Ask me anything: X1 MK3

 From September 5 until September 19, 2023

My main questions about the new MKIII:

(I will focus most of my questions on points that have not yet been hardly addressed in any great detail. Many others have already been asked by other users).

• Why did you decide to only use 4 cue points? The symbiosis of MKI and MKII would be very refreshing at first glance. But only related to the return of the browser and loop encoders. The main reason why I still prefer the MKI over MKII today is the use of 8 cue points. This is actually absolutely necessary, especially in view of the area of application. Will the workflow be similar here again, that i can only do it with the shift function? Then choosing different button shapes would be unfortunate as it would feel so very separating. Neither older CDJs, or Turntables, offer me the opportunity (Except for the CDJ 3000 and the Reloop RP 8000). If I want to add to a club setup, the X1 is my first choice, but I want to be able to work with it intuitively and reach the full potential of Traktor Pro and the offered areas on my X1. This doesn't seem to be the case at the moment.

• Based on the pictures and videos on the web, it doesn't look as if the feedback from the LEDs is barrier-free or suitable in daylight, how does that work with the implementation of a daylight mode for the UI on Traktor Pro (roadmap / in progress)? Since I am too play often at festivals and in daylight, I have noticed this shortcoming several times. With the black buttons and the small cut-outs for the LED, it doesn't look like the new version is better suited for this. Then i have to rearrange my UI from Traktor to see the on and off state of mixer or filter actions. Especially in daylight situations this is at the moment a no go. My hopes are based of a quick implementation based on your raodmap.

• The same applies to the screens. Will they have a daylight mode?

• Why did you decide to have several small screens that glow with overloaded information, instead of one (or maybe two / one per deck side) larger one, which could be designed more clearly and with more structure?

• Will it be possible to set the information displayed on it yourself?

• The soft case, which can be seen in the product video, also seems to be very flexible (spongy). Why has the size of the device been changed compared to its predecessors and why are there no longer aluminum stands that keep the equipment stable and non-slip at the same height to bring turntables, mixers and CDJs on one level? Is there anything else planned here?

• How exactly is the term "modular" to be understood, which is often used in the former presentation in connection with the innovations? So far this part doesn't open up to me, unless you include the USB hub, which is also nothing new in-universe (Z2, S4, etc.).

• Why did you integrate a mixer mode, but left out the mixer FX? In my opinion, an integrated sound card is also missing here to make more sense of it. If i hade to use an exernal soundcard these days it would be fully integrated in 3party equipment (Mixers / CDJs and so on). Since I am so dependent on an external one, the integration still makes little sense for me to replace my older X1. If i chose the soundcard on the mixer i have already en EQ Faders an Most of it Mixer FX. Or if i decide to go with a mini setup to a garden party or similar, i would prefer some 3party equipment e.g. Reloop Mixtour or AKAI AMX instead of a Z1, because there are more options to integrate players and stuff.

• Will the USB HUB have a 2.0 or 3.x interface?

The main reason for many questions comes to me because you have decided on a new form factor, which theoretically offers more space for technical integration an redesigned user interace. But it has not seamlessly combined the best of the worlds before without making any compromises. It is still way too uncomfortable in sizes to come up to the same working level with club standards and has not integrated various features that the software offers and are actively used in a daily DJ set.