Numark NS6 User manual

REFERENCE MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS
REGISTRATION...............................................................................................................................................1
IMPORTANT!!! .................................................................................................................................................1
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION.............................................................................................................................1
CONNECTING THE NS6 ..................................................................................................................................2
NS6.................................................................................................................................................................3
FRONT & REAR PANEL FEATURES .................................................................................................................3
USING SERATO ITCH WITH THE NS6..............................................................................................................8
IMPORTANT!..................................................................................................................................................................... 8
GETTING STARTED......................................................................................................................................................... 8
STARTING THE SOFTWARE..........................................................................................................................................................8
IMPORTING MUSIC .........................................................................................................................................................................8
PREPARING YOUR FILES ..............................................................................................................................................................9
SOFTWARE OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................................ 10
SOFTWARE SETUP........................................................................................................................................................ 12
HARDWARE...................................................................................................................................................................................12
PLAYBACK....................................................................................................................................................................................12
LIBRARY........................................................................................................................................................................................13
DISPLAY ........................................................................................................................................................................................13
MIXER ............................................................................................................................................................................................13
THE LIBRARY ................................................................................................................................................................. 14
CRATES & SUB-CRATES .............................................................................................................................................................14
SEARCHING & BROWSING..........................................................................................................................................................14
COLUMNS......................................................................................................................................................................................15
ICONS ............................................................................................................................................................................................15
TAGGING .......................................................................................................................................................................................15
PREPARING & REVIEWING TRACKS..........................................................................................................................................16
LIBRARY ZOOM ............................................................................................................................................................................17
SCRATCH LIVE COMPATIBILITY.................................................................................................................................................17
USING EXTERNAL DRIVES..........................................................................................................................................................17
MIXING WITH THE NS6S ...............................................................................................................................18
PLAYING YOUR FIRST TRACK .................................................................................................................................... 18
RESETTING THE MIXER...............................................................................................................................................................18
NAVIGATING THE LIBRARY ........................................................................................................................................................18
LOADING A TRACK TO THE DECK .............................................................................................................................................18
STARTING PLAYBACK.................................................................................................................................................................18
ADJUSTING GAIN .........................................................................................................................................................................19
EQUALIZATION.............................................................................................................................................................................19
MIXING IN THE NEXT TRACK ..................................................................................................................................... 19
FINDING THE NEXT SONG...........................................................................................................................................................19
LOADING IT TO THE DECK..........................................................................................................................................................19
PREVIEWING IT IN THE HEADPHONES......................................................................................................................................19
FINDING THE RIGHT PART OF THE SONG.................................................................................................................................19
GETTING THE TRACKS IN TIME.................................................................................................................................................. 20
DROPPING A TRACK IN ...............................................................................................................................................................21
ADVANCED FEATURES ................................................................................................................................................ 22
USING PITCH / TEMPO CONTROLS ............................................................................................................................................ 22
BEAT GRID & SYNC......................................................................................................................................................................22
USING CUE POINTS......................................................................................................................................................................24
LOOPING .......................................................................................................................................................................................25
BLEEP / REVERSE........................................................................................................................................................................25
RECORDING..................................................................................................................................................................................26
SERATO ITCH EFFECTS PANEL OVERVIEW.............................................................................................................................26
TRANSITIONING BETWEEN DJS ...................................................................................................................27
WHITELABEL AUDIO FILES...........................................................................................................................27
WHITELABEL.NET ......................................................................................................................................................... 27
LOCKED WHITELABEL.NET FILES............................................................................................................................. 27
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................................................... 27
UPDATING THE FIRMWARE ..........................................................................................................................28
NS6 CALIBRATION........................................................................................................................................28
TROUBLESHOOTING.....................................................................................................................................29

1
REGISTRATION
Please go to http://www.numark.com to register your NS6. Registering your product ensures that we can keep you up-to-date with
any new product developments and provide you with world-class technical support, should you run into any problems.
IMPORTANT!!!
•READ SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS & WARRANTY INFORMATION BEFORE USING THE PRODUCT.
•Before getting started and connecting devices to NS6 or turning NS6 on/off, make sure all devices are off and all faders and gain
knobs are set to "zero."
•Before connecting the NS6 to your computer, insert the included CD to install the latest drivers as well Serato ITCH. (Visit
www.serato.com/itch to check for available software updates.)
•Remove the blue film from the PLATTERS before using NS6.
•Touch the PLATTERS to calibrate the touch-sensitive circuit before using NS6.
•When reconnecting the NS6 to your computer, the NS6 will recall the previous positions of the software (e.g., Pitch, effects
parameters, etc.). Be mindful of this before playing a track.
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
Free updates to the Serato ITCH software are available online at http://www.serato.com/itch. We recommend checking the website
for the latest update of Serato ITCH before installing it on your computer.
1. Visit www.serato.com/itch and download the latest version of Serato ITCH!
2. Double-click the ITCH installer file.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen to begin the installation process. During this process, you will be prompted to connect the
NS6 to your computer.
Windows users: throughout the installation:
yif Windows warns you that any of the drivers' certificates cannot be verified, approve them anyway.
yif Windows warns you that the hardware installation was not successful or may not work properly, ignore it.
yif you see any dialog boxes flash briefly on the screen before disappearing, ignore them.
These warnings are normal and are simply Windows' reaction to the cancellation of its own hardware installer. (NS6 and Serato
ITCH use their own installation processes.)
4. If you selected the default location during the installation process, you can find the program in the following location:
Windows XP: Start Menu Programs ITCH
Windows Vista: Windows Menu All Programs Serato ITCH
Windows 7: Windows Menu All Programs Serato ITCH
Mac OS X: Applications folder

