New Features in Traktor Pro 2.5

The new release is mainly all about the new Remix decks which Native Instruments has actually trademarked. Meaning: It's kind of a big deal for them, but what does it give us users?

What the new Remix decks in Traktor Pro 2.5 basically does is take 4 ableton decks and put them direcly in to a deck Traktor. Switching all 4 decks in Traktor in to Remix decks will give you the ability to play 16 tracks at once and have 256 samples or loops at your fingertips.

Alternative to Ableton?

You will be able to store each Remix deck as a "scene" or what NI calls a Remix Set (Also Trademarked) and quickly create a 64 (4x16) sample bank.
All in all this makes Traktor an alternative for Ableton users. What Traktor gives in adition to Ableton is offcause the native DJ experience and workflow. So in effect I believe that alot of Ableton users now will switch from Ableton and start performing in Traktor.

The goal

I guess the goal for Native Instruments is empower the DJ to be able to create remixes on the fly and have a tool and workflow that is both powerfull and user friendly. Together with the F1, I fermly believe that there is no other DJ software on the market delivering this much power.

Quatize

There is alot of new adaptations under the hood with this release aswell. You can now change the quantization for the decks. This probably means that you're not locked in to 1:1, but can go further down into quantization to be able to say in time and beeing able to play with 16th notes. Looking forward to seeing this.

Beat Detection

Also they've upgraded the beat detection feature. Though not as good as Ableton, Mixmeister or M-Audio Torq (which is able to handle songs of beat) it's getting closer. The tempo tap feature helps alot in these cases though and can help you stay on beat even if it changes. This is usefull in tracks that change beat. The new thing is that you will be able to go back to the previous stored tempo if the track is locked.

Read more about the new upgrade of Traktor Pro 2.5 at Native Instrument

Taktor 2.5 and Kontrol F1 is revieled

The last couple of weeks I've been itching to see the new 2.5 version of Traktor and to see the entire Kontrol F1 revieled and yesterday NI lifted the vail.

The new controller is tailor made for the 2.5 remix section which replace the existing loop decks on C & D. Which in fact is a 4 banks x 16 samples clip launcher. It's got  a 4x4 pad which is RGB back lit. You can color code different types of samples and get a very quick overview of what your launcing without looking at the screen. This is probably the best sample launcing tool around.
Allready ordered one. :)

The new software ships 30.May and is free for Traktor Pro 2, S4 and S2 users!
Controller is available at the same time at $279 / 249 Euro.

It looks like they've created entire bank files so you are able to store presets for each deck. This makes loading alot easier...

The video below is of DJ (funny bone) Shiftee and Rapper Greg Nice. The video is shot at Snoop Doggs appartment! All is pretty impressive!



More info from DJ Techtools, DigitalDJTips and Native Instruments

External screens and projection overlay

Touch interfaces lack the tacktile feedback of an actual knob, turntable or jogwheel.
Even though this video is of a Serato setup I still believe that this might enspire someone to move ahead with implementing more visual feedback into controllers.
It looked like the video had alot of lag though and this offcause has to be fixed...

I perticular like the audio overlay of the turntables that they did and the audio strips along the mixer.
Visualy this does appeal more to me then the deck by deck layout that Traktor has. Maybe we'll see this on a mixer in the nead future.

It would be awesome if I could have a couple of small screens (connected via USB maybe) that we could place around the setup and then be able to pick elements (most likely the audiostips) of the software to be shown on these screens.

HID vs Timecode

Just read a very informative article at DJ Techtools about this topic.

In my opinion it all basically boils down to what interface you have available.
HID is in theory superiour, but can be buggy at times. Timecode is simpler more analogue approch, but is also very accurate.

If you've got CD players and can pick either one. I think the HID is the best way to go IF the controller has a good HID integration to the software.

I still feel that when it comes to the pure transport controll of a deck; nothing can beat the intuitive and vastly superior feel of a vinyl record.

Best thing is that with Traktor you can go either way, so bring enough gear and cables to use both options.

Check out the article