Written By: Brad Cousins
We have to admit that it’s been a bit hectic with the gear announcements this week at DJ TechTools. The flurry of activity had everything to do with the BPM DJ show in the UK where a number of DJ equipment manufacturers were announcing or showing off new gear for the first time. Continue reading for my personal impressions on everything from Native Instruments’ Traktor Kontrol S4 controller, the Vestax VCI-100 MKII and a new Vestax controller called PAD-One.
Allen & Heath Xone:DB4
The Dog’s Bollocks? Yes.
Happily this was right inside the entrance to the show. Admittedly, I didn’t get hands on, but they were very happy to provide a guided tour of it at the stand. By now we’ve all seen the specs/read the website info, so I won’t drone on about that so soon after it’s already been posted. But the things that stood out for me on the unit were:
MIDI shift button: At a press of a button this humble mixer can be swapped from being an external mixing monster to a MIDI control surface that (I was informed) can be used with all DJ software on the market. It can control every aspect of, say, Traktor, including effects, and at any time can switched back to mixer mode. This can lead to some heavier effects chaining than what is already possible, but also makes it very open to being used in any kind of set-up whether it is internal or external, MIDI or DVS. I saw it in action alongside a Xone:1D and a Xone:2D and it works really well.
The effects within the mixer are spilt in groups, my favorite being the ‘Damage’ group, where you can find effects that will slice, dice and crush a track. Also the EQ knobs have a filter option on them as well.
The input matrix is another impressive feature on this beast, with inputs being able to come from USB, phono and line and changeable at the flick of a switch. This could actually have potential as a studio mixer too.
The one pictured is still a prototype but from the sounds of it the only differences will be aesthetic, and we should expect DJM-2000 money to own this bad boy. I’ll admit I couldn’t get anywhere near the Pioneer kit all day so can’t give any kind of comparison between the two mixers. But based on the amount of stuff packed into the box, I think this gives the DJM-2000 a run for its money.
Vestax VCI-100 MKII
Well, what can I say? Mixed responses on this at first.
Initial impressions make this a cross between a VCI-100 MKI and a Vestax Spin, but honestly though, after having a play with this, I am buying one. The jogs feel better and smoother compared to the MKI – the tension adjustment is also a fantastic little feature. The buttons felt less ‘clicky’ than on the current model and the layout is clean and intuitive.
It now has easier access to all four effects banks in Traktor Pro, and two are always controllable at the same time. The deck switching is easy to use – it switches the MIDI page for related controls. It would be nice if there were a bit more feedback on the unit than just a switch position, but mapping an LED or two would be easy enough.
The built-in sound card sounded OK through the supplied headphones – no real complaints from me on the sound. And it brings the handy benefit of freeing up a USB port on my laptop for another item I have my eye on …
For me, the whole unit just felt right. It works wonderfully alongside Traktor Pro in the same way the MKI did with Traktor DJ 3. I was originally worried about how it would suit my current work flow if I were to replace my MKI with it. But the more I think about it, the easier it will make that transition, especially alongside my Dicers for cue points and and a few other controls.
Denon DN-MC6000
This was our first look at Denon’s four deck mixer controller with a built in sound card.
Those of you that frequent the DJ TechTools forums and have been active in the “Traktor Kontrol S4 comparison”-style threads will probably be able to recall that I was all about getting this over the S4 if I had the money/inclination a while back. However, as much as this is a nice controller, with plenty of controls, when I played with this after the S4, it felt somehow cluttered in layout. OK, this isn’t directly designed to integrate with a bespoke piece of software, but the surface was just too busy for me. Also, I didn’t like the feel of the jog wheels too much. It is a good bit of kit for the cost, but I think that in a straight head-to-head the S4 just beats this to the finish. Especially as the prices aren’t going to be that far apart and the S4 ships with a full version of Traktor.
Redeeming features were that the faders were smooth and the knobs felt reasonably accurate on small adjustments. The sound on this was of a good quality, maybe not quite up to the S4 if you’re a full on audiophile, but to my bass-battered ears it was still good enough to be confident about hooking it direct to a club’s amp.
Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4
“Finally!” I hear you cry. The bit you want to know about.
There is honestly nothing bad I can say about this controller. The jog wheel position makes perfect sense once you’ve used it. Setting loops and dropping them into the samplers is a breeze, and easy as setting a hot cue. The buttons are on decks A and B controls, and drops them into deck C and D samples.
The jog wheels had an almost-perfect response compared to other jog wheels out there, and the pitch faders were like using old analogue faders on a turntable. Of course this will be the case as it has been designed specifically for the software and uses HID instead of MIDI.