2
CONNECTING THE NS6
1. NS6: Connect any optional input sources (microphones, turntables, CD players, etc.) to NS6.
2. Connect output devices (power amplifiers, sub-mixer, recorders, etc.) to NS6.
3. Plug all devices into power supply, and turn on devices in proper order:
a. When starting a session, turn devices on in this order: (1) auxiliary input sources, (2) NS6, (3) output devices
b. When ending a session, reverse this operation by turning off: (1) output devices, (2) NS6, (3) auxiliary input sources
4. Connect NS6 to your computer with the USB cable (included) and to your headphones.
5. Start Serato ITCH and go!
CONNECTION DIAGRAM
POWER/USB CABLE SETUP
MICROPHONE
TURNTABLE
CD PLAYER
COMPUTER
POWER
HOUSE AMP BOOTH AMP
1 2 3
4 5
6 7

3
NS6
FRONT & REAR PANEL FEATURES
REAR:
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10 11 11 10 12
8
997
FRONT:
19 19
18 17 17 16 15 14 13 13
1. POWER IN – Use the included power cable to connect NS6 to a power outlet. While the power is switched off, plug the cable into
NS6 first, then plug the cable into a power outlet.
2. POWER SWITCH – Turns NS6 on and off. Turn on NS6 after all input devices have been connected and before you turn on
amplifiers. Turn off amplifiers before you turn off NS6.
3. USB – This USB connection sends and receives audio and control information from a connected computer.
4. MASTER OUTPUT (XLR) – Connect this low-impedance XLR output to a PA system or powered monitors. The level of this output
is controlled with the MASTER knob on the top panel.
5. MASTER OUTPUT (RCA) – Use standard RCA cables to connect this output to a speaker or amplifier system. The level of this
output is controlled by the MASTER knob on the top panel.
6. BOOTH/ZONE OUTPUT (RCA) – Use standard RCA cables to connect this output to a booth monitoring system. The level of this
output is controlled by the BOOTH/ZONE knob on the top panel.
7. LINE INPUTS (RCA) – Connect line-level devices, such as CD players, samplers or audio interfaces, to these inputs.
8. MIC INPUT (1/4") – Connect a 1/4" microphone to this input. Microphone controls are located on the top panel.
9. LINE | PHONO INPUTS (RCA) – Connect your audio sources to these inputs. These inputs can accept both line and phono-level
signals.
10. LINE | MIC SWITCH – Flip this switch to the appropriate position, depending on the device connected to the LINE | PHONO
INPUTS. If you are using a microphone, set this switch to "MIC." If using a line-level device, such as a CD player or sampler, set
this switch to "LINE."
11. LINE | PHONO SWITCH – Flip this switch to the appropriate position, depending on the device connected to the LINE | PHONO
INPUTS. If you are using phono-level turntables, set this switch to "PHONO" to provide the additional amplification needed for
phono-level signals. If using a line-level device, such as a CD player or sampler, set this switch to "LINE."
12. GROUNDING TERMINAL – If using phono-level turntables with a grounding wire, connect the grounding wire to these terminals. If
you experience a low “hum” or “buzz”, this could mean that your turntables are not grounded.
Note: Some turntables have a grounding wire built into the RCA connection and, therefore, nothing needs to be connected to the
grounding terminal.
13. HEADPHONES (1/4" or 1/8") – Connect your 1/4" or 1/8" headphones to this output for cueing and mix monitoring.
14. HEADPHONE VOLUME – Adjusts the volume level of the headphone output.
15. SPLIT CUE – When this switch is in the ON position, the headphone audio will be "split" such that all channels sent to CUE are
mixed to mono and applied to the left headphone channel and the Program mix is mixed to mono and applied to the right channel.
When the switch is in the OFF position, Cue and Program audio will be "blended" together.
16. CUE BLEND – Turn to mix between Cue and Program in the Headphone channel. When all the way to the left, only channels
routed to CUE will be heard. When all the way right, only the Program mix will be heard.
17. CROSSFADER ASSIGN – Routes the audio playing on the corresponding channel to either side of the crossfader (L or R), or
bypasses the crossfader and sends the audio directly to the Program Mix (center, "|").
18. CROSSFADER SLOPE – Adjusts the slope of the crossfader curve. Turn the knob to the left for a smooth fade (mixing) or to the
right for a sharp cut (scratching).
19. FADER START – Enables or disables “fader start” on the corresponding side of the crossfader. When fader start is enabled on
one side, moving the crossfader toward that side will cause the Deck to start playing.

4
TOP PANEL FEATURES
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24 25 2627 23
30 3128 29
21 21 21 21 21 20 21 21 21 21 21
12
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MIXER CONTROLS
1. GAIN TRIM – Adjusts the pre-fader, pre-EQ audio level of the corresponding channel in the software.
2. CHANNEL TREBLE – Adjusts the high (treble) frequencies.
3. CHANNEL MID – Adjusts the mid-range frequencies.
4. CHANNEL BASS – Adjusts the low (bass) frequencies.
5. CHANNEL FADER – Adjusts the audio level on the corresponding channel in the software.
6. PFL – Press this button to send this channel's pre-fader signal to the Cue Channel for monitoring. When engaged, the button will
be lit. By pressing one PFL button at a time, you will cue that channel alone (and deactivate PFL monitoring for the other
channels). To cue to multiple channels simultaneously, press the PFL buttons for those channels at the same time.
7. INPUT SELECTOR – Set this switch to the desired audio source from this channel – "PC" (a track playing on that layer in the
software) or "LINE/MIC" or "LINE/PHONO" (a device connected to the LINE/PHONO or MIC input on NS6's rear panel). Please
note that the LINE/MIC and LINE/PHONO selector switches on NS6's rear panel must also be set properly. Also, a channel's
controls will only send MIDI information when its INPUT SELECTOR is set to "PC."
8. CROSSFADER – Blends audio between the channels assigned to the left and right side of the crossfader.
Note: The crossfader is user-replaceable if it should ever wear out. Simply remove the facepanel, then remove the screws holding
it in position. Replace the fader with a quality authorized replacement from your local Numark retailer only.
9. MASTER VOLUME – Adjusts the output volume of the Program Mix.
10. BOOTH/ZONE VOLUME – Adjusts the output volume of the BOOTH/ZONE OUTPUT mix.
11. LED METERS – Monitors the audio levels of the Program Mix.
USEFUL TERMS:
Audio Pointer: The current position in a track from where audio will play. When you select a track and begin playing, the
Audio Pointer will usually start from the beginning and stop at the end.
Cue Point: A marked position in a track, which will be permanently stored by the software. You can set, return to, or delete
Cue Points with the CUE CONTROLS.
Temporary Cue Point: A marked position in a track, which will only remain while that track is still loaded in the Deck. You
can set and return to the Temporary Cue Point with the CUE button.

