The Traktor Kontrol Z2 will be available as of Nov 1, and will come with Traktor control vinyl and CDs.
As comprehensively outed a few weeks back here on Digital DJ Tips, Native Instruments has a new product in its range: the Kontrol Z2 pro DJ mixer, which was officially launched today.
Heading straight into Pioneer and Allen & Heath territory, the Kontrol Z2 is designed for the DJ booth, with a high-quality sound card, Innofaders, aluminium construction and standard profile sizing to fit flush with other pro gear..
Feature breakdown
While the mixer is laid out spaciously in a pretty classic “battle” style (think Rane’s Serato mixers), it is anything but traditional in its feature set. Here’s what it packs into its (rather understated) frame:
Pro inputs and outputs mark this as a unit clearly designed for professional installation and use.
- “2+2″ workflow. Two “standard” decks controller by the two line channels you see on the pictures, plus two Remix Deck channels (which can also be used for cues and effects), controlled by two rotary knobs
- 24-bit sound card with professional XLR & booth outputs. No pro mixer worth its salt would not have booth and balanced outs, and the 24-bit sound card means the mixer should deliver pristine digital sound, as well as, to be clear, to allow you to use this as a Traktor Scratch mixer with no extra sound interface
- Powered USB hub. This means that Kontrol X1s, Kontrol F1s etc can be plugged in direct to the mixer, with just the one USB lead going from the mixer to your computer
- Hardware filters, innovative software effects. While the two channel filters are hardware (ie they’ll work even with analogue inputs), the effects are software – you need Traktor running to use them. NI has created “workflow-based” effect groupings, or “Macro FX”, designed to give you what are effectively “effects presets” for various DJing situations (breakdowns, buildups etc). This is certainly Pioneer-esque
- Multi-coloured LED pads. Those Rane-esque pads down the left and right are for direct mixer control of Remix Decks and cue points
- Slip mode. NI is calling it “Flux mode”, but it’s the same thing as the “slip” button found on Pioneer and Denon CDJs and on the new Pioneer DDJ-SX Serato DJ controller. You engage it, scratch, cue and loop away, and when you disengage it, the track returns to where it would have been had you just let it play
- Frequently used Traktor functions in the “master” section. Traktor file browse, sync and quantise are in front of your fingers
- Microphone channel. Essential on a pro/club installation mixer, although EQ is limited to a single tone control
- Tight integration with CDJs. “HID technology delivers seamless integration with CDJs including enhanced visual and tactile control of key features”, says NI. Presumably this refers to track length, waveform and album art display on certain Pioneer CDJs with Traktor. But also it means you can use you CDJs as essentially Midi control decks for Traktor. We’re waiting for confirmation on exactly which models
Clearly the unit is meant as the ultimate mixer for Traktor no matter what your workflow, and so in the box you’ll find not only the Kontrol Z2 mixer but a copy of Traktor Scratch Pro 2 and a set of control CDs and control vinyl.
First thoughts
It looks unmistakably “Traktor” with the lights and the design of those knobs and buttons, yet NI has stepped up the quality from the plastic controllers it’s so far released.
The Traktor Kontrol Z2 as it might be used in the DJ booth.
Without Traktor, the Kontrol Z2 is a high-quality two channel battle mixer, complete with hardware filters and a decent sound card for incorporating digital sources.
But with Traktor it becomes sort of like a cross between the Pioneer DJM-T1 Traktor mixer and the Pioneer DJM-850 (but a two-channel version, the extra two channels being “pseudo channels” for control of Traktor Remix Decks etc.).
It would make a great touring mixer for Traktor DJs…
Whether it gets adopted by clubs as their standard mixer is not something I’d like to bet on, but it’s certainly a statement of intent from NI.
It would make a great touring mixer for Traktor DJs, and of course would also be the perfect vanity product for home digital DJs. Combine it with a couple of CDJ-2000s or some turntables, maybe a Kontrol F1 and /or a Kontrol X1, and you’ve got (at least what NI would consider to be) the ultimate digital DJing set-up.
The Traktor Kontrol Z2 is priced at US$899 / €799, and will go on sale on November 1.
Video
Product links:
• Full details on the Traktor Kontrol Z2 product page
• View our Traktor Kontrol Z2 Facebook photo gallery
• Read the official Traktor Kontrol Z2 press release
What are your thought on Native Instruments’s first attempt to muscle in on the DJ booth? Would you like to own this mixer? Any features you particularly like, or feel they’ve left off? And is it priced fairly? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Now go to:
Review & Video: Pioneer DJM-850 Traktor-Certified DJ Mixer
Review: Traktor Kontrol S4 – A Great Leap Forward For Digital DJing?
Review & Video: Allen & Heath Xone:DB2 Pro DJ Mixer
Want to escape the bedroom and play in public - fast?
Our 1000s-selling How To Digital DJ Fast video course shows you how.
Learn to DJ Free - email course plus bonus PDF book
Sign up for our weekly email course for beginners now...
Trouble choosing a controller? Visit the web's #1 guide!
DJ Controllers: The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide 2013.
Tags: Digital Dj, Dj Mixers, Djm, Native Instruments, Scratch Mixer, Traktor, Traktor Dj, traktor mixer, traktor scratch
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
I don’t see this mixer as a standard for a big club. More like a mixer for home dj’s.
[ link ]What do u say so my friend? Wouldnt it be a direct comoetitor for the pioneer t1.?
[ link ]No, as the Pioneer unit is a controller, this is primarily a mixer.
