Traktor Kontrol S4 Tutorial Pt 2/3: Sample Decks & Effects

Learn more at the Dubspot Blog: bit.ly/dwG7Sk The Traktor Kontrol S4 is a new hardware and software controller for Native Instruments with a lot of exciting features. In this second part of our series Endo takes us through the effects and sampler decks on the S4 which open up a lot of creative possibilities for DJs. Watch out for part 3 coming soon covering snap, quantize and the loop recorder.
Watch part 1: "Traktor Kontrol S4 Tutorial Pt 1/3: Mixer & Decks | Dubspot" • Traktor Kontrol S4 Tut...
Watch part 3: "Traktor Kontrol S4 Tutorial Pt 3/3: Snap, Quantize & Loop Recorder" • Traktor Kontrol S4 Tut...
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[@abomb1230]

best educational videos for tractor on youtube thanks

[@karrmyce]

I just got the S4 and it's amazing!!

[@djlucialove1583]

Thank you! I've been looking for a basic "just break-it-down for me" tutorial for these features. Your explanation is so clear and easy to follow.

[@DeeJayEndo]

Thank you! 🙏

[@OmfgPwnag3Duhh]

I'm sold, this video made it official :D

[@antonbrabant9929]

Really good tutorials Endo! Thank you :)

[@Lehanii]

You are the best teacher! :-)

[@DeeJayEndo]

Thank you!

[@kirkstate]

thus is the best tutorial on this subject ....salute

[@drumsjh151]

This helps so much! Thank you!!

[@jordsgiles]

thnx so much for your helpful tutorials

[@johnmarquart94]

best s4 tutorial !

[@luckystrke]

Awesome videos. Thank you:)

[@HondaHubacher]

traktor is soooo awesome!! :D

[@DeeJayEndo]

@doctorshabs yes you can combine the sample decks and a deck on the same channel by going to preferences - output routing. This is one of the best new features of Traktor Pro (& Traktor Scratch Pro) 2.

[@maramanand1]

@DeeJayEndo thank u very much... watched all ur tutorials on youtube...... ur my mentor..... hope to work with u someday...... i know thats a big ask but...... that would something...

[@mathumun]

@Spinasso within Traktor, there's a file called "All Samples" (under Track Collection). All loops you create with the Loop Recorder are automatically saved in this file. This is also where you'll find all of the factory samples that come with the software. This software/controller combo is beyond sick.

[@DeeJayEndo]

@sesarman thanks man. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I have tons of other tutorials on the Dubspot youtube. Enjoy!

[@DeeJayEndo]

@Pl4sm0 Yes it is now possible to add effects to only one sample. You must be on the latest version of Traktor to do so because they just added that feature as well as key lock, and monitoring for each separate sample.

[@DeeJayEndo]

Yes you can drag loops into the sample decks / remix decks.

[@DeeJayEndo]

@maxsoderstrom Currently it cannot be disabled but you can always go to the loop folder and delete what you don't need anymore. Its located in Music - Traktor - Loops

[@DeeJayEndo]

@MigoiMusic I noticed that too. I made this video using a Beta version of the software since the S4 wasn't released yet. I believe that issue was fixed in the public 1.0.1 version. Usually the first version of any software is going to have some kinks, but generally speaking I've never had any serious issues with the S4, besides that minor cosmetic issue you pointed out.

[@DeeJayEndo]

@Djcol1990 Yes you can use the sample decks to cut out your favorite parts of your track and quickly recall them in the track collection / all samples folder. This can be a great way to play those party rocking loops that you love from each track without having to find the track, find the loop in the track, set the loop, trigger the loop, and sync it. You would use the sample decks to capture the loop and its there for whenever you want to recall it.

[@Pl4sm0]

@DeeJayEndo great :) Thanks for your answer and again ...thank you for sharing this tutorials ;) Soon I get this baby im going to resurrect the real techno !!!!

[@DeeJayEndo]

@mrzdendax Yup, just map it to your controller in preferences - controller manager - select your controller in the device menu, click "add in" and then find the sample deck controls you want to map, hit learn and then hit the button or knob on your controller you want to assign - then adjust the parameters. Mapping your own controllers is a great way to learn Traktor under the hood.

