Pioneer DDJ T1 vs Traktor Kontrol S4

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Pioneer DDJ T1 vs Traktor Kontrol S4
Posted on: 11.04.2012 by Jeraldine Raterink
I know this topic has been created at least one time before, but it didn't contain the information that I was looking for.

I've been simply laptop DJing for about 2 and a half years using JUST Deckadance simply because I could never afford any controllers and I couldn't find any controller (or set of controllers) that worked well with Deckadance and that I personally liked. However, about 3 months ago I decided to buy the DJ Tech 101 Series controllers because they seemed to be what I wanted for Deckadance. I quickly discovered that was a bad choice.

Currently, I'm using the still DJ Tech 101 Series controllers (sad, I know). But I have downloaded the mappings for them so I can use Traktor Pro 2. So far, Traktor is much much better in just about every single manor. Obviously, controllers designed for Deckadance are very limited when using them for Traktor, so I decided to do much searching for a single controller for Traktor NOT set of controllers because I'm very mobile and I'm kind of tired of carrying 4 boxes everywhere.

I have found that I really look for these things in controllers:
FULL control of Traktors effects
Jog wheel effect mapping
Spacious knobs
"Slip Mode" (I understand that Traktors beatmashing effect is similar to slip)
4 deck control
Hot Cues
Built in sound card
Monitor out
and bright lights/vivid displays are always nice

Throughout my searching I found that I really like the layout of the Pioneer DDJ T1, but I also like the performance of the Kontrol S4 slightly more than the DDJ T1.

Which do you recommend?

A big reason why I like the S4 is because of the job wheel effect capability, I'm not sure if you can do that on the T1. However, I really like the size and structure of the T1, especially the ability to slide a laptop under the middle. The T1 also appears to have brighter buttons and the jog wheels just look plain cool and it's very helpful to be able to glance at your controller and see which decks are playing.

If you have any other suggestions for a single controller, please post those too!

Also, I wouldn't mind buying external effects units such as the Kontrol X1 or a Midi Fighter, so if you recommend a combination of those I'd love to hear it.

If I was unclear or scatter brained anywhere, just ask. Thanks! Any feedback will help a LOT.
Nancey Inderlied
11.04.2012
Originally Posted by synthet1c
On topic... The DDJ-T1 is a terrible controller, if feels horrible to use, the jogs are pressure sensitive and have loud ball barings in them. Faders are tight to move, knobs are tighter skinny plastic things... All around an epic fail on pioneers part...
The S4 has pressure sensitive jog wheels, some of the tightest faders around, useless pitch faders, and small rubberized plastic knobs. I'm not really seeing the problem.
Jonathan Chiuchiolo
11.04.2012		huh ....um yeah there known as booths
Tori Rumer
11.04.2012		Are a lot of djs in a "booth"? Or is that not a literal term =/
Jonathan Chiuchiolo
11.04.2012		A booth out is a seperate output that you can send to speakers in your dj booth, this enables you to have different sound levels for the dance floor and your monitoring speakers... Booth outs are redundant for any club dj's as you would never connect a controllers soundcard directly to the pa system, it will always be plugged into the house mixer that will have booth outs anyway... If you're a mobile dj running a large rig it is necessary however, for a small party you don't really need it.

On topic... The DDJ-T1 is a terrible controller, if feels horrible to use, the jogs are pressure sensitive and have loud ball barings in them. Faders are tight to move, knobs are tighter skinny plastic things... All around an epic fail on pioneers part...
Tori Rumer
11.04.2012
Originally Posted by brainfried
S4 doesnt have volume controlled booth out, but it has 2 master outs that you can use as a booth (obv without independent volume control).
Noob question - what does this mean? I know the S4 doesn't have a controlled booth out and some other controllers do, but what does that mean exactly?
Ulysses Vittetoe
11.04.2012
Originally Posted by Endure
Yeah i'm aware of this, which is a reason I looked into the T1 in the first place. I just like the style of being able to control the wet/dry of an entire effect with a very comfortable control surface such as a jog wheel. Not necessarily one as big as the T1s, but even just the S4s small ones I really like.



Yeah I know, I meant I can use the beatmasher as a loop while the song continues to play, like if slip mode were activated or like "leap" in deckadance.