[ link ]WOW
[ link ]This thing looks amazing, and I’m hoping it sounds just as amazing. The ability to leave my AUDIO 10 at home is a definite plus. I can’t wait to test this bad boy out
yes yes yes, cant wait for this. but ill have to as funds are lacking
in your preview review the only bad thing most people had to say was that it was too big, but as i suspected it does not look out of place next a 1200 or cdj.
[ link ]Yeah got to agree with you there! I expected to see much more integration for adding additional items such as machine into the setup but alas disappointed again.
[ link ]I don’t care so much about the Z2 but realy interested it the Traktor 2.6 update. Getting the DDJ XS and map to traktor and I have my dream setup.
[ link ]Probably won’t be easy on the wallet but if it is quality then money well spent.They definatley have a good concept here but so did Korg with thier zero series mixers.I was considering a Korg zero 8 for my studio based on the features but swayed away once I did my homework and found they were discontinued quickly and had many build issues.Glad I didn’t get one as I ended up getting an Allen and Heath xone 464 a second hand for a steal and have no issues with it other than me racking it to tight and bending the top in a few places. Only time will tell if this mixer can be the next big thing
[ link ]If you want to scratch this is cheaper than anything else for what it does with traktor. But I have a 4trak and I don’t scratch at home and would like to. But as a mixer the Numark 4trak is a standalone 4-channel mixer. No vu meters but it still works. I think as a standalone mixer 4trak wins but then you can debate having to purchase a seperate soundcard as well. I have 2.6 and the platters on top of the macro fx can do 6 effects at once but idk how good they would all sound together sometimes basic is better.
[ link ]Cant’ wait to see what platters they’ll bring now!
Or will they consider them past recommended date?
[ link ]With the amount of djs i see on youtube from big events using traktor i don’t think it will be for “home dj’s”..
It looks pretty sweet. There’s a video of it at DJTechTools.
[ link ]Looks just like a Pioneer DJM-T1
[ link ]So new colors, pads on the mixer, integrates with Traktor, control section for navigating Traktor….sounds like all the other controller units NI has made. So sell your toys and buy this? Don’t think so.
Uh for $899 that’s ridiculous. Same thing all the other Traktor ready mixers do, minus the pads and powered hub. I run the Reloop IQ2 midi mixer and it’s traktor ready. Same soundcard as this mixer but it is a 4+4 not a 2+2 like this one. It’s a battle mixer and the fader is dope. Every single button/knob/fader can be midi mapped. It also has a standalone FX unit built into the mixer with nice LCD interface. http://www.reloop.com/reloop-iq2-midi
The biggest thing about this mixer is it supposedly has an innofader installed. But the innofaders can be installed in alot of mixers so that’s not a selling point.
If you are a battle/scratch DJ the fader is always the key.
Now with Serato and Traktor going head to head, everything in the 2 are the same….save Serato video and a few of Traktors effects. But realistically, how many effects do you need to use at once?! And if you don’t spin video it doesn’t matter either. NI however is cleaning up nicely with all their dedicated controllers so Serato is taking a licking there….problem is NI made them useful for EVERYTHING.
[ link ]Hey, seeing as how you mentioned the IQ2 Midi, how are you running that bad boy? DVS, Midi…? Thanx Bro!
[ link ]Just dropped on a iq2 midi as new for £200
[ link ]Am I correct in thinking I can run a dvs setup ie two technics iq2 midi through traktor and map cue points to the fx buttons on the left of the mixer
Don’t know what an IQ2 is…
[ link ]its a reloop iq2 midi mixer link http://www.reloop.com/reloop-iq2-midi
[ link ]i am hoping im right in thinking i can jig around and remap for instance the fx timing buttons to the left to control say cue points
Don’t see why not, not tried it myself with this model but it’s Midi mappable, so should be fine.
[ link ]NI really blew me away with this one. Very aggressive price point especially when you consider the features: 4 channel mixer (technically), Innofaders!!, and a USB hub built in. To me the 3 innofaders alone justify this as a must have. Putting 3 innofaders into any existing mixer would cost you at least $400 alone. I really wish they would have scrapped the glossy middle section but if the rest of the unit is rock solid i’m down, might even sell my DJM T1.
[ link ]Tend to agree, if you’re a Traktor user this is very appealing.
[ link ]I don’t see this becoming a club standard, personally…it’s catered too much to Traktor users. Nice mixer, nice unit, very impressive piece of gear from NI…but only good for Traktor users. I’ll be passing on it and sticking with Serato.
[ link ]Whats the big deal with InnoFaders? A fader is a fader isn’t it? How are they more fadery?
Anyway, it looks cool. I am more interested in Traktor 2.6 with the new Macro FX.
[ link ]Hey Rob Francis, look into some of the DJ Tech Tools Macro effects. All that Native is doing is implementing those as pre-fabs. Traktor has always had the ability to do macro FX, very simple mapping tricks
[ link ]Very interesting unit that I would probably go for, however I’m waiting because I need someone to build a flight case for it.
[ link ]I’m more surprised that Ean Golden’s hair is now cut short.
)
[ link ]This mixer sounds great will order one soon. Question about the size the specs say 11 inches. Most coffin or DJ Mixer cases are either 10 or 12 inches? So is this mixer kinda of a odd ball size?
Thinking of ordering one and looking at casing options.
One a side note seems like most places are offering it for $799 but NI site is $899.
[ link ]Are any 2.6 features accessible only if you own the z2? Like they tried to do with their pad controllers?
[ link ]It appears not, it appears it’s all available to everyone in 2.6.
[ link ]