[@DeeJayEndo]

@zi0 in Traktor go to track collection - all samples. On the hard drive (mac) the samples are located in Music - Traktor - Samples

[@zi0]

@DeeJayEndo Thanks alot, :) and GREAT video by the way - Made me buy the S4 :)

[@sesarman]

dude you are fucking legit, you should teach college, i mean i still havnt recieved my s4 yet and i already feel like i can do all this, you make it seem so easy, thanks alot, plz post up as many as tutorials possible, and plz explain then assuming we dont know anything already

[@DeeJayEndo]

@sesarman you can clear the sample slot by using a hotkey or midi command or you can just drag a different sample over the one in the slot

[@DeeJayEndo]

You can MIDI map any button or knob to control the key knob in Traktor. Just make sure Key lock is on in the deck (the yellow music note button)

[@DeeJayEndo]

You can show the actual wav file where the sample is located on your hard drive by right clicking (ctrl clicking) on the sample under Track Collection / All Samples and choose "show in finder." My personal sample collection from Traktor (which is the default location) is located in Music/Traktor/Samples

[@DeeJayEndo]

@BERTEDUS you can assign your FX units (1&2) to the decks seperately by clicking on the 1&2 buttons on Traktor's mixer

[@Spinasso]

@mathumun thanks man. Got to love this machine :D

[@madlogik]

@DubSpot just to confirm: the recorded samples are automaticaly saved in your My Music\Traktor\Samples and also added to your library. They will have filenames that reflects the part that is looped like: Britney Spears-Till The World Ends (133.8s - 137.4s).wav Tip: To find all my samples quickly, I go in Track Collection\All Samples and they are all they way down at the bottom, below the demo tracks and samples. I had an Hercules MK2 before I got the Kontrol S4: I DONT REGRET IT AT ALL!

[@lowrider692]

good job man..hehehe..thx

[@Deathcoree]

@Djcol1990 loops are very useful for mixing, it's very often used in mixing, for example for a transition to repeat a certain part of the song that you want to fade out etc.

[@DeeJayEndo]

@chuckles1252 No, Traktor Pro is software only (but you can control it with other controllers). Stay tuned for the next generation of Traktor products!

[@DeeJayEndo]

@jc804 Yes the Jog wheels are touch sensitive. It has the same feel as using a CDJ in "Vinyl" mode

[@DeeJayEndo]

@assais you would have to copy over the folder documents / native instruments / traktor to the same location on your new computer

[@PeteNaish]

@MetechStudios949 Yes, your samples are saved, not only for the set, but also for future use in your track collection

[@lastnizam]

Awesome tutorial. Thanks so much for doing this. When I play a sample in the loop mode, the tempo of the sample changes. The tempo of the loop sample is correct only in the one-shot mode. Am I doing something wrong?

[@DeeJayEndo]

Yes turn on "Auto Gain" in preferences - mixer - level - "Set Autogain when loading track". This will make the gain the same for each track that you play.

[@GrooveElements]

I just got my S4 and first off WOW I love this thing been saving for a while now. Okay my question is how can you overwrite a sample. Let's say Deck C is full with 4 samples but I want to overwrite them with 4 new samples how can this be done. It's the only thing I'm struggling with right now.

[@DeeJayEndo]

@DeviantDigi I thought this was a bug too, but its not. Its just the deck type needs to be changed. Double click on the Deck until it gets to a mode where you can see the filter and volume controls.

[@DeeJayEndo]

@tenkoza Go to preferences - Decks and change the Deck type to sample deck

[@DeeJayEndo]

@dillinjabreakz because you need to change effects panel 1 to "Insert" in preferences - effects. The reason its greyed out is because its set to be a send effect.

[@DeeJayEndo]

@weromandito You can combine Audio channels in Traktor Pro 2 so you can combine the Sample Decks onto the same channels of Decks A & B. Go to Preferences - Output Routing and you can set it up there

[@DeeJayEndo]

@maramanand1 The sample decks will sync with whatever track is the master deck (or Traktor's internal master clock). To re-sync them just re trigger them

[@DeeJayEndo]

@ThePavin one of them I actually got from Richie Santana when we played together at Comfort Zone in Toronto. The other ones I got on Ebay

[@SharedVision333]

@DubSpot Thanks, good lookin out...

