Do Traktor Pro 2 and Scratch Pro 2 really need to co-exist?

This might be the wrong place to make this post as it's more directed towards NI, but any input from the community would be appreciated as I hope I'm not the only one who's confused about this.

As far as I can see, and correct me if I'm wrong here, the only difference between Pro 2 and Scratch Pro 2 is the timecode functionality, which in itself is an awesome function! But already owning Traktor Pro 2, it seems harsh to have to pay for the exact same software twice, only adding timecode functionality. Especially when I already have to pay for the extra timecode hardware anyway.

It would make more sense if Traktor only had one Pro version with everything enabled, since the two existing Pro versions are like 99% identical and not that far apart in pricing anyway.

The reason I'm bringing this up is that I was looking at buying the timecode interface, cables and media pre-owned, without the Traktor license, as stores only offer the hardware bundled with the software which I already own from my previous purchase (or so I thought). But after a bit of research someone informed me I needed the Scratch version of Traktor Pro 2 to be able to use the Traktor Audio interface with timecode.

I might have missed something in my research, so maybe there's an option to get the scratch bundles at a discount if you already own Pro 2, or a way to upgrade Pro 2 to Scratch for less than what standalone Scratch Pro 2 costs.

In the end it would make a whole lot more sense if one fully enabled version of Traktor existed instead of two versions that are 99% identical.

 

When you own a certified interface, you can also buy the "Software and TC Media Kit" which includes a Scratch licence, and TC media and no interface. So it will be much cheaper for you.

In the other hand: to kill the Pro version will upset the conrtollerists, as if they will be forced to buy the bigger price for the whole scratch licence which they don't need.

 

Scratch Pro costs €99 including the timecode media whereas Pro costs €79.

Doesn't really make much sense to me as buying a pair of Traktor vinyls pretty much covers that price gap.

 

that is the 'upgrade price' which you are paying for for the ability to run time code. it is not just a €20 difference the whole upgrade cost €99

 

So you would prefer that every Traktor license cost upwards of $200? The whole point of regular Traktor is to offer a less expensive alternative to the full (Scratch) version, which most people don't need.

 

It's not an upgrade kit anymore, the Scratch+Timecode kit comes with a full TSP2 license.

 

What are you talking about? Please show me a version of traktor that costs $200.

The price difference between "regular" Traktor and the Scratch version is only €20. Considering what most DJ's/Musicians spend on gear and other stuff €20 is nothing!

 

The old way of putting this is that you are paying for the timecode plugin. You pay to unlock the timecode functionality. This has always been the case. The timecode functionality was developed after Traktor was developed. See it as adding alloy wheels to your car as an after sales option.

Paying for the timecode vinyl/cd does not mean that you have paid for the functionality.

They are 100% identical. The timecode functionality is already in your version, it just hasn't been unlocked by a Scratch Licence. This is what you buy when you upgrade.

Yes you get another copy of Traktor but it is only the new licence that will allow timecode to work with the correct hardware.

You won't have 2 versions existing. It is impossible to have 2 instances of the same build one one machine. You will simply enter the serial number into Service Centre and it will turn TPRO into TScratchPro.

If they are different versions/builds then yes they will install side-by-side. (i think)

If there are any upgrades available for your account you need to login at the store and check 'Choose Your Options'.
But remember they are packages that contain the hardware, timecode and cables etc.

This is incorrect reading of the product page.

The 99$ version of Traktor Scratch Pro is only available to people who own qualifying hardware TA10/6 A8/4 S4 etc. This version will only work as Traktor Pro not Scratch Pro if you do not have the qualifying hardware, in fact i'd have to check of this would work at all without the hardware.

 

http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/dj/traktor-audio-6/

$299

Currently the cheapest way to get Traktor Scratch Pro 2 without owning a Kontrol S4 ($899) or other NI hardware.

Or you can just get regular Traktor Pro for $89, which is what I stated. Hence the point of my argument.

 

Thanks for taking the time to reply guys, appreciate it, but I don't think I got my point across...

It shouldn't matter if the functionality was developed after Traktor was released, that's why you have updates/upgrades, so new stuff can be added when it's done.

Why do I need to pay for the whole Traktor Pro 2 part of the deal when all I want is to add the timecode functionality to my existing license - the price difference between the two identical programs is €20, meaning the value of timecode has been set to €20.

The problem with wanting timecode when you already own Pro 2 is that you're not updating an existing version to get new functionality, you're buying a new license for the whole software package, which you already own, but with one added option, being timecode.

To use your car analogy it would be like having a car, but if I wanted alloy wheels I'd need to buy one extra car with that option.

Also, before you tell me that the TA6 Bundle contains a software upgrade:

Great, by looking at the price difference on the two versions, unlocking that extra function in the software I already paid €79 for should cost me €20, right?

€79 + €20 = €99, which is what Traktor Scratch Pro 2 costs.

