Native Instruments Traktor 2 User manual

How to DJ using Native
Instruments Traktor 2 and the
Kontrol S4
By: Jeremy Doss

Table of Contents iii
Table of Contents
Table of Contents................................................................................................................iii
Introduction ........................................................................................................................v
Chapter 1............................................................................................................................vii
Checking the Equipment .................................................................................................3
Necessary Hardware.....................................................................................................3
Necessary Software.......................................................................................................3
Setting Up Traktor 2 with the Kontrol S4 .......................................................................4
Installing Traktor 2.......................................................................................................4
Using the Setup Wizard................................................................................................5
Routing the Audio Output............................................................................................6
Connecting Speakers ....................................................................................................6
Customizing the Program View.......................................................................................7
The Essential View........................................................................................................7
The Extended View.......................................................................................................8
The Browser View.........................................................................................................8
The Mixer View.............................................................................................................9
Chapter 2 ............................................................................................................................11
What Is Mixing?............................................................................................................. 13
Finding New Music........................................................................................................ 13
Finding Music on the Internet ................................................................................... 13
Finding Music in Stores.............................................................................................. 14
Analyzing New Music..................................................................................................... 14
Building a Library....................................................................................................... 14
Analyzing Genre ......................................................................................................... 15
Analyzing Beats per Minute (BPM)............................................................................ 15
Analyzing Key ............................................................................................................. 15
Following Common Mixing Trends............................................................................... 16
Mixing By Genre......................................................................................................... 16
Mixing By BPM............................................................................................................17
Mixing By Key..............................................................................................................17

iv Table of Contents
Chapter 3 ........................................................................................................................... 19
Controlling Traktor 2 with the Kontrol S4.................................................................... 21
Blending Songs .............................................................................................................. 21
Loading Songs ............................................................................................................ 21
Lining Up the Grid and Syncing BPM........................................................................22
Using the A-B Fader ...................................................................................................22
Using the Volume Faders ...........................................................................................23
Using Filters and Equalizers ......................................................................................23
Using Loops and Using Cues .........................................................................................23
Starting and Stopping Loops......................................................................................24
Setting and Using Cues...............................................................................................24
Using the Effects Rack...................................................................................................25
Selecting Effects..........................................................................................................25
Turning Effects On and Using Deck Focus ................................................................25
Changing Effects Parameters .....................................................................................26
Improving Your Next Mix..............................................................................................26
Recording a Mix..........................................................................................................26
Analyzing a Crowd......................................................................................................26
Index..................................................................................................................................27

Introduction v
Introduction
Thank you for using Native Instruments Traktor 2 and the Kontrol S4! This document is
intended for those interested in learning how to use these products to perform as a DJ
and keep up with current musical trends in a performance environment. Having years of
experience using these products in home and public environments, I have provided all
of the information necessary to have you impressing crowds in no time! Whether you
would like to use this knowledge for personal enjoyment or to perform for others, you
picked the right choice for a new hobby!
This manual is designed to provide a comprehensive guide to getting started with
Traktor 2 and your new Kontrol S4. Traktor 2 is a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
that is designed for mixing together audio files live on your computer. This DAW works
most efficiently with the Kontrol S4, a USB software controller designed specifically for
use with Traktor 2.
This manual only applies to the use of the Traktor 2 hardware with computers running
on the Windows platform and excludes information on setup with a Macintosh. Even
though Traktor 2 can be controlled by a variety of products, the scope of this document
is limited to use with the Kontrol S4 only. The sections on selecting songs and arranging
them for performance will only cover the technical methods for doing so. Software and
hardware drivers are subject to change and may need to be updated for use.

Chapter 1
Setting Up
In this chapter, DJs will learn how to set up their Native Instruments software.

