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 with the MK2 and MK1, it also has motorized aluminum jog wheels, LCD screens and a set of pads which can be used for various features.

The S4 MK3 uses a standard USB HID protocol for the Buttons, Knobs, Faders and LEDs, and extends it for the motorized Jog-Wheels. The screens use a custom USB Bulk transfer protocol. Mixxx doesn’t support rendering content for external screens yet, but that work is in progress and will be available in a future version. The easiest way to tell the MK3 apart from the older MK1 and MK2 are these screens, between the «Move» and «Loop» encoders.

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

Të reja në versionin 2.4.

Compatibility

The Kontrol S4 MK3 is a USB class compliant audio and HID device, 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 the Mixxx 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 audio interface

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 software mixing

If you don’t want to use the audio outputs of the controller, 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.

Shënim

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 the S4’s outputs.

Known bugs and limitations

Audio

On GNU/Linux, it appears that using a sound API other than ALSA causes the Master VU meter not to work. Furthermore, audio output level is half as loud as it should be. It remains unclear whether or not this was a common issue or if this was specific to the used setup. Users should use the ALSA sound API for the best performance.

Screens

Currently, Mixxx doesn’t support controller screen rendering.

Motors

Haptic feedback (know as Haptic Drive (TM)) is partially implemented. Supported features include jog wheel tension and turntable mode but these features remain in beta and may have unexpected behaviour. To avoid any possible chance that incorrect motor settings might affect the controller in the long term these features are disabled by default. You can enable them by setting UseMotors to true in Mapping options.

Mapping Description

Jog wheel modes

The jog wheel can be used to control various things, depending on the mode they are in.

  1. Vinyl mode (default): The jog wheel platter can be used for scratching. The jog wheel crown can be used to increase or decrease the speed of playback.

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

  3. Turntable mode: The wheel behaves like a 33.3 RPM turntable. Touching the platter or crown will scratch the track like a regular turntable.

    Sinjalizim

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

    Shënim

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

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

  5. Loop out: Similar to the loop in mode, but with the end position of the loop. If the platter or crown are turned, it will move the end of the loop back and forth. Additionally, if the loop encoder is used it will move the entire loop in the same way as Loop in mode.

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

Mode

Jog

TT

Jog wheel

Others

Vinyl mode

On

Off

Circling while the track is playing/scratching

–

Jog mode

Off

Off

Circling while the track is playing/scratching

–

Turntable mode

Off

On

Circling while the track is playing/scratching

–

Loop in

–

–

The whole circle is blinking

The REV button is blinking

Loop out

–

–

The whole circle is blinking

The FLX button is blinking

Here is how to select each mode:

Mode

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 will restore the Vinyl mode

Loop in

Press SHIFT + REV while a loop is enabled

Loop out

Press SHIFT + FLX while a loop is enabled

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

Move modes

Move modes define what effect the «move» encoder (the knob on the left) will have 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 adjusted forward or backward on the waveform.

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

  4. Keyboard: The melodic keys displayed on pads get adjusted up or down to display higher or lower notes.

Here is how to tell use each modes:

Mode

Beat

This mode is enabled if no other modes are enabled

Grid

This mode is enabled when GRID is held down

BPM

This mode is enabled when SHIFT + GRID are held down

Keyboard

This mode is enabled when STEM is held down

Full mapping details

Button

Action

Lighting

Jog wheel platter

  • Scratch when in Vinyl mode and Turntable mode

  • Jog when in Jog mode

  • Move loop start when in Loop In mode

  • Move loop end when in Loop Out mode

  • light rotation: Vinyl, Turntable or Jog mode on

  • Ring blinking: Loop in or out mode on

Jog wheel crown

  • Jog when in Vinyl mode

  • Same as wheel platter otherwise

Flux

  • Toggle Slip mode

  • On shift, if no active loop, set a loop end at the current track position. Otherwise, enable loop out wheel mode

  • Steady on: Reverse enabled

  • Steady on while pressing SHIFT: loop is active

  • Blinking and flux off, pressing SHIFT: loop in set wheel mode

  • Blinking and flux steady on, pressing SHIFT: loop in wheel mode active

Reverse

  • Toggle reverse mode

  • On shift, set a loop in the current track position if no active loop, otherwise enable loop out wheel mode

