Name: TRAKTOR KONTROL S4. Dimensions: 32x5x50 cm, numbers that have revolutionized the world of midi controllers, thanks to Native Instruments. I have already spoken, in other interventions, of this German house with almost twenty years of experience, known for the continuous development of innovative products - see Maschine, Traktor X1… - and in continuous symbiosis with the needs of the professionals. This time they made it big ...
First impression
The package is presented in a classic way, with a blow-up of the controller (Fig 1). In the package, in addition to the well-protected controller, we find a power supply, a USB cable for connection to the PC / Mac, the DVD with the software, Traktor Pro S4, Controller editor and the drivers for the Traktor Kontrol S4, Traktor Kontrol X1 and DJ audio peripherals 2/4/8. The color manual is in four languages (no Italian, as usual) and allows a quick setup. In addition, the gentlemen of Berlin have thought of letting us also find in the box a small diagram with the keyboard shortcuts, a poster with the specifications of the controller and some nice Traktor stickers.
The weight of the controller is 3 kg and, as per the premise, it measures 32 cm in height by 50 cm in width and 5 cm in thickness (about 6,50 cm, if we also consider jogwheels and knobs). Like the previous Native Instruments production controllers, the Traktor S4 is also well structured: everything is in its place, the controls are close and compact, but their position is easily memorized in a moment. The design is always the strong point of the German house: the central part - which represents the controller mixer - is a mirror polished surface, while the left and right decks are covered by a matt aluminum surface. The material of which the controller is made is, on the whole, rigid plastic, while the faders, keys and knobs are, as always, of excellent workmanship (Fig 2).
The Controller
The Traktor Kontrol S4 is a latest generation all-in-one midi controller, generous in size, but compact in relation to the enormous potential it possesses. I'll start talking about it by introducing the controller from the large rear panel (Fig.3).
Rear panel
Next to the NI logo we immediately find the predisposition for the Kensington® Lock, that is a small hole to which we can connect a patented padlock to protect the controller from malicious people. Immediately below we find a screw that we will use for an eventual ground connection (Fig 4).
The rear panel has a neat and very clear appearance, divided into sections. In MAIN OUT we find an unbalanced 1/2 RCA output and a balanced one on 1/2 TRS Jack, of course 6,3 mm, to be used to connect the controller to an amplification system - or even to active monitors (Fig.5).
Like all NI controllers (X1, Maschine, Kore,) also the S4 communicates directly with the respective NI software using a proprietary protocol with a resolution of 512 steps against the 128 steps of all the other controllers that interface with the Traktor, it has an integrated sound card of excellent level, with Cirrus Logic ® AD / DA converters with very high frequency response and 24-bit / 96Khz audio resolution. INPUT CHANNEL D it has a 4/3 RCA input: in this panel we find a LINE / PHONO switch, like a real mixer, for routing a CD player or turntable; with the THRU / USB switch, on the other hand, we decide either to output the audio of the peripheral connected directly from the Master, without being able to act on other parameters (with THRU), or to pass the audio through the Traktor, thus also checking the volumes, fades, filters and using Traktor effects on that track (with USB). The input is adjustable via a Gain. In the same section there is also a MIC microphone input with 6,3 mm Jack, flanked by a gain for the adjustment and possible amplification of the microphone (Fig 6).
In ' INPUT CHANNEL C there is an RCA input with the identical switching LINE / PHONO switch (Fig 7).
FOOTSWITCH / MIDI IN and OUT - In this section it is possible to connect a configurable pedal board, as well as a midi input and output to synchronize and connect external equipment, synthesizers, drum machines and (why not?) The MASCHINE itself, by Native Instruments (Fig.8).
In the POWER we find the key for turning on the unit, the possibility of connecting the supplied power supply and the USB port for connection to the PC / Mac (Fig.9). I tried to eliminate the power supply during the test: the Traktor Kontrol S4 continued to work with only the power supply of the USB port, but it greatly reduced the brightness of the LEDs, also affecting the performance of the sound card (which obviously does not full speed).
Front Panel
The front panel (Fig.10), as well as having the Traktor logo on display, has an entrance PHONES headphones with 6,3 mm jack, robust and reinforced with a washer to meet the needs of DJs who - using their personal headphones and alternating with the console - “stress” the headphone input.
Right next to it, CUE MIX / CUE VOL /MIC VOL manage headphone volume control. The rotors are retractable and you have to press to make them come out, and then adjust the desired volume (Fig.11).
Jog Wheels / Decks
As already mentioned above, the console control section is well defined. The section JOG WHEEL has a rubberized Jog on the sides, with an external diameter of 12 mm: the top occupies an internal diameter of 9 mm, it is made of shiny material with the Traktor logo in the center in white (Fig.12). In reality, the top is nothing more than a microswitch which, when touched, emulates Vinyl touch. The deck keys C/D they switch the deck from A to C and from B to D, the button remains illuminated to the touch (to indicate the alternative deck in use), the load button instead loads the track directly from the browser on the selected deck.
