Joe Easton Traktor Kontrol s4 mk3 mod (3)
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Traktor S4 Mk3 screen hack hits version 2.0

Flashback to a simpler time, before plagues, and crazy politicians. September 2019, to be exact. We talked about screens on controllers, and, more specifically, how Traktor is missing a trick as far as functionality goes. The Traktor Kontrol S4 Mk3’s tiny screens were singled out as a missed opportunity. At the time, Traktor fan Joe Easton was working on extending the screen functionality and had just hit version 1.3.

Traktor S4 Mk3 screen hack hits version 2.0

Since then, Joe has kept up his work, as well as keeping in touch directly with Native Instruments about the project, and has just released version 2.0:

  • Browser can now be opened on a single deck by using the ‘view’ button
  • Full screen browser now opens using the ‘add to prep list’ button and is closed again using the ‘view’ button
  • ‘Add to prep list’ button functions as normal with the full screen browser
  • Browser is now closed when loading a track
  • When full screen browser is opened, the lest screen with show the track list and the right screen will show the detailed track info as well as the album art
  • Added Windows installation executables

You can see the single deck browser in action in his demo video.

Traktor S4 Mk3 screen hack hits version 2.0

My thoughts

Arguably, Joe has been effectively doing NI’s work for them, making the S4’s screens work how they should have out of the box. Somehow, it feels a bit systemic of the issues Traktor is currently facing, and it saddens me. I’ve spent most of two decades as a Traktor user, and couldn’t imagine using anything else, which is why I’d also say that these sort of projects are part of what makes Traktor so great. You just don’t get this sort of customisability with any of the other DJ apps.

The project’s biggest hurdle is that it is working with very little screen real estate, limiting what can actually be displayed. Joe has mitigated this by adding contextual UI, like the browser, and making it aware of which deck layer is active. When you switch from deck A to deck C, turn on the browser, then switch back, it remembers which deck has the browser up.

This all pushes me to a certain conclusion: While the Traktor software has its issues, the real problems currently lie on the hardware side. Very little has been made of the haptic tech and clever jogs, those screens are just offensive honestly, and the S3 is just an odd product decision… almost an over-reaction to the whole mouth-frothing “OE NOES WHERE DE JOGZ?!” from the previous generation.

I am aware that there’s still a future for the software though, and if things pan out, it could signal a return to form for the product.

Your thoughts

How would you like the screens on controllers to be used? Is there anything you think is missing from the functionality?

You can grab the 2.0 update over on Joe’s Patreon page.

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Dan Morse
Writer-reviewer
Opinionated DJWORX newsie. Loves Traktor, analogue mixers, vinyl and Android. The best Techno bedroom DJ you know.
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14 Comments

  1. 5 years ago, for instance, when Traktor didn’t have Smartcrates/Smartplaylists, you’d never read something like this here –
    “Somehow, it feels a bit systemic of the issues Traktor is currently facing, and it saddens me.”
    A correct statement NOW – they still don’t have Smartcrates/Smartplaylists – but it was also relevant THEN. IMHO, reviewers, such as yourselves, share some of the blame for not being more critical of Traktor when it might have made a difference. What good does it do you, the industry, or DJ’s, if Traktor goes the way of the Dodo bird?

    Another example –
    “The temptation is to throw myself into Cross DJ 4 and play for a few days. And at some point I will”
    What the heck is that?? How does that address some of V4.2’s issues?

    1. Oh we have been critical, many times over, and face to face too. But they don’t want advice — they just want positive PR. And we’ve done it precisely because none of us want NI and Traktor to fail.

  2. “You just don’t get this sort of customisability with any of the other DJ apps.”

    *vdj users will read this and say “wut”?

  3. The S4 screens are possible because QML code is open on traktor.
    https://github.com/kokernutz/traktor-kontrol-screens/tree/master/Screens/S4MK3

    I’ve been working in the last 2 years in the DDJ-1000 MIDI mapping for traktor, having extended it well beyond the limits using BOME. https://maps.djtechtools.com/mappings/9279

    However in MIDI its impossible to support the waveforms, and I have A LOT of workarounds and approximations.
    https://www.native-instruments.com/forum/threads/controller-support-pioneer-ddj-1000.327477/page-3#post-1897289

    > Joe has been effectively doing NI’s work for them,
    If QML would be opened for the DDJ-1000, I would do it too.

    > You just don’t get this sort of customisability with any of the other DJ apps.
    MIXXX is fully open.
    After the RB6 database encryption story last week, and all this years of Traktor workarounds, it looks the best way forward.

    I already finished a pending release of the CMDR TSI edtor and I will finish a pending release of the DDJ-1000 TK mapping, and then I will DEFINITLY take a deep dive in MIXXX.

