MANUAL
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Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 2 Welcome to the World of TRAKTOR KONTROL S8! ........................................................ 13 1.1 Where to Start ............................................................................................................................. 13 1.2 Manual Conventions ................................................................................................................... 15 Using Your S8—Getting Started .........................................
Table of Contents 2.6.2 2.7 Switching Deck Focus ................................................................................................................. 55 2.8 Switching Deck View and Zooming ............................................................................................. 59 2.9 Using Cue Points ........................................................................................................................ 62 2.10 2.11 3 In Practice ...................................
Table of Contents 3.5 Using FLUX Mode ........................................................................................................................ 104 3.6 Remixing with Remix Decks ........................................................................................................ 105 3.6.1 Loading a Remix Set .................................................................................................. 106 3.6.2 Triggering Samples .................................................
Table of Contents 3.10.3 Performing with Stem Decks ...................................................................................... 151 3.10.4 Adding another Stem File to the Mix .......................................................................... 156 3.10.4.1 Loading a Stem File into Deck B ................................................................156 3.10.4.2 Combining Sounds of different Stem Decks ...............................................158 3.11 3.
Table of Contents 4.3 4.4 4.2.7.2 BROWSE Encoder .......................................................................................194 4.2.7.3 Settings Button .........................................................................................195 4.2.7.4 Display Buttons .........................................................................................196 4.2.7.5 Display ......................................................................................................197 4.2.
Table of Contents 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.4.2.1 Crossfader .................................................................................................226 4.4.2.2 CUE VOL Knob ............................................................................................227 4.4.2.3 CUE MIX Knob ............................................................................................227 4.4.2.4 TEMPO Encoder ..........................................................................................
Table of Contents 5 4.7.4.1 BACK Button ..............................................................................................247 4.7.4.2 BROWSE Encoder .......................................................................................247 4.7.4.3 Settings Button .........................................................................................248 4.7.4.4 Display Buttons .........................................................................................249 4.7.4.
Table of Contents 6 7 8 Preferences Pane in TRAKTOR ................................................................................... 278 6.1 Restore Default ........................................................................................................................... 279 6.2 Touch Controls ............................................................................................................................ 279 6.3 Touchstrip ....................................................
Table of Contents 9 8.2.2 Technical Support ...................................................................................................... 300 8.2.3 Registration Support ................................................................................................. 300 8.2.4 User Forum ................................................................................................................ 301 Technical Specification ..................................................................
Welcome to the World of TRAKTOR KONTROL S8! Where to Start 1 Welcome to the World of TRAKTOR KONTROL S8! Thank you for choosing TRAKTOR KONTROL S8. What is TRAKTOR KONTROL S8? TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 provides a direct tactile interface to TRAKTOR PRO's features and allows you to achieve more with the controller hardware so you have to do less on your computer screen.
Welcome to the World of TRAKTOR KONTROL S8! Where to Start TRAKTOR Manual The Manual helps you learn all of the workflows which make TRAKTOR a unique DJing solution. In addition to learning to use TRAKTOR's core features, this document gives advice on working in various configurations; from using TRAKTOR in the most basic setup on its own to integrating turntables, external DJ mixers and audio interfaces, as well as the SCRATCH extension. Access the TRAKTOR manual via TRAKTOR's Help menu. The 'Open Manual.
Welcome to the World of TRAKTOR KONTROL S8! Manual Conventions ▪ Technical Support ▪ Registration Support You will find more information on these in chapters ↑8.2, Getting Help and ↑8.1, Troubleshooting. 1.2 Manual Conventions This section introduces you to the signage and text highlighting used in this manual. This manual uses particular formatting to point out special facts and to warn you of potential issues.
Welcome to the World of TRAKTOR KONTROL S8! Manual Conventions ► Single instructions are indicated by this play button type arrow. → Results of actions are indicated by this smaller arrow. Naming Conventions Throughout the documentation, we will refer to the TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 hardware controller either as the controller or simply S8. The TRAKTOR 2 software and TRAKTOR SCRATCH will be referred to as TRAKTOR.
Welcome to the World of TRAKTOR KONTROL S8! Manual Conventions Numbering scheme for FX and Performance controls Display Buttons On each side of a display, there are two buttons marked by a square icon.
Welcome to the World of TRAKTOR KONTROL S8! Manual Conventions Numbering scheme for Display Buttons Pads Each Deck comes with eight multi color pads.
Using Your S8—Getting Started 2 Using Your S8—Getting Started This section will guide you through the most common tasks you will encounter during your work with TRAKTOR KONTROL S8. Most of the tutorials included are workflow-oriented. They start with the simplest tasks and progressively lead you to more complex operation, helping you to become familiar with TRAKTOR KONTROL S8.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Quick Overview of TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 The tutorials presented here assume that TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 is in its default factory state. If it’s not the case, we cannot guarantee that you will experience what is described here, and as a result you might find it difficult to follow the instructions. 2.1 Quick Overview of TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 This section briefly introduces S8’s main areas.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Enabling Decks (3) Mixer: The 4-channel mixer is situated in the center of S8, and TRAKTOR's software interface. When connected to TRAKTOR, the knobs in S8's mixer section control the corresponding knobs on the software mixer. 2.2 Enabling Decks By default, the Decks on your S8 are enabled after you start the TRAKTOR software for the first time. If, however, the Decks are not enabled (in Direct Thru mode), proceed as follows to enable the Decks.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Enabling Decks Deck C in Direct Thru mode To enable the Decks: ► Push the TRAKTOR buttons of each Deck. → The TRAKTOR buttons light up in orange indicating the Deck is now in TRAKTOR mode. The displays read No Track Loaded indicating the corresponding Decks are enabled.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Enabling Decks The following images show enabled Decks: Deck A enabled as Track Deck Deck C enabled as Remix Deck TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 - Manual - 23
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using the Browser 2.3 Using the Browser This tutorial explains how to use the Browser to access your music library. You will learn how to sort and preview your tracks in the Browser, and how to load tracks into Decks. It is not possible to open the Browser on S8's left and right Decks simultaneously. BROWSE Encoder, BACK Button, and Display section 2.3.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using the Browser ► Push the BROWSE encoder. The Browser will be displayed in the display. 2.3.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using the Browser ► Rotate the BROWSE encoder. The selected entry will be highlighted in blue. The Browser View shows your current location in the folder structure at the top of the display, e.g. BROWSER>PLAYLIST>DEMO TRACKS. To open folders and load tracks: ► Press the BROWSE encoder to open a folder. ► Press the BROWSE encoder to load a track. To return to the previous folder: ► Press the BACK button. To exit the Browser: ► Press the VIEW button.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using the Browser 2.3.3 Browsing using Touch Interactions In addition to regular interactions with S8, you can perform touch interactions. However, to use touch interactions when browsing, the touch sensitivity for the BROWSE encoder has to be enabled: 1. Open the TRAKTOR Preferences. 2. Select the tab TRAKTOR KONTROL S8. 3. Enable the Touch Control Auto Open Browser on Touch. → The touch sensitivity is now enabled on the BROWSE encoder.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using the Browser 1. Press the ON button 4 to start preview. The preview is now audible in the headphones. 2. Rotate Performance knob 4 to seek within the track in preview. 2.3.5 Sorting Tracks To speed up scrolling through folders including a very large number of tracks, you can sort the tracks by categories TITLE, ARTIST, BPM, IMPORT DATE, #, and KEY. The selected category is displayed at the bottom-left in the Browser.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using the Browser ► Rotate Performance knob 1 until the desired category is selected in the SORT BY pop-up window. The tracks will then be resorted. Additionally, you can display the tracks in ascending or descending order: ► Press the ON button 1 to switch between ascending and descending order. The Browser displaying tracks in descending order.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Playing Your First Track The Browser displaying tracks in ascending order. 2.4 Playing Your First Track In this tutorial, you will learn how to load and play back a track, how to check the audio outputs and how to quickly troubleshoot your system if no music can be heard. Before you proceed, ensure the following prerequisites are met: Prerequisites We assume your S8 is in the following state: ▪ The left Deck is focused on Track Deck A.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Playing Your First Track ▪ The Crossfader is set all the way to the left. ▪ On channel A, the channel fader is set to minimum, the EQ knobs, the GAIN knob, and the Filter knob are set to center position. ▪ The MAIN knob is set to minimum. 2.4.1 Loading a Track Let’s load the track “Techno 1” from the included demo tracks on to Deck A. Since Deck A is in the top-left part of the TRAKTOR window, we will use the left Deck on your S8.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Playing Your First Track The Deck Display with DECK A indicator. While looking at the left Deck's display reading No Track Loaded. Push Browse Knob, do the following: 1. Press the BROWSE encoder of the left Deck to open the Browser. 2. Navigate to the folder FAVORITES > Demo Tracks.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Playing Your First Track 3. Scroll to track Techno 1. 4. Press the BROWSE encoder to load the track into Deck A. → The track is loaded. Its waveform and info appear in the display. 2.4.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Playing Your First Track 1. Press the PLAY button at the bottom of the left Deck. The PLAY button lights up. The waveform starts moving in the display. The track is assigned to MASTER. 2. Gradually raise the channel A fader to maximum position.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Playing Your First Track 3. Gradually turn the MAIN knob clockwise. → You will hear the track Techno 1 playing back through your speakers. If not, please check ↑2.4.3, If You Don’t Hear the Track. Each Deck Has Its Own Channel The audio playing on each Deck can be further shaped by the controls on the corresponding channel of the Mixer.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Playing Your First Track The Channel A. 2.4.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Playing Your First Track ▪ At the bottom of your S8, verify that the Crossfader is moved all the way to the left: ▪ Above, the channel fader should be raised in channel A: TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 - Manual - 37
Using Your S8—Getting Started Playing Your First Track ▪ The channel meter should show some activity. If not, check that the HI, MID, and LOW knobs in channel A are set to the center position. ▪ At the top of the channel, adjust the input level by turning the GAIN knob. ▪ At the top center of the Mixer, the MAIN knob should be turned at least part of the way to the right.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Mixing In a Second Track 2.5 Mixing In a Second Track Now that you have learned how to load and play a track from the S8, let’s mix in a second track on Deck B. By doing so, you will learn a few mixing basics which are essential for every DJ: how to cue tracks, synchronize tracks, start the playback at the right position, and mix the tracks together using the Crossfader.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Mixing In a Second Track ▪ On channel B, the channel fader is set to minimum, the EQ knobs and the GAIN knob are set to the center position. ▪ The CUE VOL knob and the CUE MIX knob are set to minimum. 2.5.1 Loading a Second Track We will choose the track “Techno 2” and load it into the right Deck B, as we did for Deck A in the previous tutorial.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Mixing In a Second Track Track Deck B in its empty state. While looking at the right Deck display reading "No Track Loaded, Touch Browse Knob", do the following: 1. Press the BROWSE encoder of the right Deck to open the Browser. The Browser resumes at the last selected item.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Mixing In a Second Track 2. Scroll to the track Techno 2. 3. Press the BROWSE encoder to load the track into Deck B. → The track is loaded. Its waveform and info appear in the display. 2.5.2 ► Playing the Second Track Press the PLAY button on the right Deck to start the playback.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Mixing In a Second Track → The track “Techno 2” starts playing. The PLAY button lights up and the waveform in the display starts moving. You don’t hear anything from Deck B through the speakers yet because the Crossfader on the S8 is all the way to the left. To mix in the track “Techno 2” on Deck B: ► Slowly move the Crossfader from left to right.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Mixing In a Second Track ► Pull the Crossfader all the way back to the left. If you still don’t hear any sound coming from Deck B even with the Crossfader all the way to the right, check the troubleshooting guidelines in section ↑2.4.3, If You Don’t Hear the Track. 2.5.3 Using Headphones to Prepare the Mix Typically, a DJ needs to be able to prepare a mix on the headphone cue before committing to it and sending it to the main out.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Mixing In a Second Track → You will hear the cued track in your headphones. Adjusting the balance between the cued track and main mix For a great mix, you need to sync the affected Decks, match their levels and make sure that the result sounds good.