Why is Serato worth more money

[Jason Cerna]

Having used Scratch Live for just over 5 years before purchasing my Kontrol S4 3 weeks ago, I can say that I enjoy both. But, when I first bought Scratch Live, there weren't many other impressive DVS solutions at the time. And, what sold me on it was a demo that DJ Jazzy Jeff did on Scratch Live. So, after some research on my own, I figured this would be the best solution for me to move to a DVS.

And I can count how many times in that time Scratch Live has frozen or messed up on my with just 3 fingers. It is a rock solid DVS and it just works. So, I believe it is worth the price.

And now with 3 weeks on the S4 pro software, I am not finding anything I dislike about it. Granted I don't have any turntables to scratch on, I can still scratch with the little s4 jogwheels.

The main reason I switched was to save space at home. And in the future, I will see how the S4 goes in a live setting.

[mostapha]

I used Final Scratch 2 and SSL, and I'm currently spinning on Traktor Pro (controllers only). I think Jason actually used my first copy of SSL…I can't remember exactly whom I sold it to. The only reason I sold it at all was because I had an issue that turned out to be with one of my turntables and not the DVS. If I'd kept a more level head and figured that out before I got afraid to trust it, I probably would have kept it and never tried FS2 or Traktor Pro.

SSL had a LOT of top hip hop DJs moving away from strict vinyl for the first time, which seriously helped it in the US…Also, when SSL and FS2 were on the scene, SSL kind of was just better software for a lot of people: it didn't drift; it sounded better; it ran on more computers…and, NI/Stanton pissed a lot of people off when they ditched support for the Scratch Amp and ended their collaboration. It happened right around the PPC/Intel switch for Apple computers, and that alone probably sent more than a few FS2 users packing: the new computer may have been worth more to users than a software package that was having issues anyway and turned out to never be updated. FS2 also cost more than SSL at the time, and if you were unlucky enough to buy FS2 towards the end and then hear the news that you needed to buy another $600 sound card…i mean…seriously?!

When Traktor Scratch came out, they probably didn't even try it. I didn't even consider it. I just bought SSL again, and I only got rid of it when I switched entirely over to Live for a year or so.

Frankly, I still think it's weird to see people using TSP as a DVS…it seems like a controller-only software package to me, and it might always seem that way.

If SSL had a demo or didn't require a Rane interface…or if GC would accept returns on SL3 boxes, I might have never tried Traktor Pro. If I eventually find out you can use X1s just as well in SSL internal as you can in TP, I'd still consider switching back at some point.

Despite its popularity here and around the world, to me the question seems less "why is SSL worth spending more?" and more "what makes traktor worth its price at all?" For me, the answer is "beats to cue", the key knob, and the X1s. Everything else, I think SSL does better. It just so happens that those 3 things are enough right now.

We've been told it won't happen again, but if NI drops TSP support for the Audio 4 DJ and Audio 8 DJ when the new sound cards hit or even if they continue to support them without the new software features (within reason, of course), I'm either going back to Serato or back to CDJs.

Why do I think it's okay for SSL to cost more? They've never pissed me off. NI is on its last chance.

[jhova]

Serato hardware costs an arm and a leg, but their software is free

[xtianw]

Sometimes I look at this forum and wonder why it doesnt have a big NI in the upper left hand corner of every page.

[Karlos Santos]

Sometimes I look at this forum and wonder why it doesnt have a big NI in the upper left hand corner of every page.

Really?

Is it not anymore sinister than the fact that more people use Traktor than anything else..?

Are Traktor users supposed to keep quiet just so that the discussion is evenly weighted..?

This kind of opinion is posted on the Blog quite a lot and it baffles me.
If people are so pissed at listening to Traktor stuff they should post more about SSL/Torq/VDJ etc.

Some people on the blog are a lot less polite in their response to that accusation than i am being here.

[xtianw]

dont take this the wrong way. but youre getting rather defensive about a relatively broad comment. i wasnt even thinking about you when i posted that.

now its all kinds of awkward.

[Karlos Santos]

Its not awkward... and thats a pretty childish thing to say.
Im not getting defensive at all. Its called discourse.


You made a post dude and i made a reply.
Thats kinda what we are all here for isnt it..?

I dont think the "DJTT is bias towards NI" accusation is fair on DJTT.

I couldnt give a crap, if this site was a 1000 times less Traktorist id still be here. Im here cus the people are nice.

[fullenglishpint]

Sometimes I look at this forum and wonder why it doesnt have a big NI in the upper left hand corner of every page.

It's a forum full of Traktor users built on the popularity of a combination of that software and a VCI-100, what do you expect!

Absoluetly not.

There is a minority of very loud people asking for side by side and they go on like its killing Traktor and everyone wants it and the uncomforatable truth for these people is that most Traktor users (in my received opinion ) is that they dont want/need it.

These people claim a load of odd reasons for NI not implementing it such as 'they dont want to change the UI'... if it was such a popular feature they would implement it and it would be killing Traktor but it isnt.

Fact its the Phase Meter pleases a lot of people and just cus Serato has side by side does not mean its a better way to work.

People coming from SSL or Itch go on how its make or break for Traktor and Traktor will never challange Serato until they have side by side.

This is laughable for many reasons. Fact is nothing is slowing the progress of Traktor .

I was told a few "facts" by an reliable industry insider at the BPM show in October and the Traktor sales figures are simply Unbelievable. Unreal.

NI could probably ignore this feature for rest of time and it wouldnt hurt them one iota.
I mean, what is the point of trying to convert or convince a few SSL/Itch users when they can just get on with selling their own method to millions of new DJs.

Money talks. If NI thought they needed to implement it they would.

I personally hate side by side. Cant stand it .BUT i think NI should implement it just so Traktor has everything.

I do think people play it up to be a make or break feature whereas I have been quite happy using Traktor without it for a long time. That said, having also used itch and found it to be quite a nice additional tool for visual cueing and beatmatching, In the fullness of time I'd like to see it implemented in Traktor as an option. I'd never suggest they completely redesign the GUI just to add that one feature.

[Karlos Santos]

I agree.
I think it could be done with minimal rejigging of the UI as an option.

[Wickedsight]

I've used VDJ for a while, and I think side by side would be a very useful feature for beatgridding. I would not use it live however, since to me it takes away the idea of spinning with two separate tracks. Call me old fashion, but I do like that idea.