DMC champ DJ Rafik puts Native Instruments' Traktor Kontrol X1 through its paces (video)
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted December 10th 2009 2:37PM
posted December 10th 2009 2:37PM
That Traktor Kontrol X1 hardware controller that one eagle-eyed trainspotter hepped us to a while back isn't out until February, but in the meantime Native Instruments (and the editors of Engadget) thought you might enjoy seeing the thing in action. Going for $229, this bad boy connects to your Mac or PC via USB and integrates fully with Traktor to allow you all the access to controls and effects normally reserved for the mouse / trackpad -- as you know, there really is nothing less "rock'n'roll" (er, "rave") than a mouse or a trackpad. Go past the break to get your block rocked (or something) by DMC world champ DJ Rafik.
See more video at our hub!
I wish I could I scratch
What crazy foo would buy this? Damn Rick'n'Roll
Sik!
Superb job! Wish mixing was getting more coverage instead of just scratching though.
@5ADime Scratching is a gimmick in my eyes.
@(Unverified) Completely agree. I've been DJing for about 5 years now. I mean, yes, scratching has a large part in the turntablist culture, but there is much more to it then just that.
For the past year, I've been very into mashups. I'm actually going on tour now. I love it. I just need now a new piece of software for my mashing. Right now I use Audacity (don't laugh haha). It can change tempo, pitch, and speed of acapellas and instrumentals, as most of this site should know.
I need something though that is more advance; something that offers a drum machine, different forms of custom percussion, and more effects. I think the only thing keeping me back right now is the software, and I just don't know what to use. Do you have any ideas?
By the way, I made this in Audacity.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?jowmmmdjrut
And please, no one flag me as a spammer, I'm just trying to see what he thinks I can improve on or if what I did in Audacity was good and if going to another program could offer me more options.
Thanks.
VERY CRAFTY!
Bundle with Traktor or GTFO.
Cool, but as a SSL and Traktor user they really need to work on Traktor's sound quality and stability, while the controllers are great, the built in soundFX are cool, but on a 15'' laptop screen the UI is crowded (couldn't imagine trying to use it on a netbook) and the timestreching quality just isn't as good as SSL or even Abelton. I think Traktor has a lot of potential and it has gone a long way from the original Ipod-DJ style program it used to be. I hope it doesn't go the way of Torq.
Just my 2 cents.
@(Unverified)
Ableton 8 and Traktor both use the same stretching tech.. élastique Pro.
The stability could use some work though, lol.
@(Unverified) One program I noticed you didn't mention was Deckadance, by Image-Line. Currently it's my fav, and the integration with FL studio is the tops. Worth a checking out if I do say so my self.
Here's the deal: I can beat match with a jog wheel, touch sensitive or not, or I can use pitch bending buttons. I can switch between absolute and relative mode in Serato if need be as well. And obviously, I know how to use my crossfader, volume faders, and pitch sliders. In other words, I don't need any ridiculous auto sync.
Problem is though, I can't pitch match by ear. I don't do this professionally (any more) I just do it for shit and giggles, and so my pitch matching is done visually. If both tracks don't scroll side by side like Serato or Virtual DJ, then the program is of no use to me. In other words, I don't use Traktor.
@kenny goo Agreed. Traktor is unusable to me because of the bizarre way they display waveforms and beat sync. I've been using CUE LE, which came free with my Numark Total Control, and it uses the same display style as Serato, i.e. two waveforms on top of each other. Mad props to DJs who can do it all by ear but I'm not one of them.
@kenny goo i think you mean beat matching. if you could visually pitch match i would be impressed :-p
"connects to your Mac or PC"
*facepalm*
Did I end up on Apple.com when I wanted to visit Engadget?
http://www.pcmech.com/article/reality-check-a-mac-is-a-pc/
They should have Dj Scratch Bastrd Play instead. He is reigning world Champ. This guys a joke. Yes I can dj as well....
Wow DJ Hero II?
he was more interesting on the maschine, love rafik
I'll give him credit for using Ortofon cartridges instead of the shitty Stanton 500s that have inexplicably gained currency with this crowd.
I recently bought a Maschine and I'm about to play my first set with it in two months. NI is fu(king amazing! No decks for me though. All with Ableton Live.
Im going Traktor for when we start our new night in the UK
Its immense making your own 4 track techno monster on the fly
who said rafik is a joke? really? post a video then. im not a rafik fanboy but dude has skill. his routines are on some euro steez. but his freestyles have some funk in them.
as for the video. you can do the hotcue drumming on serato with a midi pad... or your keyboard if you like... but you'd probably end up beating your keyboard to death. traktor has a lot more as far as number of hotcues, more loops and concurrent loops.... but i didnt really see that utilized in the video. the sound quality and tracking on traktor is a lot better. serato would digitize out on the scratching.
and the traktor effects are nice. midi controlling everything on the UI really is an advantage. interesting video. but i don't think its all that "revolutionary".
you can arrange the layout and keyboard functions of traktor to match serato.
if you can't beat match by ear #youcantdj.
Anything that makes the skills of DJs more obvious is a good thing. This technology clearly needs practice to do what he's doing but I dont really see anything soooo new in the end result. What would be great is to see people take up the possibilities of the new technologies and not try and make it like it was a set from the DMC championships in 1990 at Wembly arena.
Pacemaker mixing while breakdancing anyone?
http://nukleuz.com