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Mixing In a Second Track ► Press the SYNC button on the right Deck to synchronize its tempo and phase with those of Deck A. → The SYNC button lights up and the display of Deck B displays SYNC. Now the two tracks are in perfect sync. Cue the Track ► Slowly turn the CUE MIX knob clockwise. → You will hear the second track fade into the mix with both tracks in sync.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Mixing In a Second Track Mixing In the Second Track When your track is ready for mixing: ► Slowly move the Crossfader from the left to the right. → You just did your first mix with S8. 2.5.5 Interlude: In case the Left Track has finished The track “Techno 1” on Deck A has been playing since we started with the tutorials, and it might happen that the playback reaches the end of the track.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Mixing In a Second Track 2.5.6 Mixing In the Track by Using the Channel EQ and Filter Besides simply using the Crossfader or channel volume faders to mix tracks, you can use TRAKTOR KONTROL S8’s EQs and filters to make the mixes smoother and more interesting. The EQ and FILTER knobs on channel B.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Mixing In a Second Track ▪ Both tracks are synched. ▪ The Crossfader is all the way to the left. ▪ On channel B, the channel fader is set to minimum, the EQ knobs, the GAIN knob, and the Filter knob are set to center position. To prepare the cued track with EQ or Filter: 1. Put on your Headphones. 2. Enable CUE on channel B. 3. Press the FILTER button on Deck B.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Mixing In a Second Track 4. Turn any of the EQ or FILTER knobs on channel B to hear the effect on the cued track. The EQs and filters are excellent tools for making adjustments to tracks before mixing them in so that you get the smoothest transition possible. The most common technique is to filter the bass line out of the incoming track—having 2 bass lines running simultaneously rarely sounds good. We will now carry out a first version of the mix “for real.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Mixing In a Second Track 1. With the Crossfader still on the left, turn down the LOW knob on channel B to take the bass out of the track on Deck B. 2. Progressively mix in channel B by gradually moving the Crossfader from the left to the center position. 3. When both tracks are running together and you want to bring the bass back in, gradually decrease the bass amount of channel A while simultaneously increasing that of channel B. 4.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Adjusting Levels 2.6 Adjusting Levels Before we continue with the tutorials, let's talk about the importance of setting your mix levels correctly. We will provide a few simple hints which help you achieve the best sound with your mix. Even if this section looks a bit technical at first, please take the time to read these few pages, as this knowledge will help you later on, especially in a live situation! 2.6.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Adjusting Levels A channel meter clipping In each channel, ensure that its channel meter shows a level in the upper range of the blue LEDs when playing the loudest section of a track, only occasionally reaching the orange LEDs.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Adjusting Levels Note that the channel’s EQ and filter settings also affect the signal level, as well as the possible FX Unit(s) it is assigned to. Hence, when modifying any of these, you might need to readjust the GAIN knob accordingly. To get a good idea of the right levels to choose, we recommend you get to know the songs in your set - for tracks with a variable level over time (e.g.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Switching Deck Focus In this section, the MAIN LEVEL meters show you the (left and right) overall level of your mix after adjustment by the MAIN knob. Here, again, make sure not to exceed the safe range indicated by blue LEDs too often. For checking the level at the output of the TRAKTOR software, please refer to the meter in TRAKTOR's header. Set the channel levels so that the mix mostly stays in the blue safe range on the MAIN meter.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Switching Deck Focus ► Press the left DECK button to toggle between Deck A and Deck C.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Switching Deck Focus ▪ If Deck A is focused, the DECK button, the Mode Select Button and the LED ring around the LOOP encoder will be lit in blue.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Switching Deck Focus ▪ If Deck C is focused, the DECK button, the Mode Select Button and the LED ring around the LOOP encoder will be lit in white.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Switching Deck View and Zooming 2.8 Switching Deck View and Zooming By default, the display shows only the focused Deck. This is called Single View. Additionally, you can switch to Spilt View to show both Decks together in the display - Decks A and C on the left side, Decks B and D on the right side.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Switching Deck View and Zooming Split View with focus on Deck A. Split View with focus on Deck C. Changing Deck View does not change the Deck's focus.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Switching Deck View and Zooming Zooming To get a more precise view of the waveform at the current Playhead position, you can zoom in or out of the waveform. To zoom into the waveform: ► Press Display button 3 repeatedly until you reach the desired zoom level.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using Cue Points ► 2.9 Press Display button 4 several times until you reach the desired zoom level. Using Cue Points This tutorial will explain how to work with HotCues for jumping directly to certain points within a track. HotCues can be assigned to the pads when the Track Deck is in HOTCUE mode. On a Track Deck in HOTCUE mode, pad 1 always represents the Start Cue Point that will be assigned automatically as soon as a track is loaded.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using Cue Points Pad 1 as Start Cue Point. Prerequisites We assume here that you already followed the instructions in the previous tutorials (see ↑2.2, Enabling Decks). TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 is in the following state: ▪ The track “Techno 1” is loaded on Deck A. ▪ The Deck A is set to HOTCUE mode (default state). 2.9.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using Cue Points ► On the left Deck, whether or not the track is playing, press one of the unlit pads on a downbeat—let’s say pad 2. The pad lights up blue. → You have just stored a Cue Point that you can return to by pressing the same pad again. ► In the display, a CuePoint will be highlighted by a blue indicator and the pad number. You can store up to eight CuePoints per track, including the first which is automatically set to the track start.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using Cue Points ► Press SHIFT + the pad assigned with a Cue Point. → The Cue point is deleted and the pad is unlit. Snapping to the Beats You don’t have to worry about being precise enough to set a HotCue directly on a beat; by default, TRAKTOR will make sure this happens automatically. This is because the Snap mode is on, indicated by the lit S button located in the top-mid on the S8: The S button on the Mixer.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Adjusting Tempo Prerequisites We assume here that S8 is in the following state: ▪ The track “Techno 1” is loaded on Deck A and stopped. ▪ The track “Techno 2” is loaded on Deck B and stopped. ▪ The tracks are not in sync. 2.10.1 Global Tempo Adjustments Global tempo adjustments are made using the TEMPO encoder located in the center of the S8.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Adjusting Tempo Adjusting the Global Tempo 1. Press the PLAY button on Deck A. The Deck will be assigned to MASTER. 2. Turn the TEMPO encoder clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the tempo of TRAKTOR's Master Clock in decimal steps.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Adjusting Tempo 3. Press any SHIFT button and turn the TEMPO encoder clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the tempo of TRAKTOR's Master Clock in whole steps. 4. Release the Deck's SHIFT button. → The global tempo has changed. 2.10.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Adjusting Tempo Adjusting the Deck-specific Tempo 1. On a Deck press the Display Button 1. The BPM pop-up becomes visible on the display.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Adjusting Tempo 2. Turn the Deck's BROWSE encoder clockwise to increase the tempo; turn the Deck's BROWSE encoder counterclockwise to decrease the tempo. 3. Hold the Deck's SHIFT button + turn the Deck's BROWSE encoder clockwise to increase the tempo in whole steps; turn the Deck's BROWSE encoder counterclockwise to decrease the tempo in whole steps. 4. Press the Display Button 1 again or press the View Button to close the BMP pop-up.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using Keylock In this scenario, the BROWSE encoder has the same effect as the TEMPO encoder when making tempo adjustments. If the Deck is assigned as the MASTER, tempo adjustments made with the BROWSE encoder will also be applied to any other Deck with their SYNC button activated. In scenarios where automatic Deck synchronization isn't possible, e.g. syncing a TRAKTOR Deck with an external audio source, you can use this method to manually dial in a Deck's BPM. 2.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using Keylock 1. On a Deck, press the Display Button 2. The KEY pop-up opens on the display. For tracks which have been analyzed by TRAKTOR, their key is displayed here.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using Keylock 2. Press the Deck's BROWSE encoder to enable Keylock on the track. LOCK is now lit in white. 3. Press the Display Button 2 again to exit the KEY pop-up in the display. 4. Now press Display Button 1 to open the BPM pop-up and adjust the track's tempo by turning the BROWSE encoder. → You can hear the tempo change, but the track's key remains intact.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using Keylock Adjusting the Key without changing Original Tempo If you want to change just the key of a track without affecting its tempo, proceed as follows: 1. On a Deck, press the Display Button 2. The KEY pop-up opens on the display. If the track has been analyzed by TRAKTOR, its key will be displayed here.
Using Your S8—Getting Started Using Keylock 2. Press the Deck's BROWSE encoder to enable Keylock on the track. LOCK is now lit in white. 3. Now turn the Deck's BROWSE encoder to adjust the key of the track. 4. Press the Display Button 2 again to exit the KEY window in the display. → You will hear that the track's key has changed, while the tempo is preserved.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Touch Strip 3 Using Your S8—Getting Advanced 3.1 Using Touch Strip S8 doesn't feature the conventional Jog Wheels of a regular DJ controller. Functions usually associated with Jog Wheels are instead controlled by the intuitive Touch Strips.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Touch Strip 2. While holding the Deck's SHIFT button, the LED strip above the recessed touch-sensitive area will display this: The LED segments represent the entire length of the track. The three orange segments represent the current playhead position within the track.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Touch Strip 1. While holding SHIFT, place your finger on the Touch Strip beneath the orange LEDs and swipe to the right to move forwards in the track's waveform.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Touch Strip ⇨ The three orange LEDs will follow your finger movement to the right, as does the playhead in the waveform.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Touch Strip 2. Swipe your finger to the left to move backwards in the track's waveform.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Touch Strip ⇨ The three orange LEDs will follow your finger movement to the left, just as the playhead in the waveform. Alternatively, you can jump directly to an absolute position in the track by pressing SHIFT + placing your finger on the desired position on the Touch Strip. 3.1.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Touch Strip 2. On Deck B press the SYNC button to disable Sync. The SYNC button's backlight goes dim. 3. Listen to the track playing in Deck A, and press the PLAY button of deck B on an appropriate downbeat to start playback. → If your timing was perfect, a single orange LED at the center of the LED strip lights up, indicating the phase-alignment of both tracks is correct.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Touch Strip ► Swipe your finger toward the right side of the Touch Strip until the blue LEDs disappear and a single orange LED is shown. → The phase-alignment is corrected and both tracks are perfectly synched.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Touch Strip 3.1.3 Using the Touch Strip to Scratch and Backspin Similar to manually turning a vinyl on a turntable, swiping a finger over the recessed Touch Strip area allows you to create a scratch effect on a Track Deck or Remix Deck. This feature is not enabled by default and requires some configuration as follows: Enabling the preference Touch to Scratch To enable the preference Touch to Scratch for the S8: 1.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Touch Strip 2. Navigate to the Traktor Kontrol S8 page, check the Shift + Touch to Scratch preference in the Touchstrip section.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Touch Strip 3. Click Close to exit the Preferences window. Performing Scratching On the Deck: 1. Hold the SHIFT button. 2. On the Touch Strip swipe to the left. This will move the playhead slightly forwards in the track's waveform, and you will hear the typical scratch effect.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Touch Strip 3. On the Touch Strip swipe to the right. This will move the playhead slightly backwards in the track's waveform and you will hear the typical scratch effect.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Touch Strip 4. Try moving your finger across the Touch Strip (back and forth) to scratch the corresponding playhead over a beat. → As soon as you cease moving your finger on the Touch Strip, the playhead remains at that position. A scratch effect can only be created when the track is stopped. Performing a Backspin On the Deck: 1. Hold the SHIFT button.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Touch Strip 2. On the Touch Strip swipe quickly from the very right to the very left. This will move the playhead backward in the track's waveform, and you will hear the backspin effect. → As soon as you lift your finger from the Touch Strip, the playhead remains at that position. Backspins are enhanced by the fact that TRAKTOR will stop the spin as soon as you release the SHIFT button.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Playing with Loops in HOTCUE Mode 3.2 Playing with Loops in HOTCUE Mode Now that we've covered all basic mixing techniques and how to use the Touch Strip, we will focus on S8’s looping facilities in HOTCUE mode. Besides using the dedicated LOOP mode which will be explained in the next tutorial, you can work with loops in default HOTCUE mode. This allows you to perform with HOTCUES and loops at the same time.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Playing with Loops in HOTCUE Mode → This will automatically add a loop at the current playback position in the track. The example above shows an engaged loop of four beats.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Playing with Loops in HOTCUE Mode ► Turn the Deck's Loop encoder to change the loop size. You can choose a loop size of 32 beats down to a loop size of 1/32 of a beat. Note that you can adjust the loop size either before or after you’ve set the Loop! If you adjust the loop size beforehand, the next loop you set will acquire the set loop size value.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Playing with Loops in HOTCUE Mode 3.2.2 Moving a Loop With a loop size selected, you can move the Loop selection to another position within your track. To move the Loop: ► Press the Deck's SHIFT button and turn the Loop encoder. The loop selection will be moved through the track on the fly and looping continues at the respective position. The step size you move the selection by is the same as the loop size, which is shown in the display.