Native Instrument's New Controller!!! X3? X5?

Zascar

Thanks to Yop1992 for posting this vid earlier, I thought it deserved its own thread:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTWqk1HYQ_A

So, looks like Native Instruments are doing exactly what I predicted (hoped) they would. Looks like a 4 Channel controller specifically for Traktor with jog wheeels, effects, samplers, and on-board sound card, and lots of other goodies. YES!!! I'm so buying this, I just hope it won't be as expensive as the Xone DX.

Looks like the release may be accompanied with a new release of Traktor Pro too.

Screen grabs form the video

YOP1992

looks quality new version of traktor to accompany it

Zascar

From: http://www.djtechtools.com/2010/07/21/traktor-pro_controller_new/

Should a DJ wish to speculate, one could deduce the following from the screen shots above:

• There is a new software on the way with 4 loop players/samplers
• This will be a 2 deck/4 channel mixing console much like the new Xone DX
• It has a built in sound card and will be around the same price as the DX ($1200 ish)
• The decks are switchable from a-b c-d
• Lots of good LED feedback
• What looks like 4 cue pads per deck
• NI is calling it a Traktor System (Hardware and Software combo)
• That’s pretty much it- tell us what you think in the comments!

Crap that's expensive. I better get saving.

cian1500ww

Interesting, was thinking of getting an X1 but I think I may hold out for another while

EDIT: Just seen the above post, X1 looks way more appealing if that'll be the price tag

Zascar

Well they are very different controllers really. X1 has no faders or EQ's, no built in sound card - its designed to run alongside a mixer setup. This is an all-in-one "system" as they call it. So it just depends on what you want and what your setup is etc. X1 does a lot for the money really.

I think if this was $1200 it would be way too expensive. 800-1000 would be more on the money, fingers crossed.

garthv

$1200 predicted price!

Bloody hell, still might be worth it. Most 4 channel controllers are around that price anyway. I'm more interested in what the new Traktor Pro is going to bring!

cian1500ww

Zascar wrote: »

Well they are very different controllers really. X1 has no faders or EQ's, no built in sound card - its designed to run alongside a mixer setup. This is an all-in-one "system" as they call it. So it just depends on what you want and what your setup is etc. X1 does a lot for the money really.

Just needed the X1 as an extra controller for working the other decks alongside my Omni but something like the Xone or that new contoller would be more ideal.

Zascar

garthv wrote: »

Most 4 channel controllers are around that price anyway.

I suppose, its comes with a 4 Channel sound card, and probably a copy of this new traktor pro too - so if you add it all up.......

electrogrimey

€900 ish price tag, in fairness, if you buy a mixer for €500 (which I soon will...) then it's the same price as 2 X1s and a mixer, especially if it has a built in soundcard, which saves you a few hundred quid.

If it does have a built in soundcard though, it rules out being able to use the soundcard for recording in Ableton or whatever.

I'm a lot more excited about Traktor 2.0 (or 1.3, whichever it'll be), especially if it's a free upgrade...Hopefully it'll fix a lot of bugs with the collection and browser, and allow flexible beatgridding.

Looks perfect for anyone using an Xponent, but wanting to switch to Traktor with proper integration.

brianc27

looks poxy.

and dubfire is a cvnt

BaZmO*

Haha. Nice reply

jtsuited

brianc27 wrote: »

looks poxy.

and dubfire is a cvnt

post of the week.

Zascar

Guys on the DJTT forum reckon they are just saying it will not be $1,200 - they are more likely to bring it out in the $800-$1000 bracket. If they release it cheaper than it was expected to be, that will be a boost at promo time. I don't think I could justify spending €1,000 on this thing.

joker77

Looks pretty pricey for what it is. Admittedly yes, it would be nice to have a controller that's wired up directly to Traktor, but for what I would use it for it would be completely unnecessary - as it is I barely use 10% of the functionality of either the software or the controller I have!

For the money, I'd rather spend it on music.

Zascar

Yes you certainly have a very valid point. I'm sure the majority of people (me included) don't use most of what Tractor can offer - however, I definitely think that if the features were more easily accessible - I'd definitely use them more. For example - the Xponent actually has a better and easier layout for buttons etc than the VCI. The effects and lopps etc were much easier to use - it’s just a pity that they are crap cause of the software. The effects, sampler and loops on the VCI are far from perfect – a bit fiddly really – since its not a native controller – it’s just mapped to work as best it can.

