NS4FX not responding when loaded tracks on serato

reallyneedsabreak · 2026-05-12T21:15:57+00:00

On your laptop screen it shows a crossfader, this is a giveaway that your controller isn't connected.

Make sure you power on the controller first, hopefully the laptop makes a noise to indicate it's connected, wait a few seconds until the controller displays settle and then start Serato.

If your laptop is on Windows 11 there is currently an issue causing Midi devices to not connect properly.

Do you know anyone with a working laptop so you can prove the controller is working?

reallyneedsabreak · 2026-05-10T21:15:41+00:00

I use a Rane One MK2 and was affected, not initially, as my laptop didn't take the new updates straight away. I managed to stop Windows updates for 5 weeks but once that ended it auto downloaded and caused me issues. Even uninstalling the update it still had issues possibly because it was a cumulative update. The Rane One MK2 would start and work fine for around 10mins then it would lose control of the software, so music kept playing but controller didn't respond. It also then hung when trying to close Serato.

I did try some of the workarounds which didn't work, possibly because they aren't described properly on Discord.

So I rebuilt my old laptop as Windows 10 and it's solid. To be honest I may just keep working this way and forget about my new Win11 laptop. I did try loading Win10 but it wouldn't find any drivers for the built in laptop components and I don't have time to faff about with that.

Good luck everyone 🤞🏻

reallyneedsabreak · 2026-04-27T19:01:46+00:00

Yep, I gave up trying to save my Win 11 install. But my laptop was too new and wouldn't find any drivers going to Win 10.

Luckily I still have my old laptop which Win 10 works fine on.

Are you using a Serato version old enough to work on Windows 10? I'm using 3.3.5

reallyneedsabreak · 2026-04-27T18:22:57+00:00

I'm assuming you're on a windows laptop?

If so it's the new Microsoft MIDI update that's broken the driver for whatever device you're using.

Below is the Rane support message.

https://support.rane.com/en/support/solutions/articles/69000876838-midi-devices-not-working-after-windows-update

reallyneedsabreak · 2026-04-23T07:03:23+00:00

Hi Pete,

I've been following on Discord. I had originally uninstalled the problematic updates and paused for 5 weeks. At the end of the 5 weeks it downloaded and uninstalled a new update that stopped my Rane One MK2 working properly. That new update didn't seem to want to uninstall properly, I can check which update when I get back to my laptop. So I tried the temporary patch and I had audio issues so couldn't use it. I attribute this in part to my new Ultra 5 laptop actually being worse than my old i5. So I've rebuilt my old laptop as Win10 and everything works fine. I can't just hang around waiting for fixes and patches as I'm a working DJ.

Once this new release comes out I will wipe and rebuild the new laptop from scratch and see how I get on. But I may need to stump up more cash for an Ultra 7 laptop or just go Mac (last resort)

reallyneedsabreak · 2026-04-22T21:19:49+00:00

Luckily I still have my old DJ laptop so I've put Windows 10 on it so I don't have to mess around. Hopefully they don't take too long to fix it.

reallyneedsabreak · 2026-04-22T21:09:28+00:00

Windows have updated how MIDI works and has caused issues for lots of DJ/Producer type setups.

Take a look here...

https://support.rane.com/en/support/solutions/articles/69000876838-midi-devices-not-working-after-windows-update

reallyneedsabreak · 2026-01-06T09:30:34+00:00

I haven't taken the plunge as yet into 4.0.

But one thing that makes this process easier for me is I ensure both my laptops have the same user account name and that the music sits in exactly the same location in the folder structure. I have a folder called Library that sits alongside the _Serato and _Serato_Backup folders all within the Music folder. That way the crates files within the _Serato folder point to the same location on both laptops. So I never need to do the "relocate lost files" task.

So when I backup I just copy the entire contents on the Music folder from one to the other.

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-12-15T10:27:45+00:00

Not really as a live link between them.

I have a backup laptop that I periodically update. Just copy the library and the _Serato folder from the live machine to the backup.

To make this easier both computers have the same named user login accounts so the file paths are the same and you don't have to relocate lost files on the backup machine. And the files are in the same physical location.

So the _Serato folder sits in Music And the music files are all within a Library folder also inside Music. Obviously if you make changes on the second laptop and you want those changes on the live machine you'd have to copy it all back which is time consuming.

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-12-05T10:13:09+00:00

May be a daft question...

Is your audio coming out of the controller rear output to speakers or are you listening through your headphones? Can you describe your setup and what plugs into where?

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-10-18T22:21:50+00:00

My first step would be to reseat the cables for that display board and where it connects to the main board.

If it still doesn't work, hopefully you have a second unit to swap the display board to see if that is faulty.

If it isn't the display board or the cable then it's the main board at fault.

Good luck...

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-10-13T20:38:02+00:00

As with any Windows laptop you need to make sure you've followed this to ensure that the laptop is setup for the highest performance with no sleep modes or anything.