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Playing with Loops in HOTCUE Mode 2. To store the active Loop, press an unlit pad. The pad lights up green.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Playing with Loops in LOOP Mode The display will show a green marker indicating the Loop. The marker also shows the number of the corresponding pad. → You have just stored a Loop that you can return to by pressing the same pad again. Deleting a Loop To delete a Loop: ► 3.3 Press the Deck's SHIFT button and the pad assigned to the Loop you want to delete.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Playing with Loops in LOOP Mode Pads illuminated in LOOP mode. Prerequisites We assume here that the S8 is in the following state: ▪ The track “Techno 1” is loaded on Deck A and is not playing. ▪ The Crossfader is all the way to the left. ▪ The channel fader A is raised to the top. ▪ The MAIN knob has an adequate level. 3.3.1 Looping with Pre-defined Sizes In LOOP mode, with the first row of pads you can engage loops with pre-defined values.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Playing with Loops in LOOP Mode 2. Press the Deck's LOOP button to enable LOOP mode. The LOOP button lights up brightly and the pads also illuminate. With a track playing and Loop mode enabled, you can perform the following actions: ► Press one of the green pads to engage a Loop of 1/8 beat, 1/4 beat, 1/2 beat, or 1 beat. The LED ring around the Loop encoder starts to rotate indicating a loop is engaged.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Playing with Loops in LOOP Mode 3.3.2 Beatjumping With the orange pads, you can jump forward or backward in the track by the amount predefined as Beatjump size. By default, the orange pads 6 and 7 represent the Beatjump sizes of 1 beat backward and forward, whereas the beat-jump sizes of pad 5 and 8 are defined by the Loop encoder. To beat-jump within a track by 1 beat: 1. Press the Deck's PLAY button to start playback. 2.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using FREEZE Mode 3.4 Using FREEZE Mode FREEZE mode takes the playhead position, adds the number of bars set as Freeze Slice Size and splits this section of a track into eight equally sized slices. These are then mapped to the adjacent pads, which light up blue. Press any of these pads to trigger playback from the mapped slice. Playback continues to the end of the track until you lift your finger off the pad.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using FREEZE Mode Deck A in Freeze Mode. Prerequisites We assume here that the S8 is in the following state: ▪ The track “Techno 1” is loaded on Deck A and stopped. ▪ The Crossfader is all the way to the left. ▪ The channel fader A is raised to the top. ▪ The MAIN knob has an adequate level. 3.4.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using FREEZE Mode 1. Press PLAY to trigger playback. 2. Press the FREEZE button. The current playback position is "frozen" and a section defined by the loop size on the display is automatically split into eight slices.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using FREEZE Mode 3. Press any of the eight pads to trigger playback and get a feel for the slices. 4. Press the HOTCUE button to exit Freeze mode. If no further slice is triggered, the Playhead position will leave the frozen area and playback continues towards the end of the track. 3.4.2 1. Adjusting the Freeze Slice Size Hold the FREEZE button. The SLICE SIZE window pops up in the display.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using FREEZE Mode 2. While holding the FREEZE button, turn the Loop encoder to increase or decrease the slice size from a 1/4 of a beat to a range of 4 beats. 3. Release the FREEZE button. → The Slice size and zoom will change accordingly.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using FREEZE Mode 3.4.3 Slicer Mode There's an extension of Freeze mode's functionality, called Slicer Mode. Press the Loop encoder while in Freeze mode and the playback behavior of the pads changes. Instead of playing from the slice start to the end of the entire track, pressing and holding a pad in Slicer Mode will play back just the corresponding slice repeatedly. 3.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Remixing with Remix Decks 1. Press the PLAY button to start playback. 2. Press the FLUX button to enable FLUX mode. The button lights up in orange. 3. Perform on the pads as usual. As soon as a pad is released, playback continues at the second Playhead's position to preserve the musical phrasing. 4. Press the FLUX button again to exit FLUX mode. Note that when the FLUX button is engaged, you cannot make use of Slicer mode on the pads.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Remixing with Remix Decks Prerequisites ▪ Deck C is enabled. ▪ Channel C fader is set to minimum. ▪ All Remix Slot Volume Faders of the left Deck are raised. ▪ The EQ knobs of channel C are set to center position. ▪ The MAIN knob is set to an adequate output level. ▪ The Channel C Crossfader Assign switch is set to the left position. ▪ The Crossfader is all the way to the left. 3.6.1 Loading a Remix Set 1. On the left Deck, press the DECK button to switch to Deck C.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Remixing with Remix Decks 3. Select the Remix Set Remix Deck Tutorial and press the BROWSE encoder to load it.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Remixing with Remix Decks → The Remix set is loaded to Deck C. The display has the following appearance: The pads now illuminate orange and green, corresponding to the Remix Deck page shown in the display. 3.6.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Remixing with Remix Decks 1. Press pad 1 to trigger its Sample Intro Beat. Playback of the Deck will start accordingly. The Sample is highlighted, the Playhead of its waveform moves, and the Sample will loop. 2. Raise the channel C fader. You should now hear the Sample playing. 3. Press SHIFT + pad 1 to stop playback. 4. Now press pad 1, pad 2, pad 3, and pad 4 to trigger their samples.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Remixing with Remix Decks → The first four pads light up. The Samples play back. Select another Sample of a Remix Slot While the Samples are playing, you can switch to other Samples within the Remix Slots.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Remixing with Remix Decks ► Press pad 5. The Sample of pad 1 Intro Beat will stop and instead the Sample of pad 5 808 Deep will start without interruption. The Sample of pad 5 808 Deep is highlighted in the display. Note that only one Sample per Remix Slot (column in the display) can play at a time. Select other Pages of a Remix Set A Remix Set can include up to 64 samples.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Remixing with Remix Decks To select another page of a Remix Set: ► Press Display Button 4 or 3 to scroll a page downwards or upwards. Alternatively, hold the REMIX button while turning the Deck's LOOP encoder.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Remixing with Remix Decks 3.6.3 1. Triggering Samples using Different Quantize Sizes Press Display Button 2. The QUANTIZE window opens in the display.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Remixing with Remix Decks 2. Turn the Decks's BROWSE encoder to select a quantize value of 16 beats. 3. Press Display Button 2 again to close the QUANTIZE window. The quantize value is visible in the display. 4. Now press the pads to trigger samples. → After you press a pad, TRAKTOR will play out the currently playing sample to the end of the 16 beats segment and then start playing back the sample assigned to the pad you pressed.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Remixing with Remix Decks It's a good idea to experiment with Quantize Values. Depending on the scenario, you will often want to keep the values long (four beats, eight beats, or even longer) to keep your musical phrases synced up. But for rapid changes between sounds, and a more "active" remixing, try for values of one beat or less. 3.6.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Remixing with Remix Decks ► Experiment with the FILTER and adjust channel faders to get a feeling for the mix. 3.6.5 Using the Touch Strip on a Remix Deck In this brief tutorial we'll learn how the Touch Strip can be used with the Remix Deck. On a Remix Deck which isn't playing a track: ► Swipe on the Touch Strip to move the playhead positions within the active Samples.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Capturing Samples from Track Decks (Using Remix Mode) Note: in Remix mode, you can only capture Samples to the current Remix Set Page. Before you start capturing select another Remix Set Page. The Capture Source must always be a Track Deck. Prerequisites ▪ The track “Techno 1” is loaded on Deck A and stopped. ▪ Deck C is set up as an empty Remix Deck. ▪ All Remix Slot Volume Faders are raised to the top. ▪ The Crossfader is set to center position.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Capturing Samples from Track Decks (Using Remix Mode) 3. While holding CAPTURE, touch the Loop encoder to let the CAPTURE window pop-up and turn the Loop encoder to select the capture Source DECK A. 4. Release the Loop encoder to close the CAPTURE window and release the CAPTURE button.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Capturing Samples from Track Decks (Using Remix Mode) 1. Press the REMIX button to enable REMIX Mode. The pads should now be unlit because nothing is loaded into Remix Deck C.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Capturing Samples from Track Decks (Using Remix Mode) 2. Press the View button to switch to Split View. Both Decks A and C are shown in the display. 3. Turn the Loop encoder to define the capture size. 4. On Deck A press the PLAY button to start playback. 5. Press one of the unlit pads to capture a Sample from the current playback position.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Capturing Samples from Track Decks (Using Remix Mode) → You have captured a Sample of the track. The pad now illuminates a new color and the captured Sample is shown in the display.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Capturing Samples from Track Decks (Using Remix Mode) ► Capture further Samples from another Capture Source and/or using another Capture size. The pads now illuminate with new colors and the first four captured samples are shown in the display.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Capturing Samples from Track Decks (Using Remix Mode) ► Press the illuminated pads to trigger playback. The Samples are now being mixed with the track playing in deck A. The Samples will continue to loop within their Remix Slot. ► Move the Slot Volume Faders above the pads to smoothly fade the Samples out or in. ► Hold the SHIFT button and press the illuminated pad to stop playing.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Adding FX 3.8 Adding FX In this tutorial section, we will walk you through the basics of using the FX Units. By default, TRAKTOR provides you with control over two FX Units, which can be assigned to any of the Decks. You can set up two types of FX: Single FX and Group FX. The following sections will explain both. 3.8.1 Assigning Decks to the FX Units To assign FX Unit 1 to a Deck: ► On the mixer press the left FX Assign button of a channel to assign FX Unit 1 to a Deck.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Adding FX 3.8.2 Setting up an FX Unit to Group FX Mode When an FX Unit is set to Group FX mode, it allows up to three different audio effects to be used simultaneously within an FX Unit. The following section explains how to set up your own Group FX, and how to control its three effects via the FX knobs and FX buttons. Prerequisites ▪ The track "Techno 1" is loaded on Deck A. The track is playing and audible. ▪ All FX knobs of FX Unit 1 are set to center position.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Adding FX 2. Press the FX Button 1 to display the FX Unit 1 options. 3. Turn the BROWSE encoder to select Group, and press the BROWSE encoder to enable Group FX mode. Three default effects are loaded into the Group FX and the FX Unit is set up as Insert. 4. Press the FX SELECT button again to exit the FX Unit menu.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Adding FX Apply the Group FX to the Track In order to apply the Group FX to the Track and control the parameters of each effect you can now perform the following actions: ► Activate the effects slots with the FX buttons. ► As soon you touch any FX knob, the FX panel will drop down in the display.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Adding FX ► Experiment with the FX Knobs 1 to 4 and listen to the resulting changes. The parameter adjustments are also visible in the FX panel. ► You can activate/deactivate each effect slot individually by pressing the corresponding FX buttons 2 to 4 below. 3.8.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Adding FX 1. Press the FX SELECT button of FX Unit 1 at the top left corner of the S8 to open the FX Unit menu. 2. In the FX Unit menu, press FX Button 3 to exchange the effect in effects slot 2. An overview of available FX will be displayed.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Adding FX 3. Turn the BROWSE encoder to select the Gater effect and press the BROWSE encoder to load it. → You have exchanged effects slot 2 in the Group FX. Repeat this process for any of the remaining effects in the Group FX. 3.8.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Adding FX 1. Adjust the FX knobs and buttons to your liking. 2. Press the FX button 1 to display the FX Unit's options. 3. Turn the BROWSE encoder to select Snapshot. 4. Press the BROWSE encoder to save the Snapshot. → The next time you press FX Button 1 with this effect loaded, its parameters will assume the values you stored. 3.8.5 Routing FX TRAKTOR’s effects are insert effects by default, but you can also use them as post fader effects or as send effects.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Performance Modes on Remix Decks Enabling the 3rd and 4th FX Unit To activate all four FX Units: 1. Open TRAKTOR's Preferences dialog and select the Effects tab. 2. In the FX Unit Routing section, enable 4 FX Units. 3. Close the Preferences dialog. Assigning FX Units 3 and 4 To route a channel to FX Unit 3 or 4: ► Press the SHIFT button + the left FX assign to assign FX Unit 3 to the focused channel.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Performance Modes on Remix Decks Prerequisites ▪ The Remix Set "Remix Set Tutorial" is loaded to Remix Deck C. ▪ FX Unit 2 is set to Single Mode and has the Reverb FX loaded. ▪ FX Unit 2 is assigned to Deck C. 3.9.1 Selecting and applying a Performance Mode To select the FX SEND Performance Mode on Deck C: 1. Set the Deck focus to Deck C. 2. Press pads 2, 3 and 4 to trigger samples. 3.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Performance Modes on Remix Decks 4. Press the ON buttons to activate/deactivate the FX SEND per Remix Slot. Turn the Performance knobs to control the mix between unprocessed and effect signals. You can have all Performance Modes enabled simultaneously. Skip through the Performance Modes to check which modes are active. 3.9.2 Using Performance Mode Pitch When Performance Mode Pitch is enabled: 1.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Performance Modes on Remix Decks 2. Turn a Performance knob clockwise to pitch up or counterclockwise to pitch down the samples individually. → You will hear the result in the audio and see the values change in the PITCH parameters overview. 3.9.3 Using Performance Mode Filter When Performance Mode Filter is enabled: 1. Touch a Performance knob to enlarge the FILTER parameters overview in the display.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Performance Modes on Remix Decks 2. Turn a Performance knob clockwise to apply hi-pass filtering to the playing Sample. Turn a Performance knob counterclockwise to apply the low-pass filter to the playing Samples individually. → You will hear the result in the audio and see the values change in the FILTER parameters overview. 3.9.4 Using Performance Mode FX SEND The Performance Mode FX SEND allows you to send signal from each Remix slot to the assigned FX Unit/s.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Performance Modes on Remix Decks 1. Touch a Performance knob to expand the FX SEND parameters overview in the display. 