Pairing it with an X1 certainly makes sense for a small set-up, especially as the new X1s will have a touchstrip for easier deck control, but get more complicated than that and I don’t see the advantage in modular a small all-in-one DJ controller to me would be more convenient than fiddling around with two or three modular devices that won’t really save you much space, plus a sound card. The “Mode” button doesn’t do anything, though, which is a shame. There’s not much to say here really you plug it in, it is recognised instantly, it all works. Might have been nice seeing as the Kontrol Z1 has its own power supply to have also squeezed a couple more USB sockets on the back so it could act as a powered hub for extra modular units. Over in PC/Mac land, you need to grab Traktor 2.6.2 from the Service Center if you’re already a Traktor user, otherwise Traktor LE 2 is in the box, with a $50 upgrade if you want to grab the full version of Traktor at a later date. Here, the Z1 becomes part of a potentially bigger modular set-up, so for instance you could pair it with a Kontrol F1 and/or a Kontrol X1 to give you transport, Remix Deck and mixing capabilities, although you’re going to start eating up USBs that way. An iPad could therefore be left permanently plugged in in such situations, charging and providing background music, ready for a spot of DJing as and when. ![]() I can see it fitting nicely behind cramped, Amsterdam-style bars as the house DJ system, especially as it will happily act as an audio interface for whatever music you happen to have playing on your iPad (Traktor Kontrol Z1 appears as an audio option in the AirPlay menu). It’s all about Traktor DJ, really, which remains a wonderful piece of software – smooth, responsive, minimal and just fun to use! The Kontrol Z1 adds even more fun, and the whole thing still throws easily in a shoulder bag. It felt a bit weird seeing a crossfader on the screen move up and down when you moved the Kontrol Z1’s left to right, but apart from that it’s all really slick. Turns out that having a two channel mixer with a filter seems to really be all you need as far as physical controls go to DJ with Traktor DJ, as the other functions really work best using the touchscreen (and of course beatgridding and sync mean there’s no need for great timing when dropping tunes in anyway). Certainly being able to preview tunes in stereo as opposed to using a mono splitter cable felt nice. The audio interface sounds good, and the cable also means the device charges the iPad (remember the Kontrol Z1 has to be plugged into 15V DC to work with iOS). How it all plugs in is one thing, but where do you physically put the iPad and mixer? I demo my choice of layout in the video later… I plumped for the iPad to the left of the Kontrol Z1, angled upwards with a Smart Case set to the “shallow angle” setting. So you’ll have to buy an adaptor or source a compatible Lightning cable if you have a current iPad or iPod.Īnyway, once you’re plugged in to an iOS device (I used an iPad), the next step is to try and find a good “playing” layout. ![]() Seems a bit weird to me to put a 30-pin adaptor in there when iPads and iPhones all have Lightning adaptors nowadays, and it’s not just a case of swapping it for your charging lead, either, because the USB socket is the “appliance” end, not the “computer” end such as with a charging lead. There’s a standard USB cable too, as well as the usual sheet of Traktor and Native Instruments stickers should you wish to pimp your gear. ![]() On the front is a small (1/8”) headphones jack, and the back has a USB out (for computer and iOS a 30-pin lead is provided as well as a standard USB cable), and twin RCA audio outs.Īlso on the back is a 15V DC socket the provided transformer comes with four different adaptor slot-ons for various territories. It has the usual Native Instruments black matt plastic underside with jumbo rubber feet the lip at the front has “Kontrol Z1″ written on it in the new Traktor font and the Traktor and NI logos are on the top lip. First Impressions / Setting up While the new Traktor Kontrol Z1 is designed to work with iOS devices and laptops, it’s with iOS that we think it really shines.Ī modular device the same size as the Traktor Kontrol F1 and Traktor Kontrol X1 units, although with a glossy surface like the Traktor Kontrol Z2, the Traktor Kontrol Z1 is small and lightweight.
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