  4. I remember when Serato used to be a curse word around these parts. I mean you guys blatantly hated it. TBH I feel like it was so connected that DJTT lost something along with Traktor over the years. If the single platform you are swearing by just isn’t delivering and you are not reading the SO obvious writings on the wall (or at least not reading them out loud for your readers to hear as well) then one finds an alternate outlet which reflects what is realistically happening. Serato taking over was a sure thing and it was just never discussed and was even dismissed. Now here we are Pio just shot themselves in the foot, N.I. is doing god knows what, spotify is dropping Djay, VDJ………….. is VDJ, Cross has gone backwards, MIXXX is great (as Pedro said) but they just don’t have the core features or partnership so who does this leave?

      1. LOL sorry for late reply but yeah it was actually a case of mistaken identity. I must have though I was on techtools when I originally read this……….. woops.

  5. NI was focused on x86 platform (said by its CEO on interviews) and avoid for too long embed devices (including iOS which had an attempt that become a fail). That decision stagnated the whole NI ecosystem meanwhile market was shifting into embed devices (standalone and iOS). If NI has kept the strategy until Apple ends the merge of its systems maybe they could justify it but that found 2 drawbacks. First being so dependent on Apple which was also shifting from x86 into Arm and Professionalism into Prosumerism. Second the inner troubles with investors asking for revenue…
    Hearing the old mindset crowd about “jogs” has put Traktor into a “no man’d land” but let’s hope they survive and don’t become Torq2-synchroscience… BTW Chad Carrier was involved in both and now is who provided haptic technology but it seems as partner not as internal employee anymore…
    The technology to basic A>B mixing is more than evolved (harmonic mixing is the last trend and even in that Traktor is behind competition) meanwhile streaming services don’t seem to take off (probably due copyright as usual). AI continues growing and perhaps covid come to change definitively the rules…
    The only reason that keeps me interested on Traktor is the (now old) idea of full scratchable stems/remix decks but the new TDJ2 hasn’t dvs and probably, if arrive, will be too late (and after lots of controllers like ssl>SDJ transition).
    There are too many options out there to just remix dubwise like Ableton (or like Renoise, Launchpad app, Zenbeats, GroupTheLoop, hardware loopers and hardware samplers etc etc etc) to justify keep me with Traktor. I hope something fresh is coming but maybe we are looking to the true end of an era…

  6. As a hobbyist dj, my main stumbling block for all dj software remains the same – it relies on a laptop. I use a laptop for work so the last thing I want to do is dj using one. It’s not a luddite thing – using software to perform tasks is something I do in my work but that’s the problem, using a laptop feels like work and as someone who djs as a hobby and a hobby only, I don’t want to use one. If the screen is on the equipment, that is fine. So screens that provide enough info and that are part of the hardware remains my preferred option for me. Until then, I’ll stick to antiquated technology to avoid that situation unless hardware with screens becomes more prevalent (and cheaper).

    1. I think people need to get over the “hardware FTW” dream. It sounds great on paper and sounds even better to say out lout but it is not practical. In reality it is what you think you want but NOT what you need and after year one when tech has moved on and you are stuck with your 1.0 HW (which btw is STILL a computer (processor, mass storage, screens, input for keyboard and access to internet via wi-fi or Ethernet?………… yah computer) which cost an arm and a leg and you realize the next thing you want to do ………… requires you use a computer, what happens then?

      1. Well, I didn’t say what I wanted was practical or likely to happen. I don’t think it will. If I was a pro DJ then using a laptop would likely be a necessary evil that I”d adjust to (based on the mantra that ‘the preparation is work, the performance is play’) because that would be my ‘work’. But as someone who just does this as a hobby, I have a different perspective on it and being stuck in front of my laptop for my hobby after being stuck in front of my laptop for 8+ hours a day for my day job is not remotely appealing.

        With screens on hardware there is enough of a disassociation that my brain makes between that and a computer screen that I don’t make that negative connection between day job (work) and my hobby (play). The dj hardware has only one purpose for me so I can switch off properly and enjoy it. Like I say, that’s just for my purposes. For working DJs I imagine it’s different.

        1. You can pickup a controller with a bigger screen. Check Denon. As far as your hobby: when or if you begin to delve more into this craft, the performance is play will actually be more performance as family & friends may begin to dismiss the hobbyist title you’ve acquired. Don’t you think they like to dance too? Anyone can play the top 40 songs but we already have pandora, spotify & other choices to offer the randomness based on the genres of music you’ve exposed yourself to. It could be a lot more challenging than that work you’re doing on your laptop.