(There’s a knowledge base article that covers the exact combo on each hardware unit.) As with other NI gear, you can swap into MIDI mode from the usual “works-with-NI’s-own-software” mode with two keypresses. Every button apart from shift is MIDI mapped, which is good – and now since no drivers are required, that’ll be the case if you plug into an iPad or a Linux-based Raspberry Pi as well as your Mac or PC. MIDI functionality is also straightforward in generic operation. And you can do all of this customization easily in the dialog, a lot more easily than other DJ solutions – even in some cases from NI. Note in the second screenshot that you can customize assignment for the number button triggers, nudge, shift functionality, and so on. In Traktor’s preferences, you can customize colors and lighting, and details like the elapsed time on the display. On boot, you can choose which FX slots and decks to match right on the unit. In its launch state, though, the functionality is pretty simple – if useful. There’s clearly a ton of potential on this hardware – tantalizingly teased in the elaborate animations that scroll when you power up the unit. ![]() That mix mode was previously available with custom mappings, but having it built in is far easier to manage and means you can swap between FX and mix easily.Īnd as you’ll see in the shots, there are also a lot of fun new design elements. I believe in that use case, especially because not all of your friends are going to own CDJs. With sync enabled, you can do an entire DJ set on the X1 MK3 – handy for an afterparty or a visit to a friend (provided you have a computer, of course). The other big improvement is that there’s a built in mix mode, which you can access right from the unit. Quite frankly, I think it’s more fun to loop on the lowly X1 than it is on a CDJ3000 (sorry, sorry – ducks!). Looping is so much fun, actually, that I find I play differently on this than I do on other gear. You can set decks to A or B and C or D – so it also can be an extra deck controller, depending on your setup. Looping with the encoders is precise enough, so I expect while someone will miss the touch strip, a lot of folks won’t. The X1 still excels at what it did originally – it’s great for adding hands-on FX and EQ controls and quickly setting loops. Play and sync buttons are also separated, which is a big improvement. ![]() Those are now marked with left and right arrows, which at first might lead you to think they’re for navigation, but that location is a better position. ![]() They’ve moved the FX assignment buttons to the top. On the other hand, it means with one adapter or a USB B – to C cable, the X1 can be an adapter for all your other USB-A/B devices.ĭespite dropping the touch strip, most stuff is where it was. That they didn’t include USB-C on brand-new hardware is a surprise, and even suggests this design may have been on the shelf for a while. It also includes a Traktor DJ Pro license, so this makes a great starter DJ solution.Īll of the connections are USB A/B. Ambient lighting on the underside with customization.Lighting feedback (on the controls) which indicates loops and tracks nearing their end, for instance.Five OLED displays, for track progress / name / loop size / effect parameters.Browse encoders are back from the MK1 (dropped on the MK2).An additional row of dedicated controls, which means less shift-key functions (though they’ve also changed around some of the control mappings).On the MK3, you get various improvements to the hardware: Other than that, though, the MK2 looks pretty crude by comparison to the much nicer MK3, in its controls, knob caps, and segmented number displays. Gone from the old X1 MK2 is the touch strip – which means you also don’t have its control over pitch bend / track seek / etc. For Traktor, you’ll need Traktor Pro 3.10 or later for integration. It’s also now driverless – so it’ll work with anything in MIDI mode. It’s primarily intended as a Traktor controller, but a two-key combo transforms it into a generic MIDI controller. It’s intended as an FX/EQ/cue/loop section, now with basic mixing, too. If you know the X1 series, this is still an X1 – bringing together user-favored features from both the MK1 and MK2. ![]() So what can it do at launch – for Traktor, or even as a MIDI controller for other software? Features and layout This version adds additional controls, lots of aesthetic touches, and functionality that incorporates what had previously required user hacks. The X1 line has always found some fans at for its simplicity and compact size. In the first glimpse of new-generation hardware from NI, the company is offering an MK3 revision of its Traktor X1 controller.
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