Jul 10, 2018  If you have done everything right, plug your controller into your iOS device and run djay Pro or Cross DJ Pro. Your controller should work with the app. Problems You Might Encounter. Some controllers, like the VCI-300MK2 I used, and other controllers with optional power adapter, need much more power than what an iOS device can supply. Oct 12, 2019  Slant is powered by a community that helps you make informed decisions. Tell us what you’re passionate about to get your personalized feed and help others. Limited range of compatible controllers. Traktor Pro 2. My Rec ommendation for Traktor Pro 2. My Recommendation for Traktor Pro 2. Add Video or Image. Recommend 1-Traktor LE.

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The beauty of Traktor is that the software can be used with any MIDI controller. Traktor’s flexibility allows DJs to use Traktor with a Native Instruments controller, a third party Traktor controller or any other MIDI device. No matter what controller you want to use with Traktor, the good news is it can and will work if you’re willing to invest a little time and energy into setting it up.

Why Use A Controller?

Before we examine how to set up a controller, let’s take a minute to examine why DJs might want to use a controller with Traktor in the first place. Using a controller allows DJs to navigate the software, load tracks and mix creatively without having to touch the computer. A controller allows DJs to focus their energy on the mix, and spend less time with their hands on laptops during performances.

Using Traktor With A Traktor-Ready Controller

One of the simplest ways to set up a controller with Traktor is to use a Traktor-ready controller. These are manufactured by Native Instruments and many other companies including Allen and Heath, Pioneer DJ and many more. A list of compatible Traktor ready controllers can be found here.

These controllers have been manufactured to have enhanced integration and compatibility with Traktor. A Traktor-ready controller takes a special approach, as the Traktor configuration has already been done and is automatically loaded in Traktor’s Setup Wizard. To setup a Traktor-ready controller, open Traktor’s Setup Wizard by opening Traktor’s Preferences and clicking on the Setup Wizard button.

Connect your controller, then select Next. Select Yes when asked if you are using an External Controller. Choose the manufacturer and model of the controller and click Next. Lastly, select your Setup. If you’d like to use the classic DJing setup, select two Track Decks, then click Finish.

You may need to define a MIDI port for the controller so it can communicate with Traktor. To do this, open Preferences and navigate to the Controller Manager. Click on the device menu and click on the mapping for your specific Traktor controller. Select the name of your controller in the In-Port and Out-Port drop down menu. Close the Preferences and check to see that the controller is working with Traktor.

Setting Up Other MIDI Controllers In Traktor

Any type of MIDI controller can be used with Traktor, but you will need to add a MIDI mapping to Traktor’s Controller Manager. A controller mapping creates a way for the knobs, faders, buttons and encoders of your MIDI controller to communicate with Traktor’s functions.

There are two options for doing this: either use an existing MIDI mapping or create an original MIDI mapping for the controller. The simplest solution is to use an existing MIDI mapping, but the disadvantage of this is that not all the features on the controller may be optimized for your personal use. Whether you add a MIDI mapping of your own or find one online, make sure to only add in one instance of the MIDI mapping in the Controller Manager. Multiple MIDI mappings may cause the mapping not to work correctly.

If you’ve found a MIDI mapping for your controller online, start by connecting the controller to the computer. A controller mapping has the extension .tsi at the end of the file name. To import the mapping, open Traktor’s Preferences and navigate to the Controller Manager. In the Device field, click on the Add button and select Import. Navigate to where the .tsi mapping file is stored, highlight it and click Open.

The MIDI mapping will be displayed in the assignment table. In the In-Port and Out-Port drop down menu, select the corresponding ports of the controller. Close the Preferences and test the controller to see if the mapping is functioning correctly.

Creating A Mapping

The most rewarding way of using a controller with Traktor is to create your own mapping. To start the process, I highly recommend sketching out which Traktor function each button, knob or fader will be mapped to. This will provide a guide for the mapping process which can be used once the mapping is finished. Once you have a plan for the features you will assign to each knob or button, you’re ready to begin mapping.

