Native Instruments Traktor 2 User manual

Brand: Native Instruments

Model: Traktor 2

Type: User manual

This manual is also suitable for

Kontrol S4

Native Instruments Traktor 2 is a powerful and versatile DJ software that allows you to mix and blend music with ease. With its intuitive interface and wide range of features, Traktor 2 is perfect for both beginners and experienced DJs alike.

Some of the key features of Traktor 2 include:

Beatmatching: Traktor 2's automatic beatmatching feature makes it easy to keep your tracks in sync, even if they're at different tempos.
Looping: Traktor 2 allows you to create and save loops on the fly, which can be used to add excitement to your mixes.
Effects: Traktor 2 comes with a wide range of built-in effects, such as EQs, filters, and delays, which you can use to add your own personal touch to your mixes.

Some of the key features of Traktor 2 include:

Beatmatching: Traktor 2's automatic beatmatching feature makes it easy to keep your tracks in sync, even if they're at different tempos.
Looping: Traktor 2 allows you to create and save loops on the fly, which can be used to add excitement to your mixes.
Effects: Traktor 2 comes with a wide range of built-in effects, such as EQs, filters, and delays, which you can use to add your own personal touch to your mixes.

How to DJ using Native

Instruments Traktor 2 and the

Kontrol S4

By: Jeremy Doss

Table of Contents iii

Table of Contents

Table of Contents................................................................................................................ iii

Introduction ........................................................................................................................ v

Chapter 1 ............................................................................................................................ vii

Checking the Equipment ................................................................................................. 3

Necessary Hardware ..................................................................................................... 3

Necessary Software ....................................................................................................... 3

Setting Up Traktor 2 with the Kontrol S4 ....................................................................... 4

Installing Traktor 2 ....................................................................................................... 4

Using the Setup Wizard ................................................................................................ 5

Routing the Audio Output ............................................................................................ 6

Connecting Speakers .................................................................................................... 6

Customizing the Program View ....................................................................................... 7

The Essential View........................................................................................................ 7

The Extended View ....................................................................................................... 8

The Browser View ......................................................................................................... 8

The Mixer View ............................................................................................................. 9

Chapter 2 ............................................................................................................................ 11

What Is Mixing? ............................................................................................................. 13

Finding New Music ........................................................................................................ 13

Finding Music on the Internet ................................................................................... 13

Finding Music in Stores .............................................................................................. 14

Analyzing New Music ..................................................................................................... 14

Building a Library ....................................................................................................... 14

Analyzing Genre ......................................................................................................... 15

Analyzing Beats per Minute (BPM)............................................................................ 15

Analyzing Key ............................................................................................................. 15

Following Common Mixing Trends ............................................................................... 16

Mixing By Genre ......................................................................................................... 16

Mixing By BPM ............................................................................................................ 17

Mixing By Key .............................................................................................................. 17

iv Table of Contents

Chapter 3 ........................................................................................................................... 19

Controlling Traktor 2 with the Kontrol S4 .................................................................... 21

Blending Songs .............................................................................................................. 21

Loading Songs ............................................................................................................ 21

Lining Up the Grid and Syncing BPM ........................................................................ 22

Using the A-B Fader ................................................................................................... 22

Using the Volume Faders ........................................................................................... 23

Using Filters and Equalizers ...................................................................................... 23

Using Loops and Using Cues ......................................................................................... 23

Starting and Stopping Loops ...................................................................................... 24

Setting and Using Cues ............................................................................................... 24

Using the Effects Rack ................................................................................................... 25

Selecting Effects .......................................................................................................... 25

Turning Effects On and Using Deck Focus ................................................................ 25

Changing Effects Parameters ..................................................................................... 26

Improving Your Next Mix .............................................................................................. 26

Recording a Mix .......................................................................................................... 26

Analyzing a Crowd ...................................................................................................... 26

Index .................................................................................................................................. 27

Introduction v

Introduction

Thank you for using Native Instruments Traktor 2 and the Kontrol S4! This document is

intended for those interested in learning how to use these products to perform as a DJ

and keep up with current musical trends in a performance environment. Having years of

experience using these products in home and public environments, I have provided all

of the information necessary to have you impressing crowds in no time! Whether you

would like to use this knowledge for personal enjoyment or to perform for others, you

picked the right choice for a new hobby!

