D
igital Nat
TRAKTOR SCRATCH
ion
Developer: Native Instruments
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Traktor Scratch is going to be to the DJ world what the CDJ-1000 was mixes. It’s small enough to fit into the tiniest DJ booth too and, better
when it first came out. Forget CDJs and CD decks – don’t buy them still, features 24-Bit 96KHz Cirrus converters as standard so that the So, what else does this superlative NI product have to offer? Cool
– buy yourself a copy of this and hook it up to your computer or laptop quality of your audio is always ultra crisp. features – like when you flip the vinyl your computer will skip to the
instead. Traktor Scratch is a fantastic production tool in its own right next track. The B-side has deeper grooves for scratch DJs too. So now,
but it’s not just limited to DJs. Sampling vinyl is one of the most crucial Now onto the software – built on a customised Traktor 3 engine – it you’ll never have to buy a scratch vinyl again to create DJ Premier style
practices for dance music producers today, and there’s no better way boasts a ton of effects and powerful NI filters. These allow you to morph productions because you can just sample whatever you want and then
to do it than through this program. Before we get to the creative tricks your mixes on the fly with effects like instant looping, selectable loop proceed to scratch the living hell out of it. Traktor also can correct the
that will help you make outstanding tunes, let’s have a look at Traktor’s size and track copying between each deck. Not only can you use these pitch of a track, or speed it up drastically without altering its pitch – two
core functions. effects on your iTunes library, but on your iPod because of Traktor’s essential features for mash-up DJs and remixers. Finally, there is a tab
instant playlist recognition. You can even scroll through your tunes by at the bottom of the Traktor window allowing you to browse Beatport
Traktor has been around for a little while, but only in software form. This moving the vinyl plate; everything you play through it is instantly nor- tunes and purchase them on the fly, which makes the package even
software previously allowed you to manipulate songs on your computer malised so that you never have to mess about with gain controls again; more intrinsic.
only via third party hardware from the likes of companies like Stanton. there is an emergency mono mode in case one of the stereo signals
But now that Native Instruments have got to grips with the hardware fails; and, don’t forget, the ability to record a mix is a simple as pressing Condensing your entire vinyl collection onto your computer might take a
market (through successful product launches like Kore) they’ve gained a button, and this is where you can create some cool production tricks... while, but it’s something worth doing now rather than later via Traktor. If
enough knowledge to make an integrated all-in-one package for DJs that you don’t want to get left behind in the DJ world, and if you’re too much
not only includes Traktor but also an audio interface to hook up to your If you want to mess with the pitch of beats and loops in an organic way of a purist to ‘cheat’ by using snap-to-fit audio programs like Ableton
computer, as well as all the relevant cables and some time-coded vinyl that simply cannot be replicated on a sequencer, then Traktor should Live, then Traktor Scratch is THE essential purchase because it’s not
plates / CDs. The premise is, when it’s all set up, that you just pop the be your tool of choice. Just check out super-producer Timbaland’s work just great for DJing, but represents – in the full bundle – an awesome
bundled CD into a CD deck or the vinyl plate onto a vinyl deck, and then where (usually on his bridges) he cuts up his loop and screws the producer tool and a great no-nonsense soundcard. But how much does
you can mix your entire iTunes library live. This surely represents the release times of his beats – he does it on Traktor [e.g. ‘Give It To Me’, it cost in its various configurations? The full package retails at £450;
final frontier for DJ mixing – an entire library of music on one HD. ‘Put You On The Game’, etc.] Also, you can record anything you do on the crossgrade from Final Scratch and Serato Scratch Live costs £300;
Traktor into your sequencer, which can then be incorporated into a song. spare vinyl is £16; spare CDs are £8; the Audio 8 DJ Interface costs
The audio interface that comes with the package is a soundcard of sorts So, for example, you could have your tune drop, then record yourself £300 and the Traktor Scratch DJ Studio 3 software on its own weighs in
– a solid bombproof box that has been built to last, complete with a doing a rewind – and drop it again for a nice effect; or do a spinback at £149. So forget what the purists stuck in the past say – digital is the
tasty aluminium finish – and when it’s plugged in it looks rather special at the end; or do P. Diddy-style kick drum juggling – the possibilities way forward – get involved with Traktor Scratch.
with its 20 red status LEDs flashing. The “Audio 8”, as it’s called, boasts are endless. A really nice technique is to mess about with a vinyl plate
eight I/O, MIDI I/O and a _” headphone connector, so when you’re not attached to a Reece or dirty effect sample for about ten minutes and
spinning on the wheels of steel you can use it for all your studio routing then edit out the weirdest sounds. Drum & bass and especially hip hop
needs. The two additional stereo outputs can alternatively be fed by producers will get the most out of Traktor Scratch here, within a creative
Traktor’s send FX, which gives the user great scope for mangling their studio environment.
K78-79_DigitalNation.indd 79 8/6/07 19:10:40
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