Traktor X1 MK2 DJ Controller Has Arrived!!! BONUS: The Hidden Controls!

So it looks like ahead of the August release my twin pre-orders of the new version for the X1 controller shipped early!  Check out the goodness below!

I'm still playing around with the controls. I'm missing the 5-8 dedicated cue point buttons, but I'm sure there is a way to map them back to being more like the old x1 cue points.  I suppose I could just use the extra buttons on another controller entirely, like say my vci-400.  

The strip controller is pretty fun to play around with and seems like a great point of access for some cool mappings, we'll have to see what everyone comes up with!  Great addition I think.

Here are some hidden controls and points of access:

KEYLOCK ON/OFF:
Hold SHIFT and press PLAY (this is like S2/S4).
KEYLOCK ADJUST:
Hold SHIFT + PLAY, then rotate the Deck's Loop Encoder. You'll see the transpose amount displayed in the Loop Display. Press and release the Encoder to reset to 0 semitones.
BPM ADJUST:
Hold the Deck's SYNC Button and turn the Deck's LOOP Encoder. Press LOOP Encoder while turning for large adjustments. Press and release encoder to reset to 0.0%.
RETURN TO START:
Hold SHIFT and press CUE (this is like S2/S4)
SNAP ON/OFF:
Hold SHIFT and press Left Load Button.
QUANTIZE ON/OFF:
Hold SHIFT and press Right Load Button.
FAST NAVIGATION:
Hold SHIFT and drag on the touchstrip while Deck stopped.
QUICK NUDGE:
When a Deck is playing and the Touchstrip is assigned to FX or Loop, you can hold SHIFT and drag on the Touchstrip to do pitch bends (that way you don't have to leave FX or Loop assign mode).

(gleened from the X1 Forums on the new MK2)

Here is the release video from Native Instruments on the new X1 MK2 Controller:

Hope you enjoyed this post and thanks for stopping by!

Video: Kontrol F1 - My New DJ Toy!

So one of the many hobbies I have, is playing around with DJ software/hardware and creating mixes/mashups, back in the day we called em mix tapes, for myself, friends, and as well as background music for videos/movies.


I've always made mixes, but i've never been a "real dj" per se, in the sense, i've never been on stage and performed a "set" or even "dj'd" a wedding/party.  The closest I ever came was making my mix tapes, putting em into the car stereos while on road trips with friends or throwing them into the high schools store audio system when I was in high school.


Last year, however, I picked up the Traktor Software from Native Instruments along with a few other controllers. A couple of Traktor X1's,  a VCI-100, and a pair of Dicer controllers. I then happened upon, and started following a blog out of San Francisco called DJ Tech Tools.  The more I played around with the software, watched videos from Ethan, the more I enjoyed myself and had dreams of creating great and wonderful mashups myself and friends would enjoy. So far I'm having a good time at it.  It's a pretty fun hobby.


Recently Native Instruments again set the dj scene abuzz with a new piece of kit called the Kontrol F1, they didn't release too much info, but it was to be released May 30th and was to tie into the Traktor software pretty tightly.  Eagerly I waited until I could pre-order and picked up two of em! If you want the in depth nitty gritty on the F1, here is the DJTech tools review and a video of the power of the F1:





Well, yesterday I got my hot little hands on em (they shipped early! Yay!) and i'm having a great time mixing, on the fly, with em. Woot! 


The devices are primarily used with the revamped "remix decks" of Traktor 2.5 so you can capture"on the fly" loops, samples, and effects, then tweak it live for a more personalized dj set or recording.  Also remember these can be use as a generic midi controllers so if you have any software that can understand midi you can use these controllers!  Pretty sweet!

After the jump are some of the initial videos, from Native Instruments, showing you how to use the Kontrol F1.  This thing doesn't come with a manual but you really don't need it, its pretty intuitive!