Is anyone else planning to use the Z2 without turntables or cdjs?

[ObviousAlias]

@rukkus

you can press play on the Z2 by pressing shift + rel/intl

My worries are over. I can use the Z2 on its own for probably 30% of the events that I do.

[photojojo]

If you like the feel of a real mixer then the Z2 is better than a controller. I use the Z2, F1 and an X1. The F1 is needed for full sample deck control, but you can get the first four rows with the Z2 alone. All that said the T1 has more buttons so you would obviously get more control of Traktor with just it and not have to get an X1. I’ve never used a T1 so I don’t know what exactly can and can’t be done with it compared to a Z2.

[MaxOne]

An x1 would literally take it to the next level tbh.

I love my x1

[Nicky_H]

@oilythread

I should clarify:

The Z2 runs on HID instead of midi. NI hasn’t allowed the ability to custom map HID in Traktor. They pre-program the mappings. So the Z2 will have a few specific pre-determined changes you can make, but you won’t be able custom map it.

They might add an additional midi “mode” like they did with the S2/S4/F1 that you could map however you like, but you’d lose all of the features that NI’s decided not to let us midi-map, including the colored LEDs, and the numerical readouts.

You can map over default commands now in 2.6 and still use the HID features (S2/S4).
And you’ve always been able to map the F1 in HID - with all the coloured lights - and the LED readouts.

[oilythread]

You’ve always been able to map over the default commands, (with the s2/s4/f1) the native command still executes though, so you have to make contradictory mappings, and those don’t work with most controls. Contradictory mappings certainly won’t work on any control like a cue point.

This is how you can map the F1 with all the colored lights, like you say. The problem is that the lights and led readouts will still signify what they were originally intended to, you cannot remap them.

Do you mean 2.6 lets you delete the default commands, and map in their place? That would be huge, but I doubt that’s the case. That would mean NI built a whole new controller manager module for HID… NI would have made a much bigger deal about that, because it would mean the S4 and S2 are fully mappable now.

[papo]

@oilythread

Do you mean 2.6 lets you delete the default commands, and map in their place?

This is correct.

This is a list of the changes:

• TRAKTOR KONTROL Z2 integration
• 11 new “MacroFX” single-knob combination effects
• “Flux Mode” retains song position during HotCues, Beatjumps, Loops etc.
• Post-Fader mode for FX Units
• Factory Map Override option for individual Controllers in Controller Manager
• New gain system with independent Channel Gain knobs and Auto-Gain knobs
• New “Z ISO” EQ and “Z” filter models as featured on Z2 mixer
• Z ISO EQ is now full kill at the left end of knobs path
• New “QuickSnap” behavior for the EQ and Filter controls
• New Transport Preference prevents Remix Decks from becoming Tempo Masters
• New Transport Preference limits Tempo Master to On-Air Decks to become Tempo Masters
• HID support for Pioneer CDJ 2000nexus (SLIP button is mapped to FLUX mode)
• Minor gain-staging adjustments for Live Input Deck
• Various other fixes and improvements

[Culture_Shock]

BPM 2012: Native Instruments Kontrol Z2 Mixer walkthrough

1:29 he talks about using the control manager!