Hacking the S4 Firmware???

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Hacking the S4 Firmware???
Posted on: 13.05.2011 by Keva Sheward
We have some brilliant people in this community that I've grown to love. An engineer myself and after seeing the amazing work on the VCI-100 firmware to increase the jog wheel resolution in 1.4 I have to ask..... does anyone know how to modify the Kontrol S4 firmware?

Ultimately what I would like to do is modify the S4 firmware so that it sends both Midi and NHL protocol at the same time. Or if it's easier....modify the faders so that they send Midi while the rest of the device sends NHL.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Keva Sheward
19.12.2011
Originally Posted by MattE
This is a slight diversion from the stated topic of this thread, but since firmware hacking doesn't seem to be oprogressing very fast, I figured I'd address one of the issues mentioned as a reason to WANT hacked firmware:

If you want to send a signal when your Native-mode faders/knobs leave 0% (or 100%), load a 'generic midi' device outputting to a MIDI-Yoke port. This is essentially a midi-loopback: what goes out, comes right back in the same port.

In the control list for the new generic MIDI, add an OUT for the fader that you want to control internal buttons with. Select an arbitrary MIDI channel and CC. Set the low value to 0, the high value to 0.01, and the output values to 0 and 127. I believe I kept 'Blend' off to reduce the number of CCs being constantly sent (you'll probably have to play with these settings, BTW, as I'm not in front of my Traktor rig right now).

Now, add an IN for the button you want to be triggered by fader action. Select your arbitrary MIDI Ch+CC. Since you're now working with a MIDI CC instead of a Native Mode slider, Traktor doesn't believe it knows better, and you can use the signal to control ANYTHING you want!

And if you want to go above and beyond even THAT, you can add several OUTs to one slider. In this way, a single slider's motion can be translated into -multiple- CCs, with different 'curves'. Now one FX param can go up, another down, and buttons can trigger on or off - all as you move ONE slider.

Let me know if this works for you!

-Matt

PS: Still really rooting for a HID+MIDI-out firmware hack! Keep us posted!
I don't really understand why that works but it does. Thanks that made my day. Unfortunately it only works for the channel & cross fader in internal mode. Once I switch Traktor to external mode I loose the signal. You don't know a work around for this issue do you?

Right now I'm routing 4 decks form Traktor into Ableton using Jack. I mix in Ableton and use the S4 in midi mode as I've given up on a solution. I would really love to get the high res jogs and such back. If not I believe I'll be switching to a VCI-400 soon.
Leeanna Ayla
13.05.2011
Originally Posted by Yul
- allow knobs and faders to be set up as button
- allow mapping of the loop length display.
Originally Posted by armyofme4340
the ability to have the faders and knobs send a CC when they reach the end.
If I could just have these I would be very happy. If one I suppose making knobs and faders as buttons would be my number one pick.
Keva Sheward
13.05.2011		We have some brilliant people in this community that I've grown to love. An engineer myself and after seeing the amazing work on the VCI-100 firmware to increase the jog wheel resolution in 1.4 I have to ask..... does anyone know how to modify the Kontrol S4 firmware?

Ultimately what I would like to do is modify the S4 firmware so that it sends both Midi and NHL protocol at the same time. Or if it's easier....modify the faders so that they send Midi while the rest of the device sends NHL.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Reid Vallet
20.12.2011		I'm willing to bet that traktor ignores those controls internally when they're not active. Remember, you're not actually sending the value of the -physical slider- in question, but the value of the -logical- slider (on the screen)...

One trick I've used is to assign a second, previously unused internal control to the slider you want to react to - For example, I dont use an AUX in, so my AUX in -value-, inside traktor, can be assigned to any slider on the S4 without altering the sound output. Then, I can -send- the AUX value to midi-yoke, and respond to that MIDI CC in another way back inside traktor.

