Controller Help
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Thread: Controller Help

  1. #1
    Tech Wizard
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    Nov 2011
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    Default Controller Help

    I got into djing almost a year ago and i purchased a cheap controller. I bought a Numark Mixtrack Pro and i have decided to upgrade to a better controller.

    I have looked at the Native instruments s4, Numark 4 track and Pioneer ddj-t1 but i can't decide witch one to get.

    After asking two of my local music shops i received different answers, one said the s4 and the other the 4 track

    Need some other opinions in order do decide. What are your recommendations?

  2. #2
    Tech Guru Yul's Avatar
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    Define your needs first, if you don't how can you hope others could help you here? What's important for you?
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    There’s also an almost hermetic community that exists in many areas of dance music, where serious hobbyists feed off each other’s expertise but barely connect to the industry – despite many of those involved actually working in it.

  3. #3
    Tech Wizard
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    Nov 2011
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    I use the controller as a club dj. I don't use the sample decks, but i want a 4 channel controller so i can easely use acapellas and cue up tracks. After what i have read the 4trak has more ekstra knobs to map, but the s4 is more integrated with the softwear. I like the layout of the mixer section of the s4, but i also like the full pitch faders on the 4 trak and ddj-t1

    What i'm wondering is how the build quality of the controllers is, the interface and the hardwear itself.

  4. #4

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    I've had a S4 for about a year and it's terrible. the fact that "the s4 is more integrated with the softwear" is a VERY bad thing. Except for being easy to initially get used to the layout, it helps you in no way whatsoever, all it does is limit mapping. The only exclusive feature of the integration that you'd ever end up caring about is the number readout for the loop/beatjump length, and you have to forfeit that if you want to change the default mapping in any way (you can may contradictory mappings to change a few things, but it's incredibly limited). It also feels very cheap and plastic-y compared to some of the metal controllers out there. The only saving grace is that it's got a traktor-certified soundcard in it, which only helps if you're doing timecode control, which you don't seem to be.

    TL;DR: the S4 is crap, don't buy it/

    I have no experience with the other two, but the 4-track looks like they took the S4 and improved it in every way... I'd go with that, if I were going to buy a new all-in-one.
    Last edited by faderswagger; 06-12-2012 at 03:52 PM.

  5. #5
    Tech Mentor
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    Mar 2011
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    The 4trak has worked great for me so far, and the build quality is great as well. So far it's the only controller you can remap in Traktor without losing the hi-res jogs. However I can understand why many like the S4... There was just a thread on this a couple of weeks ago, search for it.

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