NI Kontrol S4 vs. X1 comparison

DJ Gear & Hardware Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear
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NI Kontrol S4 vs. X1 comparison

Hi folks,

I need your help and opinion about this. Lately I´m finding more and more the way how I like to make music and having fun. This is my setup at the moment:
Using the TE OP-1 for synth parts, Midifighter 3D for fingerdrumming, NI Maschine as MPC style beatmaking, Elektron Octatrack for sampling/resampling, arranging everything and pretty much playing live with it, last but not Ableton for Recording everything. btw. I´m using a NI Komplete Audio 6 and Soundflower for Audiorouting.

I would like to integrate Traktor in my Set just to see how the workflow feels. So my idea is, having one Deck for Live Input, lets say for NI Maschine. The second and third deck I would like to use as Remix Decks with two midifighters 3D (or eventually two F1´s. Well and the fourth Deck as a Track Deck. Maybe even having the third Deck as a Remix Deck.

Does anyone using a similar setup in Traktor or actually using all four decks as Remix Decks?

O.K. so, Back to my Question.

What I´m looking for is a controller which is taking care for Traktors´ EQs, FX-Section, Play, Stop, Cue-Points and so on..

I was thinking of getting either the S4 or the X1 for this purpose.

Will be one (or even two) X1 be sufficent?
Better getting the S4?

which function do the S4 have which the X1 doesn´t and in vice versa beside the jogwheels, which I dont´really need, because i´m not scratching at all.

I hope I made myself clear. Writing threads in english has always been not that easy for me :open_mouth:

Thanks for any comments, opinions…

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If you don’t need jog wheels then you could get away with 1 X1.

If I was you, I would get 1 X1 for EQ and transport controls, and then maybe an F1 to fully control the remix decks as the knobs and faders I find are massively useful with the F1.

The F1 could also be remapped for transport and effects. To be honest you could make do with an X1, but in my own opinion the F1 is the only thing that is perfect for remix decks.

In the great scheme of things (except for F1 with remix decks), they are both some knobs and buttons which can be mapped to any function in Traktor. As the midi fighters can also be mapped to anything either.

Have a play with Traktor and write down every command you would like to be able to do, decide wether you would like a knob, fader or button controlling the command, and then count up and you will be able to decide what would work best for you.

On a side note - I have an S2, F1 and X1. Been trying to leave my S2 at home and just use my X1, F1 combo, but I find I like using jogs to search for points in tracks and nudging. But that is just me, mainly because I am lazy with cue points and beat grids.

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i personnally have just started using 4 remix decks within traktor but also switch to track deck sometimes controller wise i have a reloop contour IE and a VCI100 arcade edition.

as for what the X1 natively controls it deals with 2 effect units and basic transport on 2 decks no EQ( unless mapped on middi layer)

another option to go for would be the xone K2 and map everything yourself as it has enough controls to map 4 decks of EQ and transport features for each deck aswell

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I have a S4, a S2 and 2 X1. If you don’t need the jogwheels, the X1s should do it for you. I need the jogwheels, so that’s why I like having my S4 or my S2 lying around. I usually do have an X1 not too far too for extra controls over the effects (my everyday setup is a DJM-2000, 2 CDJ-400s, an S2 or an S4 and an X1).

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If you need jog wheels: S4
If you don’t: X1