Numark 4trak - S4 killer?

[Yul]

Not talking about the product being a killer of anyhting but if I had to pick some features: the on/off buttons for filters are nice, the touch strips, the rec button, and more than anything else the two sets of encoders/push buttons and small faders that can be used to control fx units 3&4 are very good points for me.

[SoRNDM]

Am I the only one, that finds this thing pretty ugly?

[DJQA]

Looks great, exactly what I hoped it would be!

They go on about tight jog response and 14-bit MIDI, I really hope they've nailed it... and that they've also nailed the pitch fader resolution - this is one of the rare controllers with 10 cm faders, it would be a shame if they weren't super accurate to boot. If they haven't botched the jog and pitch response, I'm deffo getting one.

And, while I wouldn't have thought bad of Numark if they had just kept the NS6 colour scheme, I don't think it's ugly. Rather retro.

Edit: It's about damn time that someone included pitch (key) adjustment in a controller's default mapping. Me like. It's probably meant to be used in halfsteps by the looks of it, but I'd map it to adjust fine pitch with a modifier key as well - always those pesky old tracks that are not quite in 440Hz tune...

Edit: Split cue - major win!

[ST.PE`]

I hate the huge jog wheels in the middle crammed up in there. Easy to accidentally nudge or bump it with your arm when you're grabbing the effects or buttons up top

[dookiex]

I think the S4 has more competition from the VCI-400 than it does from the 4trak.

[Willy b00m]

Does this have timecode available? thats what i like the most on my S4. Looks pretty neat otherwise but i would still go for the s4

[dookiex]

Does this have timecode available? thats what i like the most on my S4. Looks pretty neat otherwise but i would still go for the s4

Looks like you'll still need a NI audio interface for this to get Scratch Pro to work on it (4trak).

[Scaper7]

Am I the only one, that finds this thing pretty ugly?

Doesn't do it for me either.

[Eizhauz]

Once again it only proves that not one controller is going to be the 'answer'.

I like that they addressed the things that bothered me about the S4 - build quality, booth outs, stand-alone mixer.

I also however an not a fan of the huge jogwheels. I think the VCI-400 did the best in this category. I like the VCI's pads as well, larger more tactile.

To each his own... when someone can finally put out a controller that addresses ALL these things people are 'hoping' for in a controller, then and only then will it likely be a "(insert name of controller) killer".

[DJQA]

It's for a different target segment, it's not meant to be an S4 "killer" as such, which is probably one reason why NI was willing to collaborate with Numark on it. The VCI-400 was more aimed at being a direct S4 competitor, and less surprisingly Vestax didn't get access to the HID mode (who knows if they asked, of course).

What this is, is a replacement for a 2xCDJ/mixer/X1/Audio8/TSP combo... Close in concept to the Pioneer DDJ-T1, but seemingly higher quality, with more controls, and cheaper. Considering what the CDJ+timecode setup costs, it's a bargain if it keeps its promises.

I will get this because of the large jogs and the long pitch faders, not in spite of them. Timecode support would only make sense for use with turntables, and for that the big jogs and faders would be useless - but knowing how big the 4trak is, I doubt many would want to add a pair of 1200s to the width.

Edit: Looks like the Pioneer has come down in price handsomely, so this will be more expensive than the T1. Makes sense, as you get more. I just fear what the European price will be...