Traktor Z2 vs S4 for digital vinyl Can anyone offer some advise on these two products? I'm basically wondering if I'll miss anything on the Z2 if I pull the trigger on the S4. I would be connecting two turntables and using timecode. I've read that the S4 is too wide but the price right now on DJTT is very attractive.
Cheers. |
Harley Zitka
12.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by Calzone
Problem solved everyone, found the Z2 in a small shop in the next city for 599 and bought it! This thing kicks ass although its gonna be a while to learn it all. Cant wait to learn to scratch! Thanks for your input everyone it contributed towards my decision.
Great choice... you're gonna love it. |
Harley Zitka
12.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by firebr4nd
Source on that? NI has stated that the card in the s4 is an audio 8.
Personal experience. Better than any source. |
Myrta Neweii
13.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by Frank112916
Why? You can still use all the FX in external mode. Why would cdj or vinyl vs dvs make a difference in terms of using the mixer to its full potential?
Post fader effects have to be used in internal mode I thought? I'm not really much of an FX user anyways, just some delays and reverb and what not. |
Dino Hapgood
13.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by Calzone
Yeah the only thing I would worry about is literally wasting the mixer by not using it to its full potential by using DVS. Kinda had my heart set on the dvs so a z2 still seems great
Why? You can still use all the FX in external mode. Why would cdj or vinyl vs dvs make a difference in terms of using the mixer to its full potential? |
Myrta Neweii
11.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by jdownesbaird
It does!
Dang haha thanks for answering that, those two words may have literally convinced me to buy a db2 (among dozens of other reasons) cheers. |
Delena Katherman
11.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by Calzone
Also this is a shot in the dark but does anyone know of the db2 driver tweak still allows for timecode in 2.6.2? I can get a db2 in Canada for 1100.
It does! |
Hellen Mindrup
11.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by b1sh0p
There's a huge thread on the NI community
about the S4 being really quiet when playing real vinyl. It's something to believe about.
Yep... Tried that, it was bad. |
Danae Dumler
11.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by b1sh0p
There's a huge thread on the NI community
about the S4 being really quiet when playing real vinyl. It's something to believe about.
Ahh that may be different in the Z2 then since I believe it uses "Direct Thru" features like the Audio 10 rather than running through the Traktor Audio Thru software (which is ridiculously quiet on real vinyl when I run it through my Audio 8). Personally I'd still rather play on the Denon or any other real mixer/soundcard combo than the Z2. Luckily someone recently figured out how to make Traktor use better quality sound cards with DVS on a Mac.... Did I just say that out loud? |
Harley Zitka
12.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by Calzone
Problem solved everyone, found the Z2 in a small shop in the next city for 599 and bought it! This thing kicks ass although its gonna be a while to learn it all. Cant wait to learn to scratch! Thanks for your input everyone it contributed towards my decision.
Great choice... you're gonna love it. |
Myrta Neweii
12.07.2013 | Problem solved everyone, found the Z2 in a small shop in the next city for 599 and bought it! This thing kicks ass although its gonna be a while to learn it all. Cant wait to learn to scratch! Thanks for your input everyone it contributed towards my decision. |
Harley Zitka
12.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by firebr4nd
Source on that? NI has stated that the card in the s4 is an audio 8.
Personal experience. Better than any source. |
Alphonso Deitchman
12.07.2013 | You can only apply FX with the Z2 mixing internally (e.g. Live Input), so FX can be either pre or post fader. |
Myrta Neweii
13.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by Frank112916
Why? You can still use all the FX in external mode. Why would cdj or vinyl vs dvs make a difference in terms of using the mixer to its full potential?
Post fader effects have to be used in internal mode I thought? I'm not really much of an FX user anyways, just some delays and reverb and what not. |
Dino Hapgood
13.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by Calzone
Yeah the only thing I would worry about is literally wasting the mixer by not using it to its full potential by using DVS. Kinda had my heart set on the dvs so a z2 still seems great
Why? You can still use all the FX in external mode. Why would cdj or vinyl vs dvs make a difference in terms of using the mixer to its full potential? |
Myrta Neweii
11.07.2013 | Yeah the only thing I would worry about is literally wasting the mixer by not using it to its full potential by using DVS. Kinda had my heart set on the dvs so a z2 still seems great |
Delena Katherman
11.07.2013 | I recently took advantage of that same deal, and this thing is awesome. There are some driver issues on Mac OS that cause audio dropouts with Traktor for some users, but Allen & Heath are currently working on new drivers that should (hopefully) be released soon. Otherwise, the DB2 is ridiculous, especially with DVS. |
Myrta Neweii
11.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by jdownesbaird
It does!
Dang haha thanks for answering that, those two words may have literally convinced me to buy a db2 (among dozens of other reasons) cheers. |
Delena Katherman
11.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by Calzone
Also this is a shot in the dark but does anyone know of the db2 driver tweak still allows for timecode in 2.6.2? I can get a db2 in Canada for 1100.
It does! |
Myrta Neweii
11.07.2013 | Also this is a shot in the dark but does anyone know of the db2 driver tweak still allows for timecode in 2.6.2? I can get a db2 in Canada for 1100. |
Myrta Neweii
11.07.2013 | I should note I wont be mixing real vinyl, I have few records. I have heard bad things concerning the soundcard on the s4 not being as good as it should be, but again there's tons of opinions obviously. |
Albertina Fay
11.07.2013 | You can't use the S4 as a stand-alone mixer when using real vinyl. Traktor software needs to be running and decks need to be setup as live inputs. |
Hellen Mindrup
11.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by b1sh0p
There's a huge thread on the NI community
about the S4 being really quiet when playing real vinyl. It's something to believe about.
