Kontrol S4 or Xone 42 + 2 Kontrol X1's?
Kontrol S4 or Xone 42 + 2 Kontrol X1's? Posted on: 11.06.2011 by Jordan Painton Dear DJ TechToolers!Hi I'm Wesley, and I'm not new to this community , I just never registered an account. Love this website though, very informative ! Anyway, I'm about to give my DJ-booth a refreshment but I'm believeing about 2 options for a few months already. I've saved up enough to get me new stuff in 2 weeks, but I'm just not sure what to get. The options are a Traktor Kontrol S4, or an Audio 10 DJ + Xone 42 + 2 Kontrol X1's. What I'm seeking for, is portability, flexibility and the ability to play timecode or with 4 decks. I know these 2 options have all of this. The S4 gets my attention because of it's portability, and that (almost?) every function can be controlled with the controller. Also support for timecode is very useful. A downside of the controller is that it doesn't work as a standalone mixer, because I often play my old vinyl (for scratching/mixing). The Xone 42 + X1's gets my attention because of its flexibility and the good sound quality of the Xone (and adorable filter!). This setup is also portable because you only have to get 2 X1's and an Audio 10 DJ with you if there's already a 4-channel mixer at the gig. Flexibility = the ability to easily replace/add a controller (whenever there's a better one coming out, ''Kontrol X2?'') Anyway, this problem is driving me crazy and I hope there are people here who can make things clearer for me haha. And oh for what it's worth, I'm playing Techno/Tech-House . Thanks! | |
| Bunny Sockel 07.09.2012 |
Originally Posted by scamo
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| Rey Holubar 06.09.2012 |
Originally Posted by MYE
scamo |
| Bunny Sockel 06.09.2012 |
Originally Posted by wesk
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| Dorie Scelzo 15.06.2011 | See, I'm weird. I basically own your xone + x1 option (except that I sold my turntables, realizing they were basically useless to me as I don't scratch and don't care about keeping anything real |
| Kiyoko Wellisch 07.09.2012 | The K2 over the X1, surely? |
| Latoria Kavulich 07.09.2012 | mixer and some x1's .... smoke and a pancake? |
| Bunny Sockel 07.09.2012 |
Originally Posted by scamo
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| Rey Holubar 06.09.2012 |
Originally Posted by MYE
scamo |
| Bunny Sockel 06.09.2012 | And if you wanted to do pretty much everything externally you could buy a EFX-1000 and use that in the send return part of your mixer |
| Bunny Sockel 06.09.2012 |
Originally Posted by wesk
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| Kiyoko Wellisch 05.09.2012 | You could map them to the filters perhaps? I know that A&H mixers have wonderful filters on them but it may be useful to have a filter per channel for bass cuts and such |
| Jordan Painton 06.09.2012 | Allright! So I've bought the S4 for a cheap price, and have been using it now for a few months, but still it's not exactly what I want. I'm really considering to sell this thing and get me an A&H mixer (already own 2 X1's and an audio 10 soundcard). But I still have one question about mapping the second X1. How do you guys use the effect section on the second X1? Because I'm only using 2 effect sections in traktor (mostly reverb & delay), which I control with my first X1. But I've really been believeing about how to use the pots on the second X1.. Any ideas? |
| Dorie Scelzo 15.06.2011 | See, I'm weird. I basically own your xone + x1 option (except that I sold my turntables, realizing they were basically useless to me as I don't scratch and don't care about keeping anything real |
| Alla Bluemke 15.06.2011 | I personally would go with the xone. I had the s4 and it was great to bring out to gigs, but for versatility it kinda lacks. If I have friends who want to play a CD, USB, or whatever I have to put it into my laptop etc. During a gig, I really never ever want to do that as it can stall my computer possibly. Since the s4 is completely tethered to the laptop it really sucks when you just want to play without the laptop. If it could be used as a standalone mixer it would be much much better, but as it is now I find you become too dependent on the software. |
| Mac Fly 15.06.2011 | I was believeing about having my setup as the first picture you have there. I already own an S4... But I was also believeing about sometime in the future purchasing an X1 and an Audio4, or 2 X1's and an Audio 8. That way depending on where your playing you can be covered in small booths, large booths, you can use CDJ's and Turntables!!! You will be able to do it all |