5
PLAYBACK CONTROLS
12. LAYER – Selects which Layer in the software is controlled by that hardware Deck. Deck A can control Layer 1 or 3; Deck B can
control Layer 2 or 4.
13. PLATTER – This platter controls the Audio Pointer in the software.
14. PLAY / PAUSE – Starts or resumes playback if the Deck is paused. Pauses playback if the Deck is playing. (The rate at which
the playback shifts from “play” to “pause” and from “pause” to “play” is controlled by the START TIME and STOP TIME knobs.)
15. CUE – If no Temporary Cue Point is assigned, or if the Deck is paused, press CUE to set a Temporary Cue Point. While the track
is playing, press it again to return to the Temporary Cue Point and pause playback.
You can hold down CUE to start playback from the Temporary Cue Point. Release it to return to the Temporary Cue Point and
pause playback.
You can hold down CUE and PLAY / PAUSE simultaneously to start playback from the Temporary Cue Point. Release both
buttons to allow playback to continue.
16. SYNC – Automatically matches the corresponding Deck’s tempo with the MASTER BPM.
17. BLEEP / REVERSE – Reverses audio playback of the track on the corresponding deck.
•When using the button as a REVERSE button, the playback of the track will be reversed. Returning the switch to its center
(deactivated) position will resume normal playback from wherever the Audio Pointer stops.
•When using the button as a BLEEP button (while holding SHIFT and pressing this button), the playback of the track will be
reversed. Returning the switch to its center (deactivated) position will resume normal playback from where it would have been
if you had never engaged the BLEEP function (i.e., as if the track had been playing forward the whole time).
18. SCRATCH – Press this to turn Scratch Mode on/off. When in Scratch Mode, the button will be lit, and moving the PLATTER will
scratch the track. When not in Scratch Mode, moving the PLATTER will bend the track's pitch.
19. SKIP – Press and hold this button then turn the PLATTER to skip forward or backward through the track by beat. (Scratch Mode
will be disabled while this button is pressed.)
CUE CONTROLS
20. DELETE CUE / SHIFT – Press or hold this to enable Delete Cue Mode, so you can erase assigned Cue Points from the HOT CUE
BUTTONS. When the DELETE CUE button is lit bright red, it is in Delete Cue Mode. You can then press a red HOT CUE
BUTTON to delete its assigned Cue Point. (Pressing the DELETE CUE button to enable Delete Cue Mode will let you delete one
Cue Point at a time. Holding the DELETE CUE button to enable Delete Cue Mode will let you delete multiple Cue Points.)
Pressing and holding this button also allows you to access secondary ("shift") functions of other buttons on NS6.
21. HOT CUE BUTTONS (1-5) – Assigns a Cue Point or returns the track to that Cue Point. When a HOT CUE BUTTON is unlit, you
can assign a Cue Point by pressing it at the desired point in your track. Once it is assigned, the HOT CUE BUTTON will light up
white. To return to that Cue Point, simply press it.
Tip: If the Deck is paused, holding a lit HOT CUE BUTTON will start playback from that Cue Point. Releasing it will return the track
to that Cue Point and pause playback.
Note: Cue Points cannot be overwritten. You must first erase a Cue Point by pressing or holding the DELETE CUE button while
pressing the appropriate HOT CUE BUTTON.
LOOP CONTROLS
22. ON / OFF – Press this to turn a loop on or off. If the Deck is already looping, it will
exit the loop. If the Deck is not looping, the currently selected loop will be enabled
(once the Audio Pointer enters the loop region). If no loop is set, nothing will
happen.
23. IN – Press this to set a “Loop In” point where your loop will begin. If you are already
in a loop when you press it, you can “fine tune” the placement of the “Loop In” point
by moving the PLATTER. If no track is assigned to the Deck, nothing will happen.
24. OUT – Press this to set a “Loop Out” point where your loop will end. If you are
already in a loop when you press it, you can “fine tune” the placement of the “Loop
Out” point by moving the PLATTER. If no track is assigned to the Deck, nothing will
happen.
25. SELECT – Press this to rotate through the loops set in the track. From here, you
can edit, reloop, or enable the loop you have selected. (Also, if you pressed LOOP IN but want to cancel the loop before
completing it, press SELECT, which will toggle out of it.)
26. RELOOP – Press this to jump to the start of the loop and enable it. If the Deck is already looping when you press it, the Audio
Pointer will jump to the start of the loop and continue. If no loop is set, nothing will happen.
Hold DELETE CUE / SHIFT and any of
these buttons to access their alternate
functions:
IN, OUT, SELECT, RELOOP: Triggers
Loop Roll in eighth, quarter, half, or one
note measurements.
1/2 X, 2 X, SHIFT LEFT, SHIFT RIGHT:
Jumps to stored loops 1, 2, 3, or 4
(respectively) and instantly reloops them.