[@Spinasso]

@LBCProductionsInc thanks. very usefull info! that's it! ;)

[@DeeJayEndo]

@Deathcoree That might be a bug actually. Try changing the deck size by double clicking on the deck header or in preferences - decks

[@bazukaran]

Hi Just press and hold "brose" than "press "play" on your loop recorder than press "play" on your sample deck while holding "brose" pressed

[@DeeJayEndo]

@erwinio007 You can use any controller along side the S4 controller. You would just load the TSI into the controller manager

[@DeeJayEndo]

@tdk650m When Sampling and using the Sample Decks, I always make sure Snap and Quantize is turned on. Try turning them both on. To "Resync" the sample decks just retrigger them and they will sync to the master deck

[@DeeJayEndo]

Make a deck a remix deck, hover over the Sample Slot (where the waveforms are displayed), and turn on the button that says "FX". Then make sure that the effect panel on the mixer next to the deck is turned on (the 1&2 buttons)

[@DeeJayEndo]

@IndieNooize HAHAHAHA nice one!

[@lxwvandenberg]

@BERTEDUS you have to turn on the FX for which ever deck you want to control... The buttons that say "1" and "2" under "FX" can be turned on/off.

[@registareumamerda]

tks ill try

[@DeeJayEndo]

@mattdmv Nope, the NS7 doesn't have a sampler. Honestly I don't know why any Traktor user would get anything besides the S4 as an all in one controller. It was made to control every function of Traktor. The more I use it, the more amazed I am by how much thought was put into this controller

[@Spinasso]

ok. Very good tutorial! I've already bought it and that thing does everything. 1 question: at 5:15 - 5:25 you say that he saves the loop in the library... how does that work exacly? I mean, is it automatic (just grab the loop,play it, and it's saved) ?? or do i need to...let's say, right click it on the sample area and chose "save as..." like i was on windows...?

[@NumptyButtkick]

Great video. 2 questions, when you drag a loop into the sample/remix decks, where is the actual .wav saved? (I ask so i can go find it and put it into my own loop folder on a seperate HD). Secondly, im using an S2, is there anyway of controlling say the volume/filter of the recorded sample thats playing on the S2 using the knobs rather than having to use the mouse? Cheers.

[@DeeJayEndo]

You need to turn the FX unit assignment buttons on for the channel you want to use the FX on, and turn the dry / wet knob up.

[@DeeJayEndo]

@MlkePortnoy If Deck C (for example) is set to be a sample deck, you can switch to Deck C on the controller and use the Move (Beatjump/Loop Move) knob and Loop Knob to control the volume and filter for the samples. Right now those knobs control all 4 sample decks volume and filters, however, to my knowledge there is not currently a way to change the volume and filters individually. I'm sure NI has something up their sleeve though ;-) ;-)

[@DeeJayEndo]

@07mi07ke07 there isn't a "key" knob on the S4, but you can map one if you'd like to change pitch when key lock is engaged. Just make a new midi device and choose the S4 "user" mapping to create your own layer of controls.

[@moodswings353]

Is it possible to control the volume for each sample using the controller? Also, can you add a akai lpd8 to control the samples? that would be sick !

[@DeeJayEndo]

@dusp2k Unfortunately no. There aren't volume or filter controls for the samples on the S4. There is a nice sample deck mapping for the X1. Stay tuned as I will have a better mapping =]

[@DeeJayEndo]

@MrRidisc I like how you spelled "Kontrol" that is very Native Instruments style! There is a sample deck add on mapping that Native Instruments will be releasing soon that will have volume and filter controls for every sample in the "FX" section. I will also be releasing my own hybrid Sample Deck X1 mapping as well. More info on that soon.

[@jordanhulme2391]

mate my sample doesn't have a volume or FX underneath, how can i make this happen?

[@DeeJayEndo]

@MikloYMagic I got one of them on ebay and the other was a gift from Richie Santana, a DJ from NYC. Last I checked they were all sold out though. If you find them online let everyone know because I get a lot of questions about those and they are hard to find.

[@DeeJayEndo]

@56kstunner After using the S4 I don't want to touch CDJ's again. I like the feel better, and you can do a lot more with it.

[@DeeJayEndo]

@The2z3r04yougirl The Traktor S4 is great for all DJ's from beginners to the most advanced!

