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Stem QML MOD for the S8/D2

lsmith

I have created a mod for my D2 focused on bringing stem control features inspired by the S5 and Serato Stem FX to the D2. I assume also work on the S8 and some of the advanced features could also be ported to the S5 or S4.

https://github.com/lsmith77/traktor-kontrol-d2

Patch 01: Stem Mute (S5-Style)

Performance pads auto-switch to Stem Mode when stems are loaded
Press remix button to activate pad controls

Patch 02: Serato-Style Stem FX

Pads 5-8 control two FX units when in Stem Mode
Pads 5, 7, 8: Delay + Freeze on FX Unit 3 (single mode)
Pad 6: Turntable FX brake on FX Unit 4 (group mode: Beatmasher + Gater + Turntable FX)
Familiar workflow for Serato users

Patch 03: Advanced Controls (Shift+Pads)

Shift + Pads 1-4: Toggle FX Send on/off per stem
Shift + Pads 5-8: Toggle Filter on/off per stem
LED feedback shows current state

Patch 04: Stem Capture Freeze

Capture button toggles a persistent Delay+Freeze lock on all four stems
First press: freeze locked, button lights up
Second press: freeze released, button goes dark
Pressing any stem FX pad cancels the freeze instantly
Configurable scope: Works in stem mode by default; set sfxCaptureFreezeOnlyInStemMode = false to enable on all decks
Requires Patch 02 (Serato-Style Stem FX)

Patch 05: Duplicate Deck

Edit button duplicates the focused deck to the sister deck (A↔C or B↔D)
Automatically splits stems: source keeps vocals only, target gets instrumentals only
If source was playing, target auto-plays at the same position for instant in-sync layering
Edit button LED is bright while the opposing deck is playing, dim when idle
Second press (while opposing deck is playing): stops the opposing deck instead of duplicating
Configurable scope: Works in stem mode by default; set duplicateDeckOnlyInStemMode = false to enable on all decks
Requires Patch 02 (Serato-Style Stem FX) — provides sfxStem*Muted, stemMode, and the outer WiresGroup

Installation

For complete setup guide using the traktor-mod script for backup/restore of Traktor Pro QML mods, and detailed instructions, see: https://github.com/lsmith77/traktor-kontrol-qml/blob/main/08_SHARING_CHANGES.md

Quick install using the traktor-mod script:

git clone https://github.com/lsmith77/traktor-kontrol-d2.git 

or download+extract the Zip https://github.com/lsmith77/traktor-kontrol-d2/archive/refs/heads/main.zip

cd traktor-kontrol-d2

run the traktor-mod script

Note this script makes it easy to install what I call “overlay mods”, ie. mods that only contain the modified files and not a full QML directory, straight into Traktor Pro.

The handbook also contains some AI prompt templates to f.e. combine multiple mods, like I have done here https://github.com/lsmith77/traktor-qml

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Traktor Pro 4

Comments

TeslaFox

This is genuinely great work, massive respect for putting this together and sharing it.

Honestly, something like this was one of the main things holding me back from upgrading from Traktor 3 to 4. I'm an S8 owner and while the new features look perfect for my workflow on paper with the stem decks, the uncertainty around hardware support for those features has kept me sitting on the fence. Seeing someone actively modding at this level gives me a lot more confidence.

With the news about Native Instruments looming I've been thinking I may need to learn to do this kind of thing myself if I want to keep my S8 relevant long-term so I'd love to know more about how you approached this. Is there a good place to start if I want to try building something similar for the S8? Planning to give this a try on my end later this week and I'll report back with how it goes.

Any way to keep in touch or follow your work? Really appreciate you documenting this as thoroughly as you did.

lsmith

This is exactly why I created: https://github.com/lsmith77/traktor-kontrol-qml

Best place to follow my github repositories. Of course I also post here and follow other peoples posts in the mapping subforum. Another place is the djing channel on NI discord.

paolotisciodj

ismith ho installato tutto ed e top…..

io ho 2x kontrol d2 + 2 z1 mk2

lsmith

awesome! glad to hear it.

I was pondering one tweak for Stem FX: making it possible to skip the the mute on release of the hold by pressing shift when releasing the stem FX button.

hardbea7

Wow! this is amazing! awesome job!

I'm wondering if this is possible?

I recently noticed an amazing stems implementation in VirtualDJ. You can assign the Filter Color FX to control stems, turning the knob to the left isolates the instrumental, and turning it to the right isolates the vocal.

If something like this could be implemented in Traktor, it would be absolutely incredible. It would make stem control much more easy and fun.

