Prepare for takeoff – Serato DJ is splashed across the company’s website, and is scheduled for November 1. Serato today announced Serato DJ, the successor to its controller software and the long-awaited. Headline features include Midi mapping, and all-new effects powered by iZotope. The first DJ controller to be bundled with Serato DJ in the box will be called the, launched to coincide with the software on November 1. Meanwhile, the software will be made available to users of current Serato ITCH controllers in a rolling programme throughout winter. Main features of Serato DJ Here are the important new features of Serato DJ, which build on the features of Serato ITCH:.
Midi mapping. Finally, Midi mapping comes to Serato. Want to map your SP-6 sample player to external hardware?
Feel like adding a pad controller for your FX? It’s all now possible. While Midi mapping will only be possible for secondary controller initially (ie you won’t be able to remap your main controller), the second part is coming down the line. New FX from iZotope. Delay, echo, ping pong delay, reverb, phaser, flanger, distortion, HP filter, LP filter, combo filter. Combo filter.
Just to draw your attention to that last effect, now there is a combo filter. This means if your controller doesn’t have a one-knob filter, you can select it in the FX section and use it from there. Double the cue points. There are now eight cue-points available for jumping to different sections of your tracks. New user interface.
Serato wouldn’t let us see any screenshots at this stage, so we’ll have to take their word that the “greatly improved software layout” is just that First thoughts An was of course a gaping hole in Serato’s strategy that had to be filled. Now, controllers like the and can finally control four decks in Serato. Also, things like the new FX and the one-knob filter are long-wished for improvements. But overall, this release is less about features, more about acknowledging that the Native Instruments approach (Midi mappability, one piece of software with variations to cover all bases) makes the most sense. “Serato DJ brings us a step closer to a unified customer experience across our entire product range.” says Serato CEO Sam Gribben. That quote seems to suggest the company’s longer-term plan is indeed to have just the one piece of software that works with everything, including digital vinyl. So I think we can expect Serato Scratch Live to become “Serato DJ Scratch” at some point.
Like with Native Instruments, however, I suspect you will always pay a premium on top if you want to use the software with digital vinyl solutions (ie as with ). That’s not to say this is copycat stuff, though. Serato’s unique selling points continue to mark it apart. It has true plug and play, and offers video DJing as an option, for starters.
( has the latter as standard, but is still not as easy to set up as Serato. Ease of set-up is a major bug-bear for DJs switching to digital, and something Serato has always addressed well.) Also, Serato DJ still retains a more traditional mix of DJ-oriented features. Primarily, the new software doesn’t try to walk a route similar to that trodden by (and indeed in the delayed ). So far, this “Ableton Lite” tack has had a mixed market response for Native Instruments, and could yet prove to be a courageous but ultimately niche path for the company. While Serato Scratch Live has The Bridge for Ableton, there’s no sign of its integration here.
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Meanwhile, if Serato’s changes mean some of the objections to the platform are judged to have been answered, the company may have just repositioned itself into a space where it can grow far more rapidly among controller DJs. So, you’ll now be able to Midi map your Serato software to extra control surfaces without hacking. Does this and the other improvements above signal a strong repositioning for Serato among controller DJs? I’d love to hear your thoughts below. This is the best news Serato has had in long time.
Was worried that Traktor was taking over and as a Pioneer Hardware lover I was worried the new Traktor Mixer might be the beginning of the end, but this stops all that. If priced right, which is a big if, Pioneer should sell these like crazy and Serato may get some converts who don’t want a Kontrol mixer, Kontrol units, a Maschine, etc all over the DJ booth. Plus the people that have Itch don’t get screwed over. I suspect that A&H/ Xone will come out with a new Read more ». I have a Novation Twitch and use both platforms. I too was afraid that Serato was just going to silently slip away into obscurity because they announced very little and answered few questions for a very long time. Traktor 2.5 was a very big step for Native Instruments and honestly I like it more than I do ITCH right now even though ITCH has over-under wave comparison, pinch loops (optional Serato Video) and Slicer mode (synch just rubs me the wrong way in ITCH).
I’m OK with Ableton Live in the background (for samples and using VSTs and such) and Read more ». Itch is finally being “fixed” and brought up more in-line with what it should be to take on Traktor (and it still has a long way to go, btw)and now there’s only ONE product for Serato to maintain!
