Kontrol S8 MK2

patproblem

Hello

I would like to know if somebody have news about a new version of S8 MK2

Thank you

setaquehabla

When the S8 came out, some of the things i couldn't get used were the touch strip, the master tempo, and the missing loop move encoder (in my opinion, the loop and move encoders make the difference a lot between the rest of the brands and traktor, and it's been one of the motives i kept using Traktor all this time). That's why my regular setup is S4 MK2 +a pair of D2 (i got also a S4 Mk3 but with the screens delay conflict with the D2 i decided to downgrade to my old one).

So, I personally would add jog wheels, tempo control for each wheel and loop move encoder, maybe in detriment of the size of the controller, but keeping the workflow of a the S4 traditional setup. After all, the most of the high end controllers are much more bigger than the NI models. Also, in that way, the "move" page of the pads would be free for whatever else, like FX presets i.e.

Sûlherokhh

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/26709/kontrol-s8-mk2

Not even rumours.

mykejb

Not heard anything, although the original S8 is still a pretty advanced controller for what it's designed for. I can't think of a lot I'd personally want to add to the hardware to be honest, but I'd love to hear suggestions!

setaquehabla

When the S8 came out, some of the things i couldn't get used were the touch strip, the master tempo, and the missing loop move encoder (in my opinion, the loop and move encoders make the difference a lot between the rest of the brands and traktor, and it's been one of the motives i kept using Traktor all this time). That's why my regular setup is S4 MK2 +a pair of D2 (i got also a S4 Mk3 but with the screens delay conflict with the D2 i decided to downgrade to my old one).

So, I personally would add jog wheels, tempo control for each wheel and loop move encoder, maybe in detriment of the size of the controller, but keeping the workflow of a the S4 traditional setup. After all, the most of the high end controllers are much more bigger than the NI models. Also, in that way, the "move" page of the pads would be free for whatever else, like FX presets i.e.

Stevan

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/133829#Comment_133829

I agree and would only add a screen tilt option.

niq V

I would love for NI to make more hardware like the S8. I keep seeing really cool compact standalones from other brands - most notably the Denon Prime GO and the recent Alpha Theta Omnis Duo - but they end up having to use SO MUCH of the layout space for big ol' platters that I couldn't care less about. I know a Traktor standalone is a dream ask any time in the near future, but at the very least I'd love to see a large-format touch screen and maybe high-contrast OLED markers above the critical controls a la the RANE Four.

Pioneer purists always laugh at how much "extra time" it takes me to set up for a gig (most of that's extra hardware unrelated to the actual music itself) but I similarly chuckle at people who have to lug around a 3-foot-long behemoth to gigs.

niq V

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/133829#Comment_133829

I'm a little confused when you say the S8 is missing a loop move encoder. SHIFT allows moving the loop easily, a feature I very heavily utilize. Are you referring to the lack of a specific control for moving just the in/out of a loop independently?

setaquehabla

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/134134#Comment_134134

I know that using shift you can always move, but the second encoder makes A LOT the difference for me. I’ll explain to you why, and how this little detail it’s been one of the main reasons of keeping using Traktor all this hard and long years.

First, a dedicated control allows you to use only one hand to beatjump, so you can use the other to do something else (sometimes i found myself having to beatjump and muting the vocal at the same time, wich is not possible only with the controls of a D2 and having two hands).

Also dedicated loop move/beatjump is a life saver many times when you need to keep going a loop that you didn’t previously save or you were a little bit late.

Also to have both move and loop dedicated encoders make it very versatile to move and change how much you want to move.

Also i use A LOT the beat jump to move around the track by bars or phrases, and doing that with one only hand is much more better than the shift.

I don’t know how many people will agree with me in this, but i believe that the beatjump and loop encoders configuration is one of the smartest, underrated, and major interface and usability accomplishments of the NI dj ecosystem. There’s no other brand they use these little enconders for looping and moving but i find it the smart (you always find buttons and pads, don’t know if they got a patent of this). Many dj collleages when they got the chance to try it, no matter the ecosystem they come from, they tell me that they like a lot the looping system of Traktor, and it’s way smarter than the others -not to mention CDJs. Actually, if Alphatheta would put these on the CDJs i probably would use them for a lot of gigs like all the other djs, instead of carrying my full setup every time.

Hope i’m not alone with this ahah

mykejb

Not needing to use Shift is a good point, I'd not thought of trying to use those functions one-handed.

Stevan

Just a thought. Remap MOVE function on the BROWSE knob. And have a modifier that allows to browse only if the browser mode in activated.

setaquehabla

That's a good alternative, i'll check it out. Thnx!

niq V

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/134242#Comment_134242

How about the MIDI-mappable knobs below the S8's screens? I personally use the left knobs to control filter FX selections on channels C/A/B/D (from left to right). You could just as easily map those to Loop In / Loop Move / Loop Out if you wanted!

Aldorama73

I have been trying to map loop move function to the knobs bellow the screen. They only seem to send absolute messages, this doesn’t allow a move function to work. I don’t think you can change them to endless mode. Does anyone know if you can?