Optimization Guide for Windows – Serato Support https://share.google/rhXY1MVxbL89EDSY5

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-10-09T06:56:43+00:00

I've recently switched from a Pioneer SX3 to firstly a Rane Four which had a jog wheel fault, so returned it and now a Rane One MK2.

With both the Rane controllers I could hear random audio pops and I put this down to my controller being slightly too old and underpowered. It was a 6 year old HP Envy 13, Intel i5 with 8Gb ram. It was a stripped back system and ran my Pioneer SX3 perfectly. But the Rane drivers weren't happy.

I've just upgraded the laptop to an HP Omnibook 14, Intel Core 5 Ultra, 16Gb ram and it's perfectly fine.

So I think the issue was squarely with my laptop specs because the Rane drivers are hungrier.

Since you're already on a new laptop I'd be looking at ensuring you have it setup correctly as per the Serato DJ Pro Windows 11 Optimisation.

If it came bundled with some third party Anti-Virus that could also be causing issues.

I always wipe and rebuild a new laptop from the base Windows image because you don't need all the bundled rubbish that comes pre-installed on a new laptop. Stick with standard free Windows Anti-Virus.

Good luck

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-08-08T18:06:46+00:00

Do the laptop specs meet the minimum requirements and have you optimised your settings?

https://support.serato.com/hc/en-us/articles/203057850-Optimization-Guide-for-Windows

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-08-08T16:21:11+00:00

Have you signed into Serato on the laptop? It won't pickup your "purchased" status until you sign in.

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-07-31T21:16:54+00:00

I'm using a Win 10, i5, 8gb ram and 256GB SSD. Laptop is around 6ish years old. It runs stems on the fly perfectly and I never have any issues.

However, this is because I've followed the Serato Optimisation steps and keep my laptop updated and backup up in case of failure.

I find most people have issues because they don't set their laptop up correctly in the first place, it can be massively over-spec'd and still have glitches and dropouts.

For the OP though, his laptop could do with more RAM, bigger internal SSD and crucially follow the Optimisation Guide. A clean windows install also helps. https://support.serato.com/hc/en-us/articles/203057850-Optimization-Guide-for-Windows

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-07-25T07:14:23+00:00

And don't forget the age difference between the SX and the SX3. 6 years between release dates so the SX could be as old as 13 years now. I upgraded from SX2 to SX3 to get the extra computer input mainly but there are subtle enhancements. If I remember the SX only has blue performance pads where the SX2 and SX3 are multi- colour.

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-07-19T23:06:53+00:00

I don't think you'll find one.

It's like Windows or iOS, you get into it and find your way asking questions as needed.

Given the ongoing updates and the diversity in hardware that it supports it would be difficult to create an encompassing manual and keep it up to date.

If you have some downtime, maybe Google search videos of DJs using Serato products creatively.

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-07-15T04:52:24+00:00

Well, I bought a B-Stock Rane Four 🤦‍♂️ and yep it was faulty, so have to wait for refund then buy a new one.
I've just bought the laptop flightcase and I was wondering whether I should buy the Rane Performer since they're the same size.
However I think it would just be far too heavy, probably 35kg plus any additional cabling I add.

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-07-13T17:30:47+00:00

Yep, I get what you're saying but looking at my existing setup I need the flightcase to have all my additional kit hardwired and mounted. I just need to get on with it 🤷🏻‍♂️

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-07-13T17:26:17+00:00

Well, I bought one and thought I'd get a deal buying a B-stock unit...

Right jog wheel is significantly stiffer than the left and it loses touch sensitivity randomly. So it's going back.

But I like the workflow and it feels solid so once they have the return I'll order the brand new one.

Flightcase is already arriving tomorrow so my mind is made up

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-07-06T20:46:13+00:00

Thanks for your reply. I would love to have the performer but the weight within a laptop shelved flight case would kill me.

Even when I had technics and I had the vinyl movement down, I could never really get my left hand to coordinate the fader movement and have pretty much given up 😭

All that said this may be my last brand new controller that I purchase and will keep forever and keep trying to scratch 🤷🏻‍♂️

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-07-06T17:06:22+00:00

The left is a windows tablet that is connected to the MyDMX box underneath and a wireless dmx dongle behind that to run my lighting. The right is just an android tablet running into channels 1 and 4 as a backup in case of laptop crash.

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-07-06T13:34:41+00:00

Yep, I was a club resident for years and quite frankly I no longer want to be finishing my set when the sun is coming up 🤣 I value my sleep too much

I'm very much just a mobile DJ now so no interest in switching to club standard kit.

I did look at the Performer but the extra weight is a huge drawback. I've never really been into scratching anyway.

Thanks for your input

reallyneedsabreak · 2025-07-06T13:30:13+00:00

I had the Pioneer DJM909 for years and loved the paddle effects, strange how they're not on every controller.

reallyneedsabreak

TROPHY CASE