Product Review – TRAKTOR KONTROL F1 From Native Instruments

Traktor Kontrol F1 DJ Controller is a new product from Native Instruments. It is hardware for controlling the powerful new Remix Decks in TRACTOR PRO 2.5 – the software that is included with the TRAKTOR KONTROL F1 as well as NI's other DJ software. This controller gives you the ability to launch clips in a DJ-centric way, control your Remix Decks as you would other track decks, and switch between up to 64 tracks, loops, and one-shots on each of the four decks that the software provides.

TRAKTOR KONTROL F1 has its roots in the djing world and its workflow stems from its culture. Remix Sets are made up of your individual loops and one-shot sounds that you load just like regular tracks. You have your drums, base, percussion, vocals, and lead sounds at the ready for creating your performance.

The TRAKTOR KONTROL F1 comes as two parts – the TRACTOR PRO 2.5 software, and the TRAKTOR KONTROL F1 hardware unit. The software has been known for years for its rock solid four deck capability that allows you to mix right as soon as you have it installed. The F1 unit is meant for hands on control of an entire Remix Deck with access to the 64 loops and samples which can be loaded, arranged, and mixed through the hardware.

TRACTOR PRO 2.5

The TRACTOR PRO 2.5 is mixing software for DJ's, for live remixing, and improvisation. It comes with four decks that can be set to any combination of regular decks, Remix Decks, or live capture. In regular mode, you can load tracks up to be played straight as they are or in combination with other Remix Decks to create your own remix of a track.

As a Remix Deck, you have access to a loop suite that is made up of 64 slots that you can pre-made Remix sets, create, build, and save your own Remix Sets, or add to, or modify existing sets. Each slot or cell can hold a loop or a one-shot sample to which you can load from the included TRAKTOR content, import from your hard drive, or capture live. If you are a producer you can break down your tracks and jam or build your productions in a DJ sort of way. You can even mix out of your remix session and into a regular track deck at any time.

Article Author: T. Michael Testi

T. Michael Testi is a writer and a photographer out of Edmond Oklahoma. You can see his photographic and art work at T Michael Imaging.

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