2. Turn the Performance knobs clockwise to increase or counterclockwise to decrease the FX SEND amount. → You can hear a Reverb effect being added to the Remix Slots. Slot 1's value of 25% means that you're listening to a mix of 75% unprocessed signal and 25% Reverb.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Performance Modes on Remix Decks 3.9.5 Using Performance Mode FX The Performance Mode FX is only available if four FX Units are enabled in TRAKTOR's preferences as described in section ↑3.8.6, Using Four FX Units. With the Performance Mode FX enabled: 1. Touch a Performance knob to enlarge the FX parameters overview in the display. 2. Press the ON Buttons to enable the respective FX parameters.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Performance Modes on Remix Decks 3. Turn the Performance knobs to change the parameter values. → You will hear the result in the audio as well as see the changed values in the FX parameters overview. 3.9.5.1 Changing SINGLE FX in Performance Mode In the following section you will learn how to change the SINGLE FX in the FX Unit 3 or FX Unit 4. The workflow is the same for both. This tutorial will focus on FX Unit 3.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Performance Modes on Remix Decks 1. On FX Unit 1 press the FX SELECT button. The FX Unit 1 menu opens. 2. On the left Deck press the ON Button 1 to switch to FX Unit 3 options. The FX Unit 3 options will open in the display. 3. Ensure the entries Single and Insert are selected.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Performance Modes on Remix Decks 4. Press the FX Button 2, 3 or 4 to change the FX. This will display the FX Unit 3 menu with available FX. 5. Turn the BROWSE encoder to select any FX and press the BROWSE encoder to assign the FX. The FX Unit 3 menu closes.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Performance Modes on Remix Decks 6. Touch a Performance knob to enlarge the FX parameters overview in the display. → You can now see the newly assigned FX. 3.9.5.2 Changing GROUP FX in Performance Mode In the following section you will learn how to change the GROUP FX in the FX Unit 3 or FX Unit 4. The workflow is the same for both. This tutorial will focus on FX Unit 3.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Performance Modes on Remix Decks 1. On FX Unit 1 press the FX SELECT button. The FX Unit 1 menu opens. 2. On the left Deck press the ON Button 1 to switch to FX Unit 3 options. The FX Unit 3 options will open in the display.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Performance Modes on Remix Decks 3. Select the entries Group and Insert. 4. Press the FX Button 2, 3 or 4 where you want to change the FX. This will display the FX Unit 3 menu with available FX. 5. Turn the BROWSE encoder to select an FX, and press the BROWSE encoder to load it.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks → You have changed the FX in the Group FX. 3.10 Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks In this tutorial you will learn how to load and play back a Stem File, and how to perform on Stem Decks. Stem Files allow you to interact with four different musical elements of a track independently while DJing. The four stems of a track can be modified individually to create spontaneous instrumentals, remixes, or mashups.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks Due to the large amount of data that must be read from a Stem File, it is currently necessary that Stem Files are analyzed before loading into a Stem Deck. It is not possible to load and play a Stem File before it has been analyzed. For more information on how to analyze tracks or Stem Files, refer to the TRAKTOR Manual.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks ▪ The Crossfader is set to center position. ▪ On the left Deck all Slot Volume faders are set to the maximum level. ▪ On the right Deck all Slot Volume faders are set to the minimum level. Loading a Stem File To load a Stem File into the left Deck A: 1. Press the BROWSE encoder to open the Browser. 2. Rotate the BROWSE encoder to navigate to TRACK COLLECTION > All Stems >.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks 3. Select a Stem File. 4. Press → The Deck Flavor automatically switches to Stem Deck. → The Deck Flavor automatically switches to Stem Deck and the upper row of the Pads reflect the colors of the Stem Parts. the BROWSE encoder again to load the Stem File.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks Playback the Stem File ► Press the PLAY button to start playback. → The Stem File is playing back and the waveform is moving in the display. 3.10.2 Switching between Track View and Stem View To have an individual view of the Stem Parts’ waveforms switch the view in the display from Track View to Stem View. In Track View the display shows the waveform of the entire Stem File. Stem Deck in Track View.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks Stem Deck in Stem View. To switch the view: 1. Hold the SHIFT button. Depending on current view either Display Button 3 or 4 will light up. 2. Press the unlit Display button to switch the view in the display.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks 3.10.3 Performing with Stem Decks While the Stem File is playing back you can perform the following actions on the Stem Deck: Adjusting or Cutting Volumes of Stem Parts To adjust the volumes of key elements from the music or to take them out completely: ► Move the four Slot Volume Faders downwards or upwards. → You will hear the Stem Parts change in volume or they will be completely taken out of the mix.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks 2. Press Stem Selector 1 (the most left Pad) to select the corresponding Stem Part 1. The Stem Selector Pad flashes indicating Stem Part 1 is selected. The Footer in the display expands and the selected Stem Part name is underlined. 3. Rotate the BROWSE encoder to adjust the volume of Stem Part 1.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks 4. Press the BROWSE encoder to reset the volume to maximum level. 5. Press Stem Selector 1 again to unselect the corresponding Stem Part 1. The Stem Selector Pad is dim. The Footer in the display diminishes. When all Stem Parts are selected you can adjust and reset the volumes of all Stem Parts simultaneously.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks 1. Press the Performance Mode buttons until the FILTER page is selected in the Performance Mode pane. 2. Press the ON buttons to activate the filter. 3. Rotate the respective Performance knob to change the parameters for applying a highpass or a low-pass filter. Applying FX SEND to Stem Parts You can also apply FX SEND to any of the Stem Parts.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks To apply the FX Unit’s FX to Stem Parts: 1. On channel A press the right FX Assign button to assign the Stem Deck to FX Unit 2. 2. Press the Performance Mode buttons until the FX SEND page is selected in the Performance Mode pane. 3. Press the ON buttons to apply the FX of the FX Unit 2 to the Stem Parts. 4. Rotate the Performance knobs clockwise to increase or counterclockwise to decrease the FX SEND amount.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks Additional Information about Performing with Stem Decks Besides the aforementioned actions for performing on Stem Decks you can also make use of setting Hotcues, applying Loops, using FREEZE mode, using FLUX mode, and using the Touch Strip as you learned in previous tutorials. It is not possible to capture Samples from Stem Files. 3.10.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks 3. Select a Stem File. 4. Press the BROWSE encoder to load the Stem File. The Deck Flavor automatically switches to Stem Deck and is set to SYNC. 5. Press the PLAY button to start playback. → The Stem File is playing back on Deck B and in sync with the Stem File on Deck A. After all Slot Volume Faders are set to minimum position, you should not hear any audio from the Stem File of Deck B.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Mixing Stem Files using Stem Decks 3.10.4.2 Combining Sounds of different Stem Decks While the Stem Files are playing back on Deck A and Deck B, you can now perform the following actions for mixing both Stem Files. We assume here that the Stem Parts of both of your chosen Stem Files are using the same naming and coloring scheme e.g. Stem Part 1 for drums, Stem Part 2 for bass, Stem Part 3 for melody, and Stem Part 4 for vocals.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Step Sequencer Mode on Remix Decks 1 2 6 5 4 3 Overview of Step Sequencer Mode in the display. (1) A STEP label appears next to the Remix Set's name indicating Step Sequencer mode is active. (2) Each column displays the waveform of the selected sample and a grid of squares representing the amount of steps of the sequence. (3) A rectangular frame around a sample waveform and the grid of squares indicates the focused sample.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Step Sequencer Mode on Remix Decks ▪ Each of the eight pads represent one step of the sequence. ▪ A pad will be dimmed in the color corresponding to the selected sample to indicate a step that is not set. ▪ A pad will be fully lit in the color corresponding to the selected sample to indicate a step that is set. ▪ An unlit pad indicates the step is not available. For example the amount of steps in the sequence is 7 steps, thus the 8th pad does not lit.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Step Sequencer Mode on Remix Decks ⇨ The Deck switches to Step Sequencer mode. 4. Load a Remix Set or fill the empty Cells with one-shot samples from your Track Collection. 5. Start playback of the Deck.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Step Sequencer Mode on Remix Decks → The Step Sequencer is ready for operation. 3.11.2 Operating the Step Sequencer When Step Sequencer mode is active you can perform the following actions using your TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 controller: Setting / Removing Steps 1. Press a pad to set that step in the sequence.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Step Sequencer Mode on Remix Decks ⇨ When the playhead reaches the step, the sample will play back. 2. Press the pad again to remove the step from the sequence. Switching the Sample Focus 1. Press the Performance Mode buttons at the lower left / right area of the display to toggle between the samples. 2. Alternatively, press SHIFT + Pad 1 to 4 to focus the corresponding sample. → The pads’ colors switch according to the sample color.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Step Sequencer Mode on Remix Decks Defining the Amount of Steps 1. Turn the loop encoder to increase / decrease the amount of steps of the sequence. 2. If you have set an amount greater than 8 steps, press Display Buttons 3 and 4 to navigate between upper and lower rows of steps. Clearing all Steps of a Sample ► Press SHIFT + EDIT to clear all steps in the sequence of the selected sample.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Step Sequencer Mode on Remix Decks Selecting another sample within the column 1. Turn the Performance Knob 1 to select another sample stored in the same column of the Remix Set. ⇨ The pads’ colors switch according to the sample color. If there is no other sample stored, turning the encoder has no effect. 2. In order to prevent accidental switching,Step Sequencer press ON Button 1 to lock the sample.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Step Sequencer Mode on Remix Decks Controlling Volume ► Move any of the four volume faders to control the volume of the corresponding sample. Using SWING 1. Press Display Button 2 to access the SWING dialog. 2. Turn the Browse encoder to increase / decrease the SWING amount in percentage. 3. Press Display Button 2 again to leave the SWING dialog.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Step Sequencer Mode on Remix Decks Applying Filter 1. Turn Performance Knob 2 to set the filter cutoff. 2. Press ON Button 2 to engage the filter. → The filter only applies to the selected sample.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Step Sequencer Mode on Remix Decks Applying Pitch Shifter 1. Turn Performance Knob 3 to shift the pitch. 2. Press ON Button 3 to engage the pitch shifter. → The pitch shifter only applies to the selected sample.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Using Step Sequencer Mode on Remix Decks Applying FX Send 1. Turn Performance Knob 4 to control the amount of FX Send from an FX Unit. 2. Press ON Button 4 engage the FX. → The effect only applies to the selected sample.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Working with Beatgrids 3.12 Working with Beatgrids TRAKTOR recognizes a track's BPM precisely and sets the Beatgrid. Some tracks, however, need manual correction e.g. a track with a complex rhythm or with uneven timing, coming from a tape machine or warped vinyl, and the S8 provides you with the controls to do this. 3.12.1 Checking a Beatgrid To guarantee that all Tempo, Loop and Move controls work as expected, you will have to verify the Beatgrid for your tracks: 1.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Working with Beatgrids 2. Press Display Button 3 to zoom into the waveform and get a more precise view. 3. Check the Beatmarker at the beginning of the track. → In this example, you can see the Beatmarker isn't aligned with the very beginning of the waveform. As a result, the track will not sync with others. In the following section you will learn how to fix a misaligned Beatgrid manually.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Working with Beatgrids 3.12.2 Correcting a Beatgrid Manually If it a track is not correctly aligned to the beat, use Beatgrid mode to fix it. The following section will explain the required steps. Enabling the Beatgrid Mode To enable the Beatgrid mode: 1. Press the EDIT button. The Beatgrid mode opens in the display. A four beat loop at the current playback position is displayed. 2. Press the Deck's PLAY button to trigger playback of the track.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Working with Beatgrids Beatgrid Interactions While the track is playing with Beatgrid Mode enabled: ► Rotate Performance knob 1 (OFFSET) to shift the entire waveform underneath the Beatgrid. Align the first Beatmarker with the first peak in the loop's waveform. ► Rotate Performance knob 2 (BPM) to correct the detected BPM value in coarse steps.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Working with Beatgrids ► Rotate Performance knob 3 (FINE) to fine-adjust the BPM value. ► Rotate Performance knob 4 (SCAN) to scroll through the track. Check if the Beatgrid stays aligned over the course of the track. Beatgrid Interactions While the track is playing with Beatgrid Mode enabled: ► Press the Performance Mode buttons to select the desired parameter OFFSET, BPM, FINE, or SCAN in the Footer.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Working with Beatgrids ► When BPM is selected rotate the LOOP encoder to correct the detected BPM value in coarse steps. Try to align the second, third and fourth beat (in most cases indicated by the biggest peaks in the waveform) with the second, third and fourth Beatmarker. ► When FINE is selected rotate the LOOP encoder to correct the detected BPM value in fine increments (.01 BPM). ► When SCAN is selected rotate the LOOP encoder to scroll through the track.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Working with Beatgrids Position-aware Beatgrid Tempo Adjustment Performance knobs 3 and 4 (BPM) are scaled based on the viewing position of Beatgrid mode so that adjustments made far away from the Beatmarker don’t result in abrupt changes to the waveform position. For example, if you are near the Beatmarker at the start of a track and change the tempo of the Beatgrid, you will see the waveform move under the Beatgrid by a particular amount.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Working with Beatgrids ► Press Display Button 3 (TAP) four times in sync with the playback. → The tempo is calculated and the Beatgrid adapts to the tempo. Tick (Audible Beatgrid) The Tick works like a metronome, giving you an audible pulse for every beat. Align the Tick and the beats in your track for perfect sync. You can only hear the Tick on the CUE (headphones), not the MAIN (audience).
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Working with Beatgrids ► Press Display Button 2 to enable Tick. → The beat tick will then be audible in your headphones when cued. Reset your edits If your edits do not produce the desired result, you can undo your edits: ► Press Display Button 4 (RST). → This will reset your edits to the auto-detected values.
