Tell me about it! Talk about lack of customer loyalty, I feel no obligation to traktor right now with how difficult it’s becoming. Is SSL free? I went on their site and just downloaded it, and normally I’d assume it’s a trial, but it’s doesn’t say jack about being a trial.
I think the software is free with the idea that you can’t really use it at all without an SL box. SSL doesn’t have MIDI functionality for most of its core functions (IIRC) so it’s effectively useless even though you can DL it for free. It’s actually a great way to handle licensing cause you can resell your SL box without worrying about the software license. You can still sell a traktor box, but I believe you have to get NI involved to transfer the license and I’m not sure how easy that is to do.
I’m personally not a fan of the SSL user interface I think it’s really ugly. I do like how the waveforms are side-by-side though, that seems legit. I’d love to give SSL a try but not really worth it for me since I have a Traktor cert. mixer, no point in paying more money just to get an SL box that will do basically the same thing. Plus the MIDI mapping engine for Traktor is so much more powerful that it’s nice to be able to have a robust companion controller in addition to turntables.
I’ve continued to look into getting an SL box, and it looks like I can get a setup for $300 cheapest. I guess for not having to pay for software updates in the future that’s not half bad. I’m assuming the SL box being an audio interface just lets you use any mixer with it basically? Or does it have to be serato certified like Traktor?
i love TSP2 but NI is greedy with all the updates, new software etc that you have to continue to DL and purchase every 2 years. One thing serato did right is FREE UPGRADES…I may switch back soon just b/c
No need, just with as any of the NI audio interfaces.
NI or Rane dj interfaces allow NI or Serato software but you can plug them into any mixer you see fit.
*more or less stricly - NI’s kit brings you DVS to an otherwise fully functional product when used with any proper audio interface, and Rane’s kit will just make SSL usable - PERIOD. No interface = no proper playback, let alone dvs.
*Certified mixers only allow NI or Serato software for DVS depending on the mixer.
You can use them with something else through their coreaudio/asio drivers when available but you won’t get DVS from them.
Nothing prevents you from hooking up either interface to whatever mixer you come across, whether it’s certified for one or the other or nothing at all, in which case the certification doesn’t matter because you’re just hooked to the mixer’s RCAs.
Oh, well that makes my next upgrade decision pretty easy then actually, thank you! Serato it is. 
Correct me if I am wrong. Serato uses a chip license system.. when you launch serato software, it checks what plugged into the USB for the chip. It looks for the SL box or Rane Mixer ( or third party hardware with a chip, like the Pioneer DDJ-SX for an itch dongle as example).
So even if you mapped serato to your S4, you still need a Serato hardware dongle on the pc. even if unused.
Because of that. whats the cheapest youcan get SSL for? $475ish for an SL2?
And yes I agree its bullcrap that NI charges so much for the Scratch upgrade… but technically, it is a different product in their eyes. (even if TSP2 is inside of TP2).. I think the s4 should come with TSP2
(If I am not mistaken, NI does have to pay some sort of license fee for the scratch technology. perhaps they are trying to keep the base TP2 lower in price by cutting it out)
at least with traktor, you can just buy the software and use with any controller. $99 for TP2 and $109 for TSP2 (with timecode kit). (every now and then they have a 50% off sale on TP2)
But you guys do bring up a valid point. what happens to the thousands of S2,S4,Z1,F1,X1 users when they go to TP3? free upgrades? only for a month? no upgrade without forking over your hard earned dough…
I think the real differance we are all overlooking. Rane is a hardware manufacture and makes most of their the money off the hardware. Traktor is a software manufacture and makes their money off software.. although, they have defiantly been treading in the hardware waters these days. just as Rane has been treading into the software market with itch.