Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3

The Kontrol S4 MK3 is a 4 deck all-in-one controller with a sturdy build quality and integrated sound card. Compared to the MK2 and MK1, it also have motorised shiny aluminum jogwheels, screens and a set of pads which can be use for various features.

The S4 MK3 uses the standard HID protocol for the Buttons, Knobs, Faders and LEDs, and extends it for the motorized Jog-Wheels. The screens use a USB Bulk transfer. Mixxx doesn’t support rendering content for external screens yet. The easiest way to tell the MK3 apart from the other MK1 and 2 are these screens, displace between the “Move” and “Loop” encoder.

Unlike its predecessor, the Kontrol S4 Mk3 cannot run from USB power and the separate power supply must be used.

Novo na versão 2.4.

Alterado na versão 2.6.0: Added beatjump

Alterado na versão 2.6.0: Added stems

Compatibility

The Kontrol S4 MK3 is a USB class compliant audio and HID, so it is compatible with Mixxx without any proprietary drivers on GNU/Linux, MacOS and Windows.

With the S4 plugged in, a HID device is listed as an available controller in Mixxx’s Preferences. The controller uses HID for each components on the device, except the screens, so the mapping can only be loaded when you select the HID device on the left side of Mixxx’s Preferences.

Controller

Setup audio output

Using the S4 mixer

In order to use the audio output of the controller, select the device Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3. Channels 1 - 2 should be set as Main and Channels 3 - 4 should be set as Headphones

Using the software mixer

If you don’t want to use certain outputs of the device, you can enable the mapping of the mixer knob to the Mixxx internal mixer. Head over to the Mapping options to enable these optional mappings.

Nota

The mixer knobs are physically linked to the S4 embedded mixer. This means that there is no way to prevent these buttons to adjust gains of the output, and will lead to unexpected volume mixing if the Mixxx mixer is used while also using S4 outputs.

Known bugs and limitation

Audio

During the development phase, it appears that using other Sound API than ALSA would lead the Master VU meter not to work. Furthermore, audio output power would be half as loud as it should be, which can be a problem if you are also using other software, since you audio setting will suddenly become twice as loud. It remains unclear whether or not this was a common issue or if this was specific to the used setup.

Screens

Currently, Mixxx doesn’t support controller screen rendering. However, because the screens are technically a different device, it is safe to interact with them outside of Mixxx while the device is being used by Mixxx. This can be particularly handy if you want to display some images or text, or even dynamic information.

Motors

Haptic feedback (know as Haptic Drive (TM)) are partially implemented. Supported features include jogwheel tensions and turntable mode but these features remains in beta and may sometime have unexpected behaviours. Since there is no guarantee on the long term effect to the controller of how Mixxx implements these features, they are disabled by default. You can enable them by setting UseMotors to true in Mapping options.

Mapping Description

Jogwheel modes

Jogwheel can be used to control various things, depending of the mode they are in.

  1. Vinyl mode (default): The jogwheel platter can be used for scratch. The jogwheel crown can be used to jog up or down the playback.

  2. Jog mode: The wheel platter and crown can be used to jog up or down the playback.

  3. Turntable mode: The wheel behaves as a 33.3 RPM turntable. If the platter or crown are slowed down or speeded up, then it will scratch down or up the track.

    Aviso

    Because this mode relies on Mixxx’s scratch mode, if the track has been pitched up, the keylock will be ignored!

    Nota

    This mode is only available if the motor features are enabled. See Motors for more details.

  4. Loop in: The wheel behaves similarly to CDJ. If the platter or crown are turned, it will move back or forth the start of the loop. Additionally, if the loop encoder is used, it will move the all loop back or forth.

  5. Loop out: Like for the loop in mode, but with the exit position of the loop. If the platter or crown are turned, it will move back or forth the end of the loop. Additionally, if the loop encoder is used in the same way than Loop in mode.

Here is how to tell what mode is on, depending the current state of the LED:

Mode

Jog

TT

Jogwheel LED

Others

Vinyl mode

On

Off

Circling while the track is playing/scratching

N/A

Jog mode

Off

Off

Circling while the track is playing/scratching

N/A

Turntable mode

Off

On

Circling while the track is playing/scratching

N/A

Loop in mode

N/A

N/A

The whole circle is blinking

The REV button is blinking

Loop out mode

N/A

N/A

The whole circle is blinking

The FLX button is blinking

Here is how to select each mode:

Mode

How to select

Vinyl mode

Press the Jog button (while the Jog button is off)

Jog mode

Press the Jog button while in vinyl mode (while the Jog button is on)

Turntable mode

Press the TT button. Pressing again while restore the Vinyl mode

Loop in

Press SHIFT + REV while a loop is enable

Loop out

Press SHIFT + FLX while a loop is enable

For all modes but Vinyl and Jog, re-selecting the mode will restore the previous one.

Move modes

Moves modes define how the “move” encoder (the one on the left) reacts when used. Here are all the various modes:

  1. Beat (default): The track will jump backward or forward by the number of beats selected. Press before turning to select the number of beats.

  2. Grid: The track’s detected beats will be move forward or backward on the waveform.

  3. BPM: The track’s detected BPM will be increased or decreased.

  4. Keyboard: The keyboard’s keys displayed on pads get moved up or down to display higher or lower keynotes.

  5. Hotcue color: When first holding HOTCUES, then tapping a specific hotcue, the move encoder can be used to change the selected color.

    Nota

    When using the shared data API, this will display hotcue metadata such as label (if any), timecode and type.