The sound card, for all intents and purposes, is basically a Native Instruments Audio 4 DJ and so has the same quality of sound you would already expect.
If I had to pick at one thing to moan about, then it would be that for me personally this is too rigidly linked to the software. Obviously for anyone looking for a quick plug-and-play solution straight out of the box this is ideal. But I’m a mapping geek. As I pointed out to a few people on the day that seemed a bit – shall we say, negative – about the S4, you’re getting the all the functionality of the latest Pioneer four deck and mixer set-up at a fraction of the cost, and it’s a shed-load more portable.
Vestax PAD-One
This is Vestax’s answer to Korg’s nanoPAD.
Not a huge amount I can say about this, as there wasn’t a lot they could tell me (for one reason or another).
It’s called (at the moment at least) the Vestax PAD-One. It features 12 buttons, all with LED feedback, two banks, hold buttons and an XY pad. And I have to say, even though this is still a prototype, it is ten times better than the nanoPAD. It actually has weight to it, so it feels solid and as though it won’t break. The pads will be user replaceable (if they ever break) and it might be able to have the internal MIDI notes edited on the buttons and XY.
This looks like it should be an exciting replacement for my broken nanoPAD and will be going in alongside my VCI and Dicers, if/when I get the VCI-100 MKII as I’ll have a spare USB port. Some specs on this controller:
FEATURES
- 12 velocity- and pressure-sensitive LED back-lit pads;
- Individual LED colors for each bank;
- Real-time control XY touch pad;
- Solid aluminum die-cast robust chassis;
- Roll button sends constant MIDI signals at a tempo controlled by the Tap button;
- MIDI cable connection for control over various effect and sampler devices;
- USB plug-and-play;
- Excellent portability;
WHAT ABOUT THE SHOW?
As for the event itself? Great fun, lots to check out, plenty of DJs rocking out on the various stands and in the BPM Arena in the middle of the hall. It was definitely worth the £10 entry fee – only it’s a shame that I wasn’t able to stick around for the second day or the party on the Saturday night.
I didn’t check out any of the seminars that were going on (too busy playing with buttons), but there were some handy subjects including how to use Ableton, how to distribute your own music, and how to appeal to club owners to get that elusive first gig. On top of this there was the Reloop stage as you entered the hall (where DJTT member HappyDan laid down a fantastic set) and a world record attempt for the largest number of DJs creating a continuous mix.
Ok, so the S4 has a thru input for if your laptop crashes and you can put on a cd while you fix it. So Jean are you gonna be mixing off CDs or just throw on a quick mix cd while you sort out the issue and reboot the computer and get midi running again? That would be the logical solution to a computer crash I think.
Therefor mixing functions are not needed for that, just a thru I believe.
Yeah it would be nice if the S4 was an analogue mixer but think how much more it would cost and how much heavier it would be too. Also it comes with a full version of software not an LE version that most things do.
I have ordered one, I only wish NI didn’t slash traktor prices so anyone wanting to upgrade can’t sell on their investment for any value. Considering TSP was almost 900 and that’s what S4 is. Now I have a TSP setup that will collect dust cos I can’t sell it!!!! Bastards!!
Jean,
While you make many valid points about the Denon there are a few other things to consider. What software will you be using? If you go the scratchlive route then you can map most of the mixer but not the jogwheels. If you go the Traktor route then you can everything but it only uses standard MIDI for the jogwheels so the accuracy is hit or miss. I would imagine it will be the same for VDJ as well. Now all of this is pointless if you are going to use external players but at the point you might as well go for a full on mixer and midi controller as the Denon sound quality will be okay at best. How great can the mixer components be if they are adding all the extra midi and jogwheels at $799 price point? Their DN-X1600 is $999 and that is decent with way less functionality. Kind of makes you wonder.
[quote comment=”39058″][quote comment=”38457″]
The s4 only has poor phono/RCA outs rather than professional XLR outputs and no second zone, or booth output connector.[/quote]
I’d like to ask, you are going for the more professional feel right? … with very small concerts (50-300 persons) most venues offer a small PA system with no XLR inputs, so thats where the s4 has me sold. However, growing up in the sound field, I was taught to stick with XLR’s.[/quote]
Grey, Hi. You make a good point about how, in your journey through the field of sound, you were taught that you should use XLR’s wherever possible. I also understand your point that some cheaper/smaller/less well equiped places only offer RCA or phono plug connectors. For both of the reason points which you cover, I would agree that a versatile unit would offer both types of output connecter – XLR out for when plugging into a professional PA system, but with trad/basic red and white phono plugs for playing on more basic amps/speakers, home hi-fis and so forth.
