Product Spotlight - Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S8

Guitar Center's Product Spotlight provides a comprehensive overview of the Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S8.

TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 is a 4-channel stand-alone mixer, professional audio interface, and enhanced performance decks for ultimate control over the included TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO software. Touch-sensitive controls and high-res displays deliver DJ workflow that is truly cutting-edge. Gone are the familiar jog wheels of previous digital mixing systems, and instead is replaced with LED-guided, touch-strip controls for each deck. The enhanced workflow of the S8 also incorporates touch-sensitive knobs, high-resolution displays, responsive remix deck controls, an on-board 4-channel mixer, and more.

[bluemagneticnight]

They took the jog wheels out because of too much space on the controller. This was an innovative decision in that they risked having the ability of working with the controller without the computer if need be for an entire set (just the computer to the side). This IMO is the best mixer/sampler/midi controller out TO DATE, because of the mesh of all of these things and relying more on the mixer and cue buttons rather than adding worthless jogwheels that do not move like the S4 ones don't. Hell, add two vinyl controllers and you have one hell of a deadly set up. Big up to Native Instruments.

[bboymac]

Nice. I can't wait till the screens are touch screen and you can plug your HD in it

[delanomuzik]

Saw the S8 in Ibiza before Enter: Richie Hawtin at Space

[djtorchmusic]

I like the controller. But stating that the touch strip is better than a jog wheel or turntable is a stretch IMO. There are certain manipulations and nuances touch strips cannot do. Also touch strips have been around for over 15 years and they just didn't work out. This is a great piece for "button pushers" but I'd be tempted to add a "circular" controller to this setup. Too bad they did nothing with ipads for at lease visual feedback if not allowing one to use the extended surface of the ipad to control the tracks. Again, it's still funny to me how he "dissed" jog wheels and turntables when that's really the true essence and heritage of the Art of being a DJ.