This means that they can focus their entire team on ONE DJ product while developing other exciting things at the same time. New FX, Midi-mapping, new interfacewhat’s not to love about the sound of this? Looking forward to giving it a proper test-drive! Now I just hope that they fix their crummy beatgridding to be more in line with Traktor Read more ». Hi guys: i was wondering if mapping would mean to allow using Serato DJ with 2 twitch devices connected to one only laptop? The reason why is: I am mixing in a group of DJs where we all have our controller and laptop that we connect to a mixer (or the general console of the club).
Some of the guys are turning into twitch following me and i was thinking we could assign one twitch to 2 of the 4 decks, and the second one to the 2 decks left. Meaning we could better prepare the following set Read more ».
'Just bought my F1 and I am having so much fun. Do not forget to download the remix sets on NAtive Instruments website, the have a pack with about 20 sets for free. Then enjoy the experience.
It takes a few minutes to go through the controls and understand how it works all together. Even for people who are not familiar with the Native Instrument DJ controllers, it is accessible to anybody. Just play with the knobs and buttons and you'll get the hang of it really quickly. The only frustration you'll have is not buying two of them.
As many mentioned before, having to switch decks back and forth can be a pain the axe BUT if you custom the pad yourself, you'll be able to access the samples you want to play almost if not instantly. Facebook install download. Great product! I can't wait to use it at its full potential someday.' “Just bought my F1 and I am having so much fun. Do not forget to download the remix sets on NAtive Instruments website, the have a pack with about 20 sets for free.
Then enjoy the experience. It takes a few minutes to go through the controls and under.” 'Just bought my F1 and I am having so much fun. Do not forget to download the remix sets on NAtive Instruments website, the have a pack with about 20 sets for free. Then enjoy the experience. It takes a few minutes to go through the controls and understand how it works all together. Even for people who are not familiar with the Native Instrument DJ controllers, it is accessible to anybody.
Just play with the knobs and buttons and you'll get the hang of it really quickly. The only frustration you'll have is not buying two of them. As many mentioned before, having to switch decks back and forth can be a pain the axe BUT if you custom the pad yourself, you'll be able to access the samples you want to play almost if not instantly. Great product! I can't wait to use it at its full potential someday.' “This has been the exact perfect addition to my S4 MK1, my sets have finally been taken to the next level with full remix deck integration (previously I had limited it to very basic remix decking, due to the functionality of the S4). DJTT has some pheno.” 'This has been the exact perfect addition to my S4 MK1, my sets have finally been taken to the next level with full remix deck integration (previously I had limited it to very basic remix decking, due to the functionality of the S4).
DJTT has some phenomenal mapping files and tutorials that utilize the F1 too!' “This tiny GENUIS controller is the perfect compliment to a new Traktor S2 or S4 MK2 DJ controller! My F1 and my S4 MK2 combined provide me with the versatility of '7-deck' control, perfect for my LIVE production and remixing DJ style! And with the matc.” 'This tiny GENUIS controller is the perfect compliment to a new Traktor S2 or S4 MK2 DJ controller!
My F1 and my S4 MK2 combined provide me with the versatility of '7-deck' control, perfect for my LIVE production and remixing DJ style! And with the matching chroma caps you can NEVER go wrong! “A great compliment to my Kontrol S2 Mk2. It takes a bit of time to really put together the content you would like to use within your sets with this as the possibilities are almost endless. Its worth the time however as once you get this where you want.” 'A great compliment to my Kontrol S2 Mk2. It takes a bit of time to really put together the content you would like to use within your sets with this as the possibilities are almost endless. Its worth the time however as once you get this where you want it it really helps to put your signature on your live sets.
A great product that's worth every penny!'
I have a question, I just downloaded this mapping (Great btw), I did one change and I made the high's and high kills my filters since I don't use the hi's mid's and low's. Will change the mids and lows at some point. Anyway, I am wondering if anyone of you guys know of a site/place or company where I may purchase or create a template for the actual controller.
Like a sticker decal that shows me my command assignments. Like what I have my knobs, leds, faders and pads below set to. I play live in a couple weeks and personally don't feel to confident that I will have everything memorized by then. Any info PLEASE email it to me at: [email protected] It will be GREATLY appreciated.
Allen & Heath Xone:K2 – at first glance it bears a striking resemblance to the Traktor X1, but it differs in a number of key ways. Allen & Heath has announced a new DJ controller, the Xone:K2, which it will demonstrate for the first time at the BPM Show this weekend. The controller has the same slimline shape as the Traktor X1, but differs in a number of ways, including having four physical faders and a built in four-out sound card. It has also been designed as a “universal” device to control any DJ software, having 52 hardware controls that can provide 171 Midi commands across three layers, with three-colour LEDs lighting buttons to indicate which layer is selected. While the unit comes with sample mappings, Allen & Heath envisages it as being adapted by DJs to suit their own style and workflow, promising “quick and simple” mapping, which will allow the device to control any Midi software. The Xone:K2 has an 1/8″ headphone jack on the front and one twin RCA output on the back: Two stereo channels, but an extra set of RCAs on the back would have offered more flexibility.