  • Steady on: Flux enabled

  • Steady on while pressing SHIFT: loop is active

  • Blinking, with reverse steady on while pressing SHIFT: loop out wheel mode active

Grid

  • Set the beatgrid at the current track position (short press)

  • Enable grid move mode while pressed

  • With SHIFT: enable BPM move mode while pressed

  • On when over a detected beat

  • Blinking when grid/BPM move is on

  • Blinking when grid move mode is enabled

Turntable

  • Toggle turntable mode

  • On: Turntable mode on, otherwise jog or vinyl

Jog

  • Toggle vinyl mode

  • On: Vinyl mode on, otherwise jog or turntable

Deck Select

  • Select a deck

  • The deck’s main color will be the one of the selected deck

Shift

Shift controls for that side of the controller, including effect unit

  • On or Off

Cue

  • Trigger the cue default button behavior

  • Start or stop the track while pressing SHIFT

  • Select the cue as the play mode when in Keyboard move mode

Depends on the cue mode

Play/Pause

  • Play/Pause the track

  • Long press: clone the playing track

  • SHIFT + Long press: eject track

On if track is playing

Move

  • Beat jump forward or backward by the number of selected beats

  • Increase/Decrease the move distance if turned while pressed

  • When pressing SHIFT, increase/decrease pitch

  • Move the grid backward/forward when in grid move mode

  • Increase/decrease BPM when in BPM move mode

  • Move keyboard notes down/up when in keyboard move mode

Loop

  • Enable/disable loop when pressed

  • Reactivate exited loop/exit loop when pressed and shifted

  • Halve/double the loop size

  • Move 1 beat backward/forward when shifted

  • On loop in/out wheel mode: move the loop with precision, left precision if shifted

Master

  • Make the current deck sync leader

  • Long press: Enabled/disable full range tempo fader

  • Steady on: the deck is sync leader

  • Blinking: the tempo fader is in full range

Sync

  • Toggle sync mode

  • Toggle keylock

  • Long press: copy the BPM of the other deck

  • SHIFT + Long press: copy the key of the other deck

  • On while no shift: Sync is on

  • On while shift: Keylock is on

Tempo fader

Changes tempo only if the left indicator is either off or matches the color of the deck.

  • If green, it means the fader is out of sync with the software, moving it down will eventually catch up.

  • If white, it means the fader is out of sync with the software, moving it up will eventually catch up.

Deck color: default track speed Green: out of sync (down) Green: out of sync (up)

Hotcues

  • Toggle the hotcues page

  • Shift: toggle the second hotcue page

  • Deck color with dim off: Current page isn’t related to hotcue

  • Deck color with dim on: page 1 of hotcue

  • White: page 2 of hotcue

Rec

Currently unused

Sampler

  • Toggle the sampler page and display samplers on the GUI

  • Off: Current page isn’t related to sampler

  • On: sampler page is active

Mute

Currently unused

Stems

  • Toggle the keyboard mode(on release)

  • while pressed: enable keyboard move mode

  • Deck color with dim off: Current page isn’t related to keyboard

  • Deck color with dim on: Keyboard active

  • Green: keyboard play mode active

Pads

  • While in hotcue mode:

    • press will activate

    • SHIFT + press will delete

  • While in sampler mode:

    • press will play (load selected track if none are)

    • SHIFT + press will stop (if playing) or eject

  • While in keyboard mode:

    • will set the key to the selected note

    • will play from the cue if in keyboard is in play mode

  • While in beatloop roll mode:

  • Will activate a beatloop roll of 1/16, 1/8, 1/4 , 1/2, 1, 2, 4 and 8 beats, or custom size if you have changed BeatLoopRolls in Mapping options

  • Hotcue mode: color of the cue

  • Sampler mode: Dim on, sample is playing dim off sampler is stopped, off no sampler loaded

