Official info on the Kontrol Z2!

[O.D.]

Two questions about the build quality I'm hoping someone can answer:

1. Are the knob stems metal like other high end mixers, or are they plastic like the ones on the S4?

2. How durable do the small buttons on it feel? I hope they're not of the same quality as the S4s. I have a S4 and a couple of the buttons that I use frequently don't work properly. I have to press them really hard in order for them to engage.

[Rukks]

And the $500 SL2 you need because the 56 doesnt have an SSL card.

You can get SL1 for $200-250 all day so add that to a ttm56 for 500 and your still looking at 700 to 750 bucks. (which will last for 5 years)

I haven't seen a ttm56 go for over $500 on ebay in the last 6 months.

This thing will be harder and more akward to set up in a club than the s4, now you have to fit this in between tables and hook into the house mixer.

Eliminating a portable soundcard is not always a good idea...

The z2 wins in alot of aspects but everyone just has to step back and take a look at the bigger picture, if your like me who needs a second warranty on an s4, then this thing will not survive as a battle mixer and most ppl that already have a battle mixer understand that concept. That is why their are so many concerns about the quality.

My advice for NI, focus on quality before you get into this market because if this mixer is not built like a tank it will kill your future product line for professionals that are looking for reliability over price.

[rdej47]

You can get SL1 for $200-250 all day so add that to a ttm56 for 500 and your still looking at 700 to 750 bucks. (which will last for 5 years)

I haven't seen a ttm56 go for over $500 on ebay in the last 6 months.

This thing will be harder and more akward to set up in a club than the s4, now you have to fit this in between tables and hook into the house mixer.

Eliminating a portable soundcard is not always a good idea...

The z2 wins in alot of aspects but everyone just has to step back and take a look at the bigger picture, if your like me who needs a second warranty on an s4, then this thing will not survive as a battle mixer and most ppl that already have a battle mixer understand that concept. That is why their are so many concerns about the quality.

My advice for NI, focus on quality before you get into this market because if this mixer is not built like a tank it will kill your future product line for professionals that are looking for reliability over price.

I'll agree with you on the build quality. I wish Ean would've gone deeper into that in his video walkthrough. I feel like for the price i'm unfortunately not expecting amazing build quality from this mixer. I'm not saying it will be horrible but bear in mind you do get what you pay for. I really wish they would've done away with the stupid reflective plate, that thing just screams budget. Stick with the brushed metal looks of the F1/X1 it can take a beating and isn't a fingerprint magnet like the shiny plastic (those things are a forensics experts dream for collecting finger prints)

[haze324]

How come?

Because clubs usually have their own mixer. Normally you just bring your soundcard and plug into the house system. It would make thing very difficult if more than one one DJ was playing that night, and one of them wanted to swap out the mixer mid-set.

[0.0]

A picture Ean posted last week of his KNTRL setup showed a Z2 with that brushed metal center plate. Haven't heard any additional info on that though, so I'd have to guess NI did it custom for him.

[The Pancaker]

There will be available magnetic panels which will stick on the Z2 surface. Or at least that's what I read somewhere.. can't find the source now, but I doubt I had such a vivid/gearwhore dream. If they actually come out, I do hope they release them for the S2 and S4.

[0.0]

There will be available magnetic panels which will stick on the Z2 surface. Or at least that's what I read somewhere.. can't find the source now, but I doubt I had such a vivid/gearwhore dream. If they actually come out, I do hope they release them for the S2 and S4.

Yeah, for the trim on the edges, but apparently not for the glossy center section.

[emarx]

Quick update - apparently DJTechTools is checking a Z2 with the Innofader Pro and there is space for fitting. More info to come soon!

Elliot

[smiTTTen]

I can confirm that the Golden Gate Mafia are indeed breaking all kinds of shiny as we speak.

[DirtyNerd]

The question is whether or not you need four full decks. I don't. If you can live with that, and need a soundcard and mixer anyway, this is a pretty sweet deal for an all-in-one package.

To answer your question, I am a "Traktor guy"...and I probably would recommend the Z2 based on how I play. I don't actually need 4 full channels. I actually only use 3 real channels: 2 full channels for decks A & B, and then deck C & D (both remix decks) get routed to a 3rd channel. My setup is this: F1, X1, and a Denon DN-X1700 4channel mixer with built-in 4 channel sound-card. Since I use the F1's channel faders to control the remix slot volume and the F1's filter knob for mixing purposes, I don't use either the EQs or the fader on my mixer for the remix deck channel for mixing, they stay put the entire time...effectively, I could very easily function with just having a volume "knob" to control the remix decks overall volume.

Incidentally, the 4th channel on my mixer is routed to the preview player. And actually, that is a usability issue that I have with Traktor's audio routing. When mixing in external mode, I lose the ability to monitor the remix decks. but in internal mode, I can monitor them just fine...this is because of how traktor does audio routing...I would prefer that traktor had an preview/monitor audio bus that was available in both internal and external mixing mode...I can already route the preview player for external mixing to a channel, and in internal mixing, the preview player and deck monitors are on the same bus...so why not do it all the way...That is something I would really like to see addressed in upcoming Traktor versions...ok...end rant....