video tutorials

S4 : Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 Video w/ DJ Shiftee

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In the video above, Current DMC World Champ, Dubspot Instructor, and America’s Best DJ nominee DJ Shiftee shows what the upcoming Traktor Kontrol S4 DJ system is capable of. Shiftee demonstrates the powerful new Sample Decks and Loop Recorder in four spectacular mini-routines.

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Shiftee’s Fav 5 New Features”

1.  Sample Decks.
Holy moly these are a lot of fun!  One-shots, synced looping options, cue-point style triggering, group filters & volume control, individual sample filters and volume controls, the list goes on and on!  You can even scratch the samples with the jog wheels!  I also love that each sample deck has its own mixer channel, so you can EQ and cut up your sample/loop compositions.  Did I mention the loops stay in sync with your tracks regardless of tempo!?!?  I can’t wait to incorporate samples of me making sandwiches into my DJ sets.

2.  Loop Recorder.
This takes me back to my loop station days.  Build your own loop combinations and live remixes using this feature.  The Dry/Wet feature is particularly dope: make a remix and go back and forth with the original.  It also has a slick undo/redo feature where you can remove and add your latest loop layer.  Fun Idea: Use the sample players in conjunction with the loop recorder to bang out your own drum patterns for your remixes.  Extra Fun Idea: Rap over your new beats with transpose effect pitched down to sound like a G.

3.  New Sync.
Traktor Pro S4 has a new sync ability, namely you can now load into a synced deck.  In other words, SYNC now is independent of phase.  You can scratch and drop in the normal way knowing your tracks are matched with tempo.  For the deckless DJs out there, have no fear.  There’s still a synchronous start, meaning if you hit play from a stopped deck it will play in phase.  Also, phase syncing is still an option.  If you still have your socks on, I don’t know what to tell you.  If you don’t own socks, I recommend argyle.

4.  New GUI
Traktor Pro S4 has a new GUI that looks like Xzibit and the Pimp My Ride crew teamed up with Tyra Banks and America’s Next Top Model to give Traktor a full body makeover.  Inner and outer beauty in full effect, while still maintaining its original essence.  Slick new color choices and lots of nice subtlety involving menus and buttons.

5.  Built-In Filters
The Kontrol S4 has built-in channel filters that must have been made by Outkast because they sound oh “so fresh and so clean clean.”  The filters are direct, in other words, you can feel the end points of the knobs.  2 thumbs up, 1 big toe up (one of my big toes is currently injured, so I can’t raise it, otherwise we’d have a 2 thumb + 2 big toe up scenario).

I personally can’t wait for this bad boy/girl to have real deal turntable compatibility.  In the meantime, sandwich samples, here I come.”

Comments

6
  • Create Digital Music » DJ Control: Details on Denon, NI, Novation, And, Oh Yeah… Practicing
  • 8/16/2010

[...] Shiftee at Dubspot, the guy you see in the launch video, lists his favorite five features on the S4. A lot of these features do have to do with software as much as hardware. Sample decks [...]

  • loop
  • 8/16/2010

great feedback! That’s actually the first (well second, after DJ TT’s / Ean’s) feedback from the real thing and outside of the specs and marketing info!

Someone said that Shiftee had only about an hour to play with the S4 before they shot the Video. Is that true ?

Cheers!

  • Traktor Kontrol S4 – New Product, New Shiftee Videos! | Shiftee's Palace
  • 8/16/2010

[...] out a list of my 5 favorite new features on the Dubspot Blog HERE. Share and [...]

  • Barrage
  • 8/16/2010

Shiftee is a beast. love all his vids.

  • DJ.SIR.G
  • 8/16/2010

I AM USEING TRAKOR 3,CAN I PUT MY EFFECTS IN MY HOY KEYS ?

  • Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 Out Today! Top 5 Features! | Dubspot Blog
  • 8/16/2010

[...] out Dubspot instructor and 2x DMC champ DJ Shiftee previewing the S4 in August and performing special routines using the Sample Decks and Loop Recorder, and outlines [...]