NI Kontrol S4 MK2
NI Kontrol S4 MK2 Posted on: 06.08.2013 by Glinda Stagner So... With the Kontrol X1 mk2 going on sale today, anyone else believeing that it may be time for the introduction of an s4 mk2?S4's have dropped in price recently (a common sign of NI bringing out a new product) The s4 has been around for a good few years, time for a new one? With the introduction of new features such as the touch strip, now found on the new NI controllers, is the s4 missing out? What are your thoughts? | |
| nayit ruiz jaramillo 13.09.2013 | Just for clarity,
Originally Posted by Quenepas
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| Jason Mcewing 13.09.2013 | i dunno about everyone's bitching but i believe its a pretty typical upgrade. I don't own a S4 but the ipad support alone is enough to justify the upgrade.. use the laptop for studio mixes at home and use the ipad for gigs that only require a few hours or less in one set. |
| komodia bee 13.09.2013 | build is quite good i give you that, but the feel of the pad buttons is not the same, the soundcard is 48khz max, and the protocol is not HID, not NHL, it's midi. if we had the build quality of vestax and the brains and concepts of native instruments partnering, we'd have the killer controller. |
| Bulah Pizzolo 13.09.2013 | Believe me, NI will show a brand new device shortly. The market is very fast and the future will be with built-in system w/o using a laptop anymore. Pioneer starts already with the AERO or the all in one R1 system. NI has to follow the market needs. The MK2 is just an upgrade with no big deals. Just looking to the new two channel Pioneer SR controller for Serato DJ, one major advantage on the S4 'mobility' has gone as well. To me, Pioneer is way ahead with their stand alone 'rekordbox' devices. Therefore, I am pretty sure we will get big news from NI quite soon. |
| Matthew Yanagisawa 13.09.2013 | As one with MacBook issues, Ipad support is excellent. But like one in the news post said, people with MK1 will not get that simple firmware update to add Ipad support. |
| Vito Chesnut 13.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by enorjy
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| Sonja Roybal 13.09.2013 | Just updating the original was fine, but they only addressed one of the real issues and that was the booth out. It's still plastic. It still has endless pots for the gain and it still has useless VU meters. It also still lacks standalone functionality. I own the MK1. It does everything I need it to do. However, it's far too fragile and impractical to be an $1100 piece of kit. |
| Delena Katherman 13.09.2013 | Great little short write up about the MK2 on DJWORX: http://djworx.com/ni-updates-traktor-kontrol-s2-s4/ "The DJ industry has been deluged with wave after wave of new tech — some good, some not so, but there has definitely been a seemingly unceasing wave of new stuff hitting us at a breathtaking pace. But the fledgling digital age has matured to a point where all the unpolished new controls and techniques that have been liberally shoehorned into the wave of new controllers need to be honed and polished. The revolution is over people, and it’s time for some natural selection to take place." He makes a good case for the simple, streamlined functionality of the new MK2. |
| Jamie Fajen 13.09.2013 | It makes sense to keep the S4 simple and let consumers buy the F1 plus the X1 if you want to add more 2 more decks to you set...if you buy the F1 that's $200 + the $799 for the new S4= $999...which basically sits at the price of the DDJ-SX...honestly, I'd rather stick to my DDJ-SX..the old S4 felt cheap, and I bet this wont be any different...but this is my own opinion |
| Delena Katherman 13.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Sprike
I don't even own an S4 anymore. I loved it, and it was my first controller, but I sold it when my needs changed. I now have a mixer, 2 turntables, and use DVS with Traktor Scratch Pro. The S4 did what it did amazingly well, so I can understand why NI would want to preserve that workflow. It was/is an excellent controller, and to me the MK2 improvements make sense: maintain the essence of the original, but make that overall experience a bit smoother. All these extra feature requests, in my opinion, would make the S4 a completely different type of controller. There's nothing wrong with that, but there is still a need/demand for a controller just like the S4. Why get rid of it as an option? Simply refine the experience, and then you can still always release a higher end, feature packed, NEW controller in the future. Will NI do this? Who knows. But it really makes sense from a business perspective. Everyone is assuming that this S4 release represents everything NI has to offer in the controller market for the next several years, and I don't believe that's the case. The software will continue to evolve, and the S4 MK2 will continue to work. But I would be surprised if NI didn't have another pro-level piece of Traktor hardware that it plans to introduce relatively soon to cater to those who want/need more than what the S4 has to offer (or they could just go all modular, which also makes sense). The S4 has never been able to do everything for everyone. It is what it is, and it's pretty damned good. But if people were already loving the original S4, how can they suddenly hate NI and want to jump ship to Serato? If the S4 workflow wasn't doing it for you, why were you using it? There really are other options. Anyway, whatever. Just play some music. |