I havent been swayed off of my order for the Denon DN-MC6000 as that unit offers both XLR and phonos, and also booth output on TRS (1/4 inch) 6.3mm jack plugs – a veritable arsenal of right connectors for the various situations I could find myself in either as a mobile DJ, or on any size club systems.
Thanks for your input again Steve (sp222). Ive enquired about the “thru” mode on the S4 as a way of DJing when the laptop goes down (via a large London dealer who has had an s4 brought/demo’d to them and sadly the S4 “thru” has no mixer functionality with it – no cueing, no EQ, no fader – its just a way of plugging an external music source, like a cd-player or ipod into whereever the S4 would be connected onto eg an amp or a powered speaker etc. In order to have a way of DJing throughout the night, even after a laptop fail, I’d need to add the cost of a real hardware mixer to the S4, plus the cost and inconvenience of purchasing and carrying an extra flightcase for it. The other alternative would be to shell out for a “crash free” laptop (if one actually exists – which I doubt.
[quote comment=”38457″]
The s4 only has poor phono/RCA outs rather than professional XLR outputs and no second zone, or booth output connector.[/quote]
I’d like to ask, you are going for the more professional feel right? Well here’s the thing, due to my age I can’t play the majority of clubs (I refuse to play the others due to the fact that I was requested to play top 40 hits). So basically, I’m stuck with very small concerts (50-300 persons) most venues offer a small PA system with no XLR inputs, so thats where the s4 has me sold. However, growing up in the sound field, I was taught to stick with XLR’s. Also, you have to realize, I’ve been mixing on the X-session pro for two years now, anything else looks better than what I have now.
That’s pretty good – guessing you’re using a macbook?
update…
So I missed the thru switch for the external audio, so in answer to your question – in case of emergency, you can route the audio from your CDJ/Turntable straight to the outputs..
And for reference, in running the S4’s hard for 3 days at BPM, with constant use, we had zero crashes.
Cheers
Steve
Hi Jean – I’ve checked that again on the S4 we have here – if the laptop is not running Traktor, you don’t appear to get any signal through the S4.
Whether this means that the mixer section is a controller only (as opposed to having an analogue mixer section), I don’t know 100% but will ask.
I expect that as the external audio signal is routed through Traktor enabling access to the effects, channel EQ and filter, that the software will have to be operating to enable audio throughput.
Cheers
Steve
Hi Steve. thanks for the reply. its nice to know that the gains on the back of the S4 are more for “balancing” incoming line/phono level signals rather than being channel gains.
I would concede that at times the BPM show was very noisy and that the two demos I got from your booth had to be shouted over the top of other stands music – so I might not have got all the details which the young lady (Sunday) and man (sunday) wanted to convey.
With this in mind, and your comments above re: “For reference, you can unplug the power to the S4 during playback with no effect to the playback (or importantly) the volume level output by the S4 – we checked this a number of times as it’s an important consideration.”…could you (re-)answer me on this next point…
My understanding is that the “mixer-like” controls in the centre of the S4 are not actually controlling a real audio mixer within the S4, they’re only controlling (sending numbers to) a software mixer within the “DJs” laptop or macbook etc. So, whilst I note your comments about the S4 losing power wouldnt stop change the audio levels leaving the laptop, I wonder about backup. If I used the S4’s line level inputs on the back to plug in a real dual CD player, and then my laptop crashed would I instantly be able to fade up the S4 “fader” controls for channels 1 and 4 to play CDs from the CD player either with or with out the crossfader and with headphones. Would I need to buy a seprate hardware based (real) DJ mixer for that backup CD plan? or would the s4 allow line level/CD mixing without the laptop working or present?
Hi Jean – glad you got a chance to try out the S4 on our stand at BPM, but I do have to correct a couple of factual inaccuracies:
The units we had on display were pre-production and this should have been explained to you at the time – the power supply used was not the production version, and the USB socket was too tight – our staff should have explained this to you so apologies that this info wasn’t forthcoming.
For reference, you can unplug the power to the S4 during playback with no effect to the playback (or importantly) the volume level output by the S4 – we checked this a number of times as it’s an important consideration.
While we’re on the back – you must have missed the balanced TRS connectors that we were using – the S4 has a pair of balanced jack outs (we were using these with TRS Jack – XLR cables for connection to the monitors) which are perfectly suited to run straight to a PA – you also have a pair of RCA outputs so you could in theory run two parallel outs as you stated that you sometimes require. The gain controls on the back are for the line/phono inputs, not for the gain channel controls, which are clearly at the top of each of the 4 channels.