6
27. MODE – Press this to switch between Manual Mode and Autoloop Mode, which changes the functions of the bottom four LOOP
CONTROL buttons. In Manual Mode, the LOOP CONTROL buttons function as IN, OUT, SELECT, and RELOOP (explained
above). In Autoloop Mode, the LOOP CONTROL buttons will set 1-, 2-, 4-, and 8-beat loops, respectively. Each loop will start at
the Audio Pointer’s location when the button is pressed.
Note: Due to the way the software analyzes beats per minute (BPM), the length of 1-, 2-, 4-, and 8-beat loops will vary between
tracks with different BPM readings.
28. 1/2 X – Press this to halve the length of the selected loop.
29. 2 X – Press this to double the length of the selected loop.
30. SHIFT LEFT ( ) – Press this to shift the selected loop to the left. It will move left the same distance as the length of the loop
itself.
31. SHIFT RIGHT ( ) – Press this to shift the selected loop to the right. It will move right the same distance as the length of the loop
itself.
TRACK CONTROLS
32. STRIP SEARCH – The length of this strip represents the length of the entire track. Place your finger on a point along this sensor
to jump to that point in the track. (If you want to scroll through a track, we recommend using your computer rather than running
your finger along the strip.)
33. CLEAR / SET – When using the software's Beat Grid, press SET to set a Beat Marker where the Audio Pointer is currently located.
To delete the closest Beat Marker (i.e., the Beat Marker nearest to the Audio Pointer), press CLEAR (by holding SHIFT and
pressing the button).
34. ADJUST / SLIP – When using the software's Beat Grid, hold SLIP and move the PLATTER to "slip" (i.e., shift or slide) the entire
Beat Grid to the left or right. To "warp" or stretch the Beat Grid between two Beat Markers, place the Audio Pointer between them,
hold ADJUST (while also holding SHIFT), and move the PLATTER. These two features are helpful when the Beat Grid is slightly
misaligned with the track's transients.
PITCH CONTROLS
35. TAP – Tap this button at the same tempo as the track to help the software detect a more accurate BPM reading.
36. MASTER TEMPO – If you have changed the pitch of the track, you can press the MASTER TEMPO button to return the track’s
pitch to its original key. The track’s tempo will remain at the speed designated by the PITCH FADER.
37. PITCH RANGE – Press this to adjust the range of the PITCH FADER to ±8%, ±16%, and ±50%.
38. PITCH FADER – Controls the track’s playback speed. An LED next to the fader will light up when set at 0%.
39. PITCH BEND ( + / – ) – Press or hold down either of these buttons to temporarily adjust the track’s playback speed. When
released, the track playback will return to the speed designated by the PITCH FADER.
40. BPM METER – This meter is an aid for matching the tempo of both decks. When the white center LED is lit, the BPMs are
matched. Otherwise, the meter will tend towards the faster deck. The further from center, the greater the difference between the
two BPMs.
The meter is also an aid while adjusting Loop In or Loop Out points. If you are making fine adjustments to your Loop In or Loop
Out points using the PLATTERS, the lit LED will “wrap around” the meter. It will rest on the white center LED whenever the loop’s
length has been doubled or halved exactly.
Note: The BPM METER will aid in loop adjustments only if (1) a BPM reading has been entered for that track and (2) the tempos of
the two selected Decks have been synchronized.
41. TAKEOVER LEDs – When you select the other Deck with the DECK SELECT switch, the position of the NS6's PITCH FADER
may not match the Pitch setting for that Deck in the software. Slowly move the PITCH FADER in the direction indicated by the
TAKEOVER LED arrow until it turns off. At this point, the PITCH FADER matches the Pitch setting in the software and can control
it again.

7
NAVIGATION CONTROLS
42. SCROLL KNOB – Use this knob to scroll through lists of tracks, Crates, etc. in
the software. You can also press it to move between the panels shown in the
software.
43. FWD / BACK – These buttons move the selector between various panels in the
software.
44. CRATES – Press this to move the selector to the Crates Panel in the software.
45. PREPARE – Press this to move the selector to the Prepare Panel in the software.
46. FILES – Press this to move the selector to the Files Panel in the software.
47. LOAD A / LOAD B – Press one of these buttons while a track is selected to
assign it to Deck A or Deck B, respectively.
48. LOAD PREPARE – Press this to add a selected track to the list of tracks in the
Prepare Panel in the software.
49. VIEW – Press this to toggle through the available software layouts.
EFFECTS CONTROLS
50. FX SELECT – Turn this knob to select an effect to apply to the channel, which will be displayed in the software. You can also
press the knob to move automatically to the next effect.
51. FX MIX – Adjusts the amount of the effect, which will be displayed the software. To hear less of the effect (a "dry" mix), move this
fader to the left. To hear more of the effect (a "wet" sound), move this fader to the right.
52. FX PARAM – Turn this knob to adjust the parameter of the effect, which will be displayed in the software.
53. FX ON / OFF – Press this button to activate or deactivate the effect. The button's LED will illuminate when the effect is on.
54. FX SEND – Use these buttons to apply Effect A and/or B to the corresponding channel. You can apply Effect A and/or B to the
entire Program Mix by using the FX SEND buttons below the MASTER VOLUME knob. (Each effect can be applied to one of the
four channels or the Program Mix.)
Hold DELETE CUE / SHIFT and any of these
buttons to access their alternate functions:
FWD: Sort current Library/Crate/Panel View
by album.
BACK: Sort current Library/Crate/Panel
View by track number.
CRATE: Sort current Library/Crate/Panel
View by song.
PREPARE: Sort current Library/Crate/Panel
View by artist.
FILES: Sort current Library/Crate/Panel View
by BPM.

