TRAKTOR KONTROL S4
Posted on Tue 09 November 2010 in entries
There has been a storm of excitement stirring up the digital DJ world of late, with news of the highly anticipated Traktor Kontrol S4 DJ controller on the horizon. And now I am pleased to announce that it is finally here, and available today! So grab yourself a slice of the DJing future! It’s time to unleash the beast…
DIGITAL DJING
It is no coincidence that it is now unusual to venture into a club and not spot at least one DJ clicking away behind their laptop whilst bobbing up and down to the beat. This phenomenon is largely thanks to the boffins at Native Instruments and the introduction of their revolutionary Traktor software almost a decade ago. The simplicity of digital DJing, and the added creative possibilities that it offers over vinyl and CD mixing, as well as the reduced cost of purchasing digital tracks, have made it an attractive proposition for Joe Public, who wants instant access to the glamorous lifestyle of a DJ.
For all it’s advantages, one of the main down-sides of digital DJing has been the fact that it has usually proved to be far less engaging with the crowd than traditional mixing methods. I think that the majority of people out there would agree that they would prefer to watch a DJ mixing on a pair of turntables and engaging with an audience, rather than watching a DJ having to spend most of their time staring at a computer screen to control a mix. However, the Traktor Kontrol S4 provides an intuitive solution to this problem, by providing a fully integrated system, fusing software and hardware in perfect harmony…yes, you will probably still have to glance at the screen every so often, but the design of the Traktor Kontrol S4 means that all your most used controls are right there in front of you, allowing you to control your mixes purely by touch, freeing up your eyes to look out over your adoring crowd and join them in the hedonism of your perfect mixes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1EVo8v3OG8
TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 – THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION
The beauty of the Traktor Kontrol S4 is that it is designed by DJs, for DJs, and hence it has a layout that just seems to make perfect sense. Everything is geared towards a fluid, professional work flow. Whether you’re a seasoned Traktor user, or are just taking your first steps into the exciting world of digital DJing, the S4 delivers like nothing else on the market with it’s innovative sample decks, high quality electromagnetic jog wheels, 2 effect units, and 2 clearly laid out deck sections (which can be assigned to any of the 4 sofware decks). Under each of the highly responsive jog wheels are 12 buttons, ergonomically arranged in 3 rows of 4. These buttons give instant access to some of the most valuable features of the Traktor software, including basic transport controls, cue points, and trigger buttons for your loops and one-shot samples. It’s the ultimate all-in-one solution, comprising of a premium quality 4-channel mixer, a built-in 24bit/96kHz soundcard for pristine audio quality, an intuitive controller, and an improved version of the renowned Traktor software for ultimate integration with the S4 controller. It really is the ULTIMATE digital solution…
TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 – SET UP AND CUSTOMISATION
You don’t need to be a professional audio engineer to get going with the Traktor Kontrol S4. It’s designed to be simple to use right from the word ‘go’. Just plug it in to your computer, connect to a PA, amp, or speakers, and you are ready to roll! And, because it is built around the foundations of the Traktor software, there is no need to map the controls to work with the functions that you see on your computer (unless of course you want to customise the controller to suit your specific working needs). And speaking of customisation, the unit also features a number of other handy features. For example, it is possible to define hot cue settings to suit your particular style, assign your favourite effects so that they are always directly available without browsing, switch the pitch faders between relative and absolute modes, or assign the 8 button grid to behave however you want (e.g. add extra hot cues, or even a reverse loop function). Basically, you can gear the Traktor Kontrol S4 to fit with your own way of working, meaning that mixing has never been so fun!
TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 – SY STANDARD SCRATCHING!
The advanced jog wheel technology makes the Traktor Kontrol S4 one of the most precise and reliable controllers on the market, with a design that avoids accidental triggering, and provides ultra-responsive physical feedback for the DJ. This not only contributes towards the supreme mixing capabilities that the S4 has to offer, but also means that if you want to scratch like DJ Shiftee, Plus One, Hype or SY, then you have everything you need right in front of you.
Other aspects of the Traktor Kontrol S4 are equally responsive, utilising the specially designed NHL protocol, which allows 30 times more data to be processed compared to regular MIDI, and the replaceable crossfader (with adjustable curve settings) is so accurate that it can detect movement of less than 1/4 the width of a human hair!
TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 – MIXING IT UP
The built-in 4 channel mixer contains all the familiar features of a regular club mixer, including sturdy up-faders, gain dials, cue buttons, illuminated level meters, high quality 3-band EQ, and also a filter control knob and 2 FX sends on each channel!
And, with the provided 2 analog stereo inputs with both phono and mic preamps, it’s also simple to integrate all your other DJ gear into the S4 set-up, by connecting turntables, CD players or a microphone! And in addition, an extra auxiliary session input allows you to connect the Traktor Kontrol S4 to yet more analog gear of your choice.
TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 – IN THE LOOP
The Traktor Kontrol S4 features an innovative new Loop Record feature, which acts like a fifth deck, and can be used creatively to add an additional layer on top of your mix, by recording and looping audio on the fly! And if you’re hands are busy with other things (DJ related of course!) then you can also make use of the optional foot controller to engage the Loop Recorder. Record loops from any channel (or combination of channels), a microphone, any live input, or the master output. It’s ultimate creativity at your fingertips! And it’s even a simple process to transfer any loop recording into a selected sample deck, freeing up the Loop Recorder for further use, whilst still retaining your material!
The Master controls for the Traktor Kontrol S4 are located on the upper central part of the mixer, and include a main output level, and a push encoder, which can be used to browse through your playlists, and load up tracks – so you don’t even have to touch your laptop! The section also features a Snap button that can be activated to ensure that cue points and loops sound tight by snapping to the next point on the beat grid, and a Quant button which can be activated to ensure that audio plays back in perfect phase sync by waiting for the right moment to launch. The Traktor S4 therefore means you will never need to ‘train-wreck’ your way through a mix ever again!
TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 – SOFTWARE
The included Traktor Kontrol S4 software has been designed especially to work with the Traktor S4 controller, whilst also improving on the previous Traktor Pro software, and including a full array of 25 effects which are easily triggerable via the dedicated FX buttons on the controller. Plus, the Traktor Kontrol S4 also comes complete with a selection of premium loops taken from the renowned Loopmasters series, from genres including Dubstep, Minimal, House, Techno, and Trance.
TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 – SAMPLE DECKS
The new Sample Decks are one of the most exciting additions to the Traktor Kontrol S4, designed to push the boundaries of live sampling and looping for the digital DJ. When used to their full creative potential, the Sample Decks allow for live track remixing and mash-ups on the fly! By using prepared elements of an individual song (e.g. drums, bass, lead sounds) and selecting when each of these parts are played, the DJ may perform a unique live remix! To add to the experience, volume and filter controls are also provided to manipulate each Sample Deck!
Samples may be loaded from your hard drive, from the included loops package, or recorded from a live deck. For the latter option, simply set the loop knob to the number of bars that you want to loop, and engage it! Then, select an empty Sample Deck with the click of one button, and your loop is instantly loaded into it! Or if you would prefer to use your laptop, then this can also be achieved by a simple drag and drop procedure (although you know my opinion on laptop mixing! :P ).
Each sample deck holds 4 samples/loops, and using Traktor’s advanced quantization features, can be instantly triggered in perfect sync with the playing track.
TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 – CONNECTIONS
The Traktor Kontrol S4 incorporates high end AD/DA converters, hi-gain balanced 1/4" TRS outputs, and an ultra-wide frequency response. It also comes supplied with low latency drivers for both Mac and PC platforms, and has 2 stereo analog inputs for external hardware, plus MIDI In and Out connections. And of course, it features a standard 1/4" jack headphone input alongside controls for headphone volume and cue mix.
TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 – SUMMARY
With it’s slim, portable profile, and wealth of professional features, the Traktor Kontrol S4 is the ultimate solution for mobile and club DJs alike. It provides everything you could possibly want to send a dancefloor crazy, and is extremely quick and easy to set up. Plus, an optional flight case is also available, which allows you to carry your Traktor Kontrol S4 around in complete security, whilst also folding out to offer a handy laptop stand. If you are a digital DJ, and you are going to make one purchase this year, then you should undoubtably consider making the beast that is the Traktor Kontrol S4 the centerpiece of your set-up. Peace out!