Traktor Kontrol Z1

[8bit]

Maybe this should be in the computers and gadgets section?

Anyway, anyone using one of these? I've been DJing with vinyl for about 16 years now and fancied dipping a toe into digital mixing. From what I can make out on the NI website, I should be able to "DJ" with this and Traktor Pro 2, i.e. monitor, play and mix tunes from the computer. I think, if I'm right, I'll need to use the keyboard or mouse to start tracks playing but then fade them in with the Z1, is that right?

[8bit]

GCH said:

Assuming you have the computer already.
Do you have a mixer (unclear from you post, although you mention vinyl)?

If you don't have a mixer, get the Z1. It is effectively a mixer for traktor.
If you do have a mixer, get an X1. This will enable you start/stop/cue etc all from the X1, and then you do the actual mixing in the, er, mixer. With the X1 you dont need to touch the keyboard or mouse- all done from the controller, including selecting tracks.

Sorry, yes - have computer and mixer already, but the computer is a desktop and sits on the other side of the room to the decks. How does selecting tracks work from the X1? I guess I'd need a really long USB cable to reach from the PC to the X1?

[8bit]

alangtt said:

You say selecting tracks? I take it the audio must be turned in digital format and store on the computer?
Is there anyway to use "real vinyl" and also the Traktor setup (save a lot of effort converting)

Genuine question.

I understand there is hardware available to allow you to use timecoded vinyl - basically a record with no music on it, just a timing signal, this controls the tempo of the digital music playing through the software and allows one to mix it in the traditional way, on a turntable, in a set comprising digital and vinyl-based tracks. I can't say for sure what hardware that requires though, I'm just starting to look at this stuff now.

[8bit]

Well, I've taken the plunge and ordered the Z1 with the free copy of Pro 2. Showing as out of stock at the moment so hopefully they get more in soon.

[8bit]

Squirrelofwoe said:

... lots of useful stuff...

Thanks, that was very helpful. So if you're playing a mix of tunes on regular vinyl and digital tunes via the timecode then I guess the audio interface handles the difference in output level? Obviously the output of a turntable phono connection is much lower than the line-level output that I assume the interface sends?

Also, I have a little Pioneer DJM-300, if I was to use one of these interfaces with it then I could add something like the Kontrol X1 to give the MIDI control you mention?

Cheers!

[8bit]

Thanks all, very useful. Squirrel, that's an impressive setup there!

GCH, I want to keep it simple (and inexpensive) at the moment but will see how I get on! My Z1 should be here tomorrow.

One question (open to anyone) about the X1 - should one have one of these per deck? I thought one in total would be enough.

[8bit]

sp222 said:

Hey - in answer to a couple of questions on this one:

X1 will control 2 decks - you're looking at transport controls, track browsing, effects etc for each side) - it's set up to do this out of the box (A&B)

If you're running Traktor (usually Scratch Pro) with one of our (I work for Native Instruments) interfaces (or the certified Denon mixer as above), you can change track decks to 'Live Input' so you run actual audio through that channel and you can then EQ, Filter or apply effects as you can from normal track decks (you go to settings and then 'Deck Flavor' (- forgive the americanism) and select 'Live input' - you may have to check the routing. as an example, i've used this recently on decks C&D playing older vinyl tracks and having my regular music collection as MP3's on A&B.

On the Z1 - we're running a promo with free Traktor Pro 2 until end of August, but remember it also works nicely with Traktor Dj on iPad too (we will have a lightning cable in the box before end of the year) - and a cool tip to use transport controls on the Z1 - if you hold down 'Mode' and then press 'A' or 'B' next to headphone icon, this starts or stops that particular deck.

Cheers

Cool, thanks for the clarifications and the tip! Does the licence key for Traktor come in the box with the Z1? I ordered last week, should be delivered today, but didn't get any emails with the licence or instructions on how to download etc.?

[8bit]

Thanks sp222

Z1 arrived last night, got it installed ok and checked it works. Licence for Pro 2 arrived this morning so I'll get it registered this evening.

One thing - the Z1 has its' own sound card built in and a pair of RCA line out jacks on the back. The speakers attached to the PC don't have multiple inputs. Is it possible to route the audio from the Z1 through the soundcard and speakers in the PC without having to attach a cable from the Z1 to the PC soundcard's line input? Or some other way of achieving the same end result?

[8bit]

sp222 said:

Hey - you can use the audio from your PC - you'd select the soundcard output in the settings inside Traktor (you access the settings using the small cogged wheel icon towards the top right of the screen) - however, unless you're using a mac, you'll probably get some delay (latency) in the audio - the soundcard in the Z1 is probably of higher quality than the PC's built in audio.

You could use the Z1 as the default audio source for your PC so all sounds go through it as an alternative?

Hope that helps

Cheers

The PC sound card is an Asus Xonar D2 so it is good quality but the drivers aren't great. I tried it with the Z1 cabled into the Line In on the Asus card and i get some delay - looks like a Windoze 7 thing. I tried setting Traktor to use the Asus ASIO driver, that worked for 30 sec and then Traktor seemed to freeze and sounded like a stuck CD. I also didn't get any output from the Z1 headphone socket.

The speakers in question are 5.1 so I wouldn't get that output using the Z1 as the main soundcard. Think I'm just going to bite the bullet and move the speakers I use for my Technics to the computer desk for the moment. Just a shame that the audio from the Z1 can't be routed back over the USB bus and out the PC soundcard that way, unless I'm missing something else?

Cheers!

[8bit]

Yeah I think I'll get it set up like that at the weekend. Ultimately if I enjoy using Traktor I'll invest in a laptop, maybe a X1 or Z2 so I was just looking for a way to get a basic setup running just now. Thanks for your help.

Actually, any suggestions for a "getting started" guide at all?

ETA - further question - if I was going to get a Mac to use for Traktor, would a Macbook Air be up to the job?

Edited by 8bit on Friday 22 August 13:20

[8bit]

Cool, thanks both of you. I'd probably get the extra RAM anyway.

I've spent a few evenings playing about with this now, really enjoying it. So far I haven't really done much beyond mixing tracks together and had a little bit of playing with the effects but I'm glad I got it already