Hi Native Instruments / Traktor team,
I strongly recommend restoring direct Loop IN and Loop OUT hardware control for Traktor Kontrol S2 users.
Earlier S2 versions provided dedicated Loop IN and Loop OUT controls. These allowed DJs to choose the exact beginning and ending of a loop directly from the controller.
In the newer S2 workflow, the emphasis has shifted to Hotcues, Samples and the Loop encoder. Although these are useful features, they are not a replacement for manually setting precise Loop In and Loop Out points.
The Loop In and Loop Out functions still exist in Traktor’s software interface, but I am now forced to reach for the mouse to use them. This breaks the hands-on controller workflow during a live performance and removes one of the most important functions of the earlier S2 design.
Why manual Loop IN/OUT remains essential
Manual loop boundaries are especially important when working with:
- Tracks with imperfect or changing beatgrids
- Older recordings and live performances
- Intros and outros that do not follow standard phrasing
- Creative loops with unusual lengths
- Emergency extensions during live mixing
- Loops that must begin or end at an exact musical moment
Selecting a predefined loop length with an encoder is useful, but it is not functionally equivalent to choosing the exact Loop In and Loop Out points.
Requested solution
Please add an option under:
Preferences → Traktor Kontrol S2 → S2 Control Options
Suggested option:
Enable Legacy Manual Loop Controls
When enabled, it could:
- Assign two selected performance pads to Loop IN and Loop OUT
- Use a dedicated Legacy Loop pad layer
- Alternatively assign Loop IN/OUT as Shift functions
- Allow the user to choose which two Hotcue or Sample buttons are reassigned
- Provide appropriate LED feedback for the Loop In point and active loop
- Preserve the current Hotcue/Sample behavior as the default
This would not require removing any current functionality. It would simply restore user choice through an optional controller setting or official mapping preset.
For S2 MK1 and MK2 hardware, please also maintain the original manual-loop mapping and its Manual Looping preference in all supported Traktor versions.
This is not merely a cosmetic preference. Requiring a mouse for a core live-performance function defeats the purpose of having a dedicated DJ controller and can create real problems during a performance.
Please treat this as an important workflow and legacy-support issue.
Thank you,
Russell / DJ Cyclic
