Serato vs Traktor. More like Rane vs NI?

[Karlos Santos]

I will say though, living in Miami SSL is the club standard around here. There are a number of popular local EDM guys that use Traktor, but it's a small group. I see more really big name headliners that come into town using Traktor than I do local guys.

Yeah, I think that is key in the subject of dominance. I have heard other US DJs say exactly the same.

[haze324]

I will add though Karlos, the number of local EDM guys using Traktor is slowly growing down here --- so there is an interest, but only in EDM guys. I've yet to see a hip-hop/open format Dj use traktor.

It kinda makes sense for the scene down here. Most big clubs down here where local guys play are mostly open format, and the mega big clubs (LIV, SPACE, etc) that are EDM clubs -- bring in headliners. And there's obviously more middle of the road clubs than there are mega clubs so SSL is used more.

[DJ Abercrombie]

Not correct really.
Traktor is Traktor. You just need to buy the licence so that it can be used with TT/CD or controller.
Every person that owns Traktor Pro has exactly the same software on their machine. Its the same executable. The licence unlocks the features.

Serato have 2 different applications. SSL and Itch. They are developed separately.

I believe you are having difficulty understanding what I mean in terms of options.

With Traktor, you can use your computer keyboard and map every feature Traktor offers to access it when needed. For a person who likes to blend music together, this broadens the user’s imagination. Traktor attracts more DJs who mix Dance music since having the ability to manipulate the audio track excessively and using multiple decks is common with DJs who mix Dance music.

You do not require a Turntable or a CD player for accurate pitch (or what some call tempo these days) control is the key for attaining a proper blend. Not focusing heavily on a rotational platter from a Turntable or CD player.

With Serato (Scratch), its main objective is simplicity as a Hip Hop DJ only requires a cross fader and the ability to offer stability when scratching at great speeds using a Turntable. A spinning platter is a must when scratching. So Serato (Scratch) attracts more DJs who spin Hip Hop for they focus more on their Turntables and, do not require the additional features Traktor offers.

You may find a few that go against the grain. However the majority of Hip Hop DJs choose Serato (Scratch) for the above reasons.

Cheers!

[haze324]

^ actually I think most hip hop DJ's use SSL because when DVS's became poplular Scratch Live was the best product out and Final Scratch which later became Traktor was very buggy. So your best option not to carry a bunch of record crates was Serato. The EDM guys used CD's and many still do. Im not familiar with the history of Traktor and how it became popular amoungst house DJ's, I'm sure Karlos knows better than anyone here --- but I'm guessing the set of features were to cater to guys like Richi Hawtin at the time and target a certain market.

I think it's VERY unfair to say that hip hop DJ's require less features and that's why they use SSL.

[DJ Abercrombie]

^ actually I think most hip hop DJ's use SSL because when DVS's became poplular Scratch Live was the best product out and Final Scratch which later became Traktor was very buggy. So your best option not to carry a bunch of record crates was Serato. The EDM guys used CD's and many still do. Im not familiar with the history of Traktor and how it became popular amoungst house DJ's, I'm sure Karlos knows better than anyone here --- but I'm guessing the set of features were to cater to guys like Richi Hawtin at the time and target a certain market.

I think it's VERY unfair to say that hip hop DJ's require less features and that's why they use SSL.

Traktor was around when Final Scratch was around. Traktor has always marketed heavily towards the Dance DJ. I believe I have Traktor version 1 one a CD I downloaded in the early 2000s.

Its not features, its simplicity. If you are having difficulty understanding what I wrote just ask. Don't assume.

[LXJ]

I haven't seen a single DJ in any of the clubs in Vancouver use Traktor. I'll change that

[Toast]

I hang out in way too many clubs in NY but almost all that use software are using SSL. I don't think i've ever seen Traktor used. I have seen Ableton once or twice.

In most high end clubs the opening guy is usually a local dude using SSL but then the main guy tends to be using CDJ's with USB or CD.
Weird thing is i'm noticing more and more dj's NOT use software at all. NY is a strange place.

[haze324]

Its not features, its simplicity.

Gotcha.