| Alexandra Nerby 14.06.2011 | Xone 42 and X1 here, will never look back! CDJs for decks A and B and the X1 and Audio2 are now piggybacking off the CDJ soundcards to control all four decks |
| Jordan Painton 14.06.2011 | That's true, but still I actually don't want to be dependent on my laptop even while playing regular vinyl.. anyway, I've made 2 pictures out of boredom of the set-ups I could end up with.. maybe this could give you a clearer view of what you want and make it easier to understand the workflow for each set-up.. S4 Setup: Xone+X1 Setup: |
| Leeanna Ayla 12.06.2011 | You can play regular vinyl through the S4 as long as the Traktor is running. |
| Delila Vandommelen 12.06.2011 | One more here for X:42, timecode and two X1s. As other have pointed out, the stock X1 mapping has everything you want to do. You can do pretty much everything you need with it - shift+cue|rel will take you to the beginning too An extra tidbit worth noting about the Xone if you're going to use timecode vinyl : there are only two phono preamps on the 42, and they're on channels 1 and 4. If you were used to mixing more than two decks in a normal 1/2/3/4 order on the mixer, it might be a little weird at start Now, if you have multicore cables you could sorta work around it by routing the phono to 1/4 and the actual Traktor outputs any way you see fit, but this complicates the setup with little gain, really. I considered it briefly but decided against that option. |
| Jordan Painton 12.06.2011 | Yeah lucky for me I already have a TSP license, but my Audio 8 got stolen together with my other gear, so I'm definitely considering to order the hardware upgrade for 399,- . The power supply for the Audio 10 is a little downside compared to the audio 8.. but still, no more messing with multicore cables is a big plus! You're right. Your reactions really help me out people! I'm already leaning towards the xone-route hehe.. |
| Kiyoko Wellisch 12.06.2011 | I believe I'd rather buy an audio 8 dj (if you can find one) and get the traktor scratch certified upgrade than buy traktor scratch pro and get a audio 10 which requires it's own power supply. Still I prefer the xone route. I believe these all in one controllers will age poorly and if you're using timecode I believe having a real mixer is much better than being forced to have your laptop plugged in and running traktor, even if using regular cds/vinyl. |
| Celestine Porebski 12.06.2011 | Yeah, even in the standard mapping by NI there's endless encoders mapped to searching through the tracks. |
| Jordan Painton 12.06.2011 |
Originally Posted by scamo
Yeah, also another question, how does the X1 + Xone 42 setup exactly work without jogs? Do you have to prepare and set cue-points in every track? Also, how do you go to the very beginning point of a track? Are you able to map a rotary of the X1 for seeking through a track like you do with a timecode record for example? |
| Julissa Serrone 12.06.2011 | I had a Xone 42 + X1 set up. It was awesome. What an awesome sound and the filters were great. Then I got an S4. THe plug and play really attracted me. I had complete control of the software without having to press "Shift" and all I needed was one usb cable. I just got traded my S4 a few days ago and have a DJM 800 + X1. It "feels" much better than the S4. The mess with the cables and audio 8 suck, but I find it more enjoyable to play with this. It may take a few more minutes to set up, but I believe it's worth it. ....but only if you don't need jogs. |
| Chasidy Heckenbach 12.06.2011 | for playing with at home i'd probably go with the s4, for flexibility in a club i'd go for the modular solution tho i am sure... |
| Rey Holubar 12.06.2011 | If you like A&H and want flexibility with MIDI control + hooking up to play vinyl (or what ever else you want to connect via analog), why don't you go with the A&H 4D? http://www.allen-heath.com/xone/xone4d It is practically a Xone:42 with two X1's and a sound card all built into one unit. scamo |
| Nakisha Startup 12.06.2011 | I am also attracted to the Xone 42 + X1 route. However, this setup is around $700 more expensive. However, if price is not an issue, then yes: grab the xone |
| Ok Moroski 11.06.2011 |
Originally Posted by filipedearaujo
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| Celestine Porebski 11.06.2011 | Xone all the way ...but then I'm somewhat opposed to the concept of all-in-one-controllers in general... |
| Concha Geoffrion 11.06.2011 | I'm in the exactly same situation, but leaning towards the mixer + X1. You can fit a X1 and an Audio 2/4/6/8/10 in any booth, but you can't say the same about the S4. I'm starting a residency at a bar right next to the beach, and my investment for now is going to be a laptop stand and a X1. |
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