Native Instruments Intros Traktor Kontrol S8 ‘Flagship’ DJ Controller

Traktor-Kontrol-S8A couple of weeks ago, Native Instruments offered a sneak preview of their “flagship, all-in-one” DJ controller, Traktor Kontrol S8.

Now Native Instruments has officially announced Traktor Kontrol S8 – a new $1,200 top-of-the-line DJ controller for Traktor Pro 2.

Key Features:

  • Full color displays
  • Touch-sensitive hardware controls
  • Enhanced track decks
  • 4-channel standalone mixer

Wondering what $1,200 gets you in a DJ controller? Check out the details below…..

Traktor Kontrol S8 Gallery:

Here’s the official intro video:

Pricing and Availability

Traktor Kontrol S8 will be available for $1,199 / 1,199 € at the NI Online Shop and at local retailers on October 30, 2014. See the NI site for more info.

19 thoughts on “Native Instruments Intros Traktor Kontrol S8 ‘Flagship’ DJ Controller

      1. The EDM market with Komplete control keyboards ,Komplete software and effects , Machine drum programming , Dj controllers that are all made well so you draw it up .

        1. I generally like NI and this controller looks decent if overpriced, but let’s face it those KOMPLETE keyboard controllers are a huge joke, may be their ‘jump the shark’ moment.

  1. Em… methinks, personally, that “DJ” is an add-on concept that made its may into the product name from shame in house brain storming and based upon Traktor. It has some ‘DJ’ niche utilities, but Its more like a hybrid sampler/looper/player to me, except that you have two tracks of your own material that you can play / mix / cue / slice at the same time (rather than just one, as would be the case with Maschine)

    Honestly, if a DJ were to go on playing a ‘set’ like the music in that video, I’d puke, but, if I were a mobility restricted electronic musician who wanted the minimal gear to playback his own tunes in a live-ish set in a creative way…. then… maybe. I don’t think NI look at things that way though. Regardless, don’t forget folks – like so many other NI products, this is computer dependent- this is *not* a standalone device – wish it were – at its price point, surely it would be capable of its own audio / midi / data storage, or a usb port which can access any data it needs.

  2. I prefer to just play a song that’s good, in it’s entirety followed by another song that’s good, and so on and so forth as a DJ style.

  3. To be fair, they probably can’t play a good DJ demonstration set because they can’t license any real music. So they have to use lame music they made themselves.

  4. I am a vinyl purist, mixing strictly as a hobby for more than 15 years. I have zero interest in playing in clubs, but I do enjoy playing for my small group of friends in my own home, who truly appreciate the art-form. I don’t subscribe to the label of being an “artist,” or a “Dj,” because I am not in for the entertainment of other people than myself, and my close knit group of fellow music lovers. I have not had any interest in going digital, until now. If I were to go digital, I would use it to it’s full potential, or at “try” to at least make the most use of its capabilities. After watching these videos, and reading extensive articles about it, I can’t help but to think of all of the things I can do with the S8, live remixing of other artists music, and even incorporate my own music I write, while remixing that in real time, with absolute minimal use of a mouse. Staring at a computer screen while mixing is a very foreign concept in my mind, and I cringe at the thought. The more I can use the instrument with out having to type, point, click, copy, paste etc., the better. The thought of using a computer to do what I can do with my ears is a total turn off. However, the S8, goes well beyond that, I believe it will change everything, and do so much more than just mixing with this bad boy. I’m pretty sure when I go to purchase the S8, my little world of being a strict bedroom hobbyist will be enhanced in so many ways. This is truly taking it to the next level, and will allow me to do things that I can not do with 4 turntables and 2 CDJ’s alone.

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