Wondering where the love is for Traktor, or if it exists here at all?
I appreciate it’s DJ software, but I’m relatively new to it and think it’s amazing.
Not only have I got into DJing for the first time with it, but I find Traktor is really cool as a resampling tool… throwing in 2, 4, 8 bar loops from your hardware and recording the results is powerful stuff… especially given the price of the software is quite a bit cheaper than a lot of plugins, it offers serious bang for the buck.
Remix decks too… wow. If you run 2 of these in Traktor it gives you 8 channels of samples, each channel with 16 sample slots to play with, and the samples can be any length you want… it’s perfect for hands on performance (especially if you add a cheap F1 controller (or two)).
But, I’m surprised how little I see Traktor mentioned here… anyone else using it as part of their larger set up?
I’m using it too, recently got s8 controller.
There’s a lot to like but it’s also got problems though I haven’t used any alternatives to judge if they’re better or worse
Native seem keen to add things I’m not interested in and not fix some basic issues that have probably been there for many years .
I’m quite impressed with djay as it’s got ability to blend drums/harmonics/vocals separately…it works pretty well in real-time.
Traktor is a workhorse.
Was using it with 2 X1 Mk2 as well as Maschine Jam for which I developed a pretty deep control surface. To the point of not needing the 2 X1.
I was a Tracktor fan (I guess I still am technically though I don’t use it). I switched over to Pioneer CDJs and a mixer though after playing one gig with my controller and laptop. Trying to set it all up on top of the gear that was already there while the previous DJ is finishing up their set was so stressful I didn’t enjoy playing my set and played it extremely safe due to stress and the gear being awkwardly squashed together. Promoters and other DJs were fine with it all but it was a huge PITA for me.
Also, I’m not saying it is a necessity, but I feel like I needed to keep a pristine laptop around just for DJing and maintaining a laptop for work and gigs was an expense I didn’t want.
I have been Djing on Traktor Pro for couple of years and after trying and working on different platforms and software it really is my favorite one. The waveform and beat-grid algorithm seems superior to all the others except maybe Serato DJ. The effects are definitely far better than others personally. Rest is on par or some library management is still getting worked on yes but can be worked with. A lot of love from my end for sure!
I nearly picked up the S8 recently because I found one for a ridiculous price, but in the end I held out for the S4 mk3 because it’s more compact and trad/orthodox… I thought it would be easier to sell on if it came to it… and I have a Kontrol F1 that lets me do what the S8/D2’s do.
It feels like that (stems/remixes/s8) approach is a real hybrid one that’s initially gone over the head of both markets! I hope it doesn’t get dropped completely as a format/approach, because it’s a performance powerhouse with huge potential.
I’m running the beta version at the moment that allows you to run/hold 1000 tracks in Beatport offline… I’ve used this for my DJing debut the past two Thursdays and it’s been great. But, yes you’re right, looks like they’re improving the library management still.
The new smart playlists and lining up two columns feature is a saver. I am also using s4 mk3 and super happy with it. Matched with a decksaver and a magma riot xl dj backpack you can be mobile enough with a 4 deck , club ready sound card and your whole library. Thats how I do gigs lately. Not as mobile friendly but still…
I have to wonder if they’ll do a standalone unit. They managed to make a standalone Maschine MK3 around the £1000 mark, surely the same CPU would be enough to manage 4 tracks of Traktor. I know that’s a bit of speculation, I’m just saying that I find it hard to believe that it wouldn’t be possible at a similar price. Numark released a two-track standalone DJ unit around £500 and several other manufacturers have standalone units from about £800 upwards.
If the CPU in Maschine+ can run all those tracks of soft synths and FX, surely it could manage 4 tracks of time-stretched playback and a handful of FX.
Using Pioneer as the obvious barometer, I imagine their DDJ (400,800,1000) controllers would easily outsell the standalone controllers… and CDJ’s would far outsell both.
So, would NI not have to do a CDJ equivalent to get into the standalone market?
I hear you and agree, Maschine + is definitely an indicator that they have the tech to make a Traktor Kontrol +. They aren’t far away from the hardware side with the S8 and D2.
I have been using Traktor a lot
I love it, but they lost the strategic game in the music industry
Record box, and CDJ’s /DJM makes more sense, since record box is club-standard.
I’m on the beta too , I’m posting quite regularly on their bug forums , most of which sem to be basic things on the browser functionality and issues with importing files .
No joy running on mac M1 either , even turning off multi processor support didn’t fix it.
And beatport tracks can’t be used if you want to record the mix either.
Re: stems , I think it’s been abandoned by everyone which is why the s8 are cheap , I paid £350 . And if I’m honest the screens / browser system gets a bit weird so I typically use the laptop screen.
Don’t tell anyone but I’ve often thought about getting s3 or other controller and getting rid of s8, I’ve only had it about 4 months. Lots of controller real-estate is basically useless.
I haven’t used it to ‘DJ’ but I used to use Traktor as a way to run backing tracks in an ElectroPop duo I was in a few years ago. What I liked about it was that you can use the audio input to process live instruments such as synth or guitar with Traktor’s built in effects. That being said, I would go for a laptop free alternative if I were to do it again.
That mock-up wouldn’t work very well unless it’s just a device to set loop / cue points etc ( not actually mix )
My old setup was an x1 and z1 , lots of control for 2 x decks and can be had from £80 each on gumtree sometimes.
Z1 has sound card …. Headphone out for cue/ monitoring and main outs.
Had a slow transition into using Traktor. Started with Vinyl, and that was it right up into Serato. Found it cheaper to use Serato as I didn’t have to spend $15 for one track. It also provided that tactile feel. I loathed Traktor when it first started making the rounds. Djs would show up with those control surfaces, and we always had to stop the music so that they could get their set going. Also I didn’t appreciate the ease at which newbies got started mixing right away, without putting in the work of beatmatching, and digging through crates of records to find the gems. Eventually I stopped worrying so much about all that, and realized I’d just got swept up in all the nonsense about what constituted being a Dj/performer. I began to see the benefits of Traktor as I’d began to yearn for the opportunity to do more while Djing. Through research I realized that I could use the 4 tracks as an opportunity to make crazy long mixes, and through looping, remix track on the fly. In addition, I realized that I could link it to some drum machines, and synths and really go crazy. The thrill if Djing had stagnated for a time previous to these revelations, but with this new setup, I’d rediscovered the thrill of playing out. Some of my most memorable sets came as a result of using Traktor and a few pieces of hardware. It also taught me to not get so uptight about how others were doing there thing. Most of the time these days I just use a USB drive as CDJs are pretty standard, and only having to carry the drive and headphones is pretty sweet. Although when I get to do longer sets and/or an afterhour gig, I like to get the ol’ Traktor, Audio 10, dual X1s, and Ecler Nuo 4 Midi Mixer out. The hardware varies.
Glad you’ve found some joy with it and hope you continue to do so well into the future.
I love Traktor, been using it for many years mostly for DJing but also in live sets as a quick sampler/multi-fx.