Having a dedicated controller built specifically for the software with everything at your fingertips would definitely encourage me to actually use the more advanced features more - and it's something I would like to get more into - becoming more technically proficient at the various skills and techniques of digital djing. Probably more my own amusement more than using it live etc – but that’s the reason I buy toys like this.

copeyhagen

cant see youtube movies in work but the pics look nice.
still, it will all depend on how much europeans theyre gonna sell it for as to whether i would buy it.

still sortin out the xone 3d here

Zascar

Have you bought it yet? This might be a nice alternative if you have not. I doubt it will work as a normal mixer too though. 3D is still an animal mixer you won't go wrong...

copeyhagen

yeh i have it at home and all.

updated its firware last night to 1.26

but my new laptop is running 64 windows 7 and they dont have 64 bit drivers yet. so im toying with the idea of putting xp on the laptop.

i cant see the quality of the mixer on the ni one being as good as the a&h one though

eeloe

If ya get bored of the xone copeyhagen, i'll swap ya my VCI for it!

I'm not too sure about this, it does look well, and the fact it'll control all of the features in traktor without midi mapping is a plus.....but the price will be chronic, and the transport of it would be a bitch!

copeyhagen

ah id be robbin ya!!

electrogrimey

For about the same price, I don't see why anyone would choose this over a Xone:4D...

eeloe

electrogrimey wrote: »

For about the same price, I don't see why anyone would choose this over a Xone:4D...

complete traktor integration, no ****ing about with midi maps.....the new software.... many reasons!

garthv

eeloe wrote: »

complete traktor integration, no ****ing about with midi maps.....the new software.... many reasons!

Exactly....all depends on the hardware they use though. Allen & Heath are reknowned for great hardware in all their mixers, if Native Instruments can nail this side of it then they may have one of the best MIDI mixers out there.

Zascar

Exactly. Yes A&H have great sound, but so do NI. Digital wise, their Audio 2/4/8 DJ sound cards are very well received. A&H are fantastic but they are also dam expensive - they are like the bentley of mixers almost. If A&H can do similar quality for a lot better price they'll wipe the floor. I really cannot see them bringing it out in the exact same price bracket at the Xone 4D.

electrogrimey

eeloe wrote: »

complete traktor integration, no ****ing about with midi maps.....the new software.... many reasons!

I have the X1s, and the native mapping was handy, but I've ended up changing a lot of it to suit the way I play, so I'd nearly prefer to have 1Ds or something so I'd have to fully map it to my own needs.

I just for the versatility the 4D gives you, you could hook two CDJs up to it along with 2 Traktor decks, but you won't be able to do anything like that. Even simple stuff like hooking a mate's iPod up to listen to tunes.

Zascar

Yep very true, but another thing to consider is that this is an 'all in one portable controller' - like the VCI etc you can bring this into the DJ box and just play through the club mixer. You'll have a tough time doing that with a Xone 4D. But if you want it for your bedroom (or your own club) it would be great.

Plus, http://www.thomann.de/gb/allenheath_xone4d.htm Xone 4D is over €1,600 ($2,000)

Zascar

http://www.skratchworx.com/news3/comments.php?id=1507

Someone here said it will have a price of €799 - that would be sweet. Won't hold my breath though.

Dying to see proper photos of it. Not expecting it to be much of a looker from what I can judge so far...

cian1500ww

Big thread here on it in the NI forum: http://www.native-instruments.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115267

YOP1992

its gonna retail at 799 and is coming out in november accordind to dj tech tools, their saying that their gonna sell it, with perks, vci 100 style

Zascar

I wonder what DJTT will add to it? If you buy from the US you've got postage and import tax to factor in. Not sure if it will be worth it.

YOP1992

Zascar wrote: »

I wonder what DJTT will add to it? If you buy from the US you've got postage and import tax to factor in. Not sure if it will be worth it.

some elaborate mapping no doubt, few stickers here and there

Zascar

Well considering Ean Golden was actually involved in the design of it, I wonder what he wants to change and add? Probably some mad controllerism type stuff - I'm sure most people will be happy with the standard one. Will be interesting to see though

cian1500ww

I wonder will it ship with the Traktor update at 799 ?? I'd definitely consider it if it did.

