Real controller hardware with tons of knobs
Faderfox has long been respected for making boutique-quality MIDI controllers for DJing and Ableton Live performance. In collaboration with FADERFOX, Glanzmann Digital DJ Solutions has developed the new 4midiloop controller. It is the first controller which allows an entire and simultaneous control over four decks and four Effect-Slots in Traktor Pro. Equipped with the world’s best cross and linefader from Eclectic Breaks (Pro X Fade).
Here’s a quick preview, as well as a conversation with designer Mathias of Faderfox.
The controller attracts, not only by ergonomics and functionality but also with its revolutionary stylish light-aluminium body.
4midiloop is great new hardware for ambitious DJs, created to provide excitement and inspiration for many years to come.
Features, in a nutshell (see the full specs on their site):
- 47 potentiometers for effects, nine rubber encoders for browsing, seek/scratch, 152 LEDs, and 166 push buttons. (Damn.) Four faders, “pro” crossfader. See the layout in action.
- Ready-to use with Traktor Pro 1.2.4 and later on Mac and Windows.
- 3.6 kg, even with all that metal.
- USB class-compliant and bus-powered.
Further informations: www.4midiloop.com
Ready for the new Traktor
Native Instruments has announced Traktor Kontrol S4, a new integrated hardware/software package designed to be a state-of-the-art digital DJ system.
Traktor Kontrol S4 Features:
- Iintegrated 4-deck TRAKTOR controller and software.
- Plug & play – all you need to start mixing is your computer and MP3s.
- 4-channel mixer with ergonomic layout, 2 high-res jog wheels.
- 2 analog inputs with phono and mic preamps for hooking up turntables, CD players or external audio gear.
- TRAKTOR PRO S4 software – pro features, supreme usability; features 4-deck mixing and effects, plus all-new Sample Decks and a powerful Loop Recorder.
- 2 customizable FX units with 28 performance effects for adding your own trademark sound.
- Powerful MP3 management with iTunes® integration and iPod® compatibility.
- Built-in 24bit/96 kHz soundcard features pristine, award-winning audio quality.
- All components designed by the same team – precision German engineering.
- Includes 40 original loops and 10 full tracks from the world-famous Loopmasters Studio.
In the video demo above, DMC World Champ DJ Shiftee gives the Traktor Kontrol S4 DJ system a workout highlighting the new Sample Decks and Loop Recorder in four mini-routines:
- Live looping and editing, cue point juggling and jog wheel scratching on the Tetris melody, using dubstep Loopmaster loops.
- Using one-shots like speech samples and horn-stabs in the S4 Sample Decks to build a set.
- Triggering synced loops, grabbing them on-the-fly from Diplo’s remix of “Flashing Lights” and using the Sample Decks as an additional deck in Traktor.
- Using live audio playback from the S4 Loop Recorder like a live mix of sequencer automation.
According to Native Instruments, “Traktor Kontrol S4 represents a new level of software and hardware integration that makes DJing more versatile, more intuitive and more fun.”
Traktor Kontrol S4 is expected to be available this winter for $999 USD/899 EUR. The Traktor Kontrol Case will retail for for $189 USD/169 EUR.
Check out the demo and let me know what you think of Traktor Kontrol S4!
More details below.
Traktor Kontrol S4 Overview
This video offers Native Instrument’s official introduction to the Traktor Kontrol S4 system.
Traktor Kontrol S4 Software
The included TRAKTOR PRO S4 software offers the full feature set of TRAKTOR PRO, further expanded through new performance functions and an optimized user interface.
Two flexible Sample Decks can add up to eight simultaneous one-shot samples or beat-synced loops to the mix, opening up creative remixing and mash-up possibilities that go far beyond conventional DJing techniques.
The unique Loop Recorder also allows DJs to capture and overdub audio loops from the live mix, cue signal or an external input on the fly, and drop them back into the mix at any time.
Traktor Kontrol S4 Hardware
All relevant functions including looping, cueing, effects control and track browsing are immediately accessible on the Kontrol S4 hardware, with multi-color backlighting, LED status displays and comprehensive level metering designed to let you focus on performance rather than on the computer screen.
The dual touch-sensitive jog wheels on the KONTROL S4 hardware offer precise and responsive deck control, due to a new electromagnetic technology, complemented through Native Instruments’ high resolution NHL protocol, that provides superior performance over conventional MIDI. The integrated low-latency 24bit/96kHz audio interface is based on the AUDIO 4 DJ.
External time-code control via turntables and CD decks will be enabled through a future software upgrade. To accommodate touring DJs, a professional flightcase that doubles as an adjustable performance stand will also be available as an accessory for TRAKTOR KONTROL S4.
The versatility of the cue point and performance effect features in Traktor
In this official Native Instruments video, DMC champ DJ Shiftee performs an advanced turntablism tricknology routine, using the combination of Traktor Scratch Pro, the X1 controller and Maschine.
Shiftee creates a live dubstep remix of the Dead Prez track Hip Hop using Caspa’s Dub Warz, showcasing the versatility of the cue point and performance effect features in Traktor.
See the video below for an explanation of the techniques used in the routine.
Emulator is a multitouch MIDI controller
This video is a quick demo of Emulator – a multitouch MIDI controller for Windows – running on a DIY multi-touch screen called Töken and controlling Traktor Pro:
Emulator is a multitouch MIDI controller (for windows 7, oh ! yes NO IPAD), software where you have all what you need on same screen and combine the power of multitouch, the useful standard mouse and the native interface of software to be controlled all in one nice and useful GUI, first version 1.0 incluse layout 100% compatible with Traktor Pro internal mode, future upgrades include Traktor Internal mode and new layouts for Deckadance, Virtual Dj, Ableton and more.
This software runs under windows 7, 32bit/64bit; and works on tablet PCs with 12.1 inch screen (1280×800).
Use of acapella in Traktor
How to prepare Acapellas with BPMs and Beatgrids for use in Traktor Pro.
http://www.djtechtools.com/2010/07/22/prepping-acappellas-in-traktor/
Native Instruments is using a live appearance to tease new hardware
There are two jog wheels, so two “decks” in the sense of platters you can control physically at once. There indeed appear to be mix controls for up to four decks, which makes perfect sense for Traktor’s up-to-four-deck controls.
DJs have some choices when it comes to controller hardware for Traktor; NI themselves have pushed compatibility with a variety of hardware, NI will support MIDI, as that could open up fun applications well beyond just Traktor.
Synchronize multiple collections of Traktor PRO automatically
I really like how DJ Josef Prusa has been using SugarSync to synchronize Native Instruments’ Traktor Pro DJ software, so that he and his brother have their full music collection at the ready at gigs. (Naturally, this same technique means that if one of their MacBooks should die, bro to the rescue!) Not only does music get synced, but playlists, collections, MIDI mappings, and settings do, too. Now, you could use something like the ubiquitous free command line utility rsync to do the same thing, but SugarSync has the advantage of giving you cloud storage, too, so you have an additional backup and always-on access to your files.
What is synced?
- playlists
- collection
- midi mapping
- settings
- music
SugarSync
DATAMASKIN