| Leanora Gerald 13.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by jdownesbaird
Be easy, that's only my opinion. |
| Delena Katherman 13.09.2013 | What do you mean "can't manage"? If they release a more powerful controller, THAT will be the flagship. Adding extra features to a brand new product in the future doesn't prevent the S4 from doing what you bought it to do. It will still work fine. If NI releases a controller in 6 months with the capabilities of the S4 and additional features (or a Z4), you will pay more for it. That's how things work. Don't believe the new S4 is worth the money? Don't buy it. If you already know what you need to DJ, make it happen, and skip this controller. And by the way, Flux mode is not the only change from MK1 to MK 2. |
| Leanora Gerald 13.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by jdownesbaird
And worste of all, pull out another 4 decks controller? Like laughing in the face of who buy the actual S4. Very very happy if it turns out i were wrong, but now i don't feel like it. Look how much lasted the 1st S4. And now it's old for what? Only a button which enables the flux mode. |
| Delena Katherman 13.09.2013 | Nothing is stopping NI from releasing another, truly new/innovative controller. No one is saying this has to be their flagship controller for years to come, and NI will not stop improving their software just to keep the new S4 on top. |
| Julissa Serrone 14.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by Eugguy
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| Nedra Fresneda 14.09.2013 | If an update is coming it will be close to the S4 shipping date. |
| Leanora Gerald 13.09.2013 | The thing that worry me most is that no software update has been introduced and, if this is the flagship controller who will be in charge for years, this means that there are no significant updates on the horizon. And Serato with the velocity pads is ahead now. And deackadence2? Very worried. |
| Chung Rosaro 13.09.2013 | If the TRAKTOR S2 worked with SERATO DJ I would be a happy frog. I hate Traktor software. |
| Nedra Fresneda 13.09.2013 | Even if they are not RGB, I like the MK1 buttons better. Made it a bit more sober. |
| Cody Mcnall 13.09.2013 | So much negativity lol. I can see how this could be a let down for those already with the older models. Personally I was in the market for a 4 channel controller so Im gonna upgrade my my S2 MK1. I feel like NI still has some tricks up their sleeve for the rest of the year. Possibly closer to Christmas. I suspect further software developments that the new MK2's will support. Will it be open to the older models? Maybe not right away but who knows. I for one can't wait to get my hands on the new S4...at the end of the day it's not what you use but how you use |
| Lewis Stumpf 13.09.2013 | This is disturbingly boring. But then again, the Maschine MKII wasn't much more than a few small bug fixes and a few colors. However, in keeping with NI's naming schemes, I suppose there is still hope for an S6/S8? |
| Judi Sissel 12.09.2013 | I know NI isn't big on the trade shows, but I'm gonna hope that they've still got something else up their sleeve, to announce and to gain attention from stuff being released at BPM. |
| Rochel Papillion 12.09.2013 | kind of funny, vci 400 is prob the best all in one controller out here and has had the perfect layout for whatever sofware for almost 2 years but everyone seem to talk only about the pio controllers... the power of a brand |
| Tatum Russello 12.09.2013 | |
| Lannie Kutay 12.09.2013 | Hello NI......how goes it? Why is your competition dominating the dj market with the 2 best controllers out there. (Sx and the ns7 2)..... Sigh Please go back to being a software company. Just develop dope software and just certify controllers from other manufactures. |
| Edwardo Rothenberger 12.09.2013 | Yeah, they've just handed the controller market to the DDJ-SX, imo, for anyone who wants a quality controller. I wanted a change. I decide to go with proper analogue mixer and some X1 Mk2's, which are great. I was believeing of a new controller before that and was severely tempted by the DDJ-SX, but thought NI would do something cool. If I was looking for a new controller DDJ-SX would be it now. |
| Thomas Dresel 12.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by souldancer
- Damn with this on Traktor... so i made up my mind. i'm gonna go with a DDJ-SR once it comes out for my bar gig's (probably will map it to Traktor) and that's that!!! it's not the software that disappointed me!! just the hardware!!! sad! just really sad!!! |
