click and choose 'Update Driver Software' on ALL listed devices
3) Unplug every other USB device besides your external hard drive while using SL (for testing only)

Let me know how you get on.


At 10:41 AM 7 April 2010
Nerves wrote

Hello Daniel,

OK,
I ran the system again for the 2nd time. This time for 5 and 1/2 hours. It ran the whole time without freezing! I can't begin to tell you how happy I am! I'm hoping that it was all due to the corrupt files that I had in my library.

The only problem that I had (and I'm not sure if you would say it's a problem) is that when I attempted to load a track into one of the decks after playing a long 50 minute file, the screen froze for about 5 to 10 seconds & but then unfroze and continued to work properly. There was no interuption of music when this happened. As I mentioned in a previous discussion, this has happened before. Again, It ususally happens after playing for awhile. I did read somewhere on the forum that that is common because itch jeopardizes screen drawing to make sure cpu processes are dedicated to audio? Someone eles also had mentioned -

Yes Nerves.. I have experienced the momentary freezing of the screen you describe. This may also have something to do with the "Screen Refresh Rate".
I think you can reduce this rate which may reduce CPU load.
I haven't been able to eliminate it completely. Some files seem to take up more resources even though they aren't corrupted.

Do you still want me to do the driver updates?



At 1:42 AM 8 April 2010
Daniel K wrote

Serato, Support

Nice, sounds good.
It might be that the screen freezes for some seconds if you are playing with longer tracks. And you are right about the reason, ITCH prioritizes audio over video. So, that should be fine as long as you don't get any dropouts.

It seems as if there is no need to update the USB drivers, however it can't hurt to do so anyway. The decision is yours. :)

Let us know if you run into any further issues.


At 2:28 AM 8 April 2010
Nerves wrote

Hey Daniel,

I tried updating the drivers today like you mentioned, but they were all up to date.
I also ran ITCH for 6 hours... and knock on wood.. NO FREEZES!!!
Do you think that it was the corrupt files?
I'm defraging my drive right now, which should probably take a few days because of the amount of files I have.. but better safe than sorry.
Now the next test is to take the VCI out on a gig..
I can't lie to you.. I got some "NERVES", LOL....

Yeah, it sounds as if the corrupted files have caused those problems.
Take your VCI on the gig and see how it goes. It should work fine. :)

At 11:04 AM 8 April 2010
Nerves wrote

Thanks again Daniel, and also thanks to all of the other DJ's here that helped me out as well.
I will update everyone after i've taken the VCI-300 out on the road with me a few times..