You also mention the cue/mix balance – the function on the S4 is exactly as is found (for example) on my A&H Xone mixer – you can fade between the Cue and Mix output using the rotary controller found (along with the volume) on the front panel of the S4 – these knobs are retractable so it’s possible that it was pushed in at the time you checked it?
we hope to have S4’s in UK stores to be checked soon so perhaps I can suggest you check one out again when they arrive?
Thanks for dropping by anyway
Steve Parker
2twenty2
Thank You for that thorough personal assessment ! Now I’m back to where I was at first, the Denon MC6000
[quote comment=”38457″]I only managed to get to the show for 2 of the 3 days, but saw some great gear. My main reason for going was that I wanted to try out Midi controllers with mixers builtin.
I’d done some surfing around before the show and had narrowed my list down to the ADJ VMS4, The Traktor S4 and the Denon DMNC6000.
I’m not finalised on my software yet and feel that what serato do, with a forced hardware selection is just wrong – I’ve ruled out ableton too – so, I’ve tried Virtual DJ and Traktor and a couple of the “also rans” like M-audio/Torq, PCDJ etc.
All the demos I’ve tried of any DJ software just seem like “DJ Simulators” to a degree – like PC aircraft simulators; difficult to explain anyway…so I want a DJ controller.
The VMS4 is obviously the cheap “Entry level” unit – it feels it, people say it is, and the talk at BPM was that there was a serious usage problem with the mic channel(s) – they work with cheap mics but not good mics. Some DJs wont ever pick up a mic but to me its important. The mouse pad was a fun thing, but too small to be of precision use on-screen. Overall feel quality was low – in amoungst the Kam/numark/lower vestax/OEM levels
The Traktor 4 felt better but not much – the main body felt plastic which was a bit worrying considering this isnt a little VCI-100 size product, its note-ably wider and whilst it didn’t flex or bend when lifted, it didn’t feel all that sturdy. Information from the guy on the stand, who wasnt sure on a few bits so confirmed with someone else unearthed (no ground pun intended) that the mixer in the middle of the S4 is not a real mixer but more of a midi mixer (eg: moving the “mixer” controls just moves midi numbers around in the program – IF the program is still running). This isnt any good for me. I want a back-up plan for when the lapptop crashes – I want to be able to play a track from a backup CD deck by example while the lapptop reboots and the midi DJ software loads up again. It seems that the mixer controls dont work on the s4 unless the DJ software is up and running. The back panel connectors seemed fairly low quality build and moved slightly under even slight pressure – not good for mobile use really I fear, where leads are going to be pluged in and unpluged at each gig (unless I use extension leads to the sockets and let them take the strain). I found also that the control layout felt wrong to me although I admit its a personal thing. Having the platters so far back, made me feel I was almost DJing by leaning over the back of a DJ console, rather than standing in front. Also the mirrored layout of the pitch controls was irritating to me – when I learn the left deck, I dont want to have to learn the right deck differently – to me each side should feel like the same deck – I like to ride the pitch slider during mixes – with the s4 I’d have to do that with different hands on each deck. I also thought that having the Play and Cue buttons just the same shape and size as surrounding pads made them too easy to mix up with the number/cue pads.
Also on the back – the s4 doesnt give me enough outputs – to explain – at some gigs i have to run the main dancefloor speakers and also a set of powered speakers in a bar room and a garden/smoker zone away from the main room. The s4 only has poor phono/RCA outs rather than professional XLR outputs and no second zone, or booth output connector. Also, whilst on the back…I couldnt beleive that I found GAIN controls…currently, I’m tweaking my gain controls on my mixer inputs more or less every track – the s4 would have me reaching ’round the back (in the dark) for that adjustment.
Whilst thinking Booth and DJ here for a moment, the headphone mix (or split cue as pro DJ mixers call it) didn’t work as real hardware DJ mixers worked – eg: Im used to hearing what the audience is already hearing in my left headphone ear, and then hear what Im only cueing up in my right headphone ear – all the s4 did was play full stereo of both tracks into both ears to varying volume degrees. very wierd and very different in a bad way, i think – but again it could be personal preference, to proper mixers.
Overall, the s4 seems to be more of a bedroom device in terms of its build quality, lack of “part of a pro sound system” in terms of only having RCA/phonos, also the small round buttons toward the top left and top right of the platers for loading and deck change felt really poor – like the buttons on those sound effect keyrings you get.
Overall, I would have to voice an opinion that this is not a £700+ controller, its a £550 controller with £150 of traktor pro included in the box.