Using Your S8—Getting Advanced Working with Beatgrids Lock the Beatgrid Once the Beatgrid is correctly aligned with the beat throughout the whole track: ► Press Display Button 1 (LOCK). → All buttons in the Beatgrid panel are deactivated. The stored tempo (BPM) is locked and cannot be changed until you unlock it by clicking LOCK again. All tracks with a locked Beatgrid will show a small Lock Icon within the Browser.
Hardware Reference Overview of the Controller 4 Hardware Reference This chapter details the interface elements on your S8 and explains how they interact with the TRAKTOR software. This includes an overview of the main areas of the user interface, as well as a full reference for every button, knob, fader, and the color displays. 4.1 Overview of the Controller This section provides you with an overview of the different areas of the controller's user interface.
Hardware Reference Overview of the Controller Sections on S8's Top side The top panel of the TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 is divided into three main areas: (1) Decks: The Decks are the place where tracks, Stem Files, and Samples are played back. For more information on the Decks and it’s elements refer to section ↑4.2, The Deck. (2) FX Units: Adding effects to playing audio can tremendously expand the sonic possibilities of your mix. For that purpose, TRAKTOR provides you with a great selection of high-quality FX.
Hardware Reference The Deck (3) Mixer: The mixer receives the audio signals coming from the Decks. As any DJ mixer, the Mixer’s purpose basically is to adjust the relative level of each channel, to control the channels’ frequency content, possibly feeding them into the FX Units before sending the overall result to the Main section and in the end, to generate the mix that is sent to your audience. For more information on the mixer and on it’s elements, refer to section ↑4.4, The Mixer. 4.
Hardware Reference The Deck Interface elements on the Left Deck (1) DECK button: The DECK Button allows you to switch the focus (and controls) between the primary and secondary Decks in a Deck section. For more information, refer to section ↑4.2.1, DECK Button. (2) FLUX button: The FLUX button enables Flux Mode for the focused Deck. For more information, refer to section ↑4.2.2, FLUX Button.
Hardware Reference The Deck (3) Mode Select Buttons: The Deck can operate in several modes which can be easily enabled by the Mode Select Buttons. For more information, refer to section ↑4.2.3, Mode Select Buttons. (4) Loop encoder: Primarily, the Loop encoder is dedicated to looping functions but it also for determining values in other preferences. For more information, refer to section ↑4.2.4, Loop Encoder. (5) EDIT button: The EDIT button enters Beat Grid mode for re-aligning Beat Grids of tracks.
Hardware Reference The Deck 4.2.1 DECK Button The DECK button allows you to switch the focus (and controls) between the primary and secondary Decks in a Deck section. DECK Button The DECK button lights blue when a primary Deck (A or B) is focused and white when the secondary Deck (C or D) is focused. 4.2.2 FLUX Button The S8's FLUX button enables Flux Mode for the focused Deck.
Hardware Reference The Deck Mode Select Buttons On any Deck, next to the eight pads, S8 features the four Mode Select buttons HOTCUE, FREEZE, and REMIX. Depending on which of the three modes is active the pads’ functionality varies as explained in this section. 4.2.3.1 HOTCUE Button The HOTCUE button activates HOTCUE mode. While in HOTCUE mode, the pads store and trigger HOTCUE markers in a track. On Decks A and B the button lits blue whereas on Decks C and D it lits white.
Hardware Reference The Deck LOOP Button While in LOOP mode, the first row of pads turns green, and the second row turns orange. Pads in Loop Mode Looping ▪ The first row of pads (green) allow you to loop a part of a track. By default the pads are assigned common loop sizes1/8 of a beat, 1/4 of a beat, 1/2 of a beat, 1 beat. You can change the loop sizes in TRAKTOR's S8 Preferences: Preferences>Traktor Kontrol S8>Loop Mode Sizes > Loop For more information, see the TRAKTOR manual.
Hardware Reference The Deck Beatjumping The second row of pads (orange) allow you to jump backward and forward in a track in predefined steps, in sync with the track's tempo. By default, the step sizes are: ▪ Jump back 1 loop size (set per Deck). ▪ Jump back 1 beat. ▪ Jump forward 1 beat. ▪ Jump forward 1 loop size (set per Deck). Beatjump sizes can be changed in TRAKTOR's software preferences: Preferences>TRAKTOR KONTROL S8>Loop Mode Sizes>Beatjump.
Hardware Reference The Deck Freeze Mode Overlay ► Adjust the size of the Freeze Slices by pressing and holding the FREEZE button and then turning the Loop encoder. The waveform in the display adjusts its zoom level accordingly. You can vary Freeze Slice sizes between 1/4 of a beat and 4 beats.
Hardware Reference The Deck Slicer Mode The Slicer mode extends the Freeze mode's functionality. A press on the LOOP button while in Freeze mode the playback behavior of the pads changes: Instead of playing from the slice start to the end of the entire track, pressing and holding a pad in Slicer mode will play back just the corresponding slice in a loop. A further press on the Loop encoder exits Freeze Slicer and playback continuous as normal.
Hardware Reference The Deck 4.2.4 Loop Encoder The Loop encoder is dedicated to looping functions on Track Decks, Stem Decks or Remix Decks. It has a press function to engage a loop, a rotate function to adjust the loop size, as well as a segmented LED ring indicating that a loop is engaged. When focus is on Deck A or B the LED ring color is blue. When focus is on Deck C or D the LED ring color is white. Loop Encoder You cannot permanently engage a loop when Flux mode is active.
Hardware Reference The Deck In most cases (through its Analyze function), TRAKTOR recognizes a track's BPM precisely and sets the Beat Grid. Some tracks, however, need manual correction (e.g. a track with a complex rhythm or with uneven timing, coming from a tape machine or warped LP), and the S8 provides you with the controls to do this. For more information on using Beat Grid mode refer to section ↑3.12, Working with Beatgrids. Beat Grid editing only applies to Track Decks and Stem Decks.
Hardware Reference The Deck Display Area and Controls (1) BACK Button: The BACK button lets you navigate back up a level in the Browser. For more information, refer to section ↑4.2.7.1, BACK Button. (2) BROWSE Encoder: The BROWSE encoder opens the Browser on a Deck’s display and let you scroll through lists and load tracks. For more information, refer to section ↑4.2.7.2, BROWSE Encoder.
Hardware Reference The Deck (5) Display: By means of the 4.3-inch color displays, you can use a lot of TRAKTOR's features without looking at your computer's display. For more information, refer to section ↑4.2.7.5, Display. (6) View Button: This button toggles between Single View and Split view, which gives you a very basic overview of the corresponding secondary Deck. For more information, refer to section ↑4.2.7.6, View Button.
Hardware Reference The Deck The BROWSE encoder can be pressed and rotated. Primarily it has following functionalities: ▪ Pressing the BROWSE encoder opens the Browser in the display. ▪ Turning the BROWSE encoder lets you scroll through the list items. Pressing it again enters a sub folder and again loads an item. Besides browsing, the BROWSE encoder can be used for adjusting parameters and selecting options in other menus and pop-ups. You can configure the Browse encoder to open the Browser on touch.
Hardware Reference The Deck 4.2.7.4 Display Buttons The Display buttons provide different functionality depending on current view. Display Buttons This is an overview of what these buttons do depending on what you see on the display. Track Deck View (1) Display Button 1: Opens the BPM pop-up. (2) Display Button 2: Opens the KEY window. (3) Display Button 3: Zooms into the waveform. (4) Display Button 4: Zooms out of the waveform. Stem Deck View (1) Display Button 1: Opens the BPM pop-up.
Hardware Reference The Deck (4) Display Button 4: Zooms out of the waveform. Secondary function: When in Full Track view and holding SHIFT and pressing Display button 4 will show Stem view. Remix Deck View (1) Display Button 1: Opens the BPM pop-up. (2) Display Button 2: Opens the QUANTIZE pop-up. (3) Display Button 3: Scrolls up in the Sample Grid in steps of two. (4) Display Button 4: Scrolls down in the Sample Grid in steps of two.
Hardware Reference The Deck Track Deck and Stem Deck Track Deck or Stem Deck View The Track Deck or the Stem Deck view on S8 provides information about: (1) Artwork, Song title and Artist name. (2) Loop size: From 1/32 - 32 beats. (3) Playhead position: time played and time remaining. (4) Deck tempo in BPM. (5) Deck Focus: Deck A - D. (6) Sync state: If a Deck is assigned Tempo Master, MASTER is displayed underneath the BPM value. SYNC indicates that the Deck is synchronized to a Tempo Master.
Hardware Reference The Deck Remix Deck Remix Deck View The Remix Deck view on S8 provides information about: (1) Artwork graphic, Set title and Artist name. (2) Loop size: from 1/32 - 32 beats. (3) Quantize Value. (4) Deck tempo in BPM. (5) Deck Focus: Deck A - D. (6) Sync state: If a Deck is assigned Tempo Master, MASTER is displayed underneath the BPM value. SYNC indicates that the Deck is synchronized to a Tempo Master.
Hardware Reference The Deck (7) The absolute position on TRAKTOR's timeline measured in Bars.Beats.Phrases. Live Input Deck S8's rear panel allows you to connect microphones, turntables, or CD players. You can route these audio signals into the TRAKTOR software and mix them with your other Decks by setting a Deck to Live Input mode in the TRAKTOR software. In this mode, S8's display reads Live Input - Traktor Audio Passthru. S8's Transport Controls are disabled while a Deck runs as Live Input.
Hardware Reference The Deck 4.2.7.7 Performance Mode Button The Performance Mode buttons marked with left and right arrows let you cycle through the Performance modes FILTER, PITCH, FX SEND and, if enabled, MIDI. Left Performance Mode Button If you activate 4 FX Units in TRAKTOR's preferences, the Performance Mode buttons allow you to select FX Units 3 and 4. 4.2.
Hardware Reference The Deck If you set up TRAKTOR with 4 FX Units, the Performance knobs and buttons in Deck A control FX Unit 3, those in Deck B control FX Unit 4. By default, they have no function for Track Decks. Performance Mode FX SEND When FX SEND is selected, the knobs control the amount of signal being sent to the assigned FX Unit(s), per Slot. The FX SEND amount is displayed right above the corresponding Performance knob.
Hardware Reference The Deck Slot Volume Faders Slot Volume Faders used on Remix Decks ▪ In case only one Deck per side is a Remix Deck, the faders control that Remix Deck's slot volume even if another Deck is focused. ▪ In case both the primary and secondary Deck are configured as Remix Decks, the Slot Volume faders control the focused Deck's slots. Slot Volume Faders used on Stem Decks ▪ In case only one Deck per side is a Stem Deck, the faders control that Stem Deck's Stem Part.
Hardware Reference The Deck Pads Here's an overview of what the pads do in each mode: HOTCUE mode During playback, pressing in an inactive pad sets a cue point. The pad lights up and the cue point is automatically assigned to this pad. Pressing that pad again let jump back the playhead to the cue point just defined. LOOP mode In Loop mode, pressing a pad instantly loops playback for the number of bars set as Loop Mode Size in Preferences > Traktor Kontrol S8 > Loop Mode Sizes > Loop.
Hardware Reference The Deck FREEZE and Slicer Mode In Freeze mode, TRAKTOR takes the playhead position, adds the number of bars set as loop size and splits this section of a track into eight equally sized slices. These are then mapped to the pads. Press a pad to start playback from that slice. While in Freeze mode, you can access Slicer mode. This is how Slicer mode is different from Freeze mode: ▪ In Slicer mode, holding a pad will infinitely loop the corresponding slice.
Hardware Reference The Deck ▪ Holding the track or Samples. ▪ Backspinning the track or the Samples. Above the Touch Strip, a number of LEDs provide visual feedback for the actions taken on the touch strip. Phase Meter For Track Decks, Stem Decks and Remix Decks, the LEDs work as a Beat Phase Meter, showing the focused Deck's beat phase offset from the MASTER Deck. This is the same meter as displayed in TRAKTOR's Deck.
Hardware Reference The Deck Inversed Tempo Bending Direction To achieve this, uncheck the Invert option in: Preferences> Traktor Kontrol S8>Touchstrip>Bend Sensitivity. Sensitivity S8 comes with a Sensitivity setting which should accommodate most users in most situations. You might, however, find that the Touch Strip doesn't react immediate enough to your input or just the opposite, it may recognize input where there was none intended.
Hardware Reference The Deck PLAY Button The PLAY button starts/stops the playback of a focused Deck. When playback is active the button lits green brightly. When playback is stopped it is dim. PLAY Button CUE Button The CUE button is tied to the Hot Cue points workflow in TRAKTOR. When the button is pressed it lits blue brightly. When it is released it is dim. CUE Button The CUE button functions as follows: ▪ If a Deck is playing, pressing CUE let you jump to the Floating Cue Point and stop playback.
Hardware Reference The FX Unit While playing, pressing SHIFT + SYNC sets the Deck as the Tempo Master. The Deck's tempo becomes the tempo reference for all other synced Decks and FX. S8's display shows MASTER in the Deck header of the Master Deck. The SYNC button takes on different states to provide visual feedback: ▪ If the Deck is BPM-synced and in phase with the Tempo Master, the button is bright green. ▪ If the Deck is BPM-synced but out of phase with the Tempo Master, the button is bright red.
