Native Instruments teases new all-in-one Traktor controller, enlists Dubfire to help

Even though it's made bits and pieces of DJ hardware for years, Native Instruments has steered clear of the burgeoning all-in-one controller market, leaving that to third-party players like Hercules, Behringer, Stanton, Allen & Heath, and Numark. Thing is, archrival Serato has been taking it to the paint with its Itch systems lately, so it looks like NI getting ready to step up its game. We've just been tossed a video of Dubfire testing out a mysterious, unnamed rig connected to an updated version of Traktor out at Ibiza, and for Traktor DJs, this looks like it could be the hardware you've been waiting for -- especially if the X1 wasn't quite enough to satisfy your deepest, darkest desires. We don't know what the deal is with this thing other than that it's "upcoming," so we'll toss you details just as soon as we have them.

[JohnnyKilowatt Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:39PM]

I'm digging those samples decks in the interface. Bundle it with Traktor and put it on the market for less than 800 bucks and I'm ready to buy.

[HaZaRd Posted Jul 21st 2010 3:05PM]

@JohnnyKilowatt

No way this thing will be $800. It's got four decks, it's fully metered, comes with a custom version of Traktor and it's (in all likelihood) built like a tank. Expect this to be more along the $1,500-$2,000 range--up there with the Allen & Heath Xone:DX.

[adamtehman Posted Jul 21st 2010 3:23PM]

@HaZaRd Hmmmm... I really could see it going either way. They don't want to make the complete package (hardware + software) more expensive than Serato Itch.

[drnknmnky Posted Jul 21st 2010 8:39PM]

@HaZaRd I don't think so. It's gonna be $600-$800 tops...if you see in the video...he still has an Audio8 Running at the top of the unit....so looks like no built in Audio card....
Even the Allen & Heath Xone:DX which has built in 20 channel audio is only $1299.00 US....
I'm thinking they gonna come out with pure midi controller.....no Audio.

Maybe all in one unit later....

[McKirf Posted Jul 22nd 2010 12:14AM]

@JohnnyKilowatt

I drove my tractor until the cows came home!

[Joseph9307 Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:39PM]

Native Instruments--for the DJ Hero in YOU.

[GnuGeek Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:41PM]

Dubfire / DeepDish were gods. Still enjoy GU025.
But will this be as good?

[sirphunkee Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:50PM]

@GnuGeek

+1

One of the best GU sets there are (which is saying a lot!)

[adamtehman Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:45PM]

I hope this is decent. If the integration is tight, I'll definitely be selling my xponent. did that look like a new version of Traktor to anyone else?

[Chris Ziegler Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:47PM]

@adamtehman Yep, it is.

[adamtehman Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:48PM]

@Chris Ziegler **salivates***

[mrtexasfreedom Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:56PM]

is this just an advertisement?

[sainifabulous Posted Jul 21st 2010 4:38PM]

That's cool. Still prefer a NS7 though.

[feralchimp Posted Jul 21st 2010 5:43PM]

The X1 made sense to me; it's a good add-on for what many users, at various levels, are already using. Anything that bakes in the audio i/o, let alone the mixer, is over-integrated. It's all pr0n gear: sexy but way overpriced, resistant to customization, and with nightmarish failure modes unless you can afford to roll with two of them.

There's a reason most of the hardcore controllerism kids are still rocking VCI-100s instead of VCI-300s.

On that note, "Hercules, Behringer, Stanton, Allen & Heath, and Numark" are not real players in the overall "hardware to control DJ software" space. Traktor dominates the DJ software space, and the Traktor controller market is dominated by Vestax from the midrange up, with lots of M-Audio success at the low end.

Things get more diverse and interesting when Ableton is the MIDI target...Akai's great APC-40, Novation's uncharacterically value-priced alternative to all the Arduino shit, etc.

I'd rather roll with vinyl control and a nice audio interface than rock an NS7...more flexibility, better resale.

[kenny goo Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:26PM]

Traktor? *Skin crawls* The only two things I'll use are Serato and (if I have to) Virtual DJ. If I can, I'll get on a pair of CDJ-800s with the Rane TTM 57 SL, but I'll settle for a shitty MIDI controller if I got to. I just need some decent software.