[@DeeJayEndo]

@jauwjauw2 preferences - effects and in the global section at the top you can choose what effect your using by clicking the drop down menu. Then tweak them with the effects buttons on your controller

[@DeeJayEndo]

@Spac3D0C Traktor Kontrol S4 comes with both the Hardware and Software

[@MrKeepTrying]

you need to use the quantize function, whenever you're using sample decks its wise to have the S and Q buttons on

[@mattdmv]

I just played with the ns7 at guitar center, the only thing i didnt like is the smaller jog wheels again, do you think the ns7 will be a better controller for scatching? All my music is in mp3 format so no vinyl, i am going to be starting out djing, and its mainly for home usage

[@DeeJayEndo]

@Icevampir Currently there is no keylock mode for the sample decks. This is something that has been requested by a lot of users.

[@mattdmv]

i am thinking about purchasing the s4 over the ns7 mainly for sampler, does the ns7 have any sampler, the only thing i dont like about the s4 is the jog wheel size other than that i think its nice piece of hardware/software

[@Sabumnimgeh]

@DeeJayEndo How do you do that DJ Endo, there so much on this thing I just can't seem to get enough time i'm on it daily. Thanks anyway.

[@DeeJayEndo]

@DeviantDigi Did you try changing your screen layout to "Mixer" in the upper right hand side of the screen?

[@Z_EOS]

@DeeJayEndo ..thx man! i was actualy thinking there is some trick for it and the contoller have a mapping for this already from NI.....so lets do it my way :)) cool

[@DeeJayEndo]

@erwinio007 there is going to be an answer for that as well which we will tell you about as soon as we are allowed to :-)

[@teezdalien]

yeah... I wanna know, what kind of USB cable you're using there?.Looks sweet

[@DeeJayEndo]

@mattdmv The S4 is definitely better than the NS7 for scratching. The jog wheels are very reactive with no latency.

[@funkykid]

is this a better controller than the pioneer ddj ssb2?

[@DeeJayEndo]

@DeviantDigi You need the Traktor S4 software to use the sample decks

[@wanninggibbus]

hey just wondering how you get the filters to show up on the individual samples, you're talking about it right around 4:45. mine only has the volume showing. thanks for your help

[@erwinio007]

@DeeJayEndo sweet :) makin me excited :p lol

[@cristianpaultamas4195]

My homme studio...

[@SharedVision333]

When I but the controller, does the software come with it also? Thanks and OneLove

[@DeeJayEndo]

@The2z3r04yougirl the S4 is good for both beginners and the most advanced DJs

[@MlkePortnoy]

Are there allocated buttons for volume and filter control for the samples on the S4?

[@DeeJayEndo]

@Icevampir Not yet... I'm sure NI has something up their sleeve though ;-)

[@TheLouification]

@focousthemusic main out put and the gain for the channels

[@BlueThor1]

If sample decks are on deck B and C, is it possible to pre-listen, change the EQ's and apply effects to the samples ? Do they work as regular songs ?

[@erwinio007]

@DeeJayEndo alongside? AWESOME. thats great to know :) how about the traktor s4 software( no s4 Dj console) with an allen and heath mixer? sorry for bugging you btw :)

[@maramanand1]

can i know if i can adjust the bpm of the sample decks so that i can play the two tracks on a&b decks and have all the samples running in sync with the tracks continously while im playing live.....? it would be really helpfull if u tell me how to do it

[@djstreaming9327]

how can i trigger the remix decks all at once and in sync? and have better control over triggering the samples i load into them individually? I have the traktor controller S4 but not the traktor F1 controller

[@gimentmelodic]

yuhuuuuuuu

[@DeeJayEndo]

@StrattonLOLfail yes its called transpose stretch. You can also use the key lock and the "key" knob to do this.

[@doctorshabs]

Can this be done , sample decks usage, using just a 2 channel mixer?

[@Z_EOS]

is there a way how you can control the volume and filter rate of sampledecks without using mouse? i need to setup the volume and filter size of sampledecks if Iam playing, so will be much easyer if i can do it on controler instead of laptop....thanx!!!

[@mattjparker]

so wht you guys think of this thing, and getting rid of your timecodes/cdjs? ..i am currenltly in that position