Chapter 1 3
Checking the Equipment
This section of the chapter will go through the different pieces of software and hardware
that are necessary for using Traktor 2 and the Kontrol S4. Checking to make sure all of
the necessary parts are present is essential to using these products.
Necessary Hardware
Using the Traktor 2 software requires ownership
of the following hardware:
•A computer running on the Microsoft
Windows platform
•Native Instruments Kontrol S4 for Traktor
•A USB 2.0/3.0 cable
•A Kontrol S4 power adapter
•A pair of speakers
•Two ¼” speaker cables or a pair of RCA
Cables
•A pair of over-ear headphones
Necessary Software
Using the Kontrol S4 requires a computer in
order to run the software that it controls. Using
this setup requires the following software:
•Windows XP or greater
•The Traktor 2 software (free with purchase
of a Kontrol S4)
•Mixed in Key song analysis software
•Drivers for your Kontrol S4 (must be up to
date)
Figure 1: Traktor Kontrol S4
Figure 2: Traktor Pro 2 Software

4 Setting Up
Figure 3: Kontrol S4 Driver Option
Setting Up Traktor 2 with the Kontrol S4
This section of the chapter assumes that all necessary hardware and software are
accounted for. Setting up the software incorrectly can lead to poor sound quality or no
sound at all!
Installing Traktor 2
Installing this software requires the product key received upon the purchase of the
Kontrol S4 or standalone copy of Traktor 2. Copies are available for sale on the Native
Instruments website or one of many music stores. With the disk and associated key in
hand follow these steps for setup:
1. Insert disk into your computers disk drive
2. Auto-run the installer when prompted and wait
for the setup wizard to start (Figure 3)
3. Follow the on screen instructions until
prompted to install the Kontrol S4 driver
(Figure 4) and check the box
4. Continue following on screen instructions until
the installation has finished
The setup has now finished installing the Traktor 2 software as well as the hardware
driver for use with the Kontrol S4. You are now ready to run your version of Traktor 2.
Figure 4: Traktor 2 Setup Wizard

Chapter 1 5
Figure 7: Finalizing Setup
Using the Setup Wizard
Once Traktor 2 runs, it will automatically open its
“Setup Wizard” (Figure 5). At this time, make
sure that the Kontrol S4 is plugged in to the
computer via its USB cable (labeled as “A” in
Figure 5). Once the controller is plugged in, click
“next” to continue.
The Kontrol S4 is considered an “external hardware controller” in Traktor 2. When
asked if using an external controller during the setup wizard, select “Yes” from the
dropdown menu and then select next. On the next screen, select “Native Instruments” as
your manufacturer and “Kontrol S4” as your model (These options may be selected as
your default already).
The Kontrol S4 requires only two track decks even
though it may be used with other controlling
hardware. Because only the Kontrol S4 is used in
this manual, select “2 Track Decks” from the setup
drop down menu in the “Deck Layout Selection”
window (Figure 6) and click next. The final window
in the setup wizard displays all of the options that
were chosen and should appear as it does in Figure
7.
Select “Finish” and complete the programs setup to
move on to customizing your program view.
A
Figure 5: Setup Wizard
Figure 6: Deck Layout Selection

6 Setting Up
Figure 8: Preferences Button
Routing the Audio Output
In order to properly output audio through your Kontrol S4, the audio output must be
routed correctly. Doing so may be easily accomplished by following these steps:
•Open the preferences menu by selecting the “gear”
button at the top right of the program window
(labeled “A” in Figure 8)
•Select “Audio Setup” in the preferences menu
(labeled “A” in Figure 9)
•Make sure “Traktor Kontrol S4” is selected under the Audio Device drop-down
menu (labeled “B” in Figure 9)
•Select “Output Routing” in the preferences menu (labeled “A” in Figure 10)
•Make sure the mixing mode is set to “Internal” (labeled “B” in Figure 10)
Connecting Speakers
Once the audio output is routed correctly as
explained above, the audio is outputted through the
Kontrol S4’s main outputs (Figure 11).
Plug your speakers into the back of the Kontrol S4
either by stereo ¼” cables (labeled “A” in Figure 11),
or stereo RCA cables (labeled “B” in Figure 11).
Keep in mind that these outputs do not provide
power and require that your choice of speakers be self-powered (active speakers) or
amplified externally (passive speakers).
Figure 10: Output Routing
Figure 9: Audio Setup
Figure 11: Kontrol S4 Outputs
A
A
B
B
A
B
A