FX1 / FX2
On the top of the Jog Whell we find the effects section FX1/FX2, consisting of 4 DRY / WET knobs for the amount of effect to be given (Fig.13). At this point we must devote our attention to the MODE button, which makes us switch from Chain mode to Advanced mode. With the mode Chain we have the chained effects and we can adjust the dry / wet percentage, as well as activate or deactivate the individual effects with the illuminated keys corresponding to knobs 1/2/3. Furthermore, by holding down the SHIFT key and pressing the latter, it is possible to change the single effect and then quickly reconfigure the effect chain on the corresponding deck. In mode Advanced, instead, it is possible to use one effect at a time, but on the other hand you can also access other advanced functions, linked to the selected effect: we will therefore use the knobs to act on other parameters, even here by holding down the SHIFT key and the DRY / WET match, quickly selecting the desired effect.
Display
At the bottom of the Jog whell we find the DISPLAY, very clear, backlit and in color (Fig.14). The information indicated is few, but essential: ON AIR lit indicates that the fader in the deck is raised and therefore the volume of the channel is active; SAMPLES tells us that the samples section of deck C / D is active or that the sample deck has been loaded; the blue / white word DECK indicates which deck we are working on; the illuminated amber writing KEYLOCK and MASTER indicate the function in use on the corresponding deck. Towards the end we find a two-digit LED display that indicates the value - and therefore the size - of the automatic loop 1/2/4/8/16/32. If the loop value is brought below 1 (hence -½ - ¼ and so on), the display adds an asterisk or dot to the top right of the number.
Loop section
The section LOOP consists of two encoders and two IN and OUT buttons (Fig.15): with the latter we manually choose our portion of the loop, indicating the start and end point; with the left encoder, by simply rotating it, we move the loop portion, while pressing it activates or deactivates the portion. Rotating the right encoder scrolls the number of beats of the loop, pressing it activates or deactivates the loop. By activating the BROWSE section, in the center of the mixer, the two encoders acquire another function. With the left rotor you select the folders in the library and by pressing it you access the selected folder, while with the right rotor you can browse through the ready-made playlists.
Samples section
The section SAMPLES è composed of four backlit keys that indicate the respective four samples loaded on the sample deck within the Traktor Pro S4 software (Fig.16). Also visually, on the controller, thanks to the backlight, it is very easy to understand which key is engaged by the sample. To remove or replace the sample just hold down the SHIFT key and the relevant key.
Trasport and Cue
It is made up of 8 keys, 4 of which are numbered, these are also backlit. The blue backlit 1/2/3/4 keys can be associated with HOTCUEs, a function that can be canceled and reassigned by holding down the SHIFT key. The remaining 4 keys SHIFT / SYNC / CUE / PLAY perform functions already known: the key SHIFT, combined with the SYNC key, activates the MASTER TEMPO function; with the CUE key you return the track to the beginning; the PLAY key activates or deactivates the KEYLOCK (Fig.17).
Time
For speed control, as in all self-respecting controllers, we have a slide corresponding to each deck TIME very accurate, which increases or decreases the percentage of time (Fig 18). At the top we find theOFFSET, two amber-colored illuminated frets (Fig.18a) which have the innovative function of adjusting and avoiding pitch changes between the various decks, for example when we use 4. In fact, if the master tempo is not active, the pitch percentage between the software fader and the real hardware fader could be different, because physically in another position! At this point, the key will light up which will indicate a higher or lower speed on that deck. Keeping it pressed, both buttons will light up more intensely, to indicate the total deactivation of the time fader.
Gain & FX 1/2
The central part of the controller consists of 4 encoders and 1 knob: i GAIN they are encoders that are located in correspondence of each channel (the fact that they are encoders, and therefore continuously rotating, and not knobs is very positive: in fact it is possible to control the dB of the tracks with great precision and without sudden changes in volume ). Under each GAIN we find the keys FX 1/2, which are used to assign the effect preset to each channel and then activate them. With the same buttons you access a very interesting mode that makes this controller even more complete (Fig.19): by holding down the SHIFT button we can reverse the opening and closing of the channel on the cross-fader, independently on each of the four channels.
Main Level
In the center we find the MAIN LEVEL, knob that adjusts the master volume, and a Vu-meter led that indicates the level on the left and right channels.
Mixer
The rest of the mixer is divided into 4 channels, each with the ability to cut low, medium and high frequencies using the rubberized knobs, plus there is the addition of a controller FILTERS. On each channel there is a small button CUE for headphone pre-listening (Fig.20).
Each fader is flanked by a 7-led Vu-meter that indicates the level of the single deck (Fig.21). At the foot of the faders are bright arrows that indicate which direction on the cross-fader the channel is assigned (Fig.22). The cross-fader is very smooth and of excellent quality, also good for scratching. Going up the center of the mixer we find an encoder at the top BROWSE: with this rotor we can scroll through the files in the folders and, by pressing it, it is possible to preview the selected track (Fig.23).
At the center of the mixer we find 3 important light indicators (Fig.24):
- a TRIANGLE with an exclamation point that signals a possible controller / software communication problem, or alerts us to a sudden CPU overload;
- the classic USB symbol, which indicates the controller correctly connected to the laptop;
- the HEADPHONE symbol, which warns that the pre-listening of a track from the Browser is active.
