About new hardware.....

I personally don't use Traktor for my DJ work, mostly because I specifically like to use a Numark NS7III for the motorised platters and so use Serato.

However I have been DJing since 1994 and learned very early from the simple fact I had no money, did most my gigs for free or handouts and built my system from old stereos and broken amps and speakers having to fix them up. I had a blast, learned a lot of skills and techniques as it was and tho would have loved an actual CDJ setup I learned to love the old component gear and hand built mixing console I made and I had and make the best of it. In later years I was then able to upgrade and decide specifically what I wanted and budget for it.

Point is you can spend your life chasing the latest and greatest gear, thinking that you need that new model or the latest mac M1 machine to really open things up for you. If you have saved for what you have just bought and it was what you wanted, just get to work and use it, forget even if anything does come out, you got what you originally wanted, otherwise why not skip over the next version also, and the one after that and just wait for the version that comes out in 20 years from now?

JayBe said:

Hi all, I've just joined this forum and I'd like to a question about hardware - though I'm aware there's been a bit of discussion here and there, since NI made an announcement on the previous forum in October 2021.

I'm about to learn the art of DJing after about 10 years of dabbling in a very amateur manner, and in that vein, almost two weeks ago (and still in the window to return it), I bought an S3Mk4.

It was only a couple of days ago that I saw a video on Digital DJ Tips predicting new hardware from NI, and it's created a dilemma for me. The S3Mk4 is some years old now (2018), so I'm wondering if, given that the S8 has been discontinued, they are about to launch a new hardware update in this price range?

What would others do in my situation? Keep the S3, and get on with learning to use Traktor, with the presumption that the software will get an update later this year with Traktor 4, or send the unit back, because it's highly likely that there will be new hardware arriving very soon? I'm wanting to get on with learning, so the wait may be longer than I would want....

It took me ages to take the plunge with the S3, as it is an investment of £750, so I'd appreciate some insight/thoughts, knowing that no one knows what's coming (unless someone from NI can let me/the forum know when to expect news.....?)

Many thanks in advance

I would wait, everything points to new hardware coming out soon. We are impatient, I hope that news arrives soon.

I am in a similar situation... I have more or less sold the S4 MK3 to myself because having tested a fair few controllers in the past year I've realised I need moving platters. I only have decks at present and that's how I've always played, and trying to adjust to the non-moving jog wheels on the controllers I tested felt unnatural to me. I like to scratch and do small drag-backs (for beat juggling etc) and I could not find a way of getting the various softwares to behave like a turntable, by that I mean when you pull back vinyl the platter is still moving, so when you let go the record is immediately moved forward and plays again. With the controller jog wheels I always found there to be this bit of silence when I let go of the wheel because, I presume, they were still moving backwards ever so slightly and the software was waiting for them to stop 100%. I found I could almost get them to behave in the way I was used to by pushing forward as I let go but that just seemed ridiculous to me and I couldn't get into the habit. Couldn't find any setting/adjustment anywhere in Serato so I assumed this was something you've just got to get used to.

So yeah, I use Traktor anyway with my decks and the S4 seemed like the logical choice for me, but that announcement on the NI website threw a spanner in the works. Then Pioneer just announced the REV series, but the 2 controllers that they've launched today are no use for me as the moving platter REV7 is way more than I'd be happy to pay, I might as well sell my decks and move exclusively to that given the cost and I only want a mobile controller I can take around my house or out with me occasionally, I'm not a pro DJ or anything of the sort. And to be honest I'd prefer the Rane One to the REV7 anyway.

Then the NI 25th Anniversary came along and the S4 was the only controller (exclude the X1 from this) they did in the 2 colours - was that 1) because they weren't planning on making a revised S4 (or worse, maybe not any DJ hardware?!) anytime soon meaning buyers of those units weren't going to get annoyed when a new controller gets launched in a few months, or 2) the S4 is the most expensive so they could make the most profit or 3) ... something else?

I know nobody at NI can possibly properly comment on this topic. You'll probably get people interpreting Ryan @ NI's comment to "keep the S4" as meaning they aren't planning to replace it! The gap between the S2/S4 MK2's and the MK3's was a pretty long time, and it's been almost the same again since they were released so you kinda feel they should be updated soon? But then in that first period there weren't the lay-offs at NI, no global pandemic etc so who knows.

Like JesterMgee said - you just need to make a decision and be happy with it, otherwise you'll forever get stuck in the cycle. I'm 95% there with the S4, I just know that given my luck NI will announce something the week after I've purchased it 

I have the S2mk2 and still use it.  So many ‘new’ controllers have been released after and I’m still here using it.  If you like your machine keep it.

weighing in with the fact that i am literally learning Traktor via an S2 MK1 lol - it lived in a box until it came to live with me, so even though it's ancient it's like new and serves the purpose just fine. the only reason i'm even eying other gear is because i want 4 instead of 2 already, but i still have so much to learn that i'm fully capable of learning with this. 

I’ve just bought an S8 and love it. Amazing controller. I’ve had quite a few NI Tractor hardware pieces. I’ll be keeping this for years to come. Hopefully NI will keep support remix decks and stems. 

Native would have gotten my money if they just released the Z2 with the 25 anniversary colors. We shall continue to wait, but something as simple as this would have made us go crazy!!

The S4 mk3 is a great controller. It will take you quite a while until you will come to any limits. Especially the possibility of using it motorised and in jog wheel mode is gold. Within this price range, I could not imagine that you will find any other controller with such a professional level.