Chapter 1 7
Figure 12: Program Views
Customizing the Program View
This section explains the customization of the
appearance of Traktor 2. Customizing the program
view is a matter of preference. Traktor 2 makes this
easy by providing a drop-down menu with four preset
views: Essential, Extended, Mixer, and Browser
(Figure 12).
The Essential View
The “Essential” view contains the following:
•The “waveform windows” (labeled as “A” in Figure 13)
•The “playlist shortcuts” window (labeled as “B” in Figure 13)
•The “browser” windows (labeled as “C” in Figure 13)
Figure 13: Essential View
A
B
C

8 Setting Up
The Extended View
The “Extended” view contains the following:
•Everything from the “Essential” view (Figure 13)
•Two “effects racks” (labeled as “A” in Figure 14)
•“Loop controls” and main volume control (labeled as “B” in Figure 14)
•Mixer controls for each deck (labeled as “C” in Figure 14)
The Browser View
The “Browser” view contains only minimized “waveform windows” and enlarged
browser windows (Figure 15).
Figure 14: Extended View
A
A
B
C
Figure 15: Browser View

Chapter 1 9
The Mixer View
The “Mixer” view contains the following:
•Everything from the “Extended” view (Figure 14)
•The deck “equalizers” and “volume faders” (labeled as “A” in Figure 16)
•The deck “move, cue, grid” menus (labeled as “B” in Figure 16)
•The deck “A-B fader” (labeled as “C” in Figure 16)
For the sake of this manual and ease of operation, the “Mixer” view preset will be used
from this point on.
B
A
C
B
Figure 16: Mixer View

10 Setting Up

Chapter 2
The Mixing Process
This chapter will explain what mixing is, where to find songs, how to analyze
songs, and how to utilize common mixing trends.

Chapter 2 13
What Is Mixing?
Mixing is the process of playing more than one song at a time and utilizing the various
features of Traktor 2. Mixing is not simply playing both songs at equal volumes, but
using these features to add style and character to each song and each transition between
songs.
Finding New Music
This section explains how to find music from many different sources. These sources are
not the only ways to find music for use in the process of mixing, but are some of the
most popular.
Finding Music on the Internet
Possibly the quickest and easiest way to find music is on the internet. The internet is
extremely large and can be useful in finding the songs very quickly. Two examples of
websites for finding and purchasing music are www.beatport.com and www.itunes.com.
Beatport (Figure 17) is one of the most popular
sites for finding music specific to using in a DJ set.
Beatport allows searching for music by genre, label,
and artist and also has a feature that allows viewing
of the top 100 most popular songs on their website
which is very useful for finding what other people
may consider to be popular.
The iTunes library is another useful source for
finding music. It has all of the features that
Beatport uses. The iTunes library top 100 is
different from Beatport’s and can provide a
different view on popular songs in every genre.
Figure 17: Beatport Home Page

14 The Mixing Process
Finding Music in Stores
Purchasing a CD from a local shop is another way to find new music. Music can be
purchased from almost any major electronics store such as Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and
Target.
Buying CDs from these stores means that you will either have to load a CD into your
computer every time you play a song from it or upload the songs onto your hard drive.
Uploading songs to the hard drive is the most common option and can be accomplished
in many ways such as with iTunes.
Analyzing New Music
This section explains the importance of analyzing new music. Analyzing new music
allows different mixing techniques including mixing by genre, beats per minute, and
key.
Building a Library
Once some new music is found, it is important to organize it into a “library.” Libraries
provide an easy way to look for track in Traktor 2 for live performance. Libraries are
commonly divided into sections for genre, beats per minute, and key.
Libraries can be easily created by putting all of the new
music into one folder on the computer and dragging it into
the “Track Collection” tab in your browser window (Figure
18). Once the music is in the track collection, right click
where the folder was dropped and select “Analyze (Async)”
to analyze the beats per minute and key.
Figure 18: Track Collection