Traktor S4 - got questions? we might just have answers..

Hey Karlos, thanks for the fast response.

I think it would be a very good setup cause you could use more hotcues and stuff with the Maschine. It would be great for me, if i get the Kontrol S4, to control Decks A and B with it and the samples and hotcues with the Maschine. Still i dont know what should i go on with though, like a Kontrol S4+the Maschine(already owned) or an Audio 8 DJ+ 2 X1s+Xone 42+Maschine(maybe in the future u wil be able to control the samples and the loop recorder with it on TSP) I would really like to hear your thoughts guys. Also i hear that the S4 would be really difficult to use in many clubs cause of its size and all but thats really not a problem if you get a mobile stand like the Crane or the Stanton one.

 

No doubting that a Kontrol S4 and a Maschine would be a powerful combo.
The other setup you mention is also a killer setup.
It will be really easy controlling Traktor Pro and the Sampler feature (when the are eventually rolled out to Traktor) with 2 X1s.
That would be a more modular setup that you could use with or without both X1s or the mixer depending on the night.

What id say about the Kontrol S4 is that it is only 4 inches longer that the VCI 100 and i have no issues using the VCI in any booth. Im not convinced that a Crane stand would be sturdy enough. I think there needs to be some out-of-the-box thinking regarding how people will use the KS4 in a booth.
Maybe on top of two blocks either side of a CDJ would be a good way to include it in the average booth.

 

I agree with you Karlos. One last thing i really cant understand is why some people saying that the S4 is a good setup just to begin with. I mean this thing looks like a solid piece with even more feautures than the existing setups on the market, so i personally think it will definetly be considered as an equipment for pros (since it ll support timecode control+connection with maschine and other midi controllers).

 

I think its a good setup for beginners as it includes:
Traktor Software/Controller/Audio Card

If you were to buy all those things separately it would easily cost half as much again, certainly at UK prices where i am from.

As for the quality, that is certainly not Entry Level. Beginners getting the S4 package will be starting with the highest quality setup from the off.

Pretty compelling.

Karlos

 

I tried it on my mac with soundflower though it starts crackling after 10 minutes. I don't get why NI is so stupid not to implement a Maschine deck setting in Traktor where you can load it in so you don't have all the problems with midi sync or the need for another laptop and soundcard. It's been a long time since they said the integration would be better but it still sucks hard.

 

+1 Maybe it is still a "bridge" to far?

 

I know! Can't wait for the day that these two NI gems play nice together...

 

For now I can only hope that when the sample decks come into Traktor Pro we have the option to route the sound output of those over Deck A & Deck B so we can get rid of the cable-plugging-disaster for 4 channels in the club when someone else is playing before you. Probably won't happen as well..

 

No, the sample decks route automatically to decks C and D when they are visible.
---

Words of Friedemann Becker, Senior Product Designer of Native Instruments DJ Division for Future Music magazine:

Not sure if that actually means no. :S

 

That makes a lot of sense. Also, Karlos' statement about looking forward to use only the S4 on it's own is definitely wise. S4 in the hands of an adept would be an ultimate stand-alone DJ tool.

On the other side, NI's guy statement is a perfect excuse for the limited integration - it most likely IS true, but it's still a limitation.

I'm considering to replace my current gear with an S4 + Maschine only. I'm afraid that this may leave me with no analogue mixer to properly & conveniently add Maschine (as a grove system) to Traktor S4 internal mixing mode.

I still hope that someone on this forum could advice if S4+Maschine only type of setup is reasonable or I need to add mixer & additional audio interface to have the Maschine properly routed. I'm willing to accept certain shortcomings, but need to be able to Cue/Monitor before bringing the Mashine's output live to the mix.

 

+1 That is the beauty of the Maschine/Traktor combo. But we need stable midiclock. It is workable but I would like to get rid of the jitter.

 

This Microphone input, does it go to the master out of the mixer or is one of the decks used for the input like when your using the mic input on the audio 8 box? Also, is there any way to control the EQ of the Microphone once it's plugged in? or we are stuck with the EQ flat? Just a question I wanted to know. This way I can leave my whole mobile setup at home and use this thing. Sometimes I work with an MC and they are always bothering me about adjusting their EQ on the voice. Thanks Admins.

 

That's a good question. To kind of extend on that, I'd like to know if all of the audio is basically routed through the host computer/software or if some/anything will keep working if it's not connected and/or if the software is not running. In my normal mobile DJ setup, I envision using a small sub mixer anyways (I need more than one mic input) but I'd still like to know.

 

Well the only way I can see the Microphone still working while the USB is unplugged from the mixer is to have AC power hooked up. I owned a Allen & Heath Xone 4D and the Microphone still worked with the USB unplugged, but it had AC power. That's the only way it will keep on working through the mixer of the Kontrol S4.

 

the 4D is a true mixer though, while the S4 is just a controller/interface. Unless it's got an offline "through" mode I doubt it will work

 

You're correct and that's essentially what I'm asking. I don't know that it makes much difference at this point since it seems that even simple things like the 1/4" output jacks can't be changed at this stage, but I figured I might as well ask since it's kind of topical at this point.

 

well there have been "controller/interface" devices in the past that can be run as basic standalone mixers, but none in the DJ market that I'm aware of (referring to the Tascam FW-1884 here)

so there's always a chance

 

Denon has a new 4 channel controller too, the DN-MC6000, that works also as standalone mixer, maybe is what you are looking for.

 

No, not really. I think that the integration of the S4 trumps most of the minor inconveniences that might be solved by other solutions. In other words, I'd rather run with a little sub mixer than to have a controller/mixer that's more or less a generic solution.

 

Yeah this is my plan also.
I need to run a Booth monitor and 1 or 2 mics so im looking at something like but not specifically this:
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/35685-mackie-802-vlz3.html

Foot print is very important. Has to be small enough to fit under the laptop stand and fit in my gig bag.

Suggestions welcome. There is a Behringer that is half the price and has similar features but i have always been warey of Berhinger. Its actually perfectly sized but i fear it may fall apart..?

Karlos