I eventually found the Denon stand (it was attached to the allen&heath stand ?!) and found one of 3 DMNC6000 units which were at the show. I’ll say now – this unit won me over totally and I’m buying one in December when they arrive.
The DMNC6000 has a real mixer not just a midi number-mover mixer. If my lapptop goes down, I can still work all the mixer controls for my existing dual cd-decks even when the lapptop is still rebooted (or died).
Another thing which appealed to me as I’m looking at video playback/mixing maybe in the near future, is that the Denon had a control for inlcuding/excluding Video signals in the crossfader – it had options of attaching audio only to the crossfader, video only, or both.
The 6000 has REAL SPlit Cue for the headphones – just like a proper DJ mixer (left ear = what the audience hears, right ear = what youre cueing up). Theres a booth output for connecting amps or powered speakers to other rooms/zones in a venue (or other kit) – all the connectors are professional and sturdy feeling. The all-important master outputs to your main amps or powered speakers are proper XLR connectors not just line level RCA phono plugs. Not just 2 line inputs feature on the 6000, but 6 – enough for several extra bits of kit to be added.
The 6000 connectors all felt rock solid, and the unit itself was all-metal construction and felt like you could probably whack a heckler with it and just carry on playing tunes from it.
Sound quality from the Denon seemed crisp (top ends) and punchy (bass) and clear (midrange), wheras the S4 and the VMS4 seemed only on-par with each other – however, this assesment was done on headphones on all three units – not over speakers.
The DMNC6000 only comes with LE (light/special edition) software, not the full package in the price, but I think that means that for £699, youre gettign 699 worth of controller, not a “whats left” after the full software price is taken off.
Hope this insight explains why I’ve gone for the Denon[/quote]
I only managed to get to the show for 2 of the 3 days, but saw some great gear. My main reason for going was that I wanted to try out Midi controllers with mixers builtin.
I’d done some surfing around before the show and had narrowed my list down to the ADJ VMS4, The Traktor S4 and the Denon DMNC6000.
I’m not finalised on my software yet and feel that what serato do, with a forced hardware selection is just wrong – I’ve ruled out ableton too – so, I’ve tried Virtual DJ and Traktor and a couple of the “also rans” like M-audio/Torq, PCDJ etc. All the demos I’ve tried of any DJ software just seem like “DJ Simulators” to a degree – like PC aircraft simulators; difficult to explain anyway…so I want a DJ controller.
The VMS4 is obviously the cheap “Entry level” unit – it feels it, people say it is, and the talk at BPM was that there was a serious usage problem with the mic channel(s) – they work with cheap mics but not good mics. Some DJs wont ever pick up a mic but to me its important. The mouse pad was a fun thing, but too small to be of precision use on-screen. Overall feel quality was low – in amoungst the Kam/numark/lower vestax/OEM levels
The Traktor 4 felt better but not much – the main body felt plastic which was a bit worrying considering this isnt a little VCI-100 size product, its note-ably wider and whilst it didn’t flex or bend when lifted, it didn’t feel all that sturdy. Information from the guy on the stand, who wasnt sure on a few bits so confirmed with someone else unearthed (no ground pun intended) that the mixer in the middle of the S4 is not a real mixer but more of a midi mixer (eg: moving the “mixer” controls just moves midi numbers around in the program – IF the program is still running). This isnt any good for me. I want a back-up plan for when the lapptop crashes – I want to be able to play a track from a backup CD deck by example while the lapptop reboots and the midi DJ software loads up again. It seems that the mixer controls dont work on the s4 unless the DJ software is up and running. The back panel connectors seemed fairly low quality build and moved slightly under even slight pressure – not good for mobile use really I fear, where leads are going to be pluged in and unpluged at each gig (unless I use extension leads to the sockets and let them take the strain). I found also that the control layout felt wrong to me although I admit its a personal thing. Having the platters so far back, made me feel I was almost DJing by leaning over the back of a DJ console, rather than standing in front. Also the mirrored layout of the pitch controls was irritating to me – when I learn the left deck, I dont want to have to learn the right deck differently – to me each side should feel like the same deck – I like to ride the pitch slider during mixes – with the s4 I’d have to do that with different hands on each deck. I also thought that having the Play and Cue buttons just the same shape and size as surrounding pads made them too easy to mix up with the number/cue pads. Also on the back – the s4 doesnt give me enough outputs – to explain – at some gigs i have to run the main dancefloor speakers and also a set of powered speakers in a bar room and a garden/smoker zone away from the main room. The s4 only has poor phono/RCA outs rather than professional XLR outputs and no second zone, or booth output connector. Also, whilst on the back…I couldnt beleive that I found GAIN controls…currently, I’m tweaking my gain controls on my mixer inputs more or less every track – the s4 would have me reaching ’round the back (in the dark) for that adjustment.
