Ean Golden: "The browse knob is touch sensitive so it opens the library full-screen when you touch it. That's pretty cool." Mojaxx: "I found this feature incredibly irritating and it's the first thing I switched off."
I still find X1 better, if you are mixing normal sets. Face it you don't want those chessy FX all over the place, but subtle ones that just add a little bit to mix, something crowd wont notice, but will add to transitions.
I've always wondered why NI seem reluctant to build controllers that let you access all 8 cues. 4 or five are usually the minimum I want just to mark out the key passages in a track, and it would be really nice to also have a few odd ones for grabbing off-beat hits or notes. Like always, it's on the user to figure a way to work that in.
Thanks for the review. I'd like a X1 with: - Clean knobs from mk2 - 1 Browse Knob for each Deck like in the mk1 - Loop count display from mk2 - No Touchstrip ( I found myself never using it)
hey Ean, i just got me a kontrol x1 mk2, and as an oldskool dj , recently (this week!) starting with traktor, the touchstrip for pitch bending is really not intuitive. I was think to buy 2 x1mk2's but i think to go for the x1mk1 i miss those pitch bend buttons like hell. ! By the way coming from vinyl until recently and denon dn-s3500's it's a new strange but exciting world, and stems songs + F1 omg how powerfull !
i love how he pointed out the flaws he sees in it, especially considering it's for sale on DJTT website haha. I think ill pick one up and map it, dont have an x1 anyways
Hello, I'm planning to buy 2 x Z1 and 1 x X1 for effects on the master though. Is this set-up possible? I know that in general you are able to apply certain effects to more than one deck, so getting the X1 to act on the master should be doable, but I have found different opinion online about this whole set-up. Would be very nice if this was possible and more info on how to implement were provided! Thanks!
Dont know where he got his, but i got mine from Riz at usbfirewire Pricey, but I reckon its worth it. Better that a 4 port hub and a pair of zig-zagging cables
I really don't know what he means about the push and pull. I much prefer this to the MK1 and can easily beatmatch with external sources, by using the touchstrips..
I think Ian misses the point of the pitch bend on the touchstrip.... the X1MK2 feels more like a CDJ/turntable in that you bend by swiping the platter... on this you swipe the strip in a similar way
DJTT: hey, I am looking for a straight forward site/document for BASIC mapping for both my X1 Mk2 and Z2 Mixer, as I am a novice to mapping, as I want to do it right. Any other ideas besides the NI Forms Page and what is posted on the DJTT web site ? You folks are awesome !
nice review! I will also stick with the old one. I agree some of the new features are really sexy. but not worth putting the money down. At least not for me. Thx for the review anyways ;) as usual great and entertainig. I can only say....keep em comming! ;) cheers
They seriously needs a price drop. Native instruments have lost their goddamn mind. High end sound cards, metal chasis and 8 cue point buttons are a start. I have an s2 and I think its time for an upgrade...vci 400 here I come
I know this is super late lol. But i guess by now people have found out that the touch strip could be used to beat match which is probably the most important thing :) Great review!
I'm looking for a relatively cheap rotary knob MIDI controller to work with Live and Traktor. Would this be appropriate and if not, what is your suggestion?
Maybe you've already made a choice, but if I were you I would go for the Novation Launch Control. It has 16 rotary knobs and 8 pads, with 16 different midi channels, which makes it a 16x16 and 16x8 controller, a lot of control for a small thing! I'm using it too and I really like it. Novation also just released the Launch Control XL. I haven't really looked into it, but maybe it's something for you!
The MK2 has some cool features but its noway near a fair tradeoff for older MK1 users whove remapped their controllers. This one seems a bit more suited to beginners which would be all good however it means the discontinuation of the MK1, which is a problem for me as eventually the buttons do fail inside any of these controllers after years of use. You can replace the buttons but there is only a certain number of times you can solder on new ones to the board :(
nice video, what about the browser knob, can you click it, and if u do, can u sample the track like the one on the S4 quickly before u decide to load? if so, like this they improved the browse load functionality... thanks
I think NI has forgotten about the mapping editor over their past releases, which is very disappointing, because they release great controllers but limit their potential by not updating the mapping editor according to the new developments. I actually have been working on a Midi remapper that will be routed between the controller and traktor, allowing much more features to be used with one controller.
Hi ! Great Review ! I Need Help please - How Do i Map the X1 MK2 ? i wanna switch btwn the loop size to the beat jump - i mean - i wanna do beat jump without pressing the shift button, and i want when i pres shift and move the encoders that then this will decide the length 4-8-16 .... anyone understand me ? hahah :) please help ! - thank u !!!! :))))))
THANKS foryour honest opinion Ean. I Feel comfortable knowing I don't need to upgrade.Which is great coz I've only just purchused the x1 12months ago. ThANks for all your hard and honest reviews Ean.
I'm getting back into DJing & have had the X1 in my sights for a while. Great review! Which setup should I go for: Kontrol X1, Kontrol X1 MK2, & a 2-channel mixer OR a Kontrol X1, F1, & 2-channel mixer? I don't plan on scratching. I wanna make remixes, podcasts/mixtapes, & create my own library of samples for live sets
Im really interested in this controller! but just say ive got a song at 126bpm and a song at 129bpm and i dont want to use the sync button and want to beatmatch how would i do that on this controller? thanks guys!
I think it was shift+(L or R) encoder (depending on deck). I saw a review by digitaldjtools and he mentioned it for a quick sec. Only place ive seen it mentioned. let me know if it works!
I know this is late, but for anyone else who had this issue as well - I didn't like how the default mapping's tempo adjustments (sync + either deck's rotary) gives you weird .001 BPM's... So I re-mapped the sync button to Add in > Deck Common > Tempo Sync. This way, it ONLY grabs the exact tempo of the other track (or master, rather) instead of also trying to launch the track in "sync," for those of us that would rather mix with our ears.
You can't. Also, jogwheels are the the turntables you see on DJ turntables. I think you are talking about scratching. You can scratch on mixers, but it is sorta complicated. You move the cross fader from one bank to the other quickly, and although you won't here the scratch noise, it'll make the effect. Watch the white noise video to make a sort of scratch effect.
Lennard Nieuwland In this case your statement is incorrect. A mixer such as the djm 900 has an internal soundcard which makes an external one unnecessary. I still don't know what kind of usb-hub I need to use...
You can use a normal one, then the controllers use power from your laptop. If you use a powered one, they dont use power from the laptop. I use two X1's a Maschine Jam and a Maschine, so 4 devises with a powered USB hub
Yaakob Williams Yes I know how to do that. But I was talking about the ability to do pitch bending with that strip. I'm switching from a Denon MC3000. Do you have one of this? Do you have comments about it? That would be really useful.
