Starting out...get a new traktor s4 or s2 ?

Hi guys, just want to ask for opinions, as I am starting out on my route to DJing. Should I get the $100 sale off the new traktor s4 bundle with the TMA-1 headphones at DJTT or perhaps get a 2nd hand cheap traktor s2 instead? I been thinking of getting a 2nd hand s4 but seems that if I pay a couple hundred more, I could get it new instead with warranty. And besides with no warranty, I can never be sure if any knobs are faulty or not. What u guys think of getting a s4 without any warranty on it? Is it a bit too much of a risk as a beginner in this? Just for info, I been listening to electronic dance music for more than 10 years and im more into deep/tech house and berlin/detroit techno sounds.

Really like the mixing style in this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ciKQgaLTcM

It comes down to what you NEED. Will you be mixing 4 channels or 2? Do you want fx, samples, loops? If not, there are many other controllers out that cost less than an S4, that do not have all of those features.

What do you like about the S2? What do you like about the S4? What software have you played with? That will be a factor as well.

THE S4 for sure.. but if youre low on money i say you wait, because if youre into tech house and all that, you would probably like triggering samples and storing all the nice cue points. thats why the S4 is a better choice, it gives you a wide range to explore, for example you can map the "midi mode" of the controller giving you even a bigger chance to set the S4 to your own customizations

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Originally Posted by dripstep

It comes down to what you NEED. Will you be mixing 4 channels or 2? Do you want fx, samples, loops? If not, there are many other controllers out that cost less than an S4, that do not have all of those features.

What do you like about the S2? What do you like about the S4? What software have you played with? That will be a factor as well.

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yeah I think I will be going to do lots of samples and loops over my mixes in the long run. Techno mixes tend to depend lots of loops and samples and fx on the fly. Probably mix with 2 channels but I am not sure if I really need the 4 channels. It seems the S2 and S4 are pretty much alike apart from the extra 2 channels. I am going to have this boy at home on my desktop all the time so I don't think size is an issue. And I am going to go with Traktor most definitely as thats the program I have been familiar with :)

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Originally Posted by danielriosrendon

THE S4 for sure.. but if youre low on money i say you wait, because if youre into tech house and all that, you would probably like triggering samples and storing all the nice cue points. thats why the S4 is a better choice, it gives you a wide range to explore, for example you can map the "midi mode" of the controller giving you even a bigger chance to set the S4 to your own customizations

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true that..I am not really low on money. I am not in school anymore and I have a good job that pays decently well and I have savings just I want to like get the best possible purchase without blowing it too much on my first gear. Seems like the S4 is a lot of fun and lot of creativity exploration to do in the long run from the youtube videos I have been watching. I am thinking on starting on the S4, get good with it and perhaps move on to a cdj setup sometime or even expand with the kontrol x1+f1s.

The only thing is whether I should go ahead fork out additional few hundreds on a new S4 + taxes + shipping or save it up on a 2nd hand one S4 locally perhaps? Any idea if I get a off warranty S4, can I purchase a warranty to extend the S4? I tried to test a unit on craigslist but there wasn't any warranty anymore and I wasn't too familiar with the whole layout to be sure everything is working right.

S4 feels so unnecessarily bulky and large.

And I think the biggest problem with these all-in-one controllers is they're not as convenient as you'd think having everything right there. And considering these days, more and more, most nights there is a line up DJs.

And while everyone is using the mixer or something more convenient, boom comes the massive S4 and it just doesn't fit right in like a lot of things need to in that setting.

Just something to think about, I've never owned one, but I hear that is the biggest complaint. S4 is a powerful and great unit though, love to have one myself, but I think convenience is more important than all the functions the S4 offers.

But I'm kinda turned off by the all-in-one controller thing altogether.

I have an s4 for sale if you wanna save some money ;)

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Originally Posted by Sn0wday

S4 feels so unnecessarily bulky and large.

And I think the biggest problem with these all-in-one controllers is they're not as convenient as you'd think having everything right there. And considering these days, more and more, most nights there is a line up DJs.

And while everyone is using the mixer or something more convenient, boom comes the massive S4 and it just doesn't fit right in like a lot of things need to in that setting.

Just something to think about, I've never owned one, but I hear that is the biggest complaint. S4 is a powerful and great unit though, love to have one myself, but I think convenience is more important than all the functions the S4 offers.

But I'm kinda turned off by the all-in-one controller thing altogether.

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I have heard and read about this but I am just starting out and not going to go for club gigs any time yet so I think its fine for me in terms of size and weight.

