While concurrently developing Traktor DJ 2, Native Instruments is pushing forward with the development of their current flagship Traktor Pro 3 with a handful of long awaited features via the release of Traktor Pro 3.1. And by long awaited I mean that the community has been screaming for some of them for literally years.
Here’s the nicely compact list of updates:
PARALLEL WAVEFORMS
TRAKTOR 3.1 sees the introduction of parallel waveforms – a feature that’s long been requested by the community. These work for both track and Stem Decks, and support up to four decks at a time.SINGLE-DECK VIEW
For preparing tracks and sets, users can now use the entire screen to view a single deck, and insert Hotcues, loops, or make adjustments to the beatgrid.STABILITY, BUG FIXES, AND OVERMAPPING
As always, we’ve ironed out any creases and further improved the stability of TRAKTOR PRO 3. Overmapping is now available for the D2 and S8.TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 STANDALONE MIXER MODE
We’ve updated the firmware for the S4, so it now works as a standalone mixer without a laptop connected. The Mixer FX knob doubles up as a silky smooth filter – so users can hook up some turntables for a back-to-wax mix session.
CHOICE IS GOOD
The way waveforms are handled in the assorted apps has in part defined its user base. At times it has felt like the Lilliput/Blefuscu pointless egg war in Gulliver’s Travels. I’ve read threads where opposing sides will vehemently defend their choice of horizontal or vertical waveforms, rather than admit that either way is just fine, and that choice is good.
So it’s great to see Traktor Pro 3.1 get a huge overhaul in this area, and to pull down the arbitrary walls that divided software for too long. And it’s also great to see a single deck view finally added too. The Traktor interface has always put me off becoming a regular user, so these changes make me very happy indeed, and the addition of mixer mode may well help the Kontrol S4 MK3 appeal to a large audience.
GALLERY
When the S4 Mk 3 was first announced, I decided not to buy as it didn’t have the Standalone feature. However a few weeks ago (after reading about the forthcoming firmware update) I finally brought one, with the anticipation of being able to have a backup source connected to a channel in case the software crashed.
Welll…… to say i’m disappointed is a bit of an understatement. Yes you can use the S4 as a standalone mixer, but it’s “Mixer OR controller”. You can’t switch individual channels to standalone mode (like my Z2).
So if you want to use it standalone, you have to pull the USB lead first. And in a “crash” scenario, if you’ve managed to switch to an external source & you’ve then solved your computer problems. There’s no neat way of getting back from standalone to controller.
It also means you cant put a mic directly through the hardware on Channel 4, & carry on using software on 1-3.
Very very disappointed!
Oh man are you serious?!?! Oh wow that is really unfortunate. They definitely cut a corner right there!
Traktor and NI
Where i`m from they call that “throwing good money after bad”
I`d do without before i gave them another nickel.