Traktor Kontrol: Purely Opinion

Well for me the jogwheels on the S4 just don’t cut it, but that is personal preference.
So I would either go with no jogwheels and what Kent suggested or get a different controller like the 4Trak or cheaper the Jockey 3.
Now for the F1, I only played around with it a bit in a buddies studio… I cannot really warm up to the workflow. It is somewhere in between Ableton – Maschine – Sampler. But it does not do anything particularly good.
So as a versatile “swiss army” knife I prolly would go with one F1 and go from there.
However if I would go Traktor my top of the line setup would be:
4Trak with Traktor and a Maschine MKII and mix both together via a Faderfox.

Agreed. I have the F1 and you can switch between decks so fast that 2 is not needed unless your really into triger samples/loops etc;. I run it along with my S2 and maschine mikro. I think they all complement each other quite well.

I use deck A and B for the S2 and I keep two remix decks open C,D for the remix decks. I tend to make my own remix sets based on my style. I like to layer percussion on vocals on to house/electro tracks in the above decks.

I midi mapped my mikro to control the effects in Traktor so when I am not using maschine for production the controller still has a use when I DJ. I havent gotten into using maschine as live inpiut yet. I would use it for live finger drumming but I am nowhere close to the point where I woudl be comfortable performing with it in a live situation.

Recently just started making my own drums loops in maschine to use in the remix deck slots as well. I prefer to make my own sounds so I no that it is unique to my style and no one else has them.

I think the price is right If you know your going to be spending alot of your free time with them.

Possibilities are endless!

Jake Robinson, post: 30725, member: 2223 wrote: So you use the two channels on the S2 for volume, EQ, etc. for decks A and B, and then just control the use the faders on the F1 for those decks’ levels?

I actually have a soundcad as well . Komplete Audio 6. Which I use for routing as well. But yeah for the most part the two channels are for decks a b. The F1 I only use on Decks C and D and I use the faders to control the volume for only those decks. I was going to use the F1 and midi map it but its strength i think is for samples, layering etc; so I mapped my mikro instead to control all my cue points, effects, and loop recorded.

I’d only buy F1’s if the Remix Decks are vital to how I play.

Right now I still mainly straight mix like I did long ago on vinyl and CD…so I don’t go out buying loads of gear if I’ll barely touch it in a night.

It’s the same with the S4. Are you going to use 4 decks all the time? Or perhaps you can go with 2 and be good with your setup? In that case then, consider the S2.

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of buying everything top quality…but regretful when you’re ebaying it later because you’re not using it enough to justify the money spent. It’s why in my photography I’m still on my old 400D and have been getting DIY with lighting. DJing I’m the same…why buy a new laptop if all I’m doing is making mixes on my big home workstation?

Buy based on need…not want. Treat gear like you would vinyl if you were in a store. You have 30 vinyls you like, but can only afford 10, so drop 20 of them that you think you won’t play too much and buy the 10 you’ll play to death.

D-Jam, that is one of the most resounding with truth, no BS posts I’ve ever read here.

Whichever hobby it is, I’m always a little prone to fall for GAS so I can kinda relate to that. Thanks for your words of wisdom! (Zero sarcasm)
–
To the OP: S4 and TWO F1? You’re Ean Golden? I’d say start out with an S2 or S4 if you’re all set on NI and once you feel like 4 samples per Remix Deck aren’t enough you can still get an F1. I tried it out and sent it back cause it was way above my skill level to mess with that stuff in a meaningful way besides trying to put a decent mix together.
If you absolutely have to blow that amount of cash, I’d still rather go for a Z2 + one X1 + one F1. Translates better to clubs, lets you swap out stuff etc.