Hardware Reference The FX Unit FX Units 1 and 2 FX Units allow you to creatively process a track, ranging anywhere from just adding reverb for a build-up to completely messing up a beat with stutter effects. For that purpose, the TRAKTOR software offers a great selection of high-quality FX. These can easily be configured from S8 and be controlled utilizing the FX Unit controls. The Left FX Unit By default, FX Units 1 and 2 are always active.
Hardware Reference The FX Unit The following table gives a detailed overview of the parameters controlled by FX buttons and FX knobs and it provides links referring to sections with further information. Name Function in Single Mode Function in Group mode FX Button 1 Activate/deactivate the entire FX Unit. FX Button 2 Reset all FX parameters to their default value. FX Button 3 Depends on the selected effect. Activate/deactivate FX slot 2. FX Button 4 Depends on the selected effect.
Hardware Reference The FX Unit FX SELECT Button The FX Settings stay open until the FX SELECT button is pressed again. When disengaged, the FX SELECT button is dim. FX Settings of FX Unit 1 The options in these FX Settings determine how you will use the FX Unit. 4.3.2 FX Unit Assignment In order to route a Deck's signal to an FX Unit, press the corresponding FX Assign button in the mixer channel.
Hardware Reference The FX Unit 4.3.3 Additional FX Unit 3 and 4 By default, TRAKTOR is set up with two FX Units. In order to use all four of TRAKTOR'S FX Units, you need to change the following setting: ► In TRAKTOR's Preferences, select Effects>FX Unit Routing>4 FX Units. TRAKTOR's FX Unit Routing Preferences If you activate 4 FX Units, S8's Performance controls are assigned to FX Units 3 and 4. They work in a fashion very similar to the dedicated controls in FX Units 1 and 2.
Hardware Reference The Mixer (1) FX Units 1 and 2 are available in any configuration. (2) FX Units 3 and 4 are available once the 4 FX Units option is activated. They offer the same features as units 1 and 2 by means of the Performance controls. Assigning FX Units 3 and 4 To route a channel to FX Unit 3 or 4: ► Press SHIFT button + an FX assign button. The left FX assign button assigns to FX Unit 3, the right button to FX Unit 4.
Hardware Reference The Mixer S8's Mixer (1) Mixer channels A, B, C, and D: Each channel receives its input signal from TRAKTOR's corresponding virtual Deck or, alternatively, from an external source (e.g. turntables, CD players, or a microphone) via the inputs on S8‘s rear panel. Each channel has dedicated controls such as the channel fader to smoothly fade into and out of the mix. For more information, refer to section ↑4.4.1, Mixer Channel.
Hardware Reference The Mixer (2) Mixer Main Section: The Mixer channels feed into the Mixer Main section which routes the signal to MAIN, and BOOTH outputs. For more information, refer to section ↑4.4.2, Mixer Main Section. S8's mixer comes with its own audio processor, which allows it to be used as a standalone mixer with 3-band EQ and HP/LP Filter per Channel. The Decks and FX Units, on the other hand, are tied to TRAKTOR software features and don't work in stand-alone operation. 4.4.
Hardware Reference The Mixer Mixer Channel Details From top to bottom, a mixer channel consists of the following controls: (1) GAIN knob: The GAIN knob controls the level directly after the channel input so you can adjust the relative levels between Decks. For more information, refer to section ↑4.4.1.1, GAIN Knob. (2) TRAKTOR button: The TRAKTOR button switches between TRAKTOR mode and Direct Thru mode per channel. For more information, refer to section ↑4.4.1.2, TRAKTOR Button.
Hardware Reference The Mixer (3) FX Assign buttons: The FX Assign buttons assign the channel to the FX Units. For more information, refer to section ↑4.4.1.3, FX Assign Buttons. (4) Input level meter: Each channel has a dedicated Input level meter that displays the signal level before the channel fader. For more information, refer to section ↑4.4.1.6, Channel Meter. (5) EQ (HI, MID, LOW) knobs: These knobs control the frequency balance. This works in both TRAKTOR mode and Direct Thru mode.
Hardware Reference The Mixer 4.4.1.2 TRAKTOR Button The TRAKTOR switch a channel between TRAKTOR mode and Direct Thru mode. TRAKTOR Button Direct Thru mode allows you to use S8 as a stand-alone 4 channel mixer to mix turntables, CDPlayers and other sources, apply EQ and Filter to each channel and route them to the outputs.
Hardware Reference The Mixer These assignments aren't mutually exclusive, so you can send signal to either one or both FX Units at the same time. If you activate both FX assign buttons, your track will first run through FX1, then FX2. TRAKTOR's FX only work if a channel is set to TRAKTOR mode. If you need to run an external device through TRAKTOR's FX, set it to TRAKTOR mode and choose the Live Input Deck flavor. Assigning FX Units 3 and 4 TRAKTOR supports up to 4 FX Units.
Hardware Reference The Mixer EQ knobs At the center position, the knobs have a detent, marking the position where the EQ doesn't change the frequency balance. S8's internal EQ sounds identical to the Z ISO which is the default in the TRAKTOR software. TRAKTOR provides you with various types of EQ, each of them with its own “personality.” You can choose the EQ type in Preferences > Mixer > EQ Selection. 4.4.1.
Hardware Reference The Mixer Channel Fader A channel's fader setting doesn't affect its volume in the CUE - use the GAIN knob to balance its relative level and then pull the faders up to fade in. 4.4.1.6 Channel Meter Channel Meter The channel meter gives visual feedback to set up the optimal signal level. If your source is a TRAKTOR Deck, the level can be adjusted with the GAIN knob.
Hardware Reference The Mixer If you connect external turntables or CD Players, use their volume knobs to set the correct channel level. If S8's input starts clipping, lowering GAIN will make the channel quieter, but it won't resolve clipping at the input. Increase level so that you get a steady movement of the blue segments and so that the loudest passages of your track just barely push the level meter into the orange range. Don't worry, the MAIN output has massive reserves to drive the P.A.
Hardware Reference The Mixer CUE Button The channel fader doesn't affect the channel volume in the CUE. Keep it down until you are ready to fade the channel into the MAIN mix. For a practical tutorial on using headphone controls in the mix, please refer to section ↑2.5.3, Using Headphones to Prepare the Mix. 4.4.2 Mixer Main Section This chapter gives a brief overview of the Mixer's Main section first and then an explanation of every control element.
Hardware Reference The Mixer Mixer Main Section Elements (1) Crossfader: The Crossfader controls the mix between the channel(s) assigned to its left and right side. For more information, refer to section ↑4.4.2.1, Crossfader. (2) CUE VOL knob: The CUE VOL knob controls the headphone level for both headphone connectors on the front panel. For more information, refer to section ↑4.4.2.2, CUE VOL Knob.
Hardware Reference The Mixer (4) TEMPO encoder: The TEMPO encoder controls the global tempo. For more information, refer to section ↑4.4.2.4, TEMPO Encoder. (5) BOOTH knob: The BOOTH knob controls overall volume of the signal being sent to the BOOTH OUT. For more information, refer to section ↑4.4.2.5, BOOTH Knob. (6) GLOBAL section: The GLOBAL section allows you to enable and disable TRAKTOR's Snap and Quantize functions. For more information, refer to section ↑4.4.2.6, GLOBAL Section.
Hardware Reference The Mixer ▪ Smooth transitions and mixing tracks: Turn XF CURVE all the way to the left. The cross-fading works gradually, which means that with the Crossfader in its center position, the left and right sides are mixed equally. ▪ Scratching and Effects: Turn XF CURVE all the way to the right. The Crossfader works almost like a switch at its left and right ends. 4.4.2.2 CUE VOL Knob The CUE VOL knob adjusts the volume of the headphone output.
Hardware Reference The Mixer Pre-view a new track in your CUE and raise the channel's GAIN until the mix of both tracks sounds good when the CUE MIX is in center position. That way, when you actually mix it in to the MAIN, you can be certain that it blends well. 4.4.2.4 TEMPO Encoder The central TEMPO knob controls TRAKTOR's Tempo Master in BPM. All synced Decks automatically follow tempo changes. TEMPO Encoder The TEMPO encoder changes tempo in increments of .01 BPM.
Hardware Reference The Mixer 2. Turn the BROWSE knob to adjust MASTER tempo in .01 BPM increments. To adjust in full BPM steps, hold SHIFT while turning the knob. → The Track/Remix content playback speed is adjusted. If you need to manually sync a Deck to an external source like a turntable, use the tempo adjustment in combination with the Deck's touch strip as described in section ↑3.1, Using Touch Strip.
Hardware Reference The Mixer 4.4.2.5 BOOTH Knob The BOOTH knob allows you to send the MAIN signal to a second set of loudspeakers via the BOOTH OUT connectors and control their volume independently of the volume set by the VOLUME knob. One common use is to have your own monitor speakers on stage, so you can control their volume independently from the venue's P.A. system.
Hardware Reference The Mixer Quantize Button The Quantize Button, labeled Q, allows you to activate/deactivate Quantize mode. With Quantize active, all skip actions within a track (Hotcues, Beatjumps, etc.) are beat-accurate. If you trigger a jump before a beat, TRAKTOR delays the action so that the effect occurs on the beat. This way, your track always stays in sync, allowing a perfect real-time remixing. 4.4.2.
Hardware Reference The Mixer → If the assignment is successful, the newly assigned channel's TRAKTOR button lights bright green. For more information on connecting a microphone and setting up your S8 accordingly, refer to section ↑5.6, Connecting Microphones. 4.4.2.8 MAIN Knob The MAIN knob controls the overall output level of your mix going to S8's MAIN OUTs. MAIN Knob and MAIN Level meters The LED meters to the left and right show the output level.
Hardware Reference The Rear Panel Rear Panel Sections (1) MAIN OUT section: The MAIN OUT section connects to active Speakers or a main P.A.. For more information on the connectors, refer to section ↑4.5.1, MAIN OUT Section. (2) BOOTH OUT section: The BOOTH OUT connects to a second P.A., typically for use on stage. For more information on the connectrors, refer to section ↑4.5.2, BOOTH OUT Section. (3) INPUT CHANNELS A-D: The INPUT CHANNEL’s A-D connect to e.g. CD-Players or turntables.
Hardware Reference The Rear Panel 4.5.1 MAIN OUT Section MAIN OUT Section The MAIN OUT section offers two sets of output sockets: (1) Unbalanced RCA: connect the RCA outputs to practice with your home stereo or to another DJ mixer or recording device. (2) Balanced XLR: the balanced XLR outputs allow you to connect professional-grade cables which are much more resistant to electrical interferences than unbalanced cables, especially over longer distances.
Hardware Reference The Rear Panel 4.5.3 External INPUT Section RCA INPUT Section The INPUT Channel A-D connectors allow you to integrate your turntables, CD players, or any external audio source you want to use during your performance. This section contains: (1) LINE/PHONO switch: depending on the device you connect, set this switch to LN or PH. Turntables usually require PH, all line level audio sources LN.
Hardware Reference The Rear Panel 4.5.4 MIC Input Section MIC Input Section The MIC section provides two microphone inputs: (1) MIC 2 input (balanced TRS): connect your microphone to this input via either XLR or balanced 6.3mm (or 1/4-inch) connector. (2) MIC 1 input (unbalanced): connect your microphone here via a standard 6.3mm (or 1/4-inch) connector. For more information on connecting a microphone and setting up your S8 accordingly, refer to section ↑5.6, Connecting Microphones. 4.5.
Hardware Reference The Rear Panel Use a Kensington-slot compatible lock to lock your S8 to a heavy object like a table to prevent theft. 4.5.6 MIDI Connectors MIDI Connectors Connect external MIDI devices you want to integrate into your TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 setup. 4.5.7 USB Connector USB Connector Connect S8 to your computer here, using the included USB cable. The connection is USB 2, but is compatible to USB 3-equipped computers.
Hardware Reference The Rear Panel 4.5.8 POWER Section POWER Section In the POWER section, you make the connection to the power supply and to your computer: (1) Power Supply connector (15V - 2.66 A): connect the included power supply. (2) ON/OFF switch: press this switch to turn your device on or off. Do not use the TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 with a power supply other than the one included in delivery.
Hardware Reference The Front Panel S8's Front Panel (1) Crossfader Assign switches: A Crossfader Assign switch assigns a channel to either side of the Crossfader. For more information, refer to section ↑4.6.1, Crossfader Assign Switches. (2) Crossfader Curve knob: The Crossfader Curve knob adjusts the cross-fading behavior. For more information, refer to section ↑4.6.2, Crossfader Curve Knob. (3) PHONES Section: In the PHONES section you can connect your headphones.
Hardware Reference The Front Panel 4.6.2 Crossfader Curve Knob XF CURVE Knob This knob changes the crossfader curve. Different scenarios require different curves: Smooth transitions and mixing tracks: Turn XF CURVE all the way to the left. The cross-fading works gradually, which means that with the Crossfader in its center position, the left and right sides are mixed equally. Scratching and Effects: Turn XF CURVE all the way to the right.