Please consider adding this feature if possible.

Here’s the video for reference:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EzA9feVX3DuG8KQPyOpBfHBjeNtzNmOX/view?usp=sharing

lsmith

Yeah such a superknob should be totally doable. The main question is what knob to use. I think the loop encoder is probably too critical to be used for this. Maybe Shift+Browse?

Actually I guess for a Suoerknob you kind of don't want an endless encoder. Meaning that for the D2 it would have to be one of the FX Knobs together with Shift and Soft-Takeover ..?

hardbea7

Use filter knobs, and for filter we can assign to one of 3 fx knobs.

lsmith

I put the following together now, only minimal testing done:

https://github.com/lsmith77/traktor-kontrol-d2/pull/5

### Patch 06: Stem Super Separation
- Shift + FX knob 1 or 4: vocal/instrumental crossfader on the focused deck
- Shift + FX knob 2 or 3: same on the sibling deck (A↔C or B↔D partner)
- Turn left: fades out vocal (stem 4) — isolates instrumental
- Turn right: fades out instrumental (stems 1–3) — isolates vocal- Center position (0.5) = all stems at 100%
- Per-stem soft-takeover: each stem only responds once the knob reaches its current volume (no sudden jumps when stems are below 100% or knob is off-center)
- Knobs 1 and 2: latch — volumes stay when shift is released
- Knobs 4 and 3: restore — volumes return to state at shift press on release
- Configurable scope: Stem decks only by default; set `sssOnlyInStemMode = false` to enable on all decks

Not exactly sure if latch vs. restore makes sense to keep. Maybe there are better uses for those knobs (maybe combine with Mixer FX?) :)
Let me know if this is what you had in mind or if there are any bugs or other tweaks to be done.

lsmith

BTW Instead of using the D2 FX knobs, one could also use the Z1MK2 FX knobs.

lsmith

Just did another tweak (still only minimal testing).

- StemSuperSeparationMode: Shift+Flux enters a persistent mode; FX knobs perform SSS without holding shift; FLUX LED pulsates; Shift+Flux exits and applies latch/restore

Also there is now a configuration for how restore is supposed to work. Either it restores to the pre-SSSMode or it restores to the current fader state.

Let me know if this all makes sense to you. I am sure there are still some edge cases here and there, that might need to be handled after deeper testing.

lsmith

Ok I pushed another commit on top of the previous approach that changes things to facilitate 4 deck mixing (but not entirely sure if this is properly thought out yet):

### Patch 06: Stem Super Separation
- **FX knob 1**: vocal/instrumental crossfade on **focused deck only** (standard formula)
- **FX knob 2**: same on **sibling deck only** (A↔C or B↔D) — independent of focused
- **FX knob 3**: same on **other-side deck only** (A↔B, C↔D) — **reversed direction**
- **FX knob 4**: all 4 decks simultaneously — focused uses standard, the other three use reversed
- **Standard formula** — turn left: isolates vocal; turn right: isolates instrumental
- **Reversed formula** — turn left: isolates instrumental; turn right: isolates vocal
- Center position (0.5) = all stems at 100% on all affected decks
- **Per-stem soft-takeover**: each stem only responds once the knob reaches its current volume (no sudden jumps when stems are below 100% or knob is off-center)
- All four knobs follow `sssRestoreMode` on shift release: `"snapshot"` (default), `"fader"`, or `"latch"`
- **StemSuperSeparationMode**: Shift+Flux enters a persistent mode; FX knobs perform SSS without holding shift; FLUX LED pulsates; Shift+Flux exits and applies latch/restore
- **Configurable scope**: Stem decks only by default; set `sssOnlyInStemMode = false` to enable on all deck types

lsmith

@hardbea7 did you have time to try this out?

lsmith

Released https://github.com/lsmith77/traktor-kontrol-d2/releases/tag/v0.7.0

lsmith

And I now also updated my combined mod as well https://github.com/lsmith77/traktor-qml

It combines these three mods:
https://github.com/ErikMinekus/traktor-kontrol-screens/tree/nexus

https://github.com/lsmith77/traktor-kontrol-d2/releases/tag/v0.7.0

https://github.com/lsmith77/X1MK3_PerformanceMod/releases/tag/v12

Passat

Hi Lukas

Great staff. I realy love your work and Ideas to improve the Stem Usage setup on Traktor.
May I ask you for one additional Funktion? The S8 and D2 Controller are not able to support the "Double Push" on Browser buttons . Could you add a mapping, that enable "Shift-Browser" to load the Stem File into player? Thank you for your support and have a great weekend.

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