As we’ve been expecting since it was photo-outed by a forum member, Numark has now officially announced the 4Trak controller for Traktor.
The 4Trak is based upon the high-end Numark NS6 Serato ITCH controller hardware, but adds a fully fledged angled effects unit (similar to the add-on for the NS7 to turn it into the NS7FX), and firmware optimised for Traktor.
The hardware
The Numark 4Trak has roughly the same features as the NS6, including a four-channel mixer (it’s not clear if the external “standalone” deck / CD / mic inputs can be routed into Traktor for effects, sampling and so on: You’d hope this were the case), and control over Traktor’s effects and filters from the bolt-on effects device at the back (which comes as standard). It adds rotating LEDs to make the platters look flashy, and touchstrips for easy scrubbing, plus the obvious addition of a detachable effects trip across the back (it plugs into the main unit, so doesn’t require an extra USB on your computer).
The new firmware in particular should give tight jogwheel performance with Traktor – something which is lacking in the NS6’s Traktor mapping.
“We wanted to give DJs the ultimate performance tool for Traktor,” said Chris Roman, Senior Product Manager for Numark. This is it — 4Trak represents the most precise hardware-software integration for Traktor, and it’s built like a tank.”
The software
The Numark 4Trak comes with a custom version of Traktor designed specially for it, rather than an LE version – think of it as “LE on steroids”. This is similar to what Pioneer does with its DDJ-T1 controller, and I suspect that unlike your typical LE offerings, this supplied version will suffice for most users.
The controller is due in the next few weeks with and estimates US street price of $1,099.
Hi-res photo gallery & press release
- Go and see all the press photos in the Numark 4Trak Photo Gallery on our Facebook Page
- Check out the full text of the press release from Numark over on the Digital DJ Tips Newswire: Numark Announces 4Trak, A 4-Channel Traktor Controller With FX Kommand Console
- Keep following Digital DJ Tips all week as we head over to NAMM to bring you daily in-depth coverage of everything else that’s new for DJs from this year’s show
What do you think? Is an NS6 optimised for Traktor with a bolt-on effects section your idea of DJ heaven, or does it all look a bit cobbled together to you? And what do you think of that price? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
Phil Morse
