Traktor Kontrol Z2 DJ-Mixer/Controller

Product Information

It’s important not to get swept away by the design aesthetic of the Z2, of course; there’s no point fawning over a mixer’s looks and allowing yourself (perhaps more aptly, myself) to get hypnotised without really looking at the nitty gritty. For instance, compared to the Pioneer DJM-T1 the Z2 is strikingly similar in many aspects. The basic layout is more or less the same, but on the T1 there’s a sense of things being squeezed in that just isn’t there with the Z2. To achieve the svelte feel of the Z2 Native Instruments have done a few things; the slimline tapering of the knobs creates the illusion of more space on the mixer, small but not cramped buttons for cue source and the like give an impression of spaciousness, and the tighter-than-tight integration with Traktor 2.6 has allowed NI to make better use of shift layers, colours, and their new built in macro effects to save on physical controls. Overall they’re a great sounding if often unsubtle bunch, and you’ll soon find your favourites for spicing up builds, breakdowns, mix ins/outs and so on. Also, if you’re looking to add a scratch system to your existing gear (ie replace your mixer with a Scratch-software enabled mixer so you can DJ with either records/CDs or music files from software), you may want to consider the biggest rival system to Traktor Scratch, namely Serato Scratch Live. Pro XLR outputs, a booth output and 24-bit sound quality mean your sets hit with maximum impact. Precision knobs, buttons, multi-colored cue point controls and Innofaders™ give you ultra-accurate control of your sets. Whether spinning vinyl, CDJs, playing digital files, or using TRAKTOR SCRATCH timecode control, switching formats is just a push of a button away – lightning-fast, uninterrupted creative flow. And the heavy metal chassis means your busy schedule won’t take its toll on your new tool of choice. Taking cues from recent NI hardware, the Kontrol Z2 features NI’s beautiful coloured button technology and two LED displays good for two characters each, lending svelte good looks and industrial style rugged demeanour respectively. Things are pretty much the same as they’ve been for a few years when it comes to the feel of Native Instruments hardware, so excuse me for not reinventing the wheel yet again when going into how things feel; perhaps look at my recent Kontrol F1 review for a more in depth description of the feel of the various knobs and buttons (although faders warrant a section below).

Traktor grow over the “hardware as dongle for dvs” model with their dedicated hardware. After openning the dvs compatibility to any audio interface chances of developing a dedicated mixer are probably near to zero. Rumour about selling Traktor to A&H (or behringer) floated before Soundwide adcquisition but with Traktor Plus subs model isn’t clear the future of Traktor (for Soundwide/NI themselves IMHO) The flagship TRAKTOR 4-channel mixer software from Native Instruments is the foundation of the TRAKTOR series, offering cutting edge control of your music files. Featuring professional-grade audio quality, instant syncing for beat matching, seamless looping, Hotcue, beatjump tools for remixing on the fly, and a full suite of high-grade effects, TRAKTOR PRO 3 is the top choice of DJs around the world.

Rating

The faders are made by Innofader, and feel great, the crossfader being loose without being in any way rattly, and the upfaders slightly less loose. All faders stop at their furthest reach without any kind of metal-on-metal noise, rather hitting home in a pleasingly dampened way, a bit like an Audi door thudding shut. I liked them. Setting up Of course, nobody is going to buy this to use it simply as a standalone mixer, and the first good thing to say here is that the integration between standalone mixer use and Traktor is absolutely seamless. Again, as cues, loops can easily be saved; when a loop is active, you press an empty button among the four vertical buttons left and right on the controller to assign it to that button. The button lights green and the loop is stored. To delete it, you hold Shift and press the button again. Non-destructive file handling: "Tag writing mode" options have been added for configuring has been added to configure which types of metadata TRAKTOR writes or does not write to audio files. Plug & Play: Full version of TRAKTOR PRO 3 software, two timecode records & two timecode CDs included

The Traktor Kontrol Z2 is an awesome bit of kit and a stunning entry into the DJ mixer market for NI. There are far too many clever little touches to list here, but one particular favourite is the ability to mix vinyl or CDs as audio while still using Traktor's effects. If you have no gear and you’re coming to Traktor and digital DJing afresh, it’s probably best to go for a DJ controller with everything in one box. This’ll be fine for home, parties, bars etc, and some people even use theirs in clubs (depending on the part of the world, club itself, prevailing DJ culture etc).

Tech spec

TRAKTOR KONTROL Z2’s layout builds on familiar standards for uninterrupted workflow from the start. A spacious control surface with faders, 3-band EQ section and dedicated filter knobs per channel are all right where you need them. In February 2019, Native Instruments released the version 3.1.1 update for Traktor Pro 3. Version 3.1.1 brings some new features, improvements, and fixes that make for a smoother workflow. Here's some of the features and improvements: Ergonomically, the Z2 is a tremendous success. Native Instruments should be really proud of what they’ve achieved when it comes to integrating the Z2’s brawn with the Traktor brain, because it looks like the Z2 should do a lot less than it actually does. It’s not the first DVS ‘hub’ mixer, of course, not even close – but to my grubby hands it feels the most streamlined and logical, and when comparing it to other mixers it seems somehow more elegant. If there’s any really impressive innovation build wise it’s the magnetic faceplates first seen on Maschine MK2 a couple of months ago. Unless you’re told you would have have absolutely no idea that the faceplate lifts off the mixer in three parts (centre and each strip down the side) and when the inevitable replacement colours come out there’s going to be some totally unnecessary but nonetheless gorgeous customisation going on. Ins and Outs Finally, it’s worth pointing out that you can switch the effects from pre-mixer to post-mixer, something that’s very welcome and that I believe only became possible in Traktor 2.6.

Whether on the road, installed into a DJ booth at a club, or comfortably forming an integral part of your studio hub, the professional-grade aluminum chassis of the TRAKTOR KONTROL Z2 delivers a rugged design with all the power and connectivity you need. Featuring a 24-bit audio interface, pro XLR and RCA outputs, knobs, buttons, and Innofaders™, alongside TRAKTOR Mode buttons for seamless switching, this premium 2+2 channel mixer is performance ready and built to last.Build: Great. Some might be wary of the plastic pots, but there’s an undeniably professional quality to the Kontrol Z2… except the issue with the paint coming off the glossy section of the mixer, which doesn’t really affect anything other than aesthetics, but it’s still a bit naff. But here’s what I see to be the biggest potential group of users: people who already own some old-style DJ gear. Maybe you have a couple of turntables and an analogue mixer, or two old CDJs and the same. Deliveries will be made subject to the terms and conditions of the courier company. djkit.com will not be held responsible for late deliveries. While TRAKTOR PRO 3 is made for our TRAKTOR KONTROL series, it also syncs seamlessly with other DJ equipment and software through MIDI and Ableton Link. Expand your setup with any controller, using TRAKTOR’s modular design, or link directly to Ableton Live to create unique workflows that push your creativity to new heights. Built-in powered USB hub* for 2 add-on DJ controllers such as TRAKTOR KONTROL F1 or TRAKTOR KONTROL X1