TRAKTOR KONTROL Z2’s layout builds on familiar standards for uninterrupted workflow from the start. A spacious control surface with faders, 3-band EQ section and dedicated filter knobs per channel are all right where you need them.

The Z2 feels like a real mixer – it’s solid in terms of build and weight, certainly no lightweight affair. We particularly liked the physical response of the crossfader and channel faders for mixing and scratching, though we’d have liked the curve control options available for the crossfader to be available for the channel faders too. It’s hard to do tight rhythmic work when the range of a fader is spread across its entire length, so most performance mixers of this type would be equipped with a curve control for creating a user-defined sweet spot to work with. However, given the price NI is asking we can accept that you don’t get everything you might want. Or connect multiple TRAKTOR KONTROL F1 and X1 controllers thanks to the Z2’s USB hub: Freeing up additional ports on your laptop, and expanding performance possibilities. Built-in powered USB hub* for 2 add-on DJ controllers such as TRAKTOR KONTROL F1 or TRAKTOR KONTROL X1 Look at Rane and legacy drivers drama (part blame on inMusic adcquisition part on AS transition and no money for old hardware updates…) Non-destructive file handling: "Tag writing mode" options have been added for configuring has been added to configure which types of metadata TRAKTOR writes or does not write to audio files.

Rating

By replacing your mixer with a Traktor Kontrol Z2, you can continue to DJ exactly as before, but now the whole world of Traktor is only a USB cable into your laptop away. You can mix and match seamlessly from one to the other, and due to the fact that you’ve only changed your mixer, get into DJing with Traktor in a very natural way. The flagship TRAKTOR 4-channel mixer software from Native Instruments is the foundation of the TRAKTOR series, offering cutting edge control of your music files. Featuring professional-grade audio quality, instant syncing for beat matching, seamless looping, Hotcue, beatjump tools for remixing on the fly, and a full suite of high-grade effects, TRAKTOR PRO 3 is the top choice of DJs around the world. Whether on the road, installed into a DJ booth at a club, or comfortably forming an integral part of your studio hub, the professional-grade aluminum chassis of the TRAKTOR KONTROL Z2 delivers a rugged design with all the power and connectivity you need. Featuring a 24-bit audio interface, pro XLR and RCA outputs, knobs, buttons, and Innofaders™, alongside TRAKTOR Mode buttons for seamless switching, this premium 2+2 channel mixer is performance ready and built to last. Taking cues from recent NI hardware, the Kontrol Z2 features NI’s beautiful coloured button technology and two LED displays good for two characters each, lending svelte good looks and industrial style rugged demeanour respectively. Things are pretty much the same as they’ve been for a few years when it comes to the feel of Native Instruments hardware, so excuse me for not reinventing the wheel yet again when going into how things feel; perhaps look at my recent Kontrol F1 review for a more in depth description of the feel of the various knobs and buttons (although faders warrant a section below).

In this case you’d be looking at a Rane mixer, of which the Sixty-One is the closest to this. Without even comparing features sets, bear in mind that the Rane Sixty-One costs pretty much double what this does. Plug & Play: Full version of TRAKTOR PRO 3 software, two timecode records & two timecode CDs included The 48KHz audio interface is blazingly fast, and after speaking with many other scratch DJs there seems to be a general consensus – and as this is anecdotal please take it as such with the knowledge that we’re all prone to persuading ourselves things are true from time to time – that the Kontrol Z2’s method of controlling Traktor’s internal mixer actually makes scratching with DVS feel tighter as the small amount of latency added to the fader puts cutting more in sync with the software translated record movements. FeelNowadays the safest bet is Pioneer or Numark but at the same time AS transition is showing how wrong was x86 dependency on djing field with apps like Djay Pro getting all the features at the palm of your hand meanwhile desktop can follow the development of drivers and only Vdj catching the wave…

In February 2019, Native Instruments released the version 3.1.1 update for Traktor Pro 3. Version 3.1.1 brings some new features, improvements, and fixes that make for a smoother workflow. Here's some of the features and improvements: Flawless integration of any DJ equipment is further supported by an integrated USB hub that allows you to connect TRAKTOR KONTROL F1 and X1 controllers to complement the eight color-coded trigger pads of the loop encoders. Seamlessly use the DJ mixer to launch music samples, loops, and cue points and expand your set up with on-the-fly remixing and sound tweaking. DarkMatter– A noise effect, with compression adding a rhythmic quality to the distortion it introduces The Z2 hardware functions as a Traktor-centric MIDI controller, audio interface, scratch decoder and conventional analogue DJ mixer"Using the Loop encoder and the Shift button, you can easily set loops – turning the encoder decides the loop length, pushing it down turns the loop on or off. The currently selected length is shown on the LED readout. It’s important not to get swept away by the design aesthetic of the Z2, of course; there’s no point fawning over a mixer’s looks and allowing yourself (perhaps more aptly, myself) to get hypnotised without really looking at the nitty gritty. For instance, compared to the Pioneer DJM-T1 the Z2 is strikingly similar in many aspects. The basic layout is more or less the same, but on the T1 there’s a sense of things being squeezed in that just isn’t there with the Z2. To achieve the svelte feel of the Z2 Native Instruments have done a few things; the slimline tapering of the knobs creates the illusion of more space on the mixer, small but not cramped buttons for cue source and the like give an impression of spaciousness, and the tighter-than-tight integration with Traktor 2.6 has allowed NI to make better use of shift layers, colours, and their new built in macro effects to save on physical controls.

This cookie stores user-like settings for the chat system provider, which are required for our online chat service. Trusted Shops The Traktor Kontrol Z2 is an awesome bit of kit and a stunning entry into the DJ mixer market for NI" Ergonomically, the Z2 is a tremendous success. Native Instruments should be really proud of what they’ve achieved when it comes to integrating the Z2’s brawn with the Traktor brain, because it looks like the Z2 should do a lot less than it actually does. It’s not the first DVS ‘hub’ mixer, of course, not even close – but to my grubby hands it feels the most streamlined and logical, and when comparing it to other mixers it seems somehow more elegant. Like all good scratch mixers, the Z2 hardware keeps things simple. It offers two channels, fed by either line or phono inputs, both with built in Traktor Scratch decoders (Traktor Scratch Mk2 vinyl and CDs are included), so whether you use CDJs or turntables, you can simply plug them in alongside your laptop (connected via the USB port), and even hook up external drives via the dual-port USB hub.

Features

One-knob Macro FX for effortlessly expressive sound manipulation using the comprehensive array of TRAKTOR effects Pro XLR outputs, a booth output and 24-bit sound quality mean your sets hit with maximum impact. Precision knobs, buttons, multi-colored cue point controls and Innofaders™ give you ultra-accurate control of your sets. Whether spinning vinyl, CDJs, playing digital files, or using TRAKTOR SCRATCH timecode control, switching formats is just a push of a button away – lightning-fast, uninterrupted creative flow. And the heavy metal chassis means your busy schedule won’t take its toll on your new tool of choice.