  • In keyboard: keyboard color on each note, if Dim on, current active note

  • In Beatloop roll: brighter means a loop roll is active with the given size

FX 1st knob

  • Master volume/mix of the unit

FX 2nd knob

  • Meta parameter of the first selected effect

  • First parameter of the focused effect in effect focus mode

FX 3rd knob

  • Meta parameter of the second selected effect

  • Second parameter of the focused effect in effect focus mode

FX 4th knob

  • Meta parameter of the third selected effect

  • Third parameter of the focused effect in effect focus mode

FX 1st button

  • Trigger all effects

  • Assign/de-assign effect to master while pressing SHIFT and no focused effect

  • Exit focused mode while pressing SHIFT and focused effect

  • On if all effects are off and not pressing SHIFT

  • On when effect is attached to master and pressing SHIFT

  • Blinking in effect focused mode

FX 2nd button

  • Toggle (short press) or trigger (long press) third effect if not focused effect or if pressing SHIFT

  • Toggle first arg (short press) or trigger first arg (long press) of the focus effect if any

  • Switch to next effect available if no focus effect and SHIFT

  • On if effect is active and no focused effect or if pressing SHIFT

  • On if focused effect parameter is enable

FX 3rd button

  • Toggle (short press) or trigger (long press) third effect if not focused effect or if pressing SHIFT

  • Toggle second arg (short press) or trigger second arg (long press) of the focus effect if any

  • Switch to next effect available if no focus effect and SHIFT

  • On if effect is active and no focused effect or if pressing SHIFT

  • On if focused effect parameter is enable

FX 4th button

  • Toggle (short press) or trigger (long press) third effect if not focused effect or if pressing SHIFT

  • Toggle (short press) or trigger (long press) third arg on the focus effect if any

  • Switch to next effect available if no focus effect and SHIFT

  • On if effect is active and no focused effect or if pressing SHIFT

  • On if focused effect parameter is enable

Library knob

  • Move up/down in tracklist

  • SHIFT: Move up/down in tree structure

  • Move up/down in the context menu if playlist button is pressed

  • Zoom in/out the waveform when in grid move mode

  • Beatjump by 16 beats backward/forward if a track is being previewed using the button

  • Star down/up the currently playing track while pressing the star button

  • Sort by next/previous column while pressing the view button

  • Expand the context-manu item when pressed while pressing the playlist button

  • Load track when pressed or expand/collapse tree node when shifted (if view button is not pressed)

  • Inverse the column sorting if view button is pressed

Preview button

Previews the currently selected track while pressed

Star button

Change the selected track color on short press (next color, or previous if shifted)

Playlist button

Open or close a context menu for the currently selected track

On if there is a context-menu open, off otherwise

Mixer FX button

Toggle third effect (short press) or trigger third effect (long press) or assign the quick effect of FX select buttons are pressed

  • Dim on if the effect is active

FX Select button

Apply effect to all deck on release, if no mixer FX button have been pressed

Ext

Apply the current gain as default. This will reset the gain knob.

Master

If enabled in the Mapping options, change the main gain

Booth

If enabled in the Mapping options, change the booth gain

Cue

If enabled in the Mapping options, adjust the headphone mix

Headphone volume

If using Mixxx internal mixer, change the headphone gain

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 jog wheel mode. See Jog wheel 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 jog wheel mode. See Jog wheel modes for more details.

Mapping options

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

Variable value

Description

Default

Range

Description

DeckColors

Deck colors

LEDColors.red,LEDColors.blue,LEDColors.yellow, LEDColors.purple

All colors as defined in _LedColors_. Must be four color, separated by a comma

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

LibrarySortableColumns

Sortable column in the library

LibraryColumns.Artist, LibraryColumns.Title, LibraryColumns.BPM, LibraryColumns.Key, LibraryColumns.DatetimeAdded

All values defined in the Mixxx control documentation separated by a comma

Define the list of columns on which it possible to sort the library using the library encoder and the view button.

LoopWheelMoveFactor

Loop In/Out jog wheel sensitivity

50

-500..500 (Recommended)

Define the sensitivity when moving the loop start or end point using the loop jog wheel mode. Negative value will reverse the direction.

LoopEncoderMoveFactor

Loop encoder sensitivity

500

-3000..3000 (Recommended)

Define the sensitivity when moving the loop with the encoder when using the loop jog wheel mode. Negative value will reverse the direction.