You can also do this with the modifiers. Say, assign M1 to a volume slider, and output the value of M1 to CH1 cc1. Now you can respond to CC1 back inside traktor. This, however, only gives you 8 possible states for whatever you're trying to control. It -is- great for designing 8 completely separate FX configurations (loading Group/single mode, assigning fx, and linking wheels/sliders/etc based on the incoming cc) and selecting which one is currently 'active' with a slider (i.e. tempo fader).

-Matt
Keva Sheward
19.12.2011
Originally Posted by MattE
This is a slight diversion from the stated topic of this thread, but since firmware hacking doesn't seem to be oprogressing very fast, I figured I'd address one of the issues mentioned as a reason to WANT hacked firmware:

If you want to send a signal when your Native-mode faders/knobs leave 0% (or 100%), load a 'generic midi' device outputting to a MIDI-Yoke port. This is essentially a midi-loopback: what goes out, comes right back in the same port.

In the control list for the new generic MIDI, add an OUT for the fader that you want to control internal buttons with. Select an arbitrary MIDI channel and CC. Set the low value to 0, the high value to 0.01, and the output values to 0 and 127. I believe I kept 'Blend' off to reduce the number of CCs being constantly sent (you'll probably have to play with these settings, BTW, as I'm not in front of my Traktor rig right now).

Now, add an IN for the button you want to be triggered by fader action. Select your arbitrary MIDI Ch+CC. Since you're now working with a MIDI CC instead of a Native Mode slider, Traktor doesn't believe it knows better, and you can use the signal to control ANYTHING you want!

And if you want to go above and beyond even THAT, you can add several OUTs to one slider. In this way, a single slider's motion can be translated into -multiple- CCs, with different 'curves'. Now one FX param can go up, another down, and buttons can trigger on or off - all as you move ONE slider.

Let me know if this works for you!

-Matt

PS: Still really rooting for a HID+MIDI-out firmware hack! Keep us posted!
I don't really understand why that works but it does. Thanks that made my day. Unfortunately it only works for the channel & cross fader in internal mode. Once I switch Traktor to external mode I loose the signal. You don't know a work around for this issue do you?

Right now I'm routing 4 decks form Traktor into Ableton using Jack. I mix in Ableton and use the S4 in midi mode as I've given up on a solution. I would really love to get the high res jogs and such back. If not I believe I'll be switching to a VCI-400 soon.
Randell Juna
19.12.2011		I will pay for HID+MIDI combo firmware, but I'm pessimistic about that :/
good luck!
Melissa Westerhouse
19.12.2011		I have posted a thread about running ableton thru traktor C and D deck with jack router. after failed attempts with audio Jack Router, I have gotten some success with Sound flower. (not stable) them main reason I see for this not working is that Jack sees traktor and the s4 as one. I need to be able to see the s4 as just a sound card. I thought this thread might could help me do this.
Reid Vallet
19.12.2011		This is a slight diversion from the stated topic of this thread, but since firmware hacking doesn't seem to be oprogressing very fast, I figured I'd address one of the issues mentioned as a reason to WANT hacked firmware:

If you want to send a signal when your Native-mode faders/knobs leave 0% (or 100%), load a 'generic midi' device outputting to a MIDI-Yoke port. This is essentially a midi-loopback: what goes out, comes right back in the same port.

In the control list for the new generic MIDI, add an OUT for the fader that you want to control internal buttons with. Select an arbitrary MIDI channel and CC. Set the low value to 0, the high value to 0.01, and the output values to 0 and 127. I believe I kept 'Blend' off to reduce the number of CCs being constantly sent (you'll probably have to play with these settings, BTW, as I'm not in front of my Traktor rig right now).

Now, add an IN for the button you want to be triggered by fader action. Select your arbitrary MIDI Ch+CC. Since you're now working with a MIDI CC instead of a Native Mode slider, Traktor doesn't believe it knows better, and you can use the signal to control ANYTHING you want!

And if you want to go above and beyond even THAT, you can add several OUTs to one slider. In this way, a single slider's motion can be translated into -multiple- CCs, with different 'curves'. Now one FX param can go up, another down, and buttons can trigger on or off - all as you move ONE slider.

Let me know if this works for you!