8
USING SERATO ITCH WITH THE NS6
IMPORTANT!
Please make sure you have downloaded the latest version of Serato ITCH from http://www.serato.com/itch.
GETTING STARTED
STARTING THE SOFTWARE
Serato ITCH will be installed to the following locations:
Windows XP: Start Programs ITCH
Windows Vista: Windows Menu All Programs Serato ITCH
Windows 7: Windows Menu All Programs Serato ITCH
Mac OS X: Applications folder
Connect NS6 before opening Serato ITCH. When the software launches, it will automatically detect the NS6.
IMPORTING MUSIC
Supported File Types
Serato ITCH supports the following file types: MP3, AAC (.m4a), WAV, AIFF, Ogg Vorbis, .WL.MP3, and ALAC (.m4a).
Fixed and variable bitrate files are both supported.
Adding Files to the Library
There are several ways to add files to your Serato ITCH library.
1. To show a view of your file system where you can browse your
hard disk for music to load you can:
yClick the Files button in the upper-left hand corner of the
software window
yPush the FILES button on the NS6
2. To navigate your files or Library, you can use:
yNS6's Navigation Controls (the SCROLL KNOB or FWD and
BACK buttons)
ythe cursor keys on your keyboard
ythe mouse
3. To load files into Serato ITCH, you can:
yClick on files (or folders containing files) in the software's file browser and drag them onto the "All" heading in the Crate
column, or into a specific Crate or Sub-Crate
yDrag files (or folders containing files) directly from Windows Explorer (PC) or Finder (Mac) into the Serato ITCH Library
yLoad a file to any Deck, which automatically adds it to your Library
DeletingFiles
To delete a track from a Crate, Sub-Crate, or the Library, select it in the software, then press CTRL + Delete (Windows) or CMND +
Delete (Mac).
Importing Music from Audio CDs
Serato ITCH does not support CD ripping. We suggest you use a third party application like iTunes to convert your audio CDs into a
suitable file type for Serato ITCH. We recommend importing songs as 320kbps mp3 files for high sound quality and low CPU load.
Audio CDs can be played directly from the computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
Please visit http://www.serato.com for articles and information on file conversion.

9
Showing Your iTunes™ Library:
Serato ITCH can read your iTunes library and show it while browsing
in ITCH. To enable this feature, click Setup to go to the Setup screen,
then under the Library tab, select "Show iTunes Library." You will be
able to access your iTunes Library.
PREPARING YOUR FILES
Before you play your music in Serato ITCH, it is important to prepare your files by analyzing them.
The software can scan the songs in your library to detect file corruption, save the waveform
overview to an ID3 tag*, and calculate auto-gain and -BPM values.
How to Analyze Files
To analyze files, start the software with the NS6 disconnected. On the right side of the main
screen, you will notice a button labeled "Analyze Files." Click this to analyze all the tracks in your
library. You can drag and drop individual folders, Crates, or files onto this button to force the
analyzing of files at any time.
About Corrupt Files
If the software detects a corrupt file, it will tag it with one of two corrupt file icons: or
It is very important that you delete any corrupt files from your library as they can cause the software to crash whether or not you play
the file.
Auto-BPM
If this option is checked while analyzing files, Serato ITCH will calculate the estimated tempos of your files. If it is confident that the
auto BPM estimate for a file is accurate, it will be written to an ID3 tag* in the file.
The auto-BPM function will not be applied if the track already contains BPM information. To reanalyze files and use auto-BPM or auto
gain on those files, drag them onto the "Analyze Files" button. If you know your files BPM will fall within a certain range, use the
"Range" drop-down menu (on the right-hand side) to avoid double or half value BPMs being calculated.
Offline Player
The Offline Player is available whenever the NS6 is disconnected from your computer. The Offline Player's sound will be sent through
your computer's default audio device (e.g., your computer's soundcard). This player is a useful tool for auditioning tracks and preparing
your Crates. You can also use it to set, edit, or delete Cue Points and Loop Points without the NS6.
Load a track to the player by dragging it from your Library and dropping it onto the Deck. You can also select it in
your library and press SHIFT + left arrow. You can use the control panel to the left of the waveform to set Cue
Points and loops. Cue Points can be set by clicking on any one of the five slots. The lower part of the panel
represents a combination of the software loop controls and the NS6's loop controls, which you can use to set your
Loop In and Loop Out points or Autoloops.
When the track being played ends, the next track in the current playlist will load and play automatically.
* ID3 tags contain data about
y
our tracks and are saved
inside the files themselves.
“Genre,” “Track Name,” and
“Artist” are examples of
common tag information.

10
SOFTWARE OVERVIEW
More complete descriptions of these features are given in later sections of this manual, but this is a brief overview of the key features in
Serato ITCH:
1. Album Art: Displays the cover art for the album selected.
2. Files: Displays the Files Panel, which enables you to search for tracks on your hard drive.
3. Browse: Displays the Browse Panel, which enables you to browse for tracks by genre, BPM, etc.
4. Prepare: Displays the Prepare Panel containing tracks you have pre-selected for your set.
5. History: Displays the History Panel containing tracks that have already been played.
6. Tool Tips: Enables or disables Tool Tip Display, which provides a dialog box with a description of a software feature when you
place your mouse over it.
7. Setup: Shows the software Setup screen.
8. Search: Searches your Library for the text entered in this field.
9. Crates: Displays the list of Crates and Sub-Crates available.
10. Library: Displays the songs available in your current selection.
11. Record: Starts or stops recording.
12. Record Source Selector: Select a recording source from this drop-down menu.
13. Recording Meter: Indicates the peak levels of the audio being recorded.
14. Recording Timer: Timer for current recording.
15. Recording Filename: Enter the name of the file you are currently recording here.
16. Save: Saves the current recording to the "Recordings" folder inside your Main Library folder.
17. Status Bar: Displays Serato ITCH system messages and track status messages.
18. Virtual Deck: Rotates during playback.
19. Beat-Matching Display: Shows "transients" (usually the drum hits) to aid beat-matching.

