Native Instruments Kontrol S8

Full-color displays provide amazing Remix Deck control and much more

When Native Instruments unveiled their Traktor Kontrol S8 to us, many of the electronic musicians gave a collective whoop of joy and started clearing space on their desks. Many of us had been hoping for a controller build around Remix Decks since they were first introduced in the 2012 release of Traktor Pro, and these full-color displays totally blew us away. Not only do you get a full display that mirrors Traktor's Remix Deck window, you also get a full set of controls that let you tweak playback options, adjust levels, set loops, and more. These displays also make working with regular track playback a blast, giving you an added degree of hands-on control over track parameters.

Complete 4-deck mixer section includes a stunning USB audio interface

One of the things that's easy to overlook on the Traktor Kontrol S8 is the 4-deck mixer section. By now, we've all come to expect four decks worth of mixing on any major DJ controller, and even the grippy knobs, smooth filter controls, and playable faders on the S8 seem par for the course. But what you might not expect is the excellent mixer/audio interface that's onboard, which offers four sets of stereo inputs (line or phono), a pair of microphone inputs, and a variety of outputs to fit into any sound system. And when it comes to sound quality, you really can't knock the 24-bit/48kHz resolution, which will give most dedicated recording interfaces a run for their money.

Stems format support provides a new way to DJ

Stems is a cool multitrack digital audio file format that's perfect for performing DJs. Unlike conventional WAV, AIF, or MP3 files, Stem files utilize the power of the MP4 format and AAC encoding to provide you with four sets of stereo audio you can mix, mute, and process independently. With software and DJ systems that support Stem files, such as Traktor Kontrol S8, you can grab the drums from one Stem, snag the bass line from another and put them together seamlessly in real time. Just like -infinity EQs, 4-deck setups, and Remix Decks revolutionized DJing, the Stem audio file format is bound to change the way you perform.

Ableton Link integration for reliable synchronization

As of Traktor 2.11, you can experience the collaborative freedom of Ableton Link. Lock multiple systems to a common timeline. Change tempo globally across systems. Enjoy spontaneous jamming, collaborative creation, and synchronized performances. This is a free update for Traktor 2.x owners.

Native Instruments Traktor S8 DJ Controller Features:

• Powerful and comprehensive control surface designed around Traktor Pro 3's Remix Decks
• Hands-on controls cover all aspects of Native Instruments Traktor Pro 3 DJ software (included)
• Full-color displays and dedicated controls provide access to Remix Decks with detailed visual feedback
• 16 playable tri-color backlit pads let you trigger samples and cues, set loop points, and more
• 4-deck mixer provides inline metering, 3-band EQs, dedicated filter controls, and smooth faders
• Touch strips let you skim through tracks, control pitch, and adjust other parameters on the fly
• Dedicated effects controls let you take hold of over 30 included studio-quality effects
• Integrated 24-bit/48kHz audio interface provides 4 stereo channels, 2 mic inputs, and XLR outputs
• Ableton Link integration offers reliable synchronization

Tech Specs

• Controller Style: DJ Controller with Audio Interface
• Number of Decks: 4-deck
• Channels: 4-channel
• Screen: 2 x High-res DIsplays
• Pads: 16 x Multi-color Performance Pads
• Other Controllers: 2 x Touch Strips (needle search, nudge)
• Faders: 4 x volume, 8 x sub
• Crossfader: Standard
• Mic Inputs: 1 x XLR-1/4" combo, 1 x 1/4"
• Inputs: 4 x Dual RCA Stereo (line/phono)
• Outputs: 2 x XLR, 1 x Dual RCA Stereo, 2 x 1/4" (booth)
• Headphones: 1 x 1/8", 1 x 1/4"
• USB: 1 x Type B
• MIDI I/O: In/Out
• Audio Interface: 24-bit/48kHz
• Standalone Mode: Yes
• Software: Traktor Scratch Pro 2
• Compatibility: Traktor DVS
• OS Requirements - Mac: OS X 10.10 or later
• OS Requirements - PC: Windows 7 SP1 or later
• Power Supply: 15V DC power supply
• Height: 2.6"
• Width: 18.5""
• Depth: 15.24"
• Weight: 11.03 lbs.