Here is how to tell use each modes:

Mode

Description

Beat

This mode is enable if no other mode are enabled

Grid

This mode is enabled while GRID is held down

BPM

This mode is enabled while SHIFT + GRID are held down

Keyboard

This mode is enabled while SHIFT + STEM is held down

Hotcue color

This mode is enabled after holding HOTCUES for a short period of time

All mapping detail

Looping

Control

Description

Right Encoder (turn)

Double/halve loop size.

Right Encoder (press)

Activate/exit loop of set size from current position

SHIFT + REV (while no loops are enabled)

Set the loop in point. This will reset the loop out point as well.

SHIFT + REV (while a loop is enabled)

Toggle the loop in jogwheel mode. See Jogwheel modes for more details.

SHIFT + FLX (while no loops are enabled)

Set the loop out point.

SHIFT + FLX (while a loop is enabled)

Toggle the loop out jogwheel mode. See Jogwheel modes for more details.

Mapping options

Settings can be edited in the preference windows, under Preferences > Controllers > Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3 ….

There are various options that can be used to change some behavior:

Setting

Default

Description

Deck colors

red, blue, yellow, purple

Define the leading colors for each decks. Note that some buttons have only one color

Sortable column in the library

Artist, Title, BPM, Key, DatetimeAdded

Define the list of columns on which it possible to sort the library using the library encoder and the view button. See [Library],sort_column

Loop In/Out jogwheel sensitivity

50

Define the sensitivity when moving the loop start or end point using the loop jogwheel mode. Negative value will reverse the order

Loop encoder sensitivity

500

Define the sensitivity when moving the loop with the encoder when using the loop jogwheel mode. Negative value will reverse the order

Loop encoder sensitivity (Shifted)

2500

Define the sensitivity when moving the loop with SHIFT + the encoder when using the loop jogwheel mode. Negative value will reverse the order

Tempo fader center range

1.0

Defines the center range in mm where the rate snaps to 0.

Tempo fader center offset

0.0

Shifts the center range in case it doesn’t match the center marker.

Color of the tempo led when on low takeover

white

Define the color of tempo LED when the tempo fader is out of sync, and the actual value is less than on the controller

Color of the tempo led when on high takeover

green

Define the color of tempo LED when the tempo fader is out of sync, and the actual value is more than on the controller

Keep transport and play button dimmed when off

true

Having this setting on will keep LED always dimmed, even when off, although they may not have a matching color with the deck’s color

Keep the unselected deck button off rather than show its deck color

true

Having this setting on will keep the LED of the unselected deck dimmed instead of off.

Keylock on SHIFT + MASTER instead of SHIFT + SYNC

false

Use SHIFT + MASTER to toggle the keylock instead of SHIFT + SYNC

Make the grid button blink when over a detected beat

false

Make the GRID button blinking when the playback goes over a detected beat

Make the jogwheel ring blink when the track playing is near the end

true

The jogwheel LED ring will start blinking when a track is near the end. The end section can be defined in Preferences ‣ Waveforms ‣ End of track warning

Use the mixer to control input when using SHIFT

false

Make the GRID button blinking when the playback goes over a detected beat

Number of samples used for jogwheel speed

3

Number of samples used to determine the jogwheel movement. A higher value will increase precision but latency too, and vice-versa

Replace the sampler tab by a beatloop roll tab

false

Replace the sample tab as well of the sample feature with 8 beatloop roll

Define the predefined size to use for the beatjump tab

1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, beatjump

Define the size of beatjumps of each pad, from left to right, starting from the top row. “beatjump” refers the currently selected value (beatjump_forward or beatjump_backward), “half” and “double” can be used to control this value

Define the predefined size to use for the beatloop tab

1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 8

Define the size of loops of each pad, from left to right, starting from the top row.

Use the two last tab as loop half/double buttons in the beatloop tab

true

Use the last two pad from the bottom row as loop half and loop double. These can be used to interact with beatloop roll and normal loop.

Jogwheel speed (in turntable mode, as well as LED indicator)

33 + 1/3

The turntable mode defines how fast the jogwheel turns (if on) as well as the LED, and the overall jogwheel sensitivity. It is recommended to keep either 33 + 1/3 or 45 as a value

Whether or not to use haptic feedback features

false

Whether or not to use haptic feedback features. This is a beta feature, some of them may be unstable.

Map the mixer Master knob to the Mixxx internal mixer

false

When enabled, the Master knob will drive the Main gain of the Mixxx internal mixer as well as the hardware built-in mixer in the device.

Map the mixer Booth knob to the Mixxx internal mixer

false

When enabled, the Booth knob will drive the Booth gain of the Mixxx internal mixer as well as the hardware built-in mixer in the device.

Map the mixer headphone knobs VOL and MIX to the Mixxx internal mixer

false

When enabled, the headphone knobs will drive the headphone controls of the Mixxx internal mixer as well as the hardware built-in mixer in the device.

Default Pad Layout

default

Define the default layout used for the pads.

This settings are only useful if you are using haptic feedback features

Setting

Default

Description

Number of samples used for jogwheel speed in turntable mode

20

Number of samples used to determine the jogwheel movement when the turntable is on. A higher value will increase precision but latency too, and vice-versa

Define the tension of the jogwheel

0.5

Define the jogwheel tension. 0 makes it very tight while 1 makes it very loose

Define how much force can the jogwheel use

25000

Define how much resistance can the wheel use when its rotation is held

Changing settings

Settings can be edited in the preference windows, under Preferences > Controllers > Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3 ….