11
20. Tempo-Matching Display: Displays tempos of the Decks to help the mixing process. Clicking on this section will toggle between
the Tempo-Matching Display and the Master BPM information.
21. Waveform: Waveform of the currently loaded track.
22. Track Overview: An overview of the currently loaded track's entire waveform.
23. Track Name: "Title" tag for the current track.
24. Artist Name: "Artist" tag for the current track.
25. BPM Field / Tap: Displays track's BPM. You can click this field to "tap" out a time, from which the software will approximate and
save a new BPM. If there is no BPM for the track, it will display "Tap" to prompt you to tap out a suggested tempo.
26. Key: If the track has a "key" ID3 tag, it will be displayed here.
27. Track Time Display: Displays the current position of the Audio Pointer in the track.
28. Pitch: Applied pitch offset as a percentage (%) (determined by the position of the PITCH FADER).
29. Pitch Range: Current range of the PITCH FADER.
30. Playback Mode: Toggles between "Single" and "Continuous" Playback Modes. Single Playback Mode plays only one track,
stopping when it is finished. Continuous Playback Mode will automatically play the next track in the Crate when one track ends.
Whenever a new track is loaded, this setting will remain the same.
31. Repeat Mode: Toggles Repeat Mode "On" or "Off" for the track (when Playback Mode is set to "Single") or Crate (when
Playback Mode is set to "Continuous"). Whenever a new track is loaded, this will default to "Off."
32. Loop Number: Displays the number of the currently selected loop. Clicking the "lock" icon next to it will disable any changes to
the current loop. Clicking the "X" icon next to it will delete the current loop.
33. Rescan ID3 Tags: Re-reads file tags for the entire Library. Use this function if you have edited or modified file tags in other
software.
Tip: Rescanning the tags is a handy way to identify any files that can not be found (for instance, if the files have been re-named or
moved). These tracks are shown red in the Library pane, with a "?" icon in the Status column.
34. Relocate Lost Files: If you have moved files which are already in your Library, they will show up as not found (denoted by a "?"
icon in the Status column) and be displayed in red. Drag and drop a folder from Finder (Mac) or Explorer (Windows) onto this
button to search it, and any sub-folders, for these files. Doing this will update the Library with their new location. You can also
click this button to scan your whole file system, including external drives connected to your computer, for missing files.
35. Current Effect: The currently selected effect applied to the channel (if the NS6's FX ON / OFF button is set to "on"). When the
effect is on, the CURRENT EFFECT and NEXT EFFECT windows will light up.
36. FX Mix: The amount of CURRENT EFFECT, which can be adjusted with the NS6's FX MIX fader.
37. Parameter: The parameter for the CURRENT EFFECT, which can be adjusted with the NS6's FX PARAM knob. Generally, this is
the intensity of the effect but may vary between effects.
38. Tempo Source: The current BPM for the track, which helps determine the speed of the CURRENT EFFECT (if it is rate-based).
When this field reads "AUTO A" or "AUTO B," the effect will automatically follow the BPM of the track on Deck A or Deck B,
respectively. You can set the BPM (and change it at any time) by using the NS6's TAP TEMPO button. You can also return to the
track's auto-BPM by holding down TAP TEMPO.

12
SOFTWARE SETUP
The Setup screen has controls to personalize and maintain your Serato ITCH system. Click the "Setup" button to enter the Setup
screen. From here, you can click to enter any of the following tabs: Hardware, Playback, Library, Display or Mixer.
SOFTWARE VERSION & UPDATES: The version of Serato ITCH software is displayed in the bottom left corner of the Setup screen.
The Check for Updates button will open http://www.serato.com in your web browser to tell you if there are available updates for your
version of the ITCH software.
HARDWARE
Firmware Status / Updater: When the NS6 is connected to your
computer and your computer is online, this window indicates whether or
not your firmware is current. If there is an available update, you will be
able to click the "Update Firmware" button to update it. (See the
UPDATING THE FIRMWARE section for more information.)
USB Buffer Size (Latency): Adjust this virtual fader to set the buffer
size of the USB connection between the hardware (NS6) and the
software (Serato ITCH). If you are using a slower computer, increase
the buffer size. At a larger buffer size, you should no longer experience
any problems with your audio, but there may be a slight delay when the
software responds to the hardware.
Platter Speed: Changes the speed of the Virtual Decks between
33RPM and 45PM.
PLAYBACK
GENERAL:
Playback Keys Use Shift: When checked, all Cue Point, Loop, and
Playback keys on the computer keyboard require Shift or Caps Lock to
function.
Lock Playing Deck: When checked, you can only load a track to a
Deck if it is paused.
Hi-Fi Resampler: When checked, this significantly reduces digital
distortion at very slow or very fast record speeds (which will slightly
increase the CPU load). This option is off by default.
Use auto gain: When checked, you can set the maximum amount of
gain a track will have during playback. If a loaded track's gain is lower
than this setting, its gain will be automatically boosted (its loudest point will match the auto gain level). Auto gain is applied only to
tracks that have been analyzed.
Enable Beat Grid: When checked, all Beat Grid functions are available. Uncheck this box if you do not want to use Beat Grid.
ON SONG LOAD: These options affect the state of tracks when first loaded to the Deck.
Play from Start: When checked, a newly loaded track will start from the beginning. If this box is unchecked, a newly loaded track
will start from wherever the Audio Pointer was located in the previously loaded track.
Play from First Cue Point: When checked, all tracks will start from their first Cue Point when loaded.
BRAKING: This knob controls the speed at which playback will stop when you pause a track. At the minimum (leftmost) value,
playback will stop immediately. At the maximum (rightmost) value, the track will slow down before coming to a complete stop,
simulating the sound of a turntable slowing down once the platter's motor stops.
RECORDING:
Bit Depth: Select the recording bit depth as 16-bit or 24-bit.
File Format: Select the file format you want your audio recordings to be saved as – Wave (.WAV) or AIFF (.AIF).