Hardware Reference The Deck The PHONES section offers two headphones connectors. You can audition tracks via the CUE, as well as listen to the MAIN mix. (1) Small Headphone Jack: Connect 3.5 mm (1/8-inch) stereo headphone plugs. (2) Large Headphone Jack: Connect 6.3 mm (1/4-inch) stereo headphone plugs. Adjust the Headphone levels with the CUE VOL knob on S8's top panel. 4.
Hardware Reference The Deck Interface elements on the Left Deck (1) DECK button: The DECK Button allows you to switch the focus (and controls) between the primary and secondary Decks in a Deck section. For more information, refer to section ↑4.2.1, DECK Button. (2) FLUX button: The FLUX button enables Flux Mode for the focused Deck. For more information, refer to section ↑4.7.2, FLUX Button.
Hardware Reference The Deck (3) Mode Select Buttons: The Deck can operate in several modes which can be easily enabled by the Mode Select Buttons. For more information, refer to section ↑4.2.3, Mode Select Buttons. (4) Loop encoder: Primarily, the Loop encoder is dedicated to looping functions but it also for determining values in other preferences. For more information, refer to section ↑4.2.4, Loop Encoder. (5) EDIT button: The EDIT button enters Beat Grid mode for re-aligning Beat Grids of tracks.
Hardware Reference The Deck 4.7.1 DECK Button The DECK button allows you to switch the focus (and controls) between the primary and secondary Decks in a Deck section. DECK Button The DECK button lights blue when a primary Deck (A or B) is focused and white when the secondary Deck (C or D) is focused. 4.7.2 FLUX Button The S8's FLUX button enables Flux Mode for the focused Deck.
Hardware Reference The Deck CAPTURE Button By holding the CAPTURE button and touching the BROWSE encoder the display shows the current capture source. The rotation of the BROWSE encoder selects another capture source. The capture size is determined by the source Deck's loop size setting. 4.7.4 Display Area and Controls On the S8's graphic color displays, some functionality is dynamically shown or hidden by means of the Display buttons adjacent to the display.
Hardware Reference The Deck Display Area and Controls (1) BACK Button: The BACK button lets you navigate back up a level in the Browser. For more information, refer to section ↑4.7.4.1, BACK Button. (2) BROWSE Encoder: The BROWSE encoder opens the Browser on a Deck’s display and let you scroll through lists and load tracks. For more information, refer to section ↑4.7.4.2, BROWSE Encoder.
Hardware Reference The Deck (5) Display: By means of the 4.3-inch color displays, you can use a lot of TRAKTOR's features without looking at your computer's display. For more information, refer to section ↑4.7.4.5, Display. (6) View Button: This button toggles between Single View and Split view, which gives you a very basic overview of the corresponding secondary Deck. For more information, refer to section ↑4.7.4.6, View Button.
Hardware Reference The Deck The BROWSE encoder can be pressed and rotated. Primarily it has following functionalities: ▪ Pressing the BROWSE encoder opens the Browser in the display. ▪ Turning the BROWSE encoder lets you scroll through the list items. Pressing it again enters a sub folder and again loads an item. Besides browsing, the BROWSE encoder can be used for adjusting parameters and selecting options in other menus and pop-ups. You can configure the Browse encoder to open the Browser on touch.
Hardware Reference The Deck 4.7.4.4 Display Buttons The Display buttons provide different functionality depending on current view. Display Buttons This is an overview of what these buttons do depending on what you see on the display. Track Deck View (1) Display Button 1: Opens the BPM pop-up. (2) Display Button 2: Opens the KEY window. (3) Display Button 3: Zooms into the waveform. (4) Display Button 4: Zooms out of the waveform. Stem Deck View (1) Display Button 1: Opens the BPM pop-up.
Hardware Reference The Deck (4) Display Button 4: Zooms out of the waveform. Secondary function: When in Full Track view and holding SHIFT and pressing Display button 4 will show Stem view. Remix Deck View (1) Display Button 1: Opens the BPM pop-up. (2) Display Button 2: Opens the QUANTIZE pop-up. (3) Display Button 3: Scrolls up in the Sample Grid in steps of two. (4) Display Button 4: Scrolls down in the Sample Grid in steps of two.
Hardware Reference The Deck Track Deck and Stem Deck Track Deck or Stem Deck View The Track Deck or the Stem Deck view on S8 provides information about: (1) Artwork, Song title and Artist name. (2) Loop size: From 1/32 - 32 beats. (3) Playhead position: time played and time remaining. (4) Deck tempo in BPM. (5) Deck Focus: Deck A - D. (6) Sync state: If a Deck is assigned Tempo Master, MASTER is displayed underneath the BPM value. SYNC indicates that the Deck is synchronized to a Tempo Master.
Hardware Reference The Deck Remix Deck Remix Deck View The Remix Deck view on S8 provides information about: (1) Artwork graphic, Set title and Artist name. (2) Loop size: from 1/32 - 32 beats. (3) Quantize Value. (4) Deck tempo in BPM. (5) Deck Focus: Deck A - D. (6) Sync state: If a Deck is assigned Tempo Master, MASTER is displayed underneath the BPM value. SYNC indicates that the Deck is synchronized to a Tempo Master.
Hardware Reference The Deck (7) The absolute position on TRAKTOR's timeline measured in Bars.Beats.Phrases. Live Input Deck S8's rear panel allows you to connect microphones, turntables, or CD players. You can route these audio signals into the TRAKTOR software and mix them with your other Decks by setting a Deck to Live Input mode in the TRAKTOR software. In this mode, S8's display reads Live Input - Traktor Audio Passthru. S8's Transport Controls are disabled while a Deck runs as Live Input.
Hardware Reference The Deck 4.7.4.7 Performance Mode Button The Performance Mode buttons marked with left and right arrows let you cycle through the Performance modes FILTER, PITCH, FX SEND and, if enabled, MIDI. Left Performance Mode Button If you activate 4 FX Units in TRAKTOR's preferences, the Performance Mode buttons allow you to select FX Units 3 and 4. 4.7.
Hardware Reference The Deck If you set up TRAKTOR with 4 FX Units, the Performance knobs and buttons in Deck A control FX Unit 3, those in Deck B control FX Unit 4. By default, they have no function for Track Decks. Performance Mode FX SEND When FX SEND is selected, the knobs control the amount of signal being sent to the assigned FX Unit(s), per Slot. The FX SEND amount is displayed right above the corresponding Performance knob.
Hardware Reference The Deck Slot Volume Faders Slot Volume Faders used on Remix Decks ▪ In case only one Deck per side is a Remix Deck, the faders control that Remix Deck's slot volume even if another Deck is focused. ▪ In case both the primary and secondary Deck are configured as Remix Decks, the Slot Volume faders control the focused Deck's slots. Slot Volume Faders used on Stem Decks ▪ In case only one Deck per side is a Stem Deck, the faders control that Stem Deck's Stem Part.
Hardware Reference The Deck Pads Here's an overview of what the pads do in each mode: HOTCUE mode During playback, pressing in an inactive pad sets a cue point. The pad lights up and the cue point is automatically assigned to this pad. Pressing that pad again let jump back the playhead to the cue point just defined. LOOP mode In Loop mode, pressing a pad instantly loops playback for the number of bars set as Loop Mode Size in Preferences > Traktor Kontrol S8 > Loop Mode Sizes > Loop.
Hardware Reference The Deck FREEZE and Slicer Mode In Freeze mode, TRAKTOR takes the playhead position, adds the number of bars set as loop size and splits this section of a track into eight equally sized slices. These are then mapped to the pads. Press a pad to start playback from that slice. While in Freeze mode, you can access Slicer mode. This is how Slicer mode is different from Freeze mode: ▪ In Slicer mode, holding a pad will infinitely loop the corresponding slice.
Hardware Reference The Deck ▪ Holding the track or Samples. ▪ Backspinning the track or the Samples. Above the Touch Strip, a number of LEDs provide visual feedback for the actions taken on the touch strip. Phase Meter For Track Decks, Stem Decks and Remix Decks, the LEDs work as a Beat Phase Meter, showing the focused Deck's beat phase offset from the MASTER Deck. This is the same meter as displayed in TRAKTOR's Deck.
Hardware Reference The Deck Inversed Tempo Bending Direction To achieve this, uncheck the Invert option in: Preferences> Traktor Kontrol S8>Touchstrip>Bend Sensitivity. Sensitivity S8 comes with a Sensitivity setting which should accommodate most users in most situations. You might, however, find that the Touch Strip doesn't react immediate enough to your input or just the opposite, it may recognize input where there was none intended.
Hardware Reference The Deck PLAY Button The PLAY button starts/stops the playback of a focused Deck. When playback is active the button lits green brightly. When playback is stopped it is dim. PLAY Button CUE Button The CUE button is tied to the Hot Cue points workflow in TRAKTOR. When the button is pressed it lits blue brightly. When it is released it is dim. CUE Button The CUE button functions as follows: ▪ If a Deck is playing, pressing CUE let you jump to the Floating Cue Point and stop playback.
Hardware Reference The Deck While playing, pressing SHIFT + SYNC sets the Deck as the Tempo Master. The Deck's tempo becomes the tempo reference for all other synced Decks and FX. S8's display shows MASTER in the Deck header of the Master Deck. The SYNC button takes on different states to provide visual feedback: ▪ If the Deck is BPM-synced and in phase with the Tempo Master, the button is bright green. ▪ If the Deck is BPM-synced but out of phase with the Tempo Master, the button is bright red.
Common Setups Connecting Turntables 5 Common Setups In addition to being a fully integrated TRAKTOR controller and audio interface, S8 can work in a mixed setup with turntables or CD players and can even serve as a pure 4-channel DJ mixer without any connection to TRAKTOR. This chapter provides setup information for these different scenarios as well as how to connect microphones.
Common Setups Connecting Turntables 1. Connect your turntables to any of the Line/Phono INPUTS A – D on the rear panel of the S8 using a stereo RCA cable.
Common Setups Connecting Turntables 2. Attach the ground wires of your turntables to the ground post GND on the rear panel of the S8. 3. Set the respective channel's LINE/PHONO switch to PH. → The turntables are ready for use. The channel meter displays the input level independently of the channel fader setting. Ideally, always set input level with the channel fader all the way down.
Common Setups Connecting CD Players If you want to use S8 as stand-alone DJ mixer, refer to section ↑5.5, Using Your S8 as a Stand-alone DJ Mixer. If you want to use your turntables as Timecode control, refer to section ↑5.4, Integrating External Sources as TIMECODE Controls. 5.2 Connecting CD Players To include CD players in your TRAKTOR set: 1. Connect your CD players to any of the Line/Phono INPUTS A – D on the rear panel of the S8 using a stereo RCA cable.
Common Setups Integrating External Audio Sources in your TRAKTOR Workflow 2. Set the respective channel's LINE/PHONO switch to LN. → The CD players are ready for use. The channel meter displays the input level independently of the channel fader setting. Ideally, always set input level with the channel fader all the way down. If you want to use S8 as a stand-alone DJ mixer, refer to section ↑5.5, Using Your S8 as a Stand-alone DJ Mixer.
Common Setups Integrating External Sources as TIMECODE Controls For a detailed description of how to work with TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO 2, please refer to chapter 12 in the TRAKTOR Manual. 5.4.1 Final Preparations with Turntables To complete your TRAKTOR SCRATCH setup with the S8: 1. Connect the S8's Power Supply to the Power socket. 2. Switch on the S8. 3. Switch on your amplification system or active speakers. 4. Start TRAKTOR on your computer. 5.
Common Setups Integrating External Sources as TIMECODE Controls 7. Select Scratch Control. On TRAKTOR's Decks, the CUE and CUP buttons are replaced with Absolute mode and Relative Mode buttons. 8. Put the TIMECODE Control Vinyls on your turntables. 9. Use the S8 to load tracks into the Decks you have just assigned to Scratch Control. 10. Start the turntables, and drop the needles on the TIMECODE Control Vinyl. → The calibration process is performed automatically. 5.4.
Common Setups Integrating External Sources as TIMECODE Controls 5. For the designated SCRATCH Decks, press the TRAKTOR buttons on the S8 to enable TRAKTOR mode. This is essential to engaging SCRATCH Control. 6. In the TRAKTOR software, click on the down arrow below the Deck letter to open the drop-down menu. 7. Select Scratch Control. On TRAKTOR's Decks the CUE and CUP buttons are replaced with Absolute mode and Relative Mode buttons. 8. Insert the Control CDs in your CD players.
Common Setups Integrating External Sources as TIMECODE Controls 9. Use the S8 to load tracks into the Decks you have just assigned to Scratch Control. 10. Trigger playback of the tracks using the CD players. → The calibration process is performed automatically when you trigger playback for the first time. 5.4.3 Successful Calibration TRAKTOR detects which Timecode medium you are using, verifies the signal quality, and if the signal quality is adequate it completes the calibration process.
Common Setups Integrating External Sources as TIMECODE Controls (1) The Scope offers a circular representation of the incoming Timecode signal. If the calibration is successful, there is a blue outer circle and an orange diagonal line. (2) The quality meter is on the right side. After a successful calibration, this is completely orange. (3) The stereo input level meter is on the bottom right. After a successful calibration, these two channels are about halfway up.
