advantages of external mixer over s4?
I have an s4 but have been reading around about what other equipment is out there. some people have been saying that they prefer an external mixer vs a controller or use their controller with an external mixer. is there a reason for this?
i’m trying to put together an ideal setup using up the least amount of space as possible. would an external mixer with say an x1 and maschine be more versitile than an s4? i want more control of effects outside of traktor
I’ve wondered this same question as well for a while now…only benefits I see are that you can use all of the mixers functions as they were originally intended + probably better sound quality depending on the mixer. Though it’s a hell of a lot more expensive since you need like a traktor 6 or 10 to go along with it, hard to tell if it’s worth it.
is there anyway to connect a s4 to a mixer?
To do what?
You could use the Master & Headphone as external outputs and route them to a mixer … I know better than to ask why 
Right booths in clubs can be tight for space its easier to turn up with say an x1 or two and an audio 10 / 8 / 4 whatever and plug straight into the install mixer taking an s4 out can be a prob because of size.
There is that and also the sound of the mixer some people like their xones some peeps like their ranes others their pioneers. you cant beat analog sound imho that and an ext mixer gives you more head room / better eq in the mix
The s4 is a 4 channel midi mock up of a cdj / mixer setup in miniature practical purpose being plug the master out into a channel in the house mixer of a club at home again is a cdj/ mixer mock up plug into your monitors ect
I would say if you have the s4 your cool stick with that buy an x1 if you want more control then maybe buy an audio 10 /8/4 so then you have options 
then again fuck all that and just buy a xone Db4 and get ableton
And 2x K2’s
can you provide any evidence that supports this statement?
my 2c. in difference to setups centered around an all-in-one controller, setups with external mixers are modular (you can also get a mixer-segment only controller but those are pretty rare).
moreover, some mixers may be superior when it comes to feel and ergonomics. i would argue that’s not a principal advantage. in terms of the technology used, a digital mixer is equivalent to a controller + audio interface + computer. it’s merely all in one unit, whereas with a controller setup, the computer (and sometimes the audio interface as well) is a separate device. the controller market basically tops out at the $1000 price point (roughly speaking, everything about $1k or so is basically a boutique item). for mixers, it’s different: many mainstream mixers run well above $1k. maybe, that means there’s more money that can be spent on ergonomic design or knobs and faders with better “feel.”
yes. ldo
Well, apart from the already mentioned advantages concerning booth space (and stuff you have to carry to/from the gig) and ergonomics, for me having proper VU meters is a big point - I don’t trust Traktor’s autogain one single bit.
Another advantage is of course to have the possibility to use outboard equipment (turntables, grooveboxes, blablabla) without needing a computer connected.
Edit: And of course if you plan to organize parties with different DJs at one point or another, there is no way around a real mixer
i find it all comes down to ur individual style and feels right… ive been a long time vinyl junkie that moved onto scratch live when it was still v1.0 and ive seen alot of technology chnages in dj’n over the years… the s4 is a nice bit of kit… but it doesnt fulfill MY needs… which might be different to yours and everyone elses… lately ive added the dicers (for sum eay turntablist style routines and mixes ive been doing… and the akai lpd8 for sample triggering and effects control for the top 40ish/edm/ stuff im sumtimes asked to do… but in the end its what feels right and works for you… but if you want to get really technical… nothing beats the sound or level of control of eq’s and gains than an external mixer
yes, 2 points:
1.) traktor eq’s can’t kill
2.) an analog mixer has an stepless control over everything, all digital devices have steps, which is hearable (especially when you try to fade in something muted, the first step is the most noticable one)
(okay, we are not claiming here that traktor is worse than any fucking 10€ behringer mixer or some reloop trash, but yes, its crappier than every high-end mixer i worked with until today IMHO ;D)
on topic: if i had this big 4 channel all-in-one-midi-thing called s4, i wouldn’t use it to hook it onto another mixer and mix there, its designed to be used as it is ;o)
if i wan’t to mix my traktor on a real mixer i would take an X1 or an Denon SC2000 or A&H K2/1D/2D or something like that.
that’s incorrect. the classic EQ as well as the xone EQ provide full kill.
this is a moot point. resolution of modern controllers as well as of digital mixers is finer than what the human ear can perceive. for example, even under ideal conditions, the human ear cannot hear volume changes of smaller than ~0.2dB.
all of this is on-topic. you claimed better sound quality as an advantage of external mixers. but so far, you haven’t provided a single convincing argument to back up that claim.
you have the right to that opinion. but let’s just note that many people, myself included, have no problem plugging their S4 into an installation mixer during gigs. i think a more convincing argument to make would be that, if you always have access to a club mixer, you don’t need an S4, as the controller which you mention would suffice.
[quote=“rgtb, post:12, topic:37901, username:rgtb”]
you haven’t provided a single convincing argument
[/quote]i have brought two, that you don’t accept them isn’t my problem, i mix with external mixers and have my fun.
if you can’t reckognize them, fine, so you can save a lot of money keeping having fun with the equipment ;o)
Tell you what throw Traktor though a Xone V6 then any nay sayer will know all about the valves !
valves are, of course, not exactly known for neutral reproduction.
note i am not passing judgement. it is perfectly fine if some people prefer the way in which analog equipment distorts the signal (people that like the distortions prefer to speak of signal “coloration.”). personally, i prefer equipment that accurately reproduces the music as it was intended by the artist and mastering engineer. if the artist wants to color his sound, he has all the means at his disposal to do so (e.g., by using analog equipment or suitable plugins).
it’s a matter of personal taste whether you like how analog distorts the signal or not.
Main reason I sold the s4 was the mixer feels like a toy- traktor’s mixer can sound decent compared to other mid range mixers but not when you get into higher end stuff. Traktor’s filters do not compare to filters on high end mixers and definitely sound digital. It’s nice to have a real mixer with VU meters that actually work and mean something- traktor’s and the S4’s are a complete joke and you’re pretty much at the mercy of autogain. Also the curve on the linear faders and the short length of them on the S4 makes it not ideal for mixing.
= 90% of midi controllers out there
High pricing of current cdjs has pushed us into toy town Im off for abit hate all you want
I own an S4 and have found myself looking into purchasing a DJM 800 for a few reasons.
However, don’t get me wrong. I love my S4 and plan on keeping for portable use.
I never use traktors auto gain… Just go by ear, Like you guys said I don’t trust it at all. Why hasn’t traktor added eq kill? this problem has been around long enough, Im surprised they haven’t addressed it yet.