13
LIBRARY
Show iTunes Library: When checked, the current default iTunes
library and iTunes playlists will be shown in Serato ITCH. (See the
IMPORTING MUSIC section for more information.)
Protect Library: When checked, your Library will be locked to
prevent accidental deletion of tracks or Crates, and you will be
unable to change file tags or Crate names.
Custom Crate Columns: When checked, you can set custom
column views for each Crate and Playlist. When unchecked (the
default setting), all Crates will share the same column configuration
as the "all…" Crate.
Center on Selected Song: When checked, scrolling up and down
in your Library will hold the selected track in the middle of the Library
panel.
Show All File Types: When checked, you will be able to see all
files when importing tracks into your Library. If this option is not checked, only files that Serato ITCH can play will be displayed.
(See the IMPORTING MUSIC section for more information.)
Include Sub-Crate Tracks: When checked, the tracks from any Sub-Crate will be displayed in their "parent" Crate. When this
option is unchecked, browsing a Crate will not show tracks that are in any of its Sub-Crates.
DISPLAY
Maximum Screen Updates: This slider allows you to adjust the
rate at which the software screen refreshes. A lower setting will
potentially use less CPU. Users with slower computers or those
running a recording program at the same time may want to do this
if they are experiencing CPU performance issues. The default
setting is 60 Hz, or refreshed 60 times per second. This setting
applies to the entire Serato ITCH user interface: the Virtual Decks,
the Waveforms, the Library, and the Setup screen.
Horizontal Waveforms: When checked, main waveforms will be
displayed horizontally across the bottom of the screen.
Left Vertical Waveforms: When checked, main waveforms will be
displayed vertically on the left side of the screen.
Right Vertical Waveforms: When checked, main waveforms will be displayed vertically on the right side of the screen.
MIXER
GENERAL:
EQ: When the NS6's EQ knobs are in their maximum (right-most)
position, they will boost that frequency range by the number of
decibels specified here. Select either 6 dB or 12 dB.
Output: Sets the audio output to Mono or Stereo.
Headroom: Select how much headroom your device has before the
internal limiter engages. Less headroom results in a louder output
but has a greater chance of the limiter engaging (especially when
more than one audio channels are in the mix). With the initial
headroom setting of 0dB, you can apply 3dB of gain per Deck
before the limiter engages.
CUE/FADERS: "Turn" these virtual knobs by clicking on them and dragging up (to increase) or down (to decrease) with the mouse.
Overdrive: Increase the setting on this knob to give the gain of the headphones an extra boost. To prevent hearing damage, be
careful not to set this level too high.
U/F Curve: Adjusts the upfader curve. Turn the knob to the left for a tighter "cut" and to the right for a more gradual fade.

14
THE LIBRARY
Serato ITCH can support an unlimited number of tracks, so the only limitation is the size of your computer's hard drive. A number of
features are included to help keep your music organized and find your songs quickly and easily.
CRATES & SUB-CRATES
Crates and Sub-Crates are a way to organize your music into groups
for quick access. This can be by genre, mood, or whatever suits your
DJing style. The Crates area can be accessed by pressing the
CRATES button on the NS6 or by clicking inside the Crates area with
the mouse. The "+" button on the software allows you to create a new
Crate. To add files to a Crate, drag and drop the track(s) from the
library into the Crate. Crates can be nested inside each other to create
Sub-Crates for more detailed sorting.
Crates
Serato ITCH uses digital "Crates" for quick access to your favorite
collections. There is no limit to the number of Crates you can create,
and any given track can be placed in multiple Crates. The Crate area
is on the left hand side of the library.
For example, you could organize your files into the following Crates,
where any one track would be filed in more than one Crate.
Hip-Hop
French Hip-Hop
UK Hip-Hop
Instrumental Hip-Hop
Old School Hip-Hop
Hip-Hop LPs
To make a new Crate, click the "+" button on the upper-right hand corner of the Crates area. To rename a Crate, double-click the Crate
name. You can change the order of tracks within a Crate by dragging them up or down in the Library window.
Tip: The "Protect Library" option in the Setup screen applies to removing, editing and renaming Crates. Check this option to prevent
unintentional changes to your Crates.
Sub-Crates
You can drag and drop Crates into other Crates to make Sub-Crates. If you drag a Crate to the very left of the Crate panel, it will stay
in the top level of the Crate structure. If you drag the Crate a little to the right, onto the name of another crate, it will make the Crate you
are dragging a Sub-Crate of the first Crate. Sub-Crates can be opened and collapsed. This way you can have a large number of
Crates but still keep them easy to browse.
SEARCHING & BROWSING
Search
Serato ITCH includes a Search function to help you find files quickly and easily. Just enter
text into the Search field in the upper-right hand corner of the screen. As you type, ITCH
will automatically display files containing that text.
To select which fields the Search function will look through (i.e. Artist, Album, etc.), click on
the icon on left side of the Search field. A drop-down menu will show which fields are
currently being used. Press "Escape" on your keyboard or the "X" button on the right side
of the Search field to clear it.
Tip: Press "Control" and "F" on your keyboard to jump to the Search field. This keyboard
shortcut will also display the Main Library – taking you out of any Crate or Playlist you
might be in – so you can find any track in your collection. If you then click on a Crate or
Playlist, the Search field will be cleared.

