What is the best mixer for Traktor with built in soundcard???
I’ve been looking into getting a new mixer but I want to start running T2 and I also have T2.5 in mind. What would be the best Mixer i could use for running this software? So far I’ve been looking at the Traktor Kontrol S4, Denon DN-X600, and the Pioneer DJM-T1. I would most likely be getting the remix decks also when they come out. Help me make a decision guys.. thanks
The S4 is a cool all in 1 solution if you dnt already have decks. It has some issues running w/ windows and I personally don’t think it’s of the greatest build quality (known issues w/ loose connection in the headphone jack, USB socket that is fragile, tempo faders that malfunction.
The X1600 is a great mixer. I’ve never owned one, but I have never heard of any issues w/ it. Great built in FX, and they basically modeled it to be like a cheaper version of a Pioneeer DJM 800/900.
The Pioneer DJM T1 is a wicked cool mixer. I never owned one, but if I had spare cash or if I had to sell my DJM 900, I would replace it w/ this mixer. You can look up all the features it has and what not, but it’s biggest selling point for me is that it’s made by a company that is known for it’s durable and quality mixers. Your mixers don’t become and stay as the “club standard” if they arent built well.
The Korg Zero 4 is in about the same price range as the x1600 and DJM T1. I’ve never owned one. It’s got a ton of options. I think the mixer is a bit cluttered, but thats just me. I have heard of some build/quality issues w/ them, but I’m not very familiar w/ the mixer.
Are you only looking for Traktor Scratch certified mixers or for just a mixer w/ a built in soundcard? Cause there are more mixers in that price range, that I didn’t mention, w/ a soundcard, that aren’t Scratch certified.
i would like it to be traktor certified just so i dont need to be looking on the computer as often to function it or have to buy an X1. but if the other options are that much better than i might get one of those and have to buy an X1 if its worth it.
There’s mixers that arent SCratch certified, but they have MIDI and a soundcard, so that you could map the mixer instead of mapping a X1. The difference between Mixers that are Scratch certified vs mixers w/ just a built in soundcard is that w/ a Scratch certified mixer you don’t need to buy a Native Instruments audio interface if you’re using timecode (CDJ / Turntable). There are even some CDJ’s that can plug into your laptop and use MIDI/HID, eliminating the need for timecode, which means eliminating the need for an Native Instruments audio interface or the need for a Traktor Scratch certified mixer.
I am looking into running a DVS system tho. i have MK2s with a basic Stanton mixer and want to upgrade to something i can easily use traktor and timecode vinyls with while controlling the software without buying un needed products like an X1 and an additional soundcard.
If thats the case, and I was in your shoes, like I said earlier, I would be buying the DJM T1 especially since they just dropped the price. It’s got a ton of MIDI, so you should never need an X1 for anything. It’s already mapped, so you dnt need to dick w/ mappings (could be a big plus if you dont know how to map). The layout is awesome for use w/ Traktor. If you mix songs w/ all 4 decks then I would look at the Denon x1600. Honestly though, all 3 of the mixers (S4 is actually a controller but oh well) are good. I think you would be happy w/ any of them.
I don’t think you understand what trakor scratch certified means. Traktor certified only means that the soundcard is authorized to work with traktor scratch pro if you were hooking up timecode decks and owned traktor scratch pro. It has nothing to do with the mixer being midi mapped to traktor.
If you want to use time code, the sample decks and not buy and X1 you want a DNX-1600. Four channels with four separate midi banks that can handle your transport control and sample decks. If you want to use the remix decks you’re really going to want the F1 when it comes out.
so if i got another mixer with a soundcard that wasnt TS certified it would still work with it? i wouldnt know how to map out the mixer to traktor tho. is that difficult to do?
i get why i would need four decks tho if i only have two turntables. im fairly new at all this and dont understand “transport control”
No. The sound card MUST be TSP certified for timecode functionality to work. That means one of the mixers in this list or a NI audio interface.
Not really. There are plenty of tutorials on youtube from DJTechTools and elsewhere, or you can buy the Traktor Bible
You can use another channel on the mixer for the sample/remix decks, maybe another for a direct audio input from the CDJ etc. 4 channels means more options.
Transport control means play/pause, cue, moving the track etc. All the stuff you tend to use most often.
oh ok. i thought the new F1s were hooked up through USB?
Yes, but the F1 is just a controller. It tells the software what to do but has nothing to do with the audio itself. That’s all dealt with by the sound card.
so i would need a 4 channel mixer to have full control of the the remix decks while using the F1s?
You can route the remix decks to the same channels as the track decks, but if you want full control it’s better to have a 4 channel mixer.
This thread should prob be moved…jus sayin
Or at least a three channel mixer, I’m nopt sure how many of those really fall into the criteria though. I use the sample decks on one channel and just control the volume on each individual sample slot with an X1. You will probably be able to do it this way the the remix decks, but since I’ve never used one I can’t say with 100% certainty that it will work the same way.
Let’s say you get a DNX 1600. That mixer is Traktor Scratch certified so you just plug your turntables into the mixer, set it to the proper setting for timecode and your good to go. The mixer hears the high pitch whine that is the timecode signal and interprets that into sound using black magic that NI puts in each certified mixer and sound card. You tell Traktor in preferences what channel to send the sample decks out on and it’s handled all internally with no extra cables.
Let’s say you get a DJM800 or something else that’s not Traktor Scratch certified. You would have to get an NI sound card (comes with black magic pre-installed) either a 6, a used 8 or a 10. Each of those numbers are cut in half for in’s and out’s so the Audio 6 has 3 in’s and 3 out’s. In your case that would be bare minimum if you decided to run the sample decks on the same channel. This would leave one channel on the mixer open that would only be usable by either another TT or a CDJ as long as either of those was playing regular media and not timecode.
If you go the sound card route you would connect it to your computer via USB. Each TT would be hooked to an in on the sound card and then from the related out to that TT you would run to the mixer channel you want that TT to be on. All of the black magic is handled inside the sound card. So for two TT’s you would take up four of the channels in our Audio 6 reference.
Next in Traktor you would go to your preferences pane and set the output routing for the sample decks to the same channel. Then from that channel on the sound card you would run to the mixer line in for whatever channel you want the mixer to have the sample decks on. If you have a four channel mixer you can set each sample deck to it’s own channel but you would need at least and Audio 8 to do that. Four channels taken up by TT in’s and in’s and two outs used by the sample decks.
Certified mixers are much easier and cleaner looking. I had a DNX 1600 and it is a phenomenal mixer with a better than average cross fader for the scratch type. I;m not one of those though.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for getting my back…moved. 
with an audio6, couldn’t you route the sample decks through the master in/out channels?
set both sample decks to the master in/out and just be careful not to be using both at the same time, I would think.