NI Kontrol S4

Thinking of buying an S4, but i keep hearing from people i shouldnt bother unless have a mac? My desktop is only vista, 2.2ghz w/ 1gb ram and it runs traktor no problem at all but couple of people saying if i buy the s4 i will have all kinds of problems (drop outs, crashes, etc) Is this really true? Will i have problems if i buy the s4? All advice is appreciated.

 

If you know how to tune Windows and make a dedicated partition, you'll be fine. If not, you run the risk that other installed apps will add latency to your system.

The easiest way to run Traktor with the S4 on Windows is to dedicate a partition to it.

-KLH

 

Dont really know computers that much so will prob go another way, the denon dn mc6000 or pio ddj-t1 both look good to me, maybe ill go with one of them instead. thanks mate

 

Bullsh*t!

I've got it running perfect on mij Vaio without tuning.

Most problems I see around here, are on Macs.

LOL

Do you get what you're saying? The Denon and Pio also need Traktor, so you it doesn't make any difference.

 

I run TP2 (and formerly TP) on a HP Pro laptop, in combination with the S4. No sound drops or crashes.
Go for 'basic' (clean) windows install (in my case Win 7), without the unnecessary Win-toys and bells. My laptop is only used for DJ-ing, no other software installed (only the necessary = more stability).
And my S4 runs smoothly in combination with my HP Pro (Win 7) laptop.
(the 'cleaner' you're operating system, the better, less chance of conflicting software, less chance of crashes and sound drops

Kristof

 

bramble i dont thnk u understand, use traktor already and have no problems at all, i want a controller to use with it, ive heard good things about the pio and denon but have been told if i buy an s4i will have problems runnng it on a pc because of driver issues or something. So im going to prob get the DDJ to control traktor as ive heard this will work straight out the box where as the s4 may not

 

Fine, it's your choice. Although the T1 can't compete with the S4, and it costs more.

 

Yes the pio cost more, your right, thats why i wanted an s4, but i cant afford an s4 AND a macbook and i want something that i can use out the box wth no problems. The one thing i like about the s4 is the ablity to use timecode, looks like a great bit of kit but like i sad i want something that will work straight out of the box. Thanks for your input lads

 

Please read my first post in this topic. It works straight out of the box.

Do you really believe that the T1 is 100% flawless?

Problems can occur in every piece of equipment and software. I think it's pretty stupid to base your choice on a "possible issue".

Do you know how many people don't have any problems.

Then again: it's your choice. I'm only telling you you're making the wrong one.

 

... but in each case the SOFTWARE stays the same (Traktor Pro). As such, if you have problems with one you'll have the SAME problems with the others. I suppose that the quality of drivers for each hardware may be different, but as the S4 is the "oldest" of the bunch, I'd reason that its drivers are the most optimized.

-KLH

 

He's right (in part), it's like a ****ing lottery, some PC users are trouble free but others even returned the product or are becoming crazy trying to make it work properly.

.......and you shoudn't reinstall your OS or disable half of your computer to make it work, guys. That never happened to me with other audio softwares.

He simply wants to DJ not having to learn programming in order to work Traktor.

 

Thanks mate. TBH would like the s4 but like you said some pc users are having problems and for some the s4 seems unusable, i dont wat to spend all that money and not be able to use it. Why exactly are there problems with pc's? s it a problem with the drivers? I already use the software and it runs fine but does that mean the s4 will run fine?

 

You don't need to do actions to make it work, but rather to make it work with low latency.

I'm sure that if you didn't install all the crap a "usual" PC user has, it'd work just fine at low latencies. Most PC users install a ton of crap because Windows supports a wide variety of hardware and software. Windows and NI are not to blame.

It's the "everything goes" nature of what Microsoft has allowed Windows to become. C vendors rush out laptops that don't have optimized drivers. Video card making companies also rush out drivers that don't play well with others... just the same as everyone else. The same thing happens to Mac users when chipsets change. It takes time.

If you want to be sure that a Windows laptop works, buy a used laptop that's been around more than a year (think Core2Duo). For those laptops, drivers have been tuned and everything "works." Unfortunately, no one wants to buy those because of the relentless drive for faster, cheaper, and "better" - so now i-Series CPUs are the hot thing.

Really? I ran into it running DAWs going back to Emagic Logic... and Cubase SX... and Propellerhead's Reason... and then Torq, ITCH, and now Traktor.

Running a low latency is a challenge for both MacOS and Windows. They can both do it - and do it well - but it just "doesn't happen" with a ton of software already installed.

-KLH

 

I can't stand seeing this type of thread over and over!:angry:

I know your probably worried that you may have a few issues if your not computer savvy like some of the users on this forum Hard_Core_DJ. I mean it's unbelievable the lengths some people have gone to get Traktor to run on their machines. Not just the latest version, but all versions. Don't be put off by other peoples bad experiences with a product you haven't even given a chance.

I have used Every version of Traktor since the first on various machines, from PC running Win XP, Vista to Mac running OSX Tiger and Snow Leopard.
You know what? I've never had any major problems that a little reading of the manual or a question on the forum couldn't solve.

Imho I think as long as your computer isn't full to bursting point with crap you don't really need or ever use, then you should be fine. I never really expect to just whip something out of the box and expect it to work with no setup or tweaking. In fact that tweaking will give you the more in depth experience with the product.

I say get an S4 and give it a go. If you don't you will never know.

It kicks all the others out the park!

 

+1

 

My HP EliteBook 8440p runs both versions of Traktor without a problem.

 

QFT. Well said, 1-TON.

Besides, the forum IS here for us to help each other... and (IMHO) the forum does so VERY well.

-KLH