Common Setups Using Your S8 as a Stand-alone DJ Mixer 5.5 Using Your S8 as a Stand-alone DJ Mixer For using turntables or CD Players with S8 as a stand-alone DJ Mixer setup, follow the instructions given in this section: Prerequisites ▪ The S8 is not connected to your computer. Final preparations 1. Connect the S8's Power Supply to the Power socket. 2. Switch on the S8. 3. Switch on your amplification system or active speakers. 4. Assign the channels to a side of the Crossfader. 5.
Common Setups Connecting Microphones 5.6 Connecting Microphones Connecting a microphone allows you to expand the scope of your performance. You can talk to your audience or integrate a beat boxing routine, as well as process your vocals or that of a vocal artist with TRAKTOR's internal FX. For connecting microphones to the S8 and assigning them to channels, read the following section.
Common Setups Connecting Microphones ► Hold the MIC 1 button. → Channel A and B's TRAKTOR buttons light up dim green, indicating that the MIC is assignable to them. Channel D's button is off, indicating the channel which MIC 2 input is already assigned to. Channel C's TRAKTOR button lights up bright green, indicating the current assignment. 5.6.2 Assigning a Microphone to another Channel S8's two MIC Inputs can be freely assigned to any of the four channels.
Common Setups Connecting Microphones 1. Hold the MIC 1 button. Channel A and B's TRAKTOR buttons light up dim green, indicating that the MIC can be assigned to them. 2. Press channel A's TRAKTOR button. This button becomes bright green now. 3. Release the MIC 1 button. → You have now assigned the MIC 1 input to channel A. You cannot assign two MIC ins to the same channel.
Common Setups Connecting Microphones In Live Input mode, you can process your microphone signal with TRAKTOR's FX Units, allowing you to add performance effects. In Direct Thru mode, the microphone signal is not sent to the computer. Instead, it is mixed directly in S8's mixer, solving any latency issues you might have at the expense of not being able to add FX. In Direct Thru mode, TRAKTOR's FX Units don't have any effect on the signal, but the 3-band EQ and the Filter are still available. 5.6.
Preferences Pane in TRAKTOR 6 Preferences Pane in TRAKTOR Once configured via the Setup Wizard, a dedicated pane for S8 is added to TRAKTOR's Preferences window, which lets you configure the behavior of the touch controls, as well as overall LED brightness for the back-lit buttons and the Loop and Beatjump Sizes assigned to each Deck's pads.
Preferences Pane in TRAKTOR Restore Default 6.1 Restore Default This button recalls all factory default settings for the TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 and lets you choose its basic deck configuration via the Setup Wizard. 6.2 Touch Controls A number of controls are sensitive to touch. TRAKTOR lets you activate touch functions, which will save you the dedicated press of a button for a few features.
Preferences Pane in TRAKTOR Calibrate ▪ Bend Sensitivity: by default set to 50%; adjust the Tempo bend sensitivity and check in real time if the change accommodates you better. ▪ Scratch Sensitivity: by default set to 50%; adjust the Scratch sensitivity and check in real time if the change accommodates you better. ▪ Bend Invert: by default deactivated; swiping to the left slows playback down momentarily. If activated, swiping to the left nudges playback forward.
Preferences Pane in TRAKTOR LEDs ▪ Mixer Faders: for recalibrating the channel faders. ▪ Crossfader: for recalibrating the Crossfader. 6.5 LEDs The pad and button backlights on the S8 offer two distinct brightness levels to indicate On and Off states. Depending on your light conditions during a performance, it can be necessary to adjust these. On State Brightness: sets the brightness level for engaged buttons and pads. Dim State Percentage: sets the brightness level for inactive buttons and pads. 6.
Preferences Pane in TRAKTOR Enable MIDI Controls Enabling MIDI Controls To enable MIDI Controls for the S8: 1. In the TRAKTOR window click File, then Preferences to open the preferences window. 2. Navigate to the Traktor Kontrol S8 page. There, check the Enable MIDI controls preference in the MIDI Controls section. Preferences with MIDI Controls enabled.
Preferences Pane in TRAKTOR Enable MIDI Controls Assigning MIDI Messages To assign the MIDI message and MIDI channel to the various MIDI controls: 1. Select Controller Manager tab in the Preferences. 2. Click the Add... button and select Generic MIDI from the list to create a new Generic MIDI Device.
Preferences Pane in TRAKTOR Enable MIDI Controls 3. In the upper-right corner, select the MIDI port to use as the output for this Generic MIDI device. 4. Click the Add Out... button. 5. Navigate to Global > MIDI Controls >…. Here you can assign the MIDI message and MIDI channel to the various MIDI controls. You will find a list of Knobs, Faders, and Buttons.
Preferences Pane in TRAKTOR Enable MIDI Controls correspond to the left Deck side (assigned to Decks A and C), while the last 4 knobs, faders, and buttons correspond to the right Deck side (assigned to Decks B and D). 6. Select an entry to add it to the mapping. 7. Click the Device Mapping drop-down menu to show a list of 16 MIDI Channels. Hover your mouse over the desired MIDI output channel’s entry. A sub-menu holding message types CC, Note, and Pitch Bend will open.
Preferences Pane in TRAKTOR Enable MIDI Controls Pitch Bend message to this control, or you can hover your mouse over one of the other two menus to show a list of specific CC and Note numbers and names. You can then click one of these to map the control to the specified Note or CC. 8. Repeat the above two steps for each of the MIDI controls you want to map. 9. Close the Preferences by clicking Close.
Preferences Pane in TRAKTOR Enable MIDI Controls ► Press the Performance Mode buttons next to the display until the MIDI page appears. ► Touch a Performance knob to enlarge the MIDI pane displaying current parameters of the selected MIDI controls. The MIDI page will not appear if the above Enable MIDI controls preference is not turned on.
Preferences Pane in TRAKTOR Enable MIDI Controls When the MIDI mode is enabled on the S8, the Performance Knobs and Buttons will output the MIDI messages that you assigned in the Controller Manager. If you intend to assign the Slot Volume Faders to output MIDI messages, make sure neither of the Decks controlled by the S8 is a REMIX Deck. Otherwise the Slot Volume Faders will still control the Remix Slot volumes instead of outputting MIDI.
The S8 Audio Interface and Control Panel Settings on Mac OS X 7 The S8 Audio Interface and Control Panel Your TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 comes with an integrated high-end 24-bit/48 kHz audio interface. You can adjust the audio interface settings to your needs and computer performance. This section covers the setup on Windows and Mac OS X. 7.1 Settings on Mac OS X On Mac OS X, you can adjust the settings for the S8 audio interface from within each music application.
The S8 Audio Interface and Control Panel Settings on Windows: The Control Panel 7.2.1 Opening the Control Panel You can open the Control Panel in various ways: ► From within TRAKTOR: Go to Preferences > Audio Setup and click the Settings button, located at the right of the Latency slider and display: Opening the Control Panel from inside TRAKTOR's Preferences ► From your desktop: Go to Start > Programs > Native Instruments > TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 > TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 Control Panel.
The S8 Audio Interface and Control Panel Settings on Windows: The Control Panel Audio Settings pane in S8's Control Panel application Audio Processing Section This section provides settings for the analog-to-digital/digital-to-analog conversion done by your audio interface. Process Buffer: Lower this value for a quicker response to hardware interactions like playing a Remix Cell by pressing one of S8's pads.
The S8 Audio Interface and Control Panel Settings on Windows: The Control Panel Device Monitor Section This section displays information about the audio interface's processing status and your system's output latency. Processing State: The processing state monitor provides feedback on the current status of the device. There are three possible status messages: ▪ Idle: controller is connected, but no audio data is being streamed. ▪ Streaming: driver is working and processing audio data.
The S8 Audio Interface and Control Panel Settings on Windows: The Control Panel Diagnostics panel in S8's Control Panel application Drop-Out Detection Section This section provides data for troubleshooting: USB I/O Errors: Counts USB data transfer interruptions between your computer and S8. Buffer Underruns: Buffer underruns occur when your computer isn’t able to process an audio stream in time.
The S8 Audio Interface and Control Panel Settings on Windows: The Control Panel Connection Monitor Section This section provides USB connection information: Number of Clients: Displays the number of clients connected to the interface. Multiple ASIO applications are counted separately, WDM and WASAPI increase the number by one, no matter how many WDM/WASAPI applications play audio. USB Data Errors: Counts USB data errors.
The S8 Audio Interface and Control Panel Using the S8 Audio Interface with Other Music Applications 7.3 Using the S8 Audio Interface with Other Music Applications S8’s on-board audio interface can be used in any other music application installed on your computer. To do this, you need to configure your music applications accordingly. Most music applications offer a setting in their options or preferences allowing you to select the TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 as the audio interface.
The S8 Audio Interface and Control Panel Setting up S8 as your Default Audio Interface 2. In the panel that opens, click Sound. 3. On the Sound Effects tab, select TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 in the Play alerts and sound effects through menu. 4. Click the Output tab, and select TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 from the Select a device for sound output list. 5. Click the Input tab, and select TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 from the Select a device for sound input list. 6. Close the window to confirm your changes.
Troubleshooting - Getting Help Troubleshooting 8 Troubleshooting - Getting Help This chapter covers the most common issues. Most of what can go wrong when setting up and using TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 should be listed here along with some tried-and-tested ways to solve these issues. 8.1 Troubleshooting There are a few things you should check in case S8 doesn't work with your system. 8.1.1 TRAKTOR Won’t Start ▪ Check the system requirements for TRAKTOR KONTROL S8.
Troubleshooting - Getting Help Troubleshooting 8.1.2 TRAKTOR Crashes In case of a crash during operation, please contact the Native Instruments technical support team and send them your crash log. You will find the crashlog in the following folders: ▪ Windows: \My Documents\Native Instruments\Traktor 2\Crashlogs\ ▪ Mac OS X: YourUserFolder/Library/Logs/CrashReporter/ 8.1.3 TRAKTOR Has Performance Issues Please check if your computer is suited for handling real-time audio processing without dropouts.
Troubleshooting - Getting Help Troubleshooting ▪ Windows 7 tuning tips for audio processing: http://www.native-instruments.com/knowledge/questions/847/ ▪ Windows 8 tuning tips for audio processing: http://www.native-instruments.com/knowledge/questions/1395/ 8.1.4 Updates Whenever you encounter problems, it is recommended that you first download and install any available software updates in Service Center or on our website: http://www.native-instruments.
Troubleshooting - Getting Help Getting Help 8.2.2 Technical Support If no Knowledge Base entry matches your problem, or if the matching entry does not solve the problem, you can use the Online Support Form to contact the Technical Support team of Native Instruments. The Online Support Form will ask you to enter information about your hardware and software setup. This information is essential for our Support team to be able to provide you with quality assistance.
Troubleshooting - Getting Help Getting Help 8.2.4 User Forum In the Native Instruments User Forum, you can discuss product features directly with other users and with experts moderating the forum. Please be aware that the Technical Support team does not participate in the forum. If you’re encountering an issue that can’t be solved by other users, contact Native Instruments’ Technical Support team via the online support form as described above. Find the User Forum at: http://www.native-instruments.
Technical Specification 9 Technical Specification Input/output connectors A-D: Four pairs of RCA input connectors MIC 1: One 6.3 mm (1/4") TRS (balanced) microphone input connector MIC 2: One combo XLR jack or 6.3 mm (1/4") TRS (balanced) microphone connector BOOTH OUT: Two balanced 6.3 mm (1/4") TRS line out connectors MAIN OUT: Two balanced XLR outputs MAIN OUT: Two RCA outputs PHONES: One stereo 6.3 mm (1/4") headphone output PHONES: One stereo 3.
Technical Specification Line Inputs Full Scale Level +13 dBu DNR (a-weighted) 113 dBu THD+N 0.001% Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.1 dB) Cross talk @ 1kHz -116 dB Microphone Inputs Full Scale Level @ 1 kHz -7.2 dBu DNR (a-weighted) @ 1 kHz 104 dB THD+N @ 1 kHz 0.006% Frequency Response 20Hz - 20kHz (±0.6 dB) Phono Inputs Input impedance 47 kΩ Full Scale Level @ 1 kHz -23.8 dBu DNR (a-weighted) @ 1 kHz 84 dB THD+N @ 1 kHz 0.
Technical Specification Audio Outputs (D/A) Bit Resolution 24-bit Converter Cirrus Logic Line Outputs (XLR & 1/4'' Booth) Max Output Level +20 dBu DNR (a-weighted) 108 dB THD+N @ 1kHz 0.001% Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.2 dB) Crosstalk @ 1kHz -115 dB Line Outputs (RCA) Max Output Level +14 dBu DNR (a-weighted) 108 dBu THD+N @ 1kHz 0.001% Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.
Technical Specification Headphones Outputs Frequency response ±1 dB 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.2 dB) Crosstalk @ 1kHz -63 dB Power Supply ▪ Input: 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz, 1.5A ▪ Output: 15VDC, 2660mA Dimensions and Weight ▪ Depth: 38.7 cm ▪ Height: 6.6 cm ▪ Width: 58.