The simplicity of the workflow in SSL is a bonus to ANY DJ, I believe. It's why I use it over TSP.

I just think it's an unfair statement to say Hip Hop DJ's use SSL because the "do not require the additional features Traktor offers". It's a knock on hip hop DJ's and there's some very talented guys out there.

[tombruton69]

I think serato is a favourite with commercial club djs that say they are hip hop but don't really mix and just play rihanna and batman scoop all night.

in leeds the mix of hip hop djs on sera to vs tractor is probs 50 50. i think a lot of ppl are really getting into turntable controller hybrid routines.

think the ability to midi map things like load next track is a big plus for a lot of ppl.

PS i think the dead stop sera to has put on piracy has not helped there product i have seen a lot of ppl pirate tractor then buy it as they felt it was worth the money and wanted the latest updates and reliability il be honest thats how i got into traktor. it also lead me into other ni products now i have tractor scratch to a audio 8 a audio 6 maschine and a x1 probably getting a s2 aswell, so from me originally pirating tractor ni have done pretty well out of me

[mostapha]

Traktor was around when Final Scratch was around. Traktor has always marketed heavily towards the Dance DJ. I believe I have Traktor version 1 one a CD I downloaded in the early 2000s.

It was also a complete freaking joke at that time. Final Scratch (and FS2) put NI on the DJ map, and there were things I liked about it better than SSL…sorta. But I'm partially convinced that there were only 3 reasons that SSL took off a bit faster than FS/FS2:

1. USB sound card as opposed to FW (for FS2)
2. Slightly less resource intensive.
3. It didn't say "powered by Traktor."

At the time, Traktor was marketed to the DJ who couldn't afford (or didn't want to buy) equipment, touting itself as the way of the future instead of just a cheaper option. It got decent and then NI rebranded it.

The simplicity of the workflow in SSL is a bonus to ANY DJ, I believe. It's why I use it over TSP.

I just think it's an unfair statement to say Hip Hop DJ's use SSL because the "do not require the additional features Traktor offers". It's a knock on hip hop DJ's and there's some very talented guys out there.

It's also not true.

SSL has more useful view options.
SSL has full, live iTunes integration.
The SL4 and 68 have 2 USB ports and can connect to 2 laptops at once.
SSL lets you beat-match and scratch an Ableton session.
SSL does video.
SSL gives you free upgrades, so far.
SSL's licensing is tied to a dongle that you need to perform anyway, not ServiceCenter
And SSL can use both MIDI and keyboard control, both of which are configurable.

Traktor gives you:

3 more hot cues.
More extensible (but also more obtuse) MIDI configuration.
A MIDI clock (which you could do with Bridge, but I digress)
Sample decks that are better than SP6 and about to be upgraded…but still bend over when Ableton comes to town.
More money left over when you're done buying it.

SSL is less used with MIDI controllers, and I honestly don't know how well it works…and you have to have a real mixer as opposed to an all-in-one because it doesn't have a real summing bus. But because I like real mixers (whether analog or digital) better than any midi controller I've felt, I honestly think it actually wins on features…and still manages to seem simpler.

Where I come from, that's called winning.

PS i think the dead stop sera to has put on piracy has not helped there product i have seen a lot of ppl pirate tractor then buy it as they felt it was worth the money and wanted the latest updates and reliability il be honest thats how i got into traktor. it also lead me into other ni products now i have tractor scratch to a audio 8 a audio 6 maschine and a x1 probably getting a s2 aswell, so from me originally pirating tractor ni have done pretty well out of me

I'm giving Maschine a pass for now because it's freaking awesome. But I'm not buying any more NI crap until they get their licensing straightened out and stop using the damn guitar rig, kontact, and reaktor players for everything.

I've seen the light, and it's called iLok. If NI stops using those stupid players and starts using iLoks, I'll go shopping again. But I don't see either one happening.

I agree it's probably a bit of a hit that you can't pirate the software as an extended trial, but……the offline player does give you some functionality that you'd want to test. And it doesn't quit after 30 minutes of wondering what the hell is going on in the keyboard mapping window that you can't resize.

But, seriously, dongles are just a better way to do copy protection.