Traktor 2.10 released — the back door is opened again

Traktor 2.10 adds support for the new Kontrol S5, but for many of us importantly reopens the audio interface back door closed in 2.9. Yay.

traktor 2.10

Traktor Pro oh so slowly drags itself towards the inevitability of Traktor Pro 3 in the slowest of incremental steps. This release accommodates the impending Traktor Kontrol S5 release, plus some other bug fixes too. Most importantly however, the previously closed back door that allowed non-certified mixers to work via the well publicised hack has been opened again. Rejoice.

Here are the words:

The TRAKTOR Team is pleased to announce that a new version of TRAKTOR PRO 2 – version 2.10 – is now available for download via Service Center. Version 2.10 introduces support for the new TRAKTOR KONTROL S5 4-channel DJ system, set for release on October 1, 2015, and some important fixes. The update is free.

Here’s a brief outline of what’s new in this version:

NEW FEATURES AND ENHANCEMENTS

  • TRAKTOR KONTROL S5 SUPPORT
    TRAKTOR PRO 2 now supports the new TRAKTOR KONTROL S5 all-in-one controller. The TRAKTOR PRO 2.10 update also includes the required Controller Editor update for TRAKTOR KONTROL S5.
  • AUX INPUT NOW SUPPORTS 2 STEREO INPUTS
    TRAKTOR KONTROL S5 features a Mic and an Aux line input that both feed through the ‘AUX’ knob in TRAKTOR PRO 2. To support simultaneous routing of both audio signals, the ‘Aux Input’ section of the ‘input routing’ preference page in TRAKTOR PRO 2 now features two inputs that can be fed to the ‘AUX’ knob together. This feature is available for all users.

FIXES AND IMPROVEMENTS

  • Scratch Support restored for legacy Scratch Certified devices
  • Fixed Remix Deck tempo control from TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 and D2
  • Fixed freezes/crashes due to certain ID3 tagging WAV files

ABOUT THAT BACK DOOR

The back door I’m talking about is Chad G’s hack that allows non-certified mixers to run Traktor Scratch Pro without an NI audio interface. In V2.9, it seems that the door was closed, seemingly accidentally it turns out. V2.10 fixes that, and does demonstrate that NI is aware of this kind of shenanigans, and does at least tolerate, perhaps condone, but definitely maybe unofficially supporting this method of foisting Traktor Scratch Pro onto mixers not designed for it.

Cheeky, but the more mixers running without an interface the better for me. It’s just another sign of NI’s closed ecosystem being a tad more open… if you know where to look that is.

Mark Settle
Mark Settle

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

Articles: 1228

29 Comments

  1. Interesting… Mister Dj QBERT will be pleased to know it :-) Now he will be able to use the DJM S9 with his favorite software…
    I think this door reopening and the fact that you (are authorized to) write on it, demonstrates N.I new strategy to face off Serato and especially Rekordbox !!!

    • I’ve always said that Traktors true strength is its’ flexibility and the fact that NI became proactive with the release of a 64 bit kernel. We see a few problems with Serato crashing due to Playlist size and only having 2Gb of RAM that is allocated for applications. Due to Pioneer not releasing 64 bit drivers thus far, I’d venture to say that they may face the same problems with their release. Personally, I feel as if Serato and Rekordbox dj may lose a bit of market traction due to legacy support considering many dj softwares have already made the change to 64 bit.

  2. I think that:
    Traktor will be more open in Pro 3 to every Mixer, will improve a little bit their software (read: flexible beatgrid, Machine, etc..) and they destroy Serato. The Future is Rekordbox and Traktor…(and VDJ..other kind of audience.).
    That’s all.

    Customer that want use Traktor “serious” will still buy their sundcard.
    Z2 is starting to be little bit Update

    My Only doubts: Traktor is damn slow..damn not follow customer advice…damn pretend to be an “apple” in this small small small Dj market where if You not move fast You will be out quick (see Serato)

    I cross finger for a good TraktorPro 3. Could do the game again interesting!

  3. And still no Traktor Pro 3, despite the impressive looming threat from Pioneer’s rapid development. Even Serato have stepped up their game significantly from the Itch days. In the face of all this buzz, Traktor has barely had a handful of maintenance updates. It feels like Pro 3 is about a year late to the party at this point. Is something up? I’m surprised no DJ tech blog has really asked that question.

    I keep telling myself that it’s all because a big, ground up update must be just a month or two away but after about 18-24 months, i’m starting to wonder if development is just winding down from innovation to maintenance, for good. It’s starting to feel very dated. Mixmeister Fusion, anyone? :P

    The great S5/S8 hardware is wasted on the software. If Pioneer put together a good Kontrol S5 equivalent I think I may well jump ship.

    I think we’re getting to a point that we don’t want gimmicks complicating the interface but want the fundamentals and general flow to feel fresh, modern and smarter. Less gimmicks, more instant hands-on accessibility.

    My hope is that Traktor are going to go full on Apple and create a really ambitious, optimised, elegant, smooth marriage of new hardware and software designed exclusively for each other. There’ll be no Laptop, all processing will be done entirely onboard and controlled via responsive touchscreens.

    It’s basically that or Pioneer will drink their milkshake

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