LoopEncoderShiftMoveFactor

Loop encoder sensitivity (Shifted)

2500

-5000..5000 (Recommended)

Define the sensitivity when moving the loop with SHIFT + the encoder when using the loop jog wheel mode. Negative value will reverse the direction.

TempoFaderSoftTakeoverColorLow

Color of the tempo led when on low takeover

LEDColors.white

All colors as defined on line 19

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

TempoFaderSoftTakeoverColorHigh

Color of the tempo led when on high takeover

LEDColors.green

All colors as defined on line 19

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

InactiveLightsAlwaysBacklit

Keep transport and play button dimmed when off

true

true/false

Having this setting on will keep LED always dimmed, even when off, although the color may not match the deck’s color.

DeckSelectAlwaysBacklit

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

true

true/false

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

UseKeylockOnMaster

Keylock on SHIFT + MASTER instead of SHIFT + SYNC

false

true/false

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

GridButtonBlinkOverBeat

Make the grid button blink when over a detected beat

false

true/false

Make the GRID button blink when the playback goes over a detected beat.

WheelLedBlinkOnTrackEnd

Make the jog wheel ring blink when the track playing is near the end

true

true/false

The jog wheel 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.

MixerControlsMixAuxOnShift

Use the mixer to control input when using SHIFT

false

true/false

Make the GRID button blink when the playback goes over a detected beat.

WheelSpeedSample

Number of samples used for jog wheel speed

3

1..50

Number of samples used to determine the jog wheel movement. A higher value will decrease input noise but increase latency, and vice-versa.

UseBeatloopRollInsteadOfSampler

Replace the sampler tab by a beatloop roll tab

false

true/false

Replace the sample tab as well as the sample feature with an 8 beatloop roll.

BeatLoopRolls

Define the predefined size to use for the beatloop tab

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

eight number in range 1/32..512

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

AddLoopHalveAndDoubleOnBeatloopRollTab

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

true

true/false

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

BaseRevolutionsPerMinute

Jog wheel speed (in turntable mode, as well as LED indicator)

33 + 1/3

33+1/3, 45 (Recommended)

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

UseMotors

Whether or not to use haptic feedback features

false

true/false

Determines whether or not to use haptic feedback features. This is an unstable beta feature.

SoftwareMixerMain

Map the mixer :hwlabel`Master` knob to the Mixxx internal mixer

false

true/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.

SoftwareMixerBooth

Map the mixer :hwlabel`Booth` knob to the Mixxx internal mixer

false

true/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.

SoftwareMixerHeadphone

Map the mixer headphone knobs :hwlabel`VOL` and :hwlabel`MIX` to the Mixxx internal mixer

false

true/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.

DefaultPadLayout

Default Pad Layout

default

default,hotcue,samplerBeatloop,keyboard

Define the default layout used for the pads.

These settings are only useful if you are using haptic feedback features:

Variable value

Description

Default

Range

Description

TurnTableSpeedSample

Number of samples used for jog wheel speed in turntable mode

20

1..50

Number of samples used to determine the jog wheel movement when the turntable is on. A higher value will decrease input noise but increase latency, and vice-versa.

TightnessFactor

Define the tension of the jog wheel

0.5

0..1.0

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

MaxWheelForce

Define how much force can the jog wheel use

25000

10000..30000 (Recommended, can go up to 60000)

Define how much resistance can the wheel apply when held by the DJ.

Changing settings

Mixxx 2.4

Making these changes is still a little awkward, this will be much easier to do starting in Mixxx 2.5. You’ll have to make changes to the mapping script file itself. The file is readable as text and the instructions inside the file will explain how to make the changes.

  1. Open Mixxx Preferences and select the Kontrol S4 MK3 in the side list.

  2. Select Traktor-Kontrol-S4-MK3-hid-scripts.js.

  3. Click Open Selected File.

  4. Either the file should open in an editor, or you should see a file browser window with that file selected. If you see a file browser, right click the file and select an option to edit it.

  5. Starting from the block entitled USER CONFIGURABLE SETTINGS, there should be configurable options.

  6. When you save the file, the settings should be updated immediately.

Mixxx 2.5+

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