Start by connecting your controller to the computer, open Traktor’s Preferences and navigate to the Controller Manager. In the Device field, click on the Add button and select Generic MIDI. In the In-Port and Out-Port field, select the corresponding MIDI port name of your controller.

The Assignment Table holds all the assignments for the mapping. Add in the first mapping by clicking the Add In… underneath the Assignment Table and selecting the function you’d like to map. In the Device Mapping section, click Learn and then press or turn the corresponding button, knob or fader on your controller. In the Mapping Details section, you’ll need to select the Type of Controller (button, knob or fader) or Interaction Mode. There are many options available for Interaction Mode, which depend on the Type of Controller and control target of the selected assignment. Further research should be done on how each Interaction Mode functions before mapping.

There’s a section called Modifier Conditions which can be used, but it's intended for advanced mappings. Modifiers are control types in Traktor which define other conditions for other assignments in the same mapping. For example, if you want to have a button perform one function, but another function when you press on a Shift button, one way to accomplish this would be to use a Modifier.

Once your mapping is finished, or you would like to save the mapping, in the Controller Manager’s Device Setup section click Edit, then Export. Name your mapping and store it in a safe place on your computer. Close the Preferences and test to see that the mapping is working the way you’d like it to. If not, the mapping can easily be re-edited until you’re satisfied with its functionality.

Conclusion

Traktor is flexible and easily programmable software that works fluidly with any MIDI controller. Both Traktor-ready controllers and customized mappings improve Traktor’s functionality and can be a great benefit to a DJ’s live performance. Any MIDI controller can be used with Traktor if you’re willing to put in a bit of effort. The results are worth it!

New generation DJ controllers now have the combined functions of a player, mixer, and a software control mechanism, as well as many available connections for digital audio, to allow DJs to conveniently create their own high-quality beats and music.

What does a DJ controller do?

A full manual DJ setup is usually composed of the following separate components: a basic DJ controller (or another device that plays the audio), an audio interface that exports the audio to an external hardware and software, and a DJ software that provides sound effects and supports the controller with the mixing, aside from the DJ headphones and a good speaker system.

Over time, users found it to be more convenient to have a single device that already does all the playing, mixing, and sound controlling—and that’s where modern DJ controllers come in.

Integrated, all-in-one DJ controllers make it a lot easier for beginners and professionals to pull off a professional DJ set. They do everything from connecting two to four audio decks into the controller’s channels, giving any DJ easy access to different tracks for seamless mixing (with smooth transitions and matching beats between different audio channels) and customization (with the help of high quality equalizers, sound effects, and compatible DJ softwares) while enhancing the audio quality of your music for dance floor speaker systems.

You’ll find many different kinds of DJ controllers varying from a little more than $140 to almost $3,000, but they all typically include many of the same elements to help you deliver an amazing show.

Control Surface

The control surface, or the mixer, covers the biggest area on the controller and gives you full control over settings and software functions. They commonly feature the following elements:

• Knobs – A DJ controller typically has multiple sets of knobs. The first set, which is also called Gain or Trim, serves the purpose of manually setting the sound level of its own audio channel, so you can make sure that all channels are of the same overall volume. The second set is usually composed of three knobs (treble/hi, midrange/mid, bass/low) for sound equalization. The rest includes the Booth or Monitor knob, for setting volume levels for the mix; the Master knob, for adjusting volume levels of the Master Out or final sound output; and the Cue knob, for adjusting the headphone volume.
• Jog wheel – Also known as a job dial, shuttle dial, or shuttle wheel, the jog wheel is a type of knob, ring, or dial that can be used in order to increase or decrease the speed of your audio or video media when fine-tuning beats (beatmatching).
• Pads – Controller pads are the square-shaped buttons usually made of soft, rubbery material. Some controllers replace all jog wheels with pads on the control surface, but are perfectly good for beatmatching, chopping vocals, layering decks on top of each other, slicing through tracks, adjusting the length of slices, enabling loops, or even “finger drumming.”
• Faders – Sound signals travel through faders, which act like a faucet and can gradually increase or decrease the level of an audio signal with a horizontal or vertical slide of the knobs. DJs utilize crossfaders when transitioning from one audio track to another or when they want the crowd to hear both tracks, in which case the slider should be positioned in the middle.
• Buttons – Buttons on the control surface are usually for selecting which channels you want to hear before bringing it to the floor (also called Cue Mix selection buttons).
• Screens – More advanced and full-featured controllers have screens that indicate audio levels and other parameters, which give you more freedom to focus on the controller alone instead of staring at your laptop.
• Ports – Audio and USB ports allow you to connect to your channels or give you direct connections to your audio files without an external player.

