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.
“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.”