-Matt

PS: Still really rooting for a HID+MIDI-out firmware hack! Keep us posted!
Wallace Ferraro
17.05.2011		can't wait to test some
Leeanna Ayla
13.05.2011
Originally Posted by Yul
- allow knobs and faders to be set up as button
- allow mapping of the loop length display.
Originally Posted by armyofme4340
the ability to have the faders and knobs send a CC when they reach the end.
If I could just have these I would be very happy. If one I suppose making knobs and faders as buttons would be my number one pick.
Joannie Brague
14.05.2011		I believe one of the best things we can add, is the ability to have the faders and knobs send a CC when they reach the end. I use to have my whoosh mapping set up like this. Shift and volume fader down turns on the effect and brings it in, and when the fader slammed to the bottom it would echo out the tune. Flawless.
Kecia Wnukowski
14.05.2011
As a side note I modified your juggle mode mapping to use 4 decks and could post it if you don't mind. Figured I would ask because you definitely did the heavy lifting in my mapping.
Do whatever you want to do, I don't own anything and certainly don't mind. It's cool you used it a base to do your own actually. Did you overcome the issue about the duplicate decks functions? I didn't do any mapping since I posted that.



As for your mapping question(s) , I can't really help you right now, I didn't have all notions about mapping jogwheels in my head and would need a s4 with me to try (not available right now). I'm sure someone else passing by will help you (instead of me telling you stupid things).
As a side note, I have/had issues with the controller editor so I'll read with interest.

And I understand now the logic of wanting both midi and hid at the same time.
Keva Sheward
13.05.2011		Smittten,

Thanks for pulling your buddy into the loop. I just thought of a friend that might be useful as well. He normally designs missile guidance systems but tweaking a little controller code might be up his alley.

Yul,

My warranty is already voided. lol I had to take her apart to see if I could fit some arcade buttons and a new crossfader in there. NI's a little sneaky in their sticker placement over the screws

What frustrates me the most is that I can't map the faders in Ableton while using the S4 in NHL mode. I miss my smartmixer and post fader effects but if I remap everything in midi then I loose the nice jogs for scratching and LED feedback. I could deal with the lack of pretty lights (although I do like them) but I can't map the jogs to be accurate enough to scratch. I know you're a mapping guru so maybe you can help.

I can map them as:

Scratch On (Hold) & Scratch (Encoder)
It works but the pickup is too slow from release to juggle or perform advanced scratches.

Scratch On (Hold) & Jog Scratch + Temp Bend

The jogs/pickup feel much better but the deck will start playing while I'm still holding the jog wheel down.

I've tried changing a few things in the controller editor but I just can't figure it out.

The rest of the custom mapping I believe is doable to create a mapping similar to the VCI's.

As a side note I modified your juggle mode mapping to use 4 decks and could post it if you don't mind. Figured I would ask because you definitely did the heavy lifting in my mapping.
Kecia Wnukowski
13.05.2011		yeah void the warranty!
Kidding aside, could be cool. I sent a ticket recently to NI asking why HID doesn't allow knobs and faders to be set up as buttons (ie is it a technical issue or is it a conscious choice from them). I hope to receive an answer soon or at least a bit of insight on that.

I know I'm repeating myself but who cares, here's what would make the S4/Traktor really interesting in HID mode.
- generic led output to have a led to blink (and not something related to any phase monitor or volume)
- allow knobs and faders to be set up as button
- allow mapping of the loop length display.

Please NI, make my day....
Mac Fly
13.05.2011		That would be awesome, believe about how creative the mappings can get!
Len Lukawski
13.05.2011		Now THIS is where the community gets really interesting Certainly a step up from a post on the NI community asking why his headphones wouldn't fit the headphone socket.....

Having said that, I have no constructive advice but I do know a guy who is a firmware guru and i will send him this thread (though right now he probably believes an S4 is an Audi)
Nedra Fresneda
13.05.2011		I'm VERY interested in the progress of this.
Leeanna Ayla
13.05.2011		I would like to see it display loop count while in midi mode.

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