Audio Interface

Chances are you already know that how you hear audio from your headphones will differ from how your crowd will hear it from the sound systems, because your player or computer is not intended for high resolution output for music production.

The audio interface helps amplify and improve the sound output from your DJ controller or computer by preparing the audio input and ensuring that you get the best version of your music while sampling or recording from more than one source. It may be built into your controller or come as an external device. It may also have outlets for your headphones, computer, or any other sound processor.

External Hardware Control

Some DJ softwares use external devices—such as computer mice, keyboards, touchpads, or even tablet and smartphones—for control. However, it can be time consuming to select and go through menus using such devices, which is why highly integrated DJ controllers make things easier by providing full operational functions and configurations within the device.

The Best DJ Controllers of 2018

• Numark Mixtrack 3 All-in-One Controller for Virtual DJ
• Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol F1 DJ Controller
• Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol Z1
• Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 MK2
• Allen & Heath XONE:K2 4-Channel Professional USB DJ MIDI Controller
• Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 MK2
• Pioneer DDJ-SR 2-Channel Performance for Serato DJ
• Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 MK2
• Numark NVII Intelligent Dual-Display Controller
• Pioneer Electronics RMX-1000-W Remix Station
• Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S8
• Pioneer Electronics DDJ-RZX Controller

Numark Mixtrack 3 All-in-One Controller for Virtual DJ, (Shop Now)

This Numark DJ controller was specifically designed for aspiring professional DJs, but is also one of the best DJ controllers for beginners. It has new and improved, high-resolution jog wheels, 16 multi-function performance pads, offers multiple FX manipulation, and includes the Prime Loops remix tool kit.

Choose this controller if: You want a trusted all-in-one controller for an affordable price.

Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol F1 DJ Controller, (Shop Now)

This Native Instruments Remix Decks controller has four volume faders, four dedicated filter knobs, and 16 colorful pads (which also replaces jog wheels) to give you complete control over slicing, looping, editing, and reconstructing audio samples.

It also works seamlessly with the Traktor Pro 2 software.

Choose this controller if: You work better with pads and are a big Traktor Pro fan.

Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol Z1, (Shop Now)

The Traktor Kontrol Z1 is a 2-channel mixer, controller, and sound card with a user-friendly work surface that gives full control over volume, sound equalization, effects, and even filters. This NI controller also offers advanced control over remix decks.

Choose this controller if: You want an affordable and compact controller to run Traktor Kontrol with while hooked up to your iPhone or iPad.

Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 MK2, (Shop Now)

The Native Instruments X1 MK2 controller works with existing Traktor rigs. It can control Traktor FX units and control two decks at the same time. Thanks to its version update, it offers smoother, more precise control over sound effects and more.

Choose this controller if: You have older gear but want to make the most out of Traktor Pro.

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Allen & Heath XONE:K2 4-Channel Professional USB DJ MIDI Controller, (Shop Now)

The Xone:K2 has a high quality 4-channel sound card that works with a wide range of DJ softwares, provides up to 171 MIDI commands across 3 layers, saves on computer USB ports by linking of multiple units using its X:LINK feature, allows you to create a customized layout, and even doubles as a stand.

Choose this controller if: You want both portability and high quality in a small MIDI DJ controller box.

Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 MK2, (Shop Now)

Despite its higher price tag, this all-in-one Traktor DJ controller is well-loved for its capability to work with Apple devices via its Lightning port. It uses the Traktor DJ app and offers dual hands-on decks with the coveted NI software. Oh, and it has more than 30 FX and can control up to 64 loops with its Remix Deck control.