By monitor out, I do mean a set of outs with independent volume control, and I didn't believe that the T1 or S4 had it. And yes, booth out. I just said monitor out because that's just what i'm used to saying when i'm talking about booth speakers. Currently I just have the booth speakers running out of a completely separate amp so that I can control the volume, but it's a bit of a pain and would be lovely to have booth out built right in.



I have looked at that, I feel like I've looked at everything. That is quite a spiffy controller.




Yeah I thought so, I'm looking for independent volume control specifically.




I wish I could just buy one, try it, return it, buy the other, try it, return it, then buy the one I like more again. However I'm still on quite the budget and whatever I buy I'll likely have to stick with for a bit.

I'm not staying strict to deciding between the T1 or S4, those are just the two that I found fit my needs the best and work well with Traktor. If it comes down to it I could just buy a relatively chip mixer and buy a X1 or two for effects and such, I'm mainly looking for as close to total control of Traktor I can get with any combination of effects module, controller, or mixers.
If you have a Guitar Center near you they usually have an S4 unit on display that's hooked up for you to mess around with.
Jeraldine Raterink
11.04.2012
Originally Posted by DJQA
Some quick points:

No controller has "full" control of Traktor effects, since they all seem to be content with two sets of FX controls, where you get 4 FX units in Traktor. You'll need to do some creative mapping.
Yeah i'm aware of this, which is a reason I looked into the T1 in the first place. I just like the style of being able to control the wet/dry of an entire effect with a very comfortable control surface such as a jog wheel. Not necessarily one as big as the T1s, but even just the S4s small ones I really like.

There is no Slip Mode in any Traktor controller, since Slip isn't supported by Traktor. Beatmasher isn't really the same thing.
Yeah I know, I meant I can use the beatmasher as a loop while the song continues to play, like if slip mode were activated or like "leap" in deckadance.

What do you mean by monitor out? If you need a second set of master outputs with separately adjustable volume (booth out), neither the Pioneer of the S4 have one.
By monitor out, I do mean a set of outs with independent volume control, and I didn't believe that the T1 or S4 had it. And yes, booth out. I just said monitor out because that's just what i'm used to saying when i'm talking about booth speakers. Currently I just have the booth speakers running out of a completely separate amp so that I can control the volume, but it's a bit of a pain and would be lovely to have booth out built right in.

I suggest you also take a look at the Numark 4Trak.
I have looked at that, I feel like I've looked at everything. That is quite a spiffy controller.


Originally Posted by brainfried
S4 doesnt have volume controlled booth out, but it has 2 master outs that you can use as a booth (obv without independent volume control).
Yeah I thought so, I'm looking for independent volume control specifically.


Originally Posted by Otacon
I say try and find a way to mess around with both and see which you like more. I have an S4 and my friend has a T1 and both are good, they just have different work flows involved and have different atmospheres
I wish I could just buy one, try it, return it, buy the other, try it, return it, then buy the one I like more again. However I'm still on quite the budget and whatever I buy I'll likely have to stick with for a bit.

I'm not staying strict to deciding between the T1 or S4, those are just the two that I found fit my needs the best and work well with Traktor. If it comes down to it I could just buy a relatively chip mixer and buy a X1 or two for effects and such, I'm mainly looking for as close to total control of Traktor I can get with any combination of effects module, controller, or mixers.
Erich Vallabhaneni
11.04.2012		I say try and find a way to mess around with both and see which you like more. I have an S4 and my friend has a T1 and both are good, they just have different work flows involved and have different atmospheres
Cortney Draus
11.04.2012		S4 doesnt have volume controlled booth out, but it has 2 master outs that you can use as a booth (obv without independent volume control).
Melinda Wubben
11.04.2012		Some quick points:

No controller has "full" control of Traktor effects, since they all seem to be content with two sets of FX controls, where you get 4 FX units in Traktor. You'll need to do some creative mapping.

Jog wheel FX mapping can be cool, but it has its problems in Traktor. You can't currently have HID jogs with jog FX with any controller - it's either precise jogs or custom maps, not both. You should be able to map jogs to FX with the Pioneer, since AFAIK it doesn't have HID jogs.

There is no Slip Mode in any Traktor controller, since Slip isn't supported by Traktor. Beatmasher isn't really the same thing.

What do you mean by monitor out? If you need a second set of master outputs with separately adjustable volume (booth out), neither the Pioneer of the S4 have one.

I suggest you also take a look at the Numark 4Trak.

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