Whilst thinking Booth and DJ here for a moment, the headphone mix (or split cue as pro DJ mixers call it) didn’t work as real hardware DJ mixers worked – eg: Im used to hearing what the audience is already hearing in my left headphone ear, and then hear what Im only cueing up in my right headphone ear – all the s4 did was play full stereo of both tracks into both ears to varying volume degrees. very wierd and very different in a bad way, i think – but again it could be personal preference, to proper mixers.
Overall, the s4 seems to be more of a bedroom device in terms of its build quality, lack of “part of a pro sound system” in terms of only having RCA/phonos, also the small round buttons toward the top left and top right of the platers for loading and deck change felt really poor – like the buttons on those sound effect keyrings you get.
Overall, I would have to voice an opinion that this is not a £700+ controller, its a £550 controller with £150 of traktor pro included in the box.
I eventually found the Denon stand (it was attached to the allen&heath stand ?!) and found one of 3 DMNC6000 units which were at the show. I’ll say now – this unit won me over totally and I’m buying one in December when they arrive.
The DMNC6000 has a real mixer not just a midi number-mover mixer. If my lapptop goes down, I can still work all the mixer controls for my existing dual cd-decks even when the lapptop is still rebooted (or died).
Another thing which appealed to me as I’m looking at video playback/mixing maybe in the near future, is that the Denon had a control for inlcuding/excluding Video signals in the crossfader – it had options of attaching audio only to the crossfader, video only, or both.
The 6000 has REAL SPlit Cue for the headphones – just like a proper DJ mixer (left ear = what the audience hears, right ear = what youre cueing up). Theres a booth output for connecting amps or powered speakers to other rooms/zones in a venue (or other kit) – all the connectors are professional and sturdy feeling. The all-important master outputs to your main amps or powered speakers are proper XLR connectors not just line level RCA phono plugs. Not just 2 line inputs feature on the 6000, but 6 – enough for several extra bits of kit to be added.
The 6000 connectors all felt rock solid, and the unit itself was all-metal construction and felt like you could probably whack a heckler with it and just carry on playing tunes from it.
Sound quality from the Denon seemed crisp (top ends) and punchy (bass) and clear (midrange), wheras the S4 and the VMS4 seemed only on-par with each other – however, this assesment was done on headphones on all three units – not over speakers.
The DMNC6000 only comes with LE (light/special edition) software, not the full package in the price, but I think that means that for £699, youre gettign 699 worth of controller, not a “whats left” after the full software price is taken off.
Hope this insight explains why I’ve gone for the Denon
The S4 can have either of the phono/line inputs assigned to a live input inside Traktor Pro S4 – you then have the channel controls (EQ, Filter) and crossfader assignment etc, as well as the effects as with a normal Traktor channel..[/quote]
Thank You Stephen, that encourages me much more now about the S4.
I’m shaking my Piggy Bank !
BPM show was great! Although!!!! i could count one one hand how many female djs were present!We need more women in the industry!! Great show, great stuff out there, noticed everyone using Traktor software.
I was working on the Native Instruments stand at the BPM stand last weekend, testing and showcasing out the new S4…Its on my christmas list! I found it easy to grasp, and once you have the hang of it, it leave you to be really creative with the sample decks, jog wheel is very responsive, looping in and out simple to do, all in all i love it….only problem i see with it would be rocking up at a club and finding somewhere to set it up amongst the set up that normally goes with clubs, would be nice if it could be more compact.
I was perfectly happy with a&h xone 3d, that is when it worked, but after sending it back three times – I decided it was time for something new.
After looking long and hard at the s4 and mc6000, I decided to go with a high end sound card (fireface uc), a three channel analog mixer with vca faders (ecler nuo 2), and for midi control a xone 1d and a stanton scs.3d.
After shopping around on ebay and amazon for a while the whole setup set me back $1600, but if you want timecode you can get a ni dj 4 for a lot less.
It’s definitely not a plug and play system, but in my opinion nothing can touch the stanton when it comes to cue point beat juggling and looping plus the sound/build quality of the fireface, xone and ecler is way beyond anything any one of these “all in ones” can offer. And if something breaks, I don’t have to send back my whole setup.