Choose this controller if: You want iPhone or iPad capability and more FX choices.

Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 MK2, (Shop Now)

The S4 MK2 is the upgraded and enhanced version of everybody’s favorite classic Native Instruments controller. It has no screen, but it’s well-built, ergonomic, and has iOS support.

Choose this controller if: You’re a 4-channel Traktor user but prefer manual jog wheels.

Numark NVII Intelligent Dual-Display Controller, (Shop Now)

The Numark NV line was the first to give DJs the convenience of having a screen on their controllers and the second, upgraded version is well-loved for its slimmer size and more affordable price tag.

Maschine is a next-generation groove production studio that makes beat creation and arrangement more immediate and tactile than ever before. The system combines an advanced software sequencer and sampler with a seamlessly integrated, highly functional performance controller. Groove machine vst torrent download.

Aside from the integrated display, this controller offers a wide array of dedicated hardware controls for all of the most essential software functions.

Choose this controller if: You prefer to use the Serato software and focus on the controller instead of your laptop.

Pioneer Electronics RMX-1000-W Remix Station, (Shop Now)

The compact RMX-100-W comes in a sleek pearl white body, which offers a refreshing and attractive alternative to the usual black. It boasts of its Scene FX section, where users can choose between five Build Up effects and five Build Down effects, aside from other sections that add a wide variety of unique sound effects.

Choose this controller if: You want access to many additional built-in remix sound effects for better control of musical developments.

Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S8, (Shop Now)

Regarded as the best flagship controller that provides the best Traktor integration, this top-of-the-line controller has screens that allow you to go laptop-free, and enables timecode use. While it has lesser jog wheels, this “smart” controller provides flexible standalone options for any serious DJ.

Choose this controller if: You want the most fully-featured and highly integrated controller in the market—and can afford it.

Pioneer Electronics DDJ-RZX Controller, (Shop Now)

The Pioneer Electronics DDJ-RZX is a premium professional DJ controller that offers 4 channels, two full-sized jog wheels, three 7-inch touchscreen displays, mic output with special effects (Echo, Reverb, Pitch, or V-Tune), and many other additional functionalities and effects that can contribute to a spectacular full-length show or concert.

Choose this controller if: You have serious money to spend for a complete, professional controller set with plenty of add-ons.

Tips for Buying a DJ Controller

Now that you’ve checked out our best DJ controllers for 2018, you may be asking yourself this question: “What DJ controller should I buy?”

Before dropping your hard-earned cash on any of these controllers, you’ll want to make sure that it will actually be worth your money and time. After all, there’s no point in getting a controller that doesn’t fit your needs, as it will simply go unused and you’ll just end up buying one again.

Below are some of the main factors to consider when buying your own DJ controller:

Build Quality and Portability

You’ll want to make sure that your DJ controller is sturdy enough to hold up and last you for a long time. If you’re a mobile DJ who has to lug the controller around to perform at different venues, you’ll definitely want a portable and lightweight controller with durable knobs, pads, buttons, and jog wheels that you won’t have to replace right away.

Whether you’re looking for a controller for recreational or professional use, you may want to consider well-known brands (such as those mentioned above) to ensure that your controller has passed good quality standards for use and build.

Controls

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Do you already have a set budget and a preferred brand, but unsure about which model to go for? You can consider the controller’s layout and available controls. Make sure that you can work with its arrangement comfortably and easily. As you progress in your craft, this is one factor that you should never overlook. After all, the best DJ controller for you is the one that you can work best with.

Software and Hardware Compatibility

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Today’s controllers typically come with bundled software that has been tried and tested in terms of compatibility. Some DJs use other softwares, but unless you have significant experience in using a different software, you’re better off using the recommended software for a more seamless operation and optimum functionality.

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You’ll also want to make sure that its audio interface has the right amount of input and output ports, depending on your specific needs. This also greatly depends on whether you’re building a modular set up composed of separate devices or going for an all-in-one controller to make up a full DJ setup, so it’s best to plan ahead in terms of hardware needs.

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