Skip to main content
  • Traktor Pro 3 Manual
  • Common Traktor Setups

Common Traktor Setups

Abstract

In this section you will find information about using Traktor with various hardware setups.

In this section you will find information about using Traktor with various hardware setups:

  • External audio interface

  • DJ mixer

  • DJ controller

  • Microphone

  • Integration of external audio sources

Using Traktor with an External Mixer

This section describes how to use Traktor with an external mixer. At first you are provided with the overview of the required hardware. As of an example, this is the required hardware to control two Traktor Decks. Then you learn how to connect the hardware, and how to configure Traktor accordingly.

Required Hardware

To control two Traktor Decks, you need the following hardware:

  • An audio interface with two output pairs

  • A mixer with two input pairs

  • USB cable

  • Two stereo RCA cables

If you want to control three or four Traktor Decks, you need an audio interface with the according amount of outputs, and a mixer with the according amount of inputs.

Connecting the Hardware

Connect the hardware like the following:

  1. Connect the audio interface to your computer with the supplied USB cable.

  2. Connect the outputs of your audio interface to the respective inputs of your external mixer using RCA cables.

Configuring Traktor

To let Traktor use the connected audio interface, you need to select and configure the audio interface in the Preferences:

  1. Start Traktor on your computer.

  2. Open the Preferences.

  3. Select the Audio Setup page.

  4. Select your external audio interface from the Audio Device drop-down menu.

  5. Open the Output Routing page.

  6. Select External under Mixing Mode.

  7. Select an output pair for every Deck.

  8. Close the Preferences.

    Traktor is configured to be used with the connected audio interface and the external mixer.

You can now control all mixer related functions with your external mixer. To control other Traktor’s features from external you need a MIDI controller. For more information, refer to Using Traktor with an Add-On Controller.

You can configure the External Mixing mode on the Mixer page in the Preferences. This way you can use the functions of Traktor's internal mixer before the audio signals are send to the audio interface. For more information, refer to Preferences – Mixer Page.

Using Traktor with an Add-On Controller

MIDI controllers without mixer controls serve as additions to an existing Traktor setup. For example, this can be a Traktor setup consisting of an audio interface and an external mixer. When you add a MIDI controller to this setup, you can control more of  Traktor's advanced features, like the FX Units or transport controls.

To add your MIDI controller to your Traktor setup:

  1. Connect your controller to your computer with the supplied USB cable.

  2. Start Traktor on your computer.

  3. Open the Preferences.

  4. Select the Controller Manager page.

  5. Under Device Setup click Add.... 

  6. Navigate through the drop-down menu to select your MIDI controller.

    The controller is added to your Traktor setup.

  7. Move a fader or knob on the MIDI controller and observe the MIDI indicator in Traktor'S header.

    Whenever you move anything on the MIDI controller, the MIDI indicator should show activity.

Integrating a Microphone to Your Traktor Setup

Traktor allows you to integrate a microphone to your Traktor setup. This can either be connected to the microphone input of your computer or the microphone input on your external audio interface. This section introduces the several steps of connecting the microphone and configuration in Traktor.

Connecting the Microphone to your Audio Interface

  • Connect your microphone to the microphone input of your computer or the audio interface.

Configuring the Microphone Input Channel

You can now route the microphone signal from the audio interface to any input channel in the Preferences.

  1. In Traktor open the Preferences.

  2. Select the Input Routing page.

  3. Select the channel from the drop-down menu to which you connected the microphone, for example, Input Aux or Input FX Send (Ext).

    Tip

    If you want to apply effects to the microphone signal, you can also select the microphone channel from the drop-down menu of an unused Deck, for example, Input Deck D. Then you need to set the Deck Type to Live Input.

  4. If your audio interface provides a gain control, adjust the input gain of your microphone input channel. Monitor the gain setting with the level meters right to the drop-down selection menus.

  5. Close the Preferences.

    The microphone is configured.

Mixing the Microphone Signal using the Auxiliary Control

If the input channel for the microphone is configured for the Input Aux channel, you can mix the microphone signal into your mix by the following action:

  1. Switch the Traktor Layout to Mixer to display the Aux control.

  2. Turn the AUX control to the desired level.

Routing the Microphone Signal into the LOOP RECORDER

If you want the LOOP RECORDER to record Samples from the microphone:

  1. In the Global section open the LOOP RECORDER.

  2. Select EXT or AUX from the SOURCE drop-down menu.

    You can now record Loops from the microphone signal.