Traktor Z2 vs S4 for digital vinyl
Can anyone offer some advise on these two products? I’m basically wondering if I’ll miss anything on the Z2 if I pull the trigger on the S4. I would be connecting two turntables and using timecode. I’ve read that the S4 is too wide but the price right now on DJTT is very attractive.
Cheers.
I’d go for the Z2, I really dislike using the S4 as a mixer… But that’s just me.
i have an s4. it is a bit wide, just over 19 inches, and doesn’t fit into 19inch dj coffins 
i run 2 turntables into it. the sound quality of the soundcard is not great in my opinion, but does the job. i believe the faders are much better on the z2.
really comes down to how you dj. i use 3 track decks and 1 remix deck, or 4 decks. and i use another midi controller to assign my turntables to the decks and a few other useful functions. don’t think i could handle being stuck with 2 decks/channel strips. but again, depends what you spin.
personally i’m looking to upgrade (or.. sidegrade?) to a used denon x1600.
I only use 2 decks for most sets but 4 channels would be nice. I think you have the right idea with the denon… Ive had my eye on an x1600 for a while. Good advise in reference to the S4’s soundcard. I assume the z2s is better?
U can’t beat xone for quality.
There’s no comparison in terms of fader quality. If that’s important, go for the z2.
The sound card in the s4 is the same quality as a standalone NI sound card…
I’ve got an S4 and haven’t even bothered to hook my decks up to it, despite absolutely fanging to get into DVS. The S4 layout and size doesn’t really suit TTs. I’d go for the Z4 which is designed for TT’s.
Z2. Selling my S4 because I’m just not feeling it for use as a mixer. Feels a bit too much really.
Output level is not even close, and the phono pre-amp on the S4 is horrid.
I would go for the Z2 hands down… I have owned both products for an extensive period of time, and the Z2 is the perfect mixer for someone using turntables or CDJ’s with Traktor (it also works great as a standalone controller too).
Z2 = better faders, smaller footprint
I never considered the phono pre amps, wouldnt want to have bad ones.. I guess the z2 is the better option here. I dont think Ive ever actually “wanted” an s4 it just seemed practical. Sorta seems like a toy compared to the z2
It’s not a toy as such, it’s just weird (upside-down layout, weird jogwheels, etc). Personally, although I LOVE the way the Z2 looks and feels, I wouldn’t be happy with it being the only control surface I owned, simply because of the lack of controls (only 4 cuepoints per deck, only a single FX knob). With that said, a Z2, an X1 or two and TTs would be bordering on the ultimate setup. For playing less important/less demanding gigs you can just take the X1s and Z2.
Yeah I agree, but none the less the z2 seems nicer to use. I have a midifighter at the moment that I can use for cues and such. But I agree two x1s with a z2 is probably absolute sex to use.
Source on that? NI has stated that the card in the s4 is an audio 8.
I can vouch him, the output is weak. I use an S4 with two 1200’s when I spin at my buddies place.
When I had my MKIIs alongside my s4, output was fine.
I think the soundcard in the Audio 8, S4, and Z2 are all exactly the same, but I could be wrong. In any event you’ll be far better off and happier with that Denon X-1600 (or 1700) than you would with either the Z2 or S4 in my opinion, if your goal is to use timecode.
There’s a huge thread on the NI forum about the S4 being really quiet when playing real vinyl. It’s something to think about.