Look at it this way
You have €199 and your friend has €199, so you both start out the same.
You buy TPro2 and your friend buys TScratchPro2, you have the exact same software, but your friend paid an extra €20 for timecode, with me so far?
You now have €120 left, your friend has €100 left, but let's say you want to use timecode also, great, you already invested €79 in the software, you only need to invest €20 more for the timecode option like your friend, right? Wrong.

You have to invest €99 more, which means you have to REpurchase the whole software package, with that added option of using timecode.

This is by definition the exact opposite of an upgrade...

What you are talking about here is called and update/upgrade, but my whole point for making the original post is that it's not an upgrade when you have to pay twice for the Pro 2 part of the software, it's a REpurchase.

By already having paid €79 for TPro2,shouldn't that amount be deducted from my TScratchPro2 purchase? If so that would be the definition of an upgrade.

You're missing my point brocklambert, the link you provided is not a version of Traktor that costs $299, it's a bundle where you pay for software + hardware.

 

You miss one point in your example:
Your friend cannot buy Traktor Scratch Pro 2 for 99€, as he does not have any NI hardware.

 

Ok, so let's say he has the hardware, he bought it used off of eBay but didn't get any software license.

 

DVS functionality in Traktor is not just a plugin.
It is hardware+software+timecodes

Lets use your example again.

You both start with nothing except 300€
You buy Tpro for 79€
Your friends buys TSP for 300€
He has full scratch functionality and you don't.

Now you decide you want scratch functions.

You can pay 300€ and try and sell your 79€ Tpro
or
You can find a second hand certified interface for <120€
Buy the upgrade kit for 99€

If you pay less than 120 for your interface you actually spent less money than your friend. If it costs you more then your paid more by whatever amount over 120€ it cost you (rounding off here for convenience)

Nowhere does DVS get priced at 20€ because part of the cost of DVS is the hardware.

 

Scratch Pro will of course give you regular Traktor Pro functionality when not using Scratch Certified hardware.

I picked up an Audio 4 for £50 recently, and as I got my Scratch Upgrade free with the S4, that gets me a full Scratch setup pretty cheaply

If you do buy Pro and end up having to buy Scratch on top, you can always sell your Pro license on to a friend or someone.

 

We're not talking about DVS functionality, we're talking about the programming code in Traktor that allows you to use timecode as an option - as DVS functionality also requires costly hardware, as you mentioned.

Traktor Pro 2 costs €79
Traktor Scratch Pro 2 costs €99

Both of these are availble as standalone products without the hardware interface, and you get the exact same functionality other than timecode.

It's like buying Windows Home, you don't get advanced networking features because that's in a Pro version, which you can upgrade to for less than what it costs standalone.

Why is this not the case with traktor? Why can't I add the timecode option to my software without having to pay the standalone price for a product I already own 99% of?

It's not an upgrade kit, it's a full standalone version 99% identical to the version that costs €79.

I totally get that, ofcourse hardware costs more, but we're not talking about hardware. Again, I'm only talking about Traktor as a software.
It's like if I used Logic for making music, and wanted MIDI functionality, ofcourse I'd need MIDI hardware, but why should I pay one more time for the whole Logic package that's had MIDI when it's just a matter of opening/adding updates to the programming code.

My Point exactly, why even bother having Traktor Pro 2 as an option when the software itself is only €20 in difference.

Either some people are reading my posts wrong or I have a serious misunderstading of the Traktor product specifics. Trying to get my point across here is kinda like being in the twilight zone.

All I want is to upgrade my €79 product to the €99 product without having to pay the whole €99 on top of my nearly identical previous purchase.

 

Dude, NI is not a software company any more. It's not their primary objective to sell software!

You're constantly looking at software as a standalone thing - NI is selling solutions. You need to consider the full package NI is offering.

Any by that definition, Traktor Scratch Pro is NOT 99€.

I applaud NI for their new pricing strategy - both from a consumer and also from a business standpoint. They managed to build very affordable packages and at by that also fighting piracy. It's quite ingenious if you ask me.

 

NI is both a software and hardware company, and don't get me wrong, I absolutely love what they're doing, and I own several if their controllers which are awesome.

I'm looking at software as a standalone thing in this particular case because they are sold as standalone products, and I'm not here to bash NI in any way as I'm a huge fan of what they do. I'm just trying to figure out why nearly identical products are sold side-by-side and not as a cheaper upgrade option to eachother.

 

You cannot buy Traktor Scratch Pro 2 software as a standalone product. That's what everyone is telling you.

 

I think the point is that you can now buy a full separate Scratch Pro license, whereas before it was just an upgrade kit that required Pro to upgrade from.

 

No, you cannot buy it without NI hardware (or a Traktor certified mixer).

I totally get your problem - you feel a bit cheated because you paid a lot and don't have an upgrade path. Still, NIs pricing works differently