Immediately below we find three amber buttons: SNAP / MASTER / QUANT. By activating the key SNAP, the launched loop will synchronize with the beat grid; MASTER alternates the master clock master deck mode of the controller; finally QUANT quantizes the samples loaded into the deck with the track's BPM.
Loop recorder
Il LOOP RECORDER (Fig.25) is the real novelty of the Native Instruments controller. In fact, we can record a loop from a deck, external source or microphone. The loop recorder section consists of 4 frets REC / PLAY / SIZE / UNDO and a DRY / WET knob. By pressing the key REC recording will start and can be immediately re-proposed on the master by pressing the button PLAY. With the key SIZE we decide the size of the loop and, if the recording is not to our liking, just press the button UNDO to cancel the take. Above the four frets is the volume control to make our recorded loop more or less present on the master. Last but not least, the small button in the center of the BROWSE mixer, identifiable by a magnifying glass that opens our song library full screen for a faster selection and management of files, always without touching the mouse.
Extra
In addition it must be said that the knobs of the master volume and headphones on the controller are potentiometers that control the analog signal from the output of the converters and do not affect the setting of the "software" volumes of the Traktor S4 and it is also possible to assign the microphone / line signal directly to a DECK so you can use eq / filter / fx / sampling as you normally do with a virtual DECK. By default the microphone signal is set to add to the master output without giving up any DECK (but obviously it is not possible to effect it and use the filters).
Proof
Before using the Traktor S4, I recommend that you immediately update the drivers and software to the latest version via the Native Instruments Service Center. After connecting it, the first thing we recommend is to calibrate it ...(Fig.26)
The Traktor Kontrol S4 was tested on two different laptops, with different processors and features. The first laptop with Intel Centrino Duo T2500 2,0 Ghz processor, 2 Gb of ram and Microsoft Windows 7 operating system, with which there was no problem, both during installation and use. The software used for the test Traktor PRO S4 ver. 1.0.1 ( Fig 27) behaved very well in perfect fusion with the controller, there was no latency or delays of any kind, I tried to scratch putting a strain on faders and jog wheels and I was more than satisfied with the performance.
Even using the various track effects, CPU performance remained average, there was rarely a slight audio crackle due to an unexpected increase in CPU usage. The software is an improved version of the Traktor, as it is perfectly adapted for this controller with the addition of the decks for the samples. The situation clearly improves with an Intel Core 2 duo 2Ghz processor, 2 Gb of ram and Mac OS X operating system: even here I have not encountered any problems, drivers and software are installed without any problem and the entire Traktor Kontrol S4 system integrates perfectly also with this other SO Obviously, it is also fully compatible with the new Traktor PRO 2 version. In this regard, the version I used for the test cannot be synchronized with vinyls, but from 2011st April 4 Native Instruments gives to all owners of the Kontrol S2 upgrade to Traktor Pro129, while with 4 € you can buy the upgrade that allows the SXNUMX to operate in vinyl / cd Timecode mode.
Considerations
The impression I received during these weeks of massive use of the Kontrol S4 is more than positive. It is not just a console, but a creative tool. The appearance of the mixer, with the faders and all those lights initially can fool the mind, making you think you are facing yet another toy controller. The jog wheels - compared to other competing controllers - are much heavier, but on the other hand - in my opinion - much more precise and resistant. The material used to assemble this controller, in practice, is of the same quality as the other X1 and Maschine controllers, but my doubt always falls on the resistance of the faders and even more so of the cross fader subjected to continuous stress. The lack of a booth output forces in certain situations to connect the S4 to an external mixer to better control the overall volumes and maybe give a little more boost to the total output, although it must also be said that the sound card quality of this controller certainly looks superior to other competitors. In conclusion, the Traktor Kontrol S4 can currently be considered the most complete and innovative midi controller in circulation, considering that it is sold accompanied by software, studied in detail to make the most of its potential. Native Instruments, with its innovations, continues to push the DJs to be more and more musicians and masters of the console and less juke box. Everything has a price: and our controller, compared to other competing products of the same quality, has a good quality-price ratio.
Until next time ... .. Paolo Dj Fresella Colacicco
PRO:
Innovative
All-in-one, integrated sound card
Aesthetically beautiful
Easy to install
Good workmanship
Also great for scratching
AGAINST
Price still "a little" high
Size not really friendly
Improved fader and cross-fader
A booth exit is missing
USEFUL INFORMATION:
Producer: Native instruments
Model: Controller S4
Website: www.native-instruments.com
Distributor: www.midimusic.it
Price: 890 + VAT
Scratch update kit price: 129 + VAT
Next,
DJ Fresella
Name: TRAKTOR KONTROL S4. Dimensions: 32x5x50 cm, numbers that revolutionized the midi controller world, thanks to Native Instruments. I've already talked, in other articles, about this German house with almost twenty years of experience, known for constantly developing innovative products – such as Maschine, Traktor X1… – and representing a continuous symbiosis with expert's demands. This time, they really overcome themselves…
Work in progress
Until next time DJ Fresella.....
Italian to English translation: Humbert of the Judge
