Traktor s2
#TRAKTOR S2 FULL#
#TRAKTOR S2 PRO#
#TRAKTOR S2 SOFTWARE#
#TRAKTOR S2 SOFTWARE#
Needless to say, the software integration here is tight, making it feel more like an integrated device, rather than a disparate software/hardware 'best effort' like it can with some generic controllers. As such, you're really shelling out for a complete DJ system, rather than an input device, and it is worth accounting for that when you weigh up the over all price.
#TRAKTOR S2 PRO#
Of course, the Kontrol S2 can be used as a general MIDI controller, but it's fair to say it fully shines when used with Traktor Pro 2, a copy of which is included in the price whether you run a Mac or PC. The S2 is much more bag-friendly, a welcome development for some no doubt, as the S4 isn't friends with your average rucksack, no problem for junior however. Most likely this is what will sell it to you if you're not switched off by the lower knob count. The biggest boon to the user is the overall size. The front is almost untouched, bar the mic volume control being swapped out for an mic 'engage' button. Spin the device around, and there are some key differences around the back, such as no audio or MIDI inputs like before, but you do get a switchable gain control for booth and main, which is new to the S2. You can achieve the same functionality via shift+gain, but only for the main track decks, and it's a bit of a cludge as the rotary is incremental, making smooth fades more tricky. Perhaps most disappointing is the demise of the filter knob on the mixer strips - such a small, but valued component. Other space has been claimed back by ditching the loop recorder section altogether, and the loop section has been tightened by removing the LED display along with two of the FX control bays. The mixer and pitch faders are the same length as before so no compromise has been made here, and the vinyl effect jog wheels are also identical in both size and response. Knob twiddlers will be pleased to know that all the input controls are also pretty much exactly as before in terms of weight, stiffness and response. It's where the S2 differs in terms of hardware that is more likely of more interest to potential buyers, and there are a few key distinctions between the two models that may swing your decision. Of course the smaller form naturally comes with some trade-offs, and we'll be going over exactly what those are in more detail later, but for now it's less of the same – if you get what we mean. The good news is that the level of build you've come to know and expect from Native Instruments is very much still present, which is great as we rated it highly last time around. The unit itself will look very familiar to anyone who has ever laid eyes on the Kontrol S4, as the S2 is almost identical in design just with a smaller footprint. How, then, will its latest addition to the family – the Kontrol S2 – hold up against its established elder siblings, along with an increasingly crowded pool of competing models? Is this an evolutionary refinement of its bigger brother – the S4 – or a stripped-down, slightly more economical ($669) controller for those looking to dip a toe into the whole DJ thing? Let's get under the hood and find out. Native Instruments already has offerings in this area in the form of the Kontrol X1 and Kontrol S4, both of which have been hugely popular.
#TRAKTOR S2 FULL#
Controllers in particular are responsible for bringing the craft closer to the masses: they're bedroom-friendly, full of gadgetry and they bring the time honored two-decks-and-a-mixer set up into the 21st century. One thing's for sure, and that is that technology is changing the craft of mixing as we know it. In the world of DJ'ing there are few certainties, be it the music you play, where you play it, or what you play it on. Moldover's limited edition Mojo MIDI controller for serious musicians with seriously deep pockets (video)