Zascar

I'd be 95% sure they will, because they are calling it the "Native Instruments DJ System" (software+hardware)

ED E

Zascar wrote: »

Well considering Ean Golden was actually involved in the design of it, I wonder what he wants to change and add? Probably some mad controllerism type stuff - I'm sure most people will be happy with the standard one. Will be interesting to see though

Arcade buttons! Yay!

cian1500ww

Zascar wrote: »

I'd be 95% sure they will, because they are calling it the "Native Instruments DJ System" (software+hardware)

Sweet, I wonder when in August they'll announce it ?? Also someone on another forum noticed an Audio 8 in the background, maybe it won't have an integrated soundcard

Quiggers

probably a proto-type, i'm fairly sure the sound card will be built in, if not it wont compete with the A&H, it'd be a dear DDM4000,

YOP1992

cian1500ww wrote: »

Sweet, I wonder when in August they'll announce it ?? Also someone on another forum noticed an Audio 8 in the background, maybe it won't have an integrated soundcard

that was for the other laptop running the maschine i think?

was.deevey

I wonder will the mixer element be able to operate standalone like the American Audio VMS4 ?

If the price is right it'll destroy the vci300 which is sitting right in its turf especially if its got a 4deck FULL VERSION dedicated Traktor version that comes with it..not the Lite crap.

All things considered though .. I still Favouring the NS7 for a home setup which is in the ballpark at this price point though.

Obviously NS7 is not practical weightwise for mobile though (dang)... and I dont see any clubs installing one anytime soon

Whoopdie doo .. some saving to do (huh that rhymes)

I think the real question we should be asking ourselves is "Will it blend?"

garthv

Quiggers wrote: »

probably a proto-type, i'm fairly sure the sound card will be built in, if not it wont compete with the A&H, it'd be a dear DDM4000,

Aye, Ean Goulden said himself there's a soundcard built in. They'd be pretty fcukin stupid not to integrate a soundcard imo

cian1500ww

garthv wrote: »

Aye, Ean Goulden said himself there's a soundcard built in. They'd be pretty fcukin stupid not to integrate a soundcard imo

Lets just hope he's not setting the RRP :eek:

empirix

waste of money!

YOP1992

empirix wrote: »

waste of money!

whys that?

empirix

YOP1992 wrote: »

whys that?

Because you don't damn well need it, theres cheaper and jut as good stuff on the market, particularly the faderfox stuff, the dj3 is great, you can add other units as you go but the dj3 is more than sufficient, 250 euro

Every couple of months something new is coming out and being hyped up, if your current setup is doing the job now - why change it and blow circa 1k!

YOP1992

empirix wrote: »

Because you don't damn well need it, theres cheaper and jut as good stuff on the market, particularly the faderfox stuff, the dj3 is great, you can add other units as you go but the dj3 is more than sufficient, 250 euro

Every couple of months something new is coming out and being hyped up, if your current setup is doing the job now - why change it and blow circa 1k!

thats a fair point man, for some people though this will be perfect, no mapping and quality software

empirix

YOP1992 wrote: »

thats a fair point man, for some people though this will be perfect, no mapping and quality software

no mapping with the faderfox either, there is a shift button as the buttons double up for certain features i.e fx, loops etc but you can add the loops/fx module for this and your all set, would set you back 500 for the 2 though, suppose it depends how much this new ni contoller will be!

YOP1992

empirix wrote: »

no mapping with the faderfox either, there is a shift button as the buttons double up for certain features i.e fx, loops etc but you can add the loops/fx module for this and your all set, would set you back 500 for the 2 though, suppose it depends how much this new ni contoller will be!

yeah dude, djtt reckon its gonna be 800, controller, soundcard and software, i can see where your comin from though

cian1500ww

I'm kind of tied between this and getting an external mixer and Audio 8 DJ so I could go to CDJ's in the future. Think I'll wait for a while after it comes out to hear what it's like before i make a decision. Would we be looking at a September release date possibly ?

ThirdMan

Wow, that's one ugly looking fcuker.

cian1500ww

ThirdMan wrote: »

Wow, that's one ugly looking fcuker.

Don't break the mirror, it's bad luck

ThirdMan

cian1500ww wrote: »

Don't break the mirror, it's bad luck

I deserve that :P