There are as many ways to DJ as there are types of pasta, and if you’ve ever made lasagna with macaroni noodles then you know how important it is that you have all the right tools as your disposal. Figuring out what you need to accommodate your style of DJing means finding the right equipment and software to get the job done.
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Lowest Price - Traktor Scratch Pro]
Traktor has been putting out various forms of DJ software and equipment since, well since forever. This year they’ve released Traktor Scratch Pro, a digital vinyl control system that lets you—the DJ—control audio files through specially coded CDs and vinyl discs.
To find out if this can help make you a better spinner, keep reading my Traktor Scratch Pro review.
What You Get With Traktor Scratch Pro
Getting a new piece of DJ equipment makes me feel like a kid on Christmas. I giddily open the box to see what’s in it, and since I’m no longer a kid I like to make sure I’m getting everything my hard-earned money paid for. When I opened the Traktor Scratch Pro box, here’s what I found:
- USB 2.0
- Instruction Manual & Quick Start Guide
- 8-channel audio interface
- 2 time-coded CDs
- Tractor Scratch Pro software
- XLR to RCA cables
- 2 12-inch vinyl disks, time-coded
So everything is here, now let’s see how it all works.
Traktor Scratch Hardware
The Traktor Scratch hardware is a pretty sturdy piece of equipment. The audio interface device is solid with additional hardware pieces so you can mount it on your DJ rack. The inputs on the Traktor Scratch Pro, 8 in total, allow you to plug multiple controllers into the unit. Add turntables or CDs or both to accommodate your DJing needs.
The Traktor Scratch Pro connects easily to your computer, using the USB 2.0 cable that comes in the box. The one downside here is that you don’t have the option of using firewire, which some DJs might find useful.
As I began my Traktor Scratch Pro review one thing that really impressed me was the LED indicators that help you identify and correct problems as they arise. These indicators let you easily see if channels aren’t receiving signals so you can get your connections under control quickly. As a DJ I’m happy that Native Instruments thought to include this feature on the Traktor Scratch Pro.
Traktor Scratch Pro Software
First things first, the Traktor Scratch Pro software is included with your purchase but you can also buy the software on its own if you want to mix tracks independently. One of the most important functions of software aimed at DJs is functionality, which Traktor Scratch Pro provides in spades. You can easily manage your music library regardless of file types or file location, which is important when exporting your music into a new software system.
If you’re constantly making changes to your sound library then you will love the library analysis program that allows you to relocate or delete tracks that have been moved around or deleted. As a DJ I am often tweaking tracks and sets, and this option can lessen the time it takes you to find tracks that get moved around as you experiment with different sounds.
If the Traktor Scratch Pro is your first DJ software then you’ll really be impressed with the tool tips feature that teaches you what each of the many buttons does so that once you’re all set up, you have all the information you need to get started.
Easy Set Up?
With so many easy to install DJ software systems on the market, it has become a given that your software must not cause a headache. Luckily Traktor Scratch Pro is fairly easy to set up. One note however is that the activation key is not where the start guide said it would be, but it is in the box so with a little bit of searching you can easily find it.
Setting up the unit was simple and didn’t come with an abundance of cords crowding my DJing space. Any DJ who has ever been inundated with cords and even had a few near-misses will appreciate the tree wires that come with this unit. Instead of having a million (give or take) wires wrapping around your feet and crawling up your legs, Traktor Scratch Pro has one wire with all the connections at the end so you can easily set up in a minimalist way.
It shouldn’t take you more than a half hour to set up the hardware and software and get ready to DJ.
Cost
With all the options you get, including Traktor Scratch Pro software and hardware you would expect this to cost you a couple thousand dollars, but you would be wrong. The Traktor Scratch Pro price is quite reasonable, costing about $600 which is a good cost for new DJ equipment and an excellent price for professional DJs.
The set up is easy and the options are plentiful, so you can trust that if you buy Traktor Scratch Pro, you’re getting a good deal.
Final Word
There are so many things to like and a few to dislike about the Traktor Scratch Pro. One of the things I enjoyed and I think many DJs will too is the many offerings for mixing. You get manual and automatic beat counters, manual and auto looping systems, several cue points, FX system and even auto syncing of tracks built into the software. The provides a nice set of features that allow you to mix music your way.
The set up is easy and the software is more than easy to use whether you’re a beginner or experienced DJ. The clean cord system is and continues to be one of the most impressive aspects from this DJ’s perspective.
The options for hotkeys aren’t readily available which can cause problems for DJs accustomed to working from a laptop. On the other hand you can create your own hotkeys, if you can figure it out.
In this DJ’s opinion, after one Traktor Scratch Pro demo you’ll be ready to fork over the cash so you can get it home and start DJing ASAP.
