A Message from the Makers of TRAKTOR

Do you think this is a technical problem, or a political one?

 

I see a lot of grandiose ideas of new HW, standalone, etc. This was made by others, or tried before by NI, and the train has left too much time ago.

IMO the possible Traktor market is simply to avoid more users to leave the ecosystem, and try to get some ones back.

For this, the team would have to stop doing experiments, polish the existing hardware and software "as-is", implement the most popular features that real users actually ask, and significant support for competitor hardware.

 

And add the most popular/requested features/hardware to the system.

 

This is what I have purchased the S4 mk3 for in good faith, and was rather disappointed in the AD department after 3 returned units and finally giving in and keeping it as a toy only ( as it's not usable in a mixed media context for me, let alone recording vinyl through, due to the hum/white noise issues of the phono signal chain).
So fingers crossed the next DJ product from NI, whatever it might be, will be better thought through for the semi/pro customers on a hardware and software side [and on the later / software side, there's still a fair few long standing issues to be solved as well as catching up to the competition in a new/consistent features sense... and streaming seemingly wasn't one of them for the vocal majority from what I can tell...].
I guess time will tell again...
c.

 

Going back to jog-centric and Traktor dj2 app has been a lot better for sure…


Anyways, if you bought an mk3 you aren’t the target of my criticism. Those who ranted at D2/Stems but later never got an mk3 are. Where are they now? With DDj1000 or Rane One probably…

but let’s be positive (even NI seems to going towards subscription model…) and propose one more time some ideas based on ALL points of views…

NI doesn’t want go iPad route? Ok… What about a Traktor+?
A “Numark dashboard-like” unit with next gen embed core, S8/D2 screens and few usb ports? Implement terminar project and make each NI controller (or almost Traktors…) compatible so everythimg becomes standalone. iPad route should been easy at this point (and powerful as M+ finally shown) but it doesn’t matter… just do it and overpass the silly mfi apple police and give users standalone remix decks, standalone stem decks and standalone A>B mixing control for jog lovers. Let use external audio interface so making possible DVS support too. Bang! Everyone happy…

Said that for A>B mixing even Traktor dj2 was enough but people didn’t bought mk3 and S4mk3 weren’t compatible with iPads (aside issues with macs) so it felt a downgrade vs mk2 or S2/3. Traktor Pro 3 update was a bad joke too and nowadays offer very few improvements vs Pro 2 and even vs Djay Pro which only lacks in DVS but has Rane One support and maybe someday Phase (if the Serato partnership allow them). Traktor even could develop a custom alternative solution (like catalyst controller) or even developing a partner with Denon (but hardly since they are licensing Engine 2 to other brands like Numark and maybe their model is get that embedding niche…)

OTOH standalone D2 could have been an amazing alternative to Roland Sp404 mk2… and it’s obvious it has a lot of traction (no pun intended) on that segement which aren’t going to purchase a M+ and at the same time you can create different tiers for market segments…

I dunno… I want to see Traktor going well but my gut says “even so, it will not be what people expect” and it’s fine for me since I had what I need but it’s sad how many mistakes in strategy had burnt Traktor legacy to a point that it seems no “future of sound” anymore…






Disclaimer: I started writting this comment around 5 hours ago but I need to get out home in hurry so let the tablet with the message unfinish until now I’m going to hit “send”. After that I will check other answers in between (since this old forum has few tools for tablet editing afaik). Also don’t take things personal, my rant towards “users behaviour” is a “general” but anyone knows his/her needs and priorities so just get the good and forget the bad and let’s walk on and hope for the best…

 

Denon and numark are the same company (inMusic group)

 

Exactly. Thats why i made a gigantic ddj-1000 map for traktor.
Hardware is amazing, software (rekordbox) is poor.

 

But different brands. Numark cdx technology was patented but Denon used it on 3700. Also Gemini in Cdt05 hybrid turntable… even U.S. blaster has a oem like Gemini…

What would stop inMusic to sell Engine 2 to another brands without the r&d? (So aside Pioneer, Denon, Beheinger and… NI?)

There aren’t too many but …

Reloop touch mk2?
Gemini (if still exists)?
Hercules whatever?
American audio?
Allen&Heath 4D-like? (This could be the partner most NI users want for Traktor…)

 

American audio stopped producing any dj gear some time ago. They focused on affordible speakers (Avante series).
Even they’re EQ’s, mixers and speaker management systems are discontinued.

 

What about the others? Embedding is a trend (and Traktor/Serato are dabbling with M1 meanwhile)

 

Some older NI Traktor hardware needs an update. It would be interesting to see if we will get updated Unit or completely new (different) product then before.

 

Neither. It’s a business decision. If they aren’t producing hardware, they are a software company. In terms of performance hardware for us DVS users, there isn’t any, and they sure aren’t supporting anything that’s out there.

 

glad that we agree its not a technical issue.
Then users will vote with their euros/dollars/pounds. So far I undrstand they are leaving by the masses.

 

(I'm going to sound like a salty, old whiner, but here goes)...

The problem with Traktor is (and has always been):
a) not listening to the user base
b) lack of consistency/follow through on their trendy new ideas, often imposed on the user base (to the delight of some and dismay of many)
c) lack of quality control on the hardware sold to the user base
d) lack of communication with the user base
e) not allowing the user base to use the tool with other proprietary solutions

If they fix all of these, they can do whatever they want.

EDIT: clearly, they've been addressing many of these issues recently.

Having said that, I cannot imagine what they could possibly release that would be better than a DDJ-1000, but hope to be pleasantly surprised!
I think it's a 'plus' if they do this in collaboration with an already established hardware company like A&H; someone to give them an outside perspective. Because that was one of the main causes of their downfall: hubris, along with a closed wall / silo approach that meant they did not have their fingers on the pulse of what the users really needed and where things were heading.

I hope that once they choose a direction, they can stick to the program and go deep on it. I don't want to see any more 'reinventions' of Traktor after this for some time. Of course, it will all be sales related, so come on guys: get your wallets ready and make sure to buy the new hotness once it's out!

 

as a show of good will support all the new top gear or at least make it easier to use it thats all they have to do and people will come back

 

What would be specific suggestions to make it "easier to use"? Easier means a lot of different things to a lot of people, interested in hearing where you think things need to improve...

 

I meant the midi mapping, traktors midi mapping is very complicated. They could also just create a database and let the community midi map other controllers and mixers if they don't want to go through the trouble of doing it themselves but the bottom line is they need to support popular gear

 

I find traktors midi mapping very easy and simple. Try to dive in to the Midi script, then You will go back to traktor and say, that it has very easy midi mapper.

 

I've said this before, NI should keep improving the software (of which I think they have been doing a good job recently) and partner with Pioneer, Rane and Reloop for HW/mixer support so hopefully one day I can have post fader FX on my Rane Seventy.

 

This…read it after I posted. We’re on the same page, DJ Estrela.