![]() ![]() In some sense, you are right, the S4 Mk3 seems a bit overkill, and the S3 seems somewhat "Basic". I am not a turntablist, but I do know how to use a crossfader. The buzz that Traktor is dead never made any sense to me.Īs I try to build out a modern system, I am somewhat torn between an S3/S4 direction and a Xone PX5 / X1 Mk2 combo. But I am not a gigging and early adopter anymore. It always seemed complete and robust enough for me. I have been collecting digital files for a few years, but I still don't have the equipment to play them! I have played with Traktor on an iPad and trialed the full version on my PC. I DO have a Vinyl background in House, Italo and original Techno dating back to 86. I was going to ask the question across similar lines (You know how these questions keep us up all night.) However, the S4 mk3 is overkill and for the price you are better off getting an Allen & Heath or Pioneer mixer that will retain its value better than an S4 will. Right now the S3 and X1 mk2 are the two Traktor controllers to get because they are both affordable and professional. So, yes Traktor is relevant as software but not very relevant as hardware. Only Numark has a comparable controller out now (arguably Pioneer FLX6 competes but it doesn't have XLR or 1/4 output) and it costs more but NI is so irrelevant right now in the USA you have to buy the S3 direct from NI through their website because no retailers carry it. I traded mine to a friend who is a producer using the full Komplete package and he is stoked. Many DJS find beat synced effects too complicated.Ĥ channel faders, XLR master and 1/4 booth outputs for $550 is a the best bang for you buck for a controller. Many (most?) DJs now don't have a vinyl background so phono inputs aren't important. The form factor being essentially the same as the S4 so it fits in the NI official flight case makes it pretty hard for a trainspotter to tell if you have the S3 or S4.Īfter using the S3 for over a year I can say it has all the features DJs use/need even if it isn't a 'do everything' controller like the S4 mk3. The Traktor S3 is a pretty great controller for the price. My Xone 23C and X1 mk II setup is still something I'd recommend to DJs of all levels due to the sound quality and features for the price. Traktor DJs who don't focus on a jog wheel mostly prefer a modular setup with a Xone or a DJM rather than a controller. However the cross fader isn't an InnoFader or comparable so they still aren't convinced. Yes, the mk3 S4 has motorized haptic jog wheels that clearly try to win back hip hop DJs. Traktor still hasn't recovered from this yet because of how many DJs so strongly attach to the culture. Many DJs identify with hip hop on a deep cultural level so not including jog wheels feels like personal disrespect and is the point of a DJ saying 'Traktor is for techno". ![]() Hip Hop DJs who aren't producers or production-curious basically stopped considering NI hardware because what kind of controller they want focuses on the quality of the jog wheels and the cross fader even if the sound quality of NI gear is good. The financial struggles NI experienced since 2014 are primarily due to the losses from Traktor post 2014 caused by the S8, D2 and S5 while Komplete and Maschine continued to be the profit generators for their business. Traktor lost relevance as DJ hardware to hip hop DJs when they released the S8 in 2014 without jog wheels. I understand why those features might cause a DJ to choose an alternative to Traktor but I don't think they make Traktor irrelevant as DJ software. Does the library management of Traktor organize your tracks, samples and files for you? No. Is the harmonic mixing as powerful as Serato? No, tone play with Serato and other software is more powerful. The move of Serato and Recordbox to subscription models while Traktor continues to sell the full license at a reasonable price also keeps the software relevant. Traktor is relevant as DJ software because the way beat grids work is fundamentally different from Serato. I disagree with the general sentiment of responses thus far because you need to distinguish between hardware and software. ![]()
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