For effects, I’m running my audio out of traktor in to logic (controlled by a baby hui) through soundflower where it’s being processed in real time through a uad 1 x-pander and a powercore compact for some extremely hi fidelity 24bit processing. I recommend it.
[quote comment=”38203″]Does anyone know if the Kontrol S4 allows for Hybrid mixing of records through it’s Turntable inputs, or is that only set-up for control records ?
While I like the very clean layout of the Kontrol S4 I am sold more on the Denon MC6000 knowing that it is a full-on Hybrid unit. Even though the MC6000 layout is a bit cluttered and they should have flipped the left pitch slide to the outside edge, as an old school DJ getting back into DJing, I like having the ability to mix my dusty vinyl with my Laptop tracks. Also it has XLR and Balanced Booth outputs.
Also is the Kontrol S4 made of plastic or is it a mix of metal and platic. Again the Denon is built Metal tough.
But if the S4 can play old records in a Hybrid mix with the software, then I’ll probably go with it.[/quote]
The S4 can have either of the phono/line inputs assigned to a live input inside Traktor Pro S4 – you then have the channel controls (EQ, Filter) and crossfader assignment etc, as well as the effects as with a normal Traktor channel..
Oh sorry Mike. I misread your answer. Your right.
Mike: no I’m not.
From wikipedia:
HID devices deliver self describing packages that may contain an infinite variety of data types and formats. A single HID driver on the PC parses the data and enables dynamic association of data I/O with application functionality.
Does anyone know if the Kontrol S4 allows for Hybrid mixing of records through it’s Turntable inputs, or is that only set-up for control records ?
While I like the very clean layout of the Kontrol S4 I am sold more on the Denon MC6000 knowing that it is a full-on Hybrid unit. Even though the MC6000 layout is a bit cluttered and they should have flipped the left pitch slide to the outside edge, as an old school DJ getting back into DJing, I like having the ability to mix my dusty vinyl with my Laptop tracks. Also it has XLR and Balanced Booth outputs.
Also is the Kontrol S4 made of plastic or is it a mix of metal and platic. Again the Denon is built Metal tough.
But if the S4 can play old records in a Hybrid mix with the software, then I’ll probably go with it.
@Bradcee
Did that include Serato?
Sorry Rev you are confusing the USB AUDIO drivers with the USB HID.
USB midi devices use the USB audio class.
HID devices use the USB HID class
AM I the only one tired of the HID misnomer is devices today.
Here’s the skinny, HID is a carrier. It allows you to carry messages over a common protocol. Thats why there are so many HID MIDI devices these days, because you can use them with an OSes built-in HID MIDI drivers. Every USB MIDI device you have ever used is HID.
That said if they built this like Maschine then it will be a custom HID messaging system with MIDI translation being perfomed by it’s driver. Which Me Likey!
[quote comment=”38074″]@that (I was informed) can be used with all DJ software on the market.
does thjat mean universal certified mixer ???
Cheerz
ronny[/quote]
possibly, the chap i was talking to from A&H listed off all the major software titles
[quote comment=”38031″][quote comment=”38029″]What are “dogs bollocks”?[/quote]
delicious, apparently. at least dogs seem to think so.[/quote]
HAHA!
good write up brad.not sure about the s4 being the same as a pioneer 4 deck set up though.i’ve been trying to emulate the efx1000 with traktor.traktor only records 2 bars with slicer and not delay which is a pain,you cant cut in and out of the recording for isolating kicks or snares,the pitch echo on the efx sounds totally different to chaining an advanced delay and transpose in traktor….if the s4 had assignable outs on each channel i would’ve bought it.i’ve been at this for a while and obviously traktor has its millions of +’s.do you know of anyways to emulate these things???
I wasn’t really following its release, but what exactly is the fascination with hardware mfrs and itch? From what I’m reading itch is a stripped down alternative to Traktor that does not play well with anything that isn’t itch certified. I’m not being sarcastic, just don’t understand why companies like Denon and (apparently rumored) Pioneer and A&H are so keen on putting out supporting products…. kinda OT I guess, but it seems like there’s a lot of itch-related stuff coming out.
Kind of dissapointed that BPM 2010 has passed and still no similar products competing with the Numark NS7, i was hoping that after 2 years we would start seeing consoles like the NS7 and V7 but that could be used with Traktor, oh well will continue to wait lol.
@that (I was informed) can be used with all DJ software on the market.
does thjat mean universal certified mixer ???
Cheerz
ronny
[quote comment=”38045″]I also heard they had a virtual dj/hurcules console setup were they recorded dj’s do a mix! Did you see that brad? And they were giving away some awesome headphones with a mag subscription lol.[/quote]
no comment… ¬¬
Finally a replacement for my nanopad that’s not just gonna break again.
