Moving from Traktor…
I have been a NI Traktor user since v1 (around 2000). I am not a professional DJ, although I’ve used it for performances, radio, etc over the years quite a bit. During that time, I have also used Pioneer equipment (CDJ’s and Controllers) with Rekordbox, Denon SC6000 decks with Engine DJ, and spent a little time with DVS systems as well. Through all of that, I kept coming back to Tratkor.
On the whole, I appreciated Traktor’s stability, excellent UI (barring the issues with retina displays on OSX), and the overall feeling that I could create something new from the tracks I was playing with the effects, looping, etc. It always felt “complete” and usable, even when it was lagging behind other software in serious ways.
What changed?
Although NI’s slow update cycle and the current uncertainty about Traktor’s future certainly play a role, it was actually OneLibrary that pushed me over the edge towards Djay Pro. That is a KILLER feature that really opens up the playing field for everyone…and it may take months (years!) before Traktor implements it (if at all!).
I’ve now been using Djay Pro for a few weeks, have been working to get my library moved over and prepared, and have recorded a few sets with the new software/hardware combination (Xone K3 get’s a big thumbs up from me). Given all of the issues with NI and Traktor, I think that many Traktor users will be looking for a solid alternative. Djay Pro has a lot of the ingredients that they’re looking for, and could be even better with some tweaks…
What I miss.
Here are my suggestions:
- Make the effects more powerful. I think most people agree that Traktor’s effects section is wonderful. The variety, sound quality, and controls have always been excellent and very intuitive. While I appreciate Djay Pro’s fun effects, most of them I will never use as I consider them somewhat gimmicky. The standard effects (delays, reverbs, flanger, phaser, etc) sound good on Djay Pro, but they lack a little strength. In Djay Pro, the effects seem like “seasoning”, while in Traktor the effects can be tweaked to become the main dish. Practically, it would help if the effects could be made louder compared to the original signal, delay and reverb feedback extended (and controllable!), etc. Add some punch and more controllability. I’m not an open-format DJ, but I suspect the current effects work great for that, but I think many techno/electronic dj’s may wish for more…
- Overall Sound Quality. When I listen to Djay Pro on my monitors, it sounds fine. When I switch to Traktor, it sounds EXCELLENT! I know that NI was doing some voodoo on Traktor’s output (Ozone?), but it all comes down to this: when I A/B tested Traktor vs Djay Pro on my monitors for my girlfriend and asked her which she thought sounded better (with the same track, EQ, volume level etc), she chose Traktor every single time, regardless of the genre of music I was playing.
- Deck UI visual separation. When I look at the overall UI of Traktor, it is not only generally appealing, but each “section” of the UI feels distinct. You can easily pick out the individual decks, the mixer section, library, effects controls, etc…even from across the room. There’s a slight bit of (almost Sci-Fi?) skeumorphic design in Traktor that makes it feel like you’re using a control panel or physical instrument. That is largely missing in Djay Pro. A great example of this is 4 deck mixing in Traktor vs Djay Pro. Traktor looks clean and useable, Djay looks quite jumbled, and I find myself getting visually “lost” and having to reorient myself. I definitely prefer the Traktor default where both the scrolling detail waveform and the whole track overview are both in the same visual “box”, and I have not been able to find a way to get Djay Pro to replicate that. Practically, I think that Djay Pro can solve ALL of that with a minor UI overhaul. I don’t think it needs to look like Traktor, but I think that Djay Pro could certainly benefit from the visual separation that Traktor has.
- Metronome for Beat Gridding. Such a simple thing that I miss a lot. Much of my library has complex, difficult-to-grid waveforms. If I was having trouble getting the grids right via automatic or visual means, having that metronome made a great last resort. That being said, I find that Djay does a better job gridding the tracks than most software, but I certainly have quite a few tracks that it hasn’t been able to figure out. The metronome would help.
- More EQ and Filter options. I love that Traktor gives you a few different options for filter and eq types and sounds. More is better. In particular, I think the default EQ on Traktor sounds a bit more “musical”, but I’d be hard-pressed to say why. Also, the Djay Pro filter resonance settings are either too tame, or too aggressive. I’d love something in between. Even better would be the ability to change the resonance via the controller.
- Loop Section. It seems like we’re not able to create our own loops? If that’s not the case, that should be a high priority. Loops > Samples all day every day.
I’m sure there are more, but that’s what I had top-of-mind at the moment. With these addressed, I think Djay Pro starts pulling more and more Traktor users away. We’re definitely looking for the right replacement!