| Alla Bluemke 12.09.2013 | I understand some people sticking up for them but they have had what 4-5 year to upgrade their FLAGSHIP product. If I were a young struggling dj I would just get a mk1 S4 for 300 bucks or whatever they sell for now. At least the x1 mk2 had some decent updates touch strip etc makes me want to get it. This has no draw whatsoever. |
| Shalon Jaranilla 12.09.2013 | Well, this isn't worth an upgrade for my s4, i'm really starting to look at serato dj. If that's stable enough i believe serato has some customers coming, especially with the new toys pioneer is throwing out. Remix decks looks cool but i believe a lot of working dj's hardly use it. And serato seems to have their aim at this point more at the working dj. I can't believe NI Staff is sitting comfortable, this is the first time that i see almost only negative reactions on a product release. And if this unit needs to cover the next 3 years, then traktor 3 is not even close in sight or they have planned new additional controllers like the remix decks they launched after the s2. and no xlr, and the booth volume knob on the back. And probably noway to change the faders again. and all fun a ipad but if you need a large collection of music for the mobile dj then the whole ipad is a disaster. This is not what i had hoped for. |
| Oretha Afful 12.09.2013 |
Originally Posted by b1sh0p
Until the mixer is fixed the S4/S2 are basically toys. |
| Sonja Roybal 12.09.2013 | The biggest fail here is not changing the gain and VU meters. They're pretty much awful and the VU meters are useless. |
| Rolanda Clodfelder 12.09.2013 | I was waiting to see what new unveiling would be brought with the mk2 ... Me is seriously underwhelmed much S2 seriousl looks sparce and toylike compared to the new Pioneer DDJ-SR. Which in comparison looks like SUCH a damn professional piece of kit beside the S2 (and 4) for $100 bucks more. IOS is damn handy in a pinch, But IMHO the software is still really still only catching up to the controllers. RGB buttons - WOW ! the utter lack of anything else is disturbing. |
| Charline Dye 12.09.2013 | While we are throwing our opinions around......... •kinda glad the new S4 didn't make mine obsolete. So kudos NI for not alienating your current customers. •seriously hope they fixed the issues the previous version had. So there could be many improvements we can't see, and NI hasn't released the info yet so time will tell. •it looks like NI sees the all-in-one market as beginners, bedroom/hobby DJ's only. While other products like the modular controllers and Z2 are mostly pro's. They aren't wrong for the most part. So as a company, they are just doing their market research to maximize profits. ( that doesn't mean I don't dream of a S4 built like a tank with replaceable parts) •every product release can't be some ground breaking new thing-a-ma-jig. We live in a time of way to much marketing hype, and expect every new thing to beat all others. Gradual improvements over time are usually the way. •I still want pads and better remix deck controls, and they can lose the jogs, add a touch strip, and make it serviceable. •In all a let down for those current S4 users looking to spend money on the latest from NI. For those who are shopping for their first DJ gear for Christmas it's a win. With Traktor DJ they won't need to get a new zippy laptop to keep Traktor happy, the old iPad, ipod, iphone will do. Which also equals good sales for NI as it increases the size of their market. |
| Edwardo Rothenberger 12.09.2013 | Just very bizarre. Why on earth have they bothered to update it with this? They obviously don't want to give Pioneer a run for their money. Very weird. Unless they release an uber controller with TP3. Is TP3 definitely imminent, or is it just an internet assumption? |
| Alla Bluemke 12.09.2013 | Man thats is very underwhelming, iOS while cool is not a huge selling point for any DJ who is serious about playing out, so other then that some RGB pads and flux.........I'd rather spend my money on the Pioneer DDJ-SX or SR. They could have upgraded the case to metal, maybe put in a display somewhere on it for effects selected or something. |
| Norbert Thysell 13.09.2013 | don't forget titanium jogs - a real seller right there! |
| Lakeesha Storman 13.09.2013 | Wow. That's pretty disappointing IMO. I was really expecting to have to be jealous about what came out next after biting on the sale price S4, but I don't regret it at all after seeing that. There's just so little updated for as long as they've had. |
| Sonja Roybal 13.09.2013 | iOS, RGB and a flux button? For real? |
| Jetta Drenzek 13.09.2013 | Pretty much. The S4 has been out for years and they had a real chance to blow some minds here but it looks like they're desperate to capitalise on the tablet DJ market before anyone else. I wait with baited breath for TP3 and whatever flagship controller they decide to release. |
| Norbert Thysell 13.09.2013 | Man I really expected more... silly me I guess. |
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