Should I buy n S4 now!...Are things solid?

Ok guys,

Been using a heavily Modified Vci100 for about 2 odd years, Ive had my eye on an S4 since launch, but after hearing about the PSU issue, Beta Drivers, Wonky Jogs etc.......

Are these problems in the main rectified?.......

Is there a S4 Model number (serial) that I should be looking at getting, as in above a certain manufacturing date/Serial, as to avoid teh early problems many users faced.

Whats teh pitfalls nowadays concernng the S4. What should I still be concerned about before putrchasing, I own the Full Traktor Pro, and I think I also have Traktor Scratch.......would I have to buy the Scratch Pro upgrade to use TCV with the S4?.

I have the Cables, & Timecode Vinyl etc...so WOuld it be good to go, using the S4 via timecode. (I also have an Audio 8 ....

If any of you pro's out there can enlighten me as to the current "status" of the S4, (are teh drivers more solid now etc)....... and answer any of my questions that would be top notch of you!.

 

i owned the very first batch of the S4 (i pre-ordered 2 -3 weeks before it was even released way back) for about a year and it worked perfectly - no issues whatsover

the only reason i sold it off was so that i could buy the smaller S2 which is easier to transport for me - no issues with the build qualities at all

i dont think you should be worried

 

I'll +1 what ZILCH says and trump it a little (if i may).

I have used the S4 3 or 4 nights a week, from 6 months before the S4 even hit the market and have not had one single crash or issue, ever.

I know some people have (before i get ranted at) but i have not had a problem. I carried mine in a cardboard box for 6 months. Dropped it out of taxis, thrown it in my car and its perfect. I now have the flight case which only serves to make me treat it even more roughly.

I have used my S4 at gigs from 300 people to 5,000 people. I've taken it to festivals and dropped it (in its case) in the mud. I've left it overnight in a cold van for 3 nights.

It is probably the most well used S4 in the world (no exaggeration).

AFAIK (and i do know) there are no differences between the first run or any run of the S4.

I also came from using a VCI100 and had the same fears about build quality because the VCI100 is by far one of the the best built controllers ever.

Buy with confidence.

 

we go back a long time karlos (DJTT at the beginning & also here quite a few years ago! lol) .....so Ill take it as a yes..I know user error is "normal" for "DJ Donut" ....

But I think I knwo what Im doing ! (he says with a wry grin).....so hope to avoid the pitfalls of getting a silky system...(Im opting for a HP DV6 (i5/6gb/ dedicated ATI card.....(I think thats cool .....Ill rip all teh HP bloatware, install win 7 and hopefully should be good to go.........I mentioned in another thread Karlos.........

DO ANY people here vouch for the fact of getting an S4 thru budget airline Hand baggage?....has anyone actually stuck their chosen softcase ..as I know a bloody Hardcase wont fit) into the metal frame "Baggage size Checker) and HAD SUCCESS?.. in Europe/Ryanair etc......surely somebody has tried to get on a flight here in Europe with an S4 on handluggage.......(Still stumped as to why this wasnt made a priority at DEV SPEC stage, but there you go) ...

Im buying one this week ....so thanks, for any input...but If the Hand luggage is an issue..Ill get an S2!

 

i just bought an s4 about 3 months ago and i love it. stiff sturdy knobs/faders. and works flawlessly with traktors mapping. only thing that bugs me was that i have to disable my wifi or i get interference.

 

The thing is built alright. For the most part you can see people don't have any issues. A small few have had issues with the left tempo fader and also the fx assign buttons not working very well ( actually one of mine is a little quirky). Besides that, I really havent heard of anyone breaking an S4 or wearing one out....other than people that have had drinks spill on it, but can you really expect it to survive a lot of that?

From it's release and still till this day, it's biggest issue is it's lack of compatibility with Windows operating machines.

 

esp when you have WIFI enabled! lol

 

I bought my S4 not long after it came out. I remember the feel of those jogs the first time, sent a shiver down my spine. I was one of the unlucky few to run into problems with the headphone jack.. I sent it in for repairs a few weeks ago.. The flight case sits empty beside my bed, where I always kept it...

I miss that thing every day now. I feel empty inside. I keep thinking: soon we'll be back together. I just want to touch those vinyl top plates again, and know that we can do anything together. I long to flick those tight channel faders up, and feel us become one. I tremble for that moment just before I would press PLAY for the first time.

One day soon we'll be together again. I'll stay up all night listening to her sing; making me feel the way nothing else can. I'll look into her bright blue channel meters, shimmering in the night, and all my worries will just fade away.

 

HAHAHA. Now there's an S4 lover if ever I saw one.

Just for the record my S4 still works perfectly after a year of weekly (and sometimes more) gigs.

 

Well I must be one of the unlucky ones as my S4 left tempo is stuffed and the fx assign buttons dont work too well - maybe I got a dud model but who knows. I reckon you should be ok with a new S4 - everyone else seems to rate theirs highly - I'm not so sure though...

 

Better love story than twilight lol

 

I had an S4 which I just sold, worked solidly for me but I personally thought the casing had a bit too much shiny plastic which just isn't durable if you're carting it around all the time, I also found the jog wheels were too small. My advice is to stick with Vestax and go for the VCI-400 as it is built better all round, the jog wheels are the best, the functionality is almost identical to the S4 and it's also cheaper.

 

Had mine since the very start and not had any probs. My only niggle is the VU meters are ****. If you work round that then its an ace bit of kit.

Rob

 

S2 vs S4

I am new dj and have an S2 for the last 3 months, and its great but I am thinking about upgrading to an S4. Is it feasible to do so..I can do a lot with the S2 but feel like I can do more the S4 since everything is laid out for you and I don't have to constantly press the shift buttons for everything. I have read both reviews. Portability is not an issue per se, as I am using it just for learning and not getting gigs yet as I want to practice a lot more at home in the meantime and just don't know...your opinions and thoughts are greatly appreciated by anyone.

 

I have the S4 and have owned it for a little under a year. Prior to purchasing, I was still an all vinyl kind of guy and was scared to join the "dark side" that is digital djing. I haven't looked back since.

It's easily the best DJ controller on the market. The low-cost upgrade to scratch is an added bonus if you want the accessibility of digital music with the "touch" of vinyl.

I've never had any issues, crashes, etc. I've found that any problem I've encountered was quickly solved by simply reading the included manual...an underrated problem solving technique that could solve about 75% of the unfounded complaints on this forum, but I digress.

To sum up, if you have a decent computer, by the S4/S2, practice with it, and most importantly read the included manual.

Cheers.