DJ Craze outs the Traktor Kontrol Z2. Ooops.

How smug does DJ Craze look in this picture? Well you would too if you had NI's latest Traktor Kontrol Z2 in your lap. Instagram leakage ahoy.

DJ Craze Traktor Kontrol Z2

Hard to tell if he’s sleeping or in the throws of gear pr0n induced pleasure, but bazillion times world champion DJ Craze just couldn’t contain himself when Native Instruments dropped off their recently teased new thing. Twitter lit up after he posted this on Instagram, and with good reason.

So as you can see, it’s a mixer called the Traktor Kontrol Z2. There’s a whole story about the teaser and trying to keep the name under wraps, but that’s of little interest to anyone outside of the trade and media. But I hereby add a second golden rule for marketeers. The first is not to leave anything on a web server that you don’t want people to find – because they will. The new rule not to put something in a teaser video that you don’t want them to know.

As far as the Kontrol Z2 goes – unmistakably NI. But seeing the whole faceplate laid out like that, does underline to me how Native have gone more for simplicity. This is about offering the basics in a very logical and well spaced manner, and leaving the extras i.e. the things people may or may not want in additional units. It would be easy to cram more buttons in there, but NI already have boxes that do all those extras.

And what of the name? Looking at the industry’s naming convention for products, and NI’s own track record, the logical extension of this is a 4 channel variant. But if or when that will happen is anyone’s guess. I was certainly met with a few grins and evasive subject-changing parries from NI when I asked a couple of weeks ago.

There are still some things that have yet to make it out into the public sphere, but I guess that will appear in a matter of days now. I’m still undecided if this is Craze shooting his load early or if it’s a planned “leak”. Either way, you know a little more than you did before. I’m very much looking forward to handling one for myself. Yes, that’s a hint.

Mark Settle
Mark Settle

The old Editor of DJWORX - you can now find Mark at WORXLAB

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37 Comments

    • Can’t imagine it to be that cheap. an A6 is 299 plus other in/outs, case, rest of the pots, knobs, plus other stuff. probably bundled with Traktor Scratch 2.5 or 3 or whatever. Probably upwards of 1000.

      • But with the Z2 you won’t need a soundcard, its just plug and play. I think the z2 will be bundled with scratch 2.5.x.x.x something or other. To be competetive with the djm t1, anything from around 800-1000 MSRP. With you buying it online probably towards the cheaper end. However, if it turns out to be fully standalone, as in no computer even required, cdjs and turntables just work with it, it may justify the higher price to edge out pioneer.

        • Well that’s what i mean. I mean that it is essentially an A6 plus those things in one. I agree with your pricing though. figure it’ll hit the 1000 price point and end up online in the 900 range.

  1. I really really really hope this has some solid construction to it. If it’s built like a tank i’ll forgive them for using the NI exclusive fingerprint magnet.

  2. The knob over the loops has something strange under it. At first glance looks like a possible label, like a ghetto black stuck on, or is it something else? if its a label it doesnt match the rest of the writing on the mixer.

  3. Full circle like a mug. Nothing wrong with that, but damn, lots of meat and not enough potatoes if ya ask me. Well Mark, it looks like the industry really does listen to you. 2 and a half channels in a pro package. Still, I’m not sure I’m satisfied. But idk, spose I’ll just have to get me mits on it and find out.

  4. IMHO, this mixer is NOT a big deal by itself; it’s simply a battle mixer that (hopefully) has integration with Traktor Scratch Pro. Think NI’s version of the TTM57SL. Hopefully the Z2 will be cheaper than that though.

    The magic would occur with the missing ingredient: the yet-unannounced single deck S1. With the S1 and Z2, there will be a portable and customizable (with the X1, F1) setups built around Traktor – think Stanton’s SC System, but affordable.

    Of course, we’ll all be excited for a Z4, but the real magic happens with the (hopeful) S1.

    -KLH

    • I think you are 100% correct. My guess is it’s going to be a virtual motorized medialess platter, possibly USB powered (through the hub on the Z2),which outputs either HID or timecode. And once Traktor and Maschine are fully integrated, you could have a deck one one side, and a Maschine on the other.

  5. xfader looks short…like s2/s4 short. Not a huge deal I figure, but still looks like a short throw. Also, those cue switches are probably backlit which is why it’s so dark. I am VERY curious about the price…I wish Traktor would at the very least play video files (I don’t care if no video output). I would probably switch from Serato full time.

  6. I think the black “labels” ever the channel faders are the “On Air” indicators similar to that of the S4… I thought I read a rumor somewhere that this mixer may have the ability to control all four decks…

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