Yep... Tried that, it was bad. |
Danae Dumler
11.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by b1sh0p
There's a huge thread on the NI community
about the S4 being really quiet when playing real vinyl. It's something to believe about.
Ahh that may be different in the Z2 then since I believe it uses "Direct Thru" features like the Audio 10 rather than running through the Traktor Audio Thru software (which is ridiculously quiet on real vinyl when I run it through my Audio 8). Personally I'd still rather play on the Denon or any other real mixer/soundcard combo than the Z2. Luckily someone recently figured out how to make Traktor use better quality sound cards with DVS on a Mac.... Did I just say that out loud? |
Sonja Roybal
11.07.2013 | There's a huge thread on the NI community
about the S4 being really quiet when playing real vinyl. It's something to believe about. |
Danae Dumler
11.07.2013 | I believe the soundcard in the Audio 8, S4, and Z2 are all exactly the same, but I could be wrong. In any event you'll be far better off and happier with that Denon X-1600 (or 1700) than you would with either the Z2 or S4 in my opinion, if your goal is to use timecode. |
Ulysses Vittetoe
11.07.2013 | When I had my MKIIs alongside my s4, output was fine. |
Hellen Mindrup
11.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by firebr4nd
Source on that? NI has stated that the card in the s4 is an audio 8.
I can vouch him, the output is weak. I use an S4 with two 1200's when I spin at my buddies place. |
Ulysses Vittetoe
11.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by brocklambert
Output level is not even close, and the phono pre-amp on the S4 is horrid.
Source on that? NI has stated that the card in the s4 is an audio 8. |
Myrta Neweii
11.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by mdcdesign
It's not a toy as such, it's just weird (upside-down layout, weird jogwheels, etc). Personally, although I LOVE the way the Z2 looks and feels, I wouldn't be happy with it being the only control surface I owned, simply because of the lack of controls (only 4 cuepoints per deck, only a single FX knob). With that said, a Z2, an X1 or two and TTs would be bordering on the ultimate setup. For playing less important/less demanding gigs you can just take the X1s and Z2.
Yeah I agree, but none the less the z2 seems nicer to use. I have a midifighter at the moment that I can use for cues and such. But I agree two x1s with a z2 is probably absolute sex to use. |
Doreen Schurle
11.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by Calzone
I never considered the phono pre amps, wouldnt want to have bad ones.. I guess the z2 is the better option here. I dont believe Ive ever actually "wanted" an s4 it just seemed practical. Sorta seems like a toy compared to the z2
It's not a toy as such, it's just weird (upside-down layout, weird jogwheels, etc). Personally, although I LOVE the way the Z2 looks and feels, I wouldn't be happy with it being the only control surface I owned, simply because of the lack of controls (only 4 cuepoints per deck, only a single FX knob). With that said, a Z2, an X1 or two and TTs would be bordering on the ultimate setup. For playing less important/less demanding gigs you can just take the X1s and Z2. |
Myrta Neweii
11.07.2013 | I never considered the phono pre amps, wouldnt want to have bad ones.. I guess the z2 is the better option here. I dont believe Ive ever actually "wanted" an s4 it just seemed practical. Sorta seems like a toy compared to the z2 |
Rolande Posso
11.07.2013 | Z2 = better faders, smaller footprint |
Harley Zitka
11.07.2013 | I would go for the Z2 hands down... I have owned both products for an extensive period of time, and the Z2 is the perfect mixer for someone using turntables or CDJ's with Traktor (it also works great as a standalone controller too). |
Harley Zitka
11.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by firebr4nd
The sound card in the s4 is the same quality as a standalone NI sound card...
Output level is not even close, and the phono pre-amp on the S4 is horrid. |
Milda Poucher
11.07.2013 | Z2. Selling my S4 because I'm just not feeling it for use as a mixer. Feels a bit too much really. |
Desire Piedmont
11.07.2013 | I've got an S4 and haven't even bothered to hook my decks up to it, despite absolutely fanging to get into DVS. The S4 layout and size doesn't really suit TTs. I'd go for the Z4 which is designed for TT's. |
Ulysses Vittetoe
10.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by trux
i have an s4. it is a bit wide, just over 19 inches, and doesn't fit into 19inch dj coffins
i run 2 turntables into it. the sound quality of the soundcard is not great in my opinion, but does the job. i believe the faders are much better on the z2.
really comes down to how you dj. i use 3 track decks and 1 remix deck, or 4 decks. and i use another midi controller to assign my turntables to the decks and a few other useful functions. don't believe i could handle being stuck with 2 decks/channel strips. but again, depends what you spin.
personally i'm looking to upgrade (or.. sidegrade?) to a used denon x1600.
The sound card in the s4 is the same quality as a standalone NI sound card... |
Erica Charvet
10.07.2013 | There's no comparison in terms of fader quality. If that's important, go for the z2. |
Tera Baragan
10.07.2013 |
Originally Posted by Calzone
I only use 2 decks for most sets but 4 channels would be nice. I believe you have the right idea with the denon... Ive had my eye on an x1600 for a while. Good advise in reference to the S4's soundcard. I assume the z2s is better?
U can't beat xone for quality. |
Myrta Neweii
10.07.2013 | I only use 2 decks for most sets but 4 channels would be nice. I believe you have the right idea with the denon... Ive had my eye on an x1600 for a while. Good advise in reference to the S4's soundcard. I assume the z2s is better? |