Between the s4 s2 I'd no doubht go for the s4 I'd say its better to have more then you need then not having all that you need. 4 Channels are better if your going to be mixing 2 songs and add loops/samples as you will have more controll of the volume faders.
And buying second hand should not be a big problem as it's going to sit on your desktop most of the time and chances of it breaking are more limeted then if you were constantly moving around with it. Put a picture of them side by side ask your self what is the S2 missing that I'm sure I'll use. For deep/tech house I'd gues the filter knob would come in handy.

I'd say the S4 in the long run, but if your'e in to 2 track mixing with occasional looping and one-shot sampling, I'd go for the S2, plus, you can always add a Traktor Kontrol F1 if you want more control over your sample usage :)

Thanks guys.. I decided to buy the traktor s4 + tma-1 headphone bundle from the DJTT website and get it going and start mixing! Its a good deal at $939 and I also wonder if anyone knows is it really expensive to ship to canada as in like paying lots of duties and custom fees?

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Originally Posted by Sn0wday

S4 feels so unnecessarily bulky and large.

And I think the biggest problem with these all-in-one controllers is they're not as convenient as you'd think having everything right there. And considering these days, more and more, most nights there is a line up DJs.

And while everyone is using the mixer or something more convenient, boom comes the massive S4 and it just doesn't fit right in like a lot of things need to in that setting.

Just something to think about, I've never owned one, but I hear that is the biggest complaint. S4 is a powerful and great unit though, love to have one myself, but I think convenience is more important than all the functions the S4 offers.

But I'm kinda turned off by the all-in-one controller thing altogether.

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If there is anything that is "inconvenient" - it is having 4 DJs - all running different DVS - all trying to swap out sound cards and wires every 60 or 90 minutes.

With the S4 all you need in a single channel on the house mixer to input into and you are off and running.

Grab a keyboard stand - a piece or two of thick foam - and you are good to go in ANY club situation.

If there is room for you - lay the foam down on the turntables or CDJs - and the S4 on top. If there is no room, set up your keyboard stand on the floor in front of the house mixer and you are good to go.

S4 is as simple as connecting the power and USB - one line out to line in on house system and booting your computer. Much easier the any other DVS set up.

or just use usb and the cdjs =p

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Originally Posted by Maven

or just use usb and the cdjs =p

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yeah....and you need an X1 and to use your mouse or you give up 50% of the functionality vs. and S4.

I was in a similar situation recently, and decided to get an S2 and use Beaubryte's mapping, and an F1. With Beau's mapping you can control the eq's for decks C/D by using the shift button and the eq knobs/faders, and the F1 in midi mode is great for cue points, or using the remix decks.

The lack of fx knobs and filter knobs is a total nono for me

Which FX knobs are lacking? The gain knobs can be set to filters, though they're clickeys.

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Originally Posted by AryanH

The lack of fx knobs and filter knobs is a total nono for me

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Of course, u can remap everything to make it have ur fx knobs and everything, but is he Willing to do it? And is he ok with 2 channels instead of 4?

Quite frankly, if he's not willing to put in a TINY amount of work to set something up to his liking, he shouldn't buy anything.

I would eventually go down that route and get more gear to add on to my controller but I think for now I just want to start off with an tightly integrated controller like the S4 and with the 4 channels/loops, i can definitely play around more with the music I am going for. I definitely did consider the S2 as well as a cheaper option but with the S4 on a $100 off for the summer sale and with a great bundle with the TMA-1 headphones, I am just going for it instead. Besides it is a 2 year warranty from NI right if you purchase it?

I would say the S4... I am mixing on a two channel mixer, rapidly I wanted to add control over the other two decks in Traktor. I rarely play more than three decks at a time, with my 2 channel controller mapped to 4 deck control using extra buttons, but having the fader for volume there would be great. The added ability to upgrade it to scratch should you want to mess with TT/CDJ later is nice, which is probably in the future for me too. It really depends on your desires, but the S4 you probably won't be upgrading later, wishing something else was there.

i always say this "get the best of anything your money can afford".

its always better to have room for advance then be limited to.

There are a lot more S2's changing hands just going by the threads in the Buy/Sell forum.

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Originally Posted by holdened

I have heard and read about this but I am just starting out and not going to go for club gigs any time yet so I think its fine for me in terms of size and weight.

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Why waste your time learning on something you will never use in the long run?

I dj out a shitload in Berlin........... NEVER seen one S2 or S4.............. TOO BIG and not really built to move around and fit in the often real world club booth.

I take a pimped up Vestax VCI 100........... if space is low........ I have Faderfox DJ2 and DX2 in the bag and off we go... happy mixing.

Been using the faderoxes since 2004........... not one fuck up, handmade and professional.