This manual is designed to provide a comprehensive guide to getting started with

Traktor 2 and your new Kontrol S4. Traktor 2 is a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)

that is designed for mixing together audio files live on your computer. This DAW works

most efficiently with the Kontrol S4, a USB software controller designed specifically for

use with Traktor 2.

This manual only applies to the use of the Traktor 2 hardware with computers running

on the Windows platform and excludes information on setup with a Macintosh. Even

though Traktor 2 can be controlled by a variety of products, the scope of this document

is limited to use with the Kontrol S4 only. The sections on selecting songs and arranging

them for performance will only cover the technical methods for doing so. Software and

hardware drivers are subject to change and may need to be updated for use.

Chapter 1

Setting Up

In this chapter, DJs will learn how to set up their Native Instruments software.

Chapter 1 3

Checking the Equipment

This section of the chapter will go through the different pieces of software and hardware

that are necessary for using Traktor 2 and the Kontrol S4. Checking to make sure all of

the necessary parts are present is essential to using these products.

Necessary Hardware

Using the Traktor 2 software requires ownership

of the following hardware:

• A computer running on the Microsoft

Windows platform

• Native Instruments Kontrol S4 for Traktor

• A USB 2.0/3.0 cable

• A Kontrol S4 power adapter

• A pair of speakers

• Two ¼” speaker cables or a pair of RCA

Cables

• A pair of over-ear headphones

Necessary Software

Using the Kontrol S4 requires a computer in

order to run the software that it controls. Using

this setup requires the following software:

• Windows XP or greater

• The Traktor 2 software (free with purchase

of a Kontrol S4)

• Mixed in Key song analysis software

• Drivers for your Kontrol S4 (must be up to

date)

Figure 1: Traktor Kontrol S4

Figure 2: Traktor Pro 2 Software

4 Setting Up

Figure 3: Kontrol S4 Driver Option

Setting Up Traktor 2 with the Kontrol S4

This section of the chapter assumes that all necessary hardware and software are

accounted for. Setting up the software incorrectly can lead to poor sound quality or no

sound at all!

Installing Traktor 2

Installing this software requires the product key received upon the purchase of the

Kontrol S4 or standalone copy of Traktor 2. Copies are available for sale on the Native

Instruments website or one of many music stores. With the disk and associated key in

hand follow these steps for setup:

1. Insert disk into your computers disk drive

2. Auto-run the installer when prompted and wait

for the setup wizard to start (Figure 3)

3. Follow the on screen instructions until

prompted to install the Kontrol S4 driver

(Figure 4) and check the box

4. Continue following on screen instructions until

the installation has finished

The setup has now finished installing the Traktor 2 software as well as the hardware

driver for use with the Kontrol S4. You are now ready to run your version of Traktor 2.

Figure 4: Traktor 2 Setup Wizard

Chapter 1 5

Figure 7: Finalizing Setup

Using the Setup Wizard

Once Traktor 2 runs, it will automatically open its

“Setup Wizard” (Figure 5). At this time, make

sure that the Kontrol S4 is plugged in to the

computer via its USB cable (labeled as “A” in

Figure 5). Once the controller is plugged in, click

“next” to continue.

The Kontrol S4 is considered an “external hardware controller” in Traktor 2. When

asked if using an external controller during the setup wizard, select “Yes” from the

dropdown menu and then select next. On the next screen, select “Native Instruments” as

your manufacturer and “Kontrol S4” as your model (These options may be selected as

your default already).

The Kontrol S4 requires only two track decks even

though it may be used with other controlling

hardware. Because only the Kontrol S4 is used in

this manual, select “2 Track Decks” from the setup

drop down menu in the “Deck Layout Selection”

window (Figure 6) and click next. The final window

in the setup wizard displays all of the options that

were chosen and should appear as it does in Figure

Select “Finish” and complete the programs setup to

move on to customizing your program view.