Also cool to find out that the DB4 does in fact have midi.
I have been the 3days in BPM and I have the luck to DJ, That was really a great event! I Highly recommend it for the new year! May be Ean will drop by new year?? Will be be great to Having a DJtechtool stand in the UK!!! :p
[quote comment=”38029″]What are “dogs bollocks”?[/quote]
[quote comment=”38031″][quote comment=”38029″]What are “dogs bollocks”?[/quote]
delicious, apparently. at least dogs seem to think so.[/quote]
Funny!
What about the new Reloop Controller. And the new Hercules Controller????
Oh yeah despite there being no 5 pin midi ports on the back of the DB4, it does support midi clock! So it’s pos to slave/master to software and external devices = Maschine friendly!
To midi clock sync the DB4 to external hardware there’s an ethernet port on the back to which adapters can be plugged in to. The only disappointment for me is the effects are pre fader only, for the price of the DB4 I feel there should really be an option for pre or post on each channel. But being digital the xone guy said the DB4 could go in many directions with future updates.
++++
The real good news, according to the designer of the DB4 Traktor Certification is well on the way!
S4 jogs took every scratch I could throw at it, even triplet stabs were super accurate over fast beats!
We know how much of sweet texture/feel NI’s rotary’s and buttons have from the X1 and Maschine so I was really interested to see how there faders turned out
The light feel and then perfect weight in use of x fade easily puts that fader in to the top 5 x fade’s I’ve ever used. Ecler eternal, Pro X, Inno fade, P&G, Pioneer’s inferred 707/909, personal taste would only chose where the S4 fader would place, you would have to be very very very picky to actually want a different fader in the S4.
Considering Vestax made there name in the Scratch scene I find it shocking that Vestax took nearly 15 years to improve on there first VCA x fader but NI nail it first time.
Good work Bradcee, nice to see your name up as the writer!
Great write up Brad, I wanted to go but I had things to do friday and saturday and couldn’t spare the time.
Did they mention at the show anywhere prices for the all of the above?
Ohhh i want S4 Now …
The Vestax Pad One is a winner (against the nanopad and assuming a not too much expensive price):
– More durable
– It has midi feedback on the keys (great for cue point storing)
– IT has a “Chromatic” button that I assume will transform the X-Y pad to send midi notes in a scale, similar to what the Kaossilator does)
Are there any plans for a comparing review of the Denon DNMC6000 vs the Traktor S4?! Would be great..
I also heard they had a virtual dj/hurcules console setup were they recorded dj’s do a mix! Did you see that brad? And they were giving away some awesome headphones with a mag subscription lol.
Nice article Brad,
Nice to see some love for the VCI-100mkii, the more i looked at it the more i actually liked it.
Next year I’ll come down to BPM and make a video 🙂
ive used the Traktor S4, and honestly, the jog wheels feel great, better than anything out there.
BUT
in order to do any baby scratching, you have to press wayyy too hard. they need to fix this immediately. its no wonder they got shiftee to do the scratching demos. impossible for mere mortals
I have to say I’ve never been a fan of any of Denon’s stuff, I love design as much as functionality. To me Denons stuff has always had a cluttered design and looks like junk, just my opinion though.
Sorry Brad.
LOL Ean : everybody’s got a BROKEN NanoPad…
[quote comment=”38029″]What are “dogs bollocks”?[/quote]
delicious, apparently. at least dogs seem to think so.
What are “dogs bollocks”?
Ahhh not mk11 support, will we still receive top class tsi updates for the mk1 arcade edition?
Ean, as soon as you get S4, MC6000 an? Xone:DX together, please make a sound test.
I hink this 3 are topatop “controller+sound card” badboys.
Very nice write up. But where’s that little vestax mini i’ve seen floating around.
Thanks for a roundup I’ve been reading different reviews for each piece. Nice to get a rundown in one simple place. Thanks.
Wish I could have gone to BPM, I have never been to DJ trade show and am looking forward to going to one.
But I finally think I’ve made up my mind and will get a S4… but only after they incorporate timecode functionality. I still like to scratch and nothing beats Vinyl (DVS) when it comes to scratching.
I am just going to have to see how it works out though. I have been thinking very hard about getting a Pioneer 909, some Technics (before they officially die out) and using TSP with a Maschine a my MIDI controller, but if the S4 works as good as they (with timecode) I may just use that…
Any thoughts on that set up anyone?
deffinatly looking forward to the vestez pad. the leds sound like a nice touch!