15
Browse
To browse through your files, just scroll up or down with the SCROLL KNOB or FWD and BACK buttons on the NS6.
Clicking Browse in the software will open the Browse panel above the Main Library. The filters are GENRE, BPM, ARTIST, and
ALBUM. You can narrow your search by selecting the specific genre, BPM, artist, or album title you're looking for, and the software will
show the results on the Main Library window. You can move between the four filters with the FWD / BACK buttons in the NS6's
Navigation Controls, the computer keyboard, or by clicking with the mouse.
COLUMNS
The view of your Library can be customized to show any of the columns listed below:
yAlbum yFilename yRemixer
yArtist yGenre ySampling Rate
yBitrate yGrouping ySize
yBPM yLabel yTrack
yComment yLength yYear
yComposer yLocation
Clicking on the triangle in the upper-right hand corner of the Track Information Window will display this list of columns so you can select
which to show or hide. You can resize columns by grabbing their edges with the mouse and dragging them to the width you want. You
can also edit some of these fields (see "Editing ID3 Tags" under the TAGGING section).
ICONS
The column at the far left shows the status of each track. Examples of these icons are below.
The software has detected some corruption in the file. If possible, re-encode the MP3.
The track cannot be found. Most likely, the file has been renamed or moved.
The track has been imported from the iTunes library.
The track has been imported from iTunes but is corrupt.
The software is trying to import a track from the iTunes library but cannot find the file.
The track is read-only. You can play it but not edit any of its information.
TAGGING
Editing ID3 tags
Much of the information associated with each file can be edited from within the software. Double-
click on the field within the Main Library to edit it. Filename, Length, Size, Bitrate, and Sampling
Rate cannot be edited because this information is saved in the file itself. The "Protect Library"
option in the Setup screen must be unchecked to allow edits. (See LIBRARY under the
SOFTWARE SETUP section.)
To re-read file tags for the entire Library, enter the Files panel and click the Rescan ID3 Tags
button. Use this function if you have edited or modified file tags in other software.
Note: Tracks that are read-only have a "locked" icon. You can not edit tags for these files.
You can click the Relocate
Lost Files button in the Files
panel to scan your whole file
system – including external
drives connected to your
computer – for missing files
(with the "?" icon). Doing this
will update the Library with
their new location. You can
also drag and drop a folder
from Finder (Mac) or Explorer
(Windows) onto this button to
search it, and any sub-folders,
for these files.
* ID3 tags contain data about
y
our tracks and are saved inside
the files themselves. “Genre,”
“Track Name,” and “Artist” are
examples of common tag
information.

16
Tip: To edit text, press "Control" and "E" on your keyboard. You can also hold down "Control" and move with the keyboard's arrow
keys to change to a different field while staying in Edit Mode. When you have more than one file selected, editing tags changes all the
files in your selection.
Tip: The second column in the Library is the label color for that file. Click it to bring up a color palette to customize the Virtual Deck
for that file.
Album Art
MP3 files can contain album art. To display this album art, click the Album Art button on the upper-left hand corner of the software
window. We recommend using iTunes to add album art to MP3s, though there are many other third party applications available.
PREPARING & REVIEWING TRACKS
Prepare
Click the Prepare button in the upper-left hand corner of the software
window to access the Prepare Panel – an area for holding tracks, much
like preparing a set by lifting records partially out of your record bag.
You can also access this panel by pressing the PREPARE button on the
NS6. You can drag tracks (or whole Crates) from the Main Library into
the Prepare Panel, or drag them onto the Prepare button. You can also
press the LOAD PREPARE button on the NS6 when the selector is on
the track or Crate you want to add. Once a track from this list has
played, it will be removed from the Prepare Panel. All tracks in the
Prepare Panel will be discarded when you close the software.
History
The History button opens a complete log of all the tracks you have played and allows you to export your ITCH session information as a
data file. Each session is catalogued by date and time. Using the drop-down arrow, you can navigate to and view detailed information
of any previous sessions. There are columns for the period (i.e., date of session), name of track, and artist name. In addition, the
categories listed below will give you more detailed information about your sessions:
•Start time: When viewing a song row, the start time of the song is displayed. When viewing a session row, the start time of the
session is displayed with the date (in real-time value).
•End time: When viewing a song row, the end time of the song is displayed. When viewing a session row, the end time of the
session is displayed with the date (in real-time value).
•Playtime: When viewing a song row, the total played time of the song is displayed (i.e., 00:03:00). When viewing a session row,
the total elapsed time of the session is displayed with date (i.e., 10/09/08 01:38:16).
•Deck: The virtual Deck that the song was played on will be displayed under the deck column. In the song row, either left or right is
displayed. The offline player will be listed as offline.
•Notes: Use this field to list particular information about your songs and each session (i.e., note how you transitioned from one track
to another).
•Start Session / End Session: To start or end a session, click the corresponding button.
•Insert track: If you wish to add information for tracks not played in ITCH into your session (e.g., if you played one of your favorite
vinyl or CDs), select the song after which you want to insert it and click the "Insert Track" button. Double-click the inserted track
fields and edit your information accordingly. When exporting an m3u playlist (see "Export" below), inserted tracks will not be
present.