Figure 5: Setup Wizard

Figure 6: Deck Layout Selection

6 Setting Up

Figure 8: Preferences Button

Routing the Audio Output

In order to properly output audio through your Kontrol S4, the audio output must be

routed correctly. Doing so may be easily accomplished by following these steps:

• Open the preferences menu by selecting the “gear”

button at the top right of the program window

(labeled “A” in Figure 8)

• Select “Audio Setup” in the preferences menu

(labeled “A” in Figure 9)

• Make sure “Traktor Kontrol S4” is selected under the Audio Device drop-down

menu (labeled “B” in Figure 9)

• Select “Output Routing” in the preferences menu (labeled “A” in Figure 10)

• Make sure the mixing mode is set to “Internal” (labeled “B” in Figure 10)

Connecting Speakers

Once the audio output is routed correctly as

explained above, the audio is outputted through the

Kontrol S4’s main outputs (Figure 11).

Plug your speakers into the back of the Kontrol S4

either by stereo ¼” cables (labeled “A” in Figure 11),

or stereo RCA cables (labeled “B” in Figure 11).

Keep in mind that these outputs do not provide

power and require that your choice of speakers be self-powered (active speakers) or

amplified externally (passive speakers).

Figure 10: Output Routing

Figure 9: Audio Setup

Figure 11: Kontrol S4 Outputs

Chapter 1 7

Figure 12: Program Views

Customizing the Program View

This section explains the customization of the

appearance of Traktor 2. Customizing the program

view is a matter of preference. Traktor 2 makes this

easy by providing a drop-down menu with four preset

views: Essential, Extended, Mixer, and Browser

(Figure 12).

The Essential View

The “Essential” view contains the following:

• The “waveform windows” (labeled as “A” in Figure 13)

• The “playlist shortcuts” window (labeled as “B” in Figure 13)

• The “browser” windows (labeled as “C” in Figure 13)

Figure 13: Essential View

8 Setting Up

The Extended View

The “Extended” view contains the following:

• Everything from the “Essential” view (Figure 13)

• Two “effects racks” (labeled as “A” in Figure 14)

• “Loop controls” and main volume control (labeled as “B” in Figure 14)

• Mixer controls for each deck (labeled as “C” in Figure 14)

The Browser View

The “Browser” view contains only minimized “waveform windows” and enlarged

browser windows (Figure 15).

Figure 14: Extended View

Figure 15: Browser View

Chapter 1 9

The Mixer View

The “Mixer” view contains the following:

• Everything from the “Extended” view (Figure 14)

• The deck “equalizers” and “volume faders” (labeled as “A” in Figure 16)

• The deck “move, cue, grid” menus (labeled as “B” in Figure 16)

• The deck “A-B fader” (labeled as “C” in Figure 16)

For the sake of this manual and ease of operation, the “Mixer” view preset will be used

from this point on.

Figure 16: Mixer View

10 Setting Up

Chapter 2

The Mixing Process

This chapter will explain what mixing is, where to find songs, how to analyze

songs, and how to utilize common mixing trends.

Chapter 2 13

What Is Mixing?

Mixing is the process of playing more than one song at a time and utilizing the various

features of Traktor 2. Mixing is not simply playing both songs at equal volumes, but

using these features to add style and character to each song and each transition between

songs.

Finding New Music

This section explains how to find music from many different sources. These sources are

not the only ways to find music for use in the process of mixing, but are some of the

Native Instruments Traktor 2 User manual

Brand: Native Instruments

Model: Traktor 2

Type: User manual

This manual is also suitable for

Kontrol S4

Some of the key features of Traktor 2 include:

Beatmatching: Traktor 2's automatic beatmatching feature makes it easy to keep your tracks in sync, even if they're at different tempos.
Looping: Traktor 2 allows you to create and save loops on the fly, which can be used to add excitement to your mixes.
Effects: Traktor 2 comes with a wide range of built-in effects, such as EQs, filters, and delays, which you can use to add your own personal touch to your mixes.

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Native Instruments Traktor 2 User manual

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