Two units can be linked together to provide a greater degree of control using Allen & Heath’s X:LINK protocol, and Allen & Heath also offers the possibility of X:LINKing two of these to one of its digital mixers (the Xone:DB4 or newly announced ), which would give a 100% digital system that would have truly mouthwatering potential. Each unit comes with a carry case, which doubles up as a stand, to raise it up to the height of any standard club mixer. As long as you don’t need a crossfader, you could feasibly mix four decks with just this one unit, and plug into one channel of a mixer – or straight into a PA. Alternatively, you could use an external mixer to control two independent decks with each Xone:K2, by plugging both the headphone and the RCA outputs into separate channels.
On first glance, an extra set of RCAs on the back would have been preferable to having to use the headphone socket in this way. We’ll bring you a full review as soon as we’ve had a chance to properly test one of the units. The Xone:K2 alongside the Xone:DB2 mixer, which was also announced today.
What do you think? Have you been waiting for an X1-style controller with a built-in sound card? Can you see yourself slotting one of these into your workflow? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
The Lowdown If you’re a DJ who wants to add extra digital control to an existing digital set-up, or who wants to use a slimline device as your only controller alongside a laptop, and you’re attracted to making a mapping that suits you, the Xone:K2 has got to be something you’ll want to look at seriously. The built-in sound card is a good option to have and what’s more, this Traktor Kontrol X1 alternative doesn’t have the Traktor focus as far as labelling and control layout goes, and so will be equally at home mapped to whatever software you choose. We think it’s a winner. First Impressions / Setting up In the box are the unit, a USB lead, a CD-ROM containing guides, drivers and so on, and an RJ45 patch lead for connection to other X:LINK enabled products (more on X:LINK later).
One of the things DJs love about the Traktor Kontrol X1 – on the face of it the most similar controller to this that’s currently out there – is how practical it is. As well as being small and slim, it is lightweight, and you can also buy a lightweight carry case for it to make it easy to transport. Allen & Heath has plainly seen this and taken the concept further with the Xone:K2, which is actually supplied in a snug-fitting, custom case from the off. The case is “semi-rigid”, being nylon with an all-round zip but padded with hard foam. This, combined with the four indentations for the feet of the Xone:K2, means that once you remove the unit from its case, the case can be used to raise it to the same height as, say, a mixer in a DJ booth. The faders are great quality, as you’d expect from a company that’s made its name selling pro mixers.
The unit is built to a high standard. It is black, with a rubberised base and sides but with a brushed metal decal down the left and right bearing the Xone logo. The four feet are plastic rather than rubber, which means they are slippier than they would otherwise have been on some surfaces. The top plate is slightly textured black painted metal, firmly screwed down.
Allen & Heath made its name with pro mixers, and it shows: From the white rubberised buttons to the bolted-down pots to the quality faders, all controls scream reliability and longevity. On the front is a single 1/8″ headphones socket, and round the back are a pair of RCA audio outs, the USB socket (it takes its power from USB) and two proprietary X:LINK sockets. In Use The controls First things first: This is not meant to be a “plug and play” device.
Sure, it’s class compliant (although you’ll need to install audio drivers for certain Windows sound card configurations), and it also wisely and quite cleverly comes with two Traktor mappings (a Kontrol X1 emulator and a sample deck control mapping, complete with printable mapping legends), but it’s ultimately meant to be mapped by the user to control whatever he or she is envisioning. This is good. Just like Vestax with their VCI-400, Allen & Heath wants the Xone:K2 to sell to digital DJs and producers who are past the very beginner stage, and who want to customise their set-ups to do exactly what they’re imagining. As such, the unit will be a good companion to all kinds of software. The rear of the Allen & Heath Xone:K2.
Note the X:LINK connectors for daisychaining. You could map it to Ableton Live, Traktor, Virtual DJ, MixVibes and so on, you might use it for VJing, for controlling lighting even.
Midi mapping is not difficult and once you’ve created a mapping that works for you, you’ve effectively made a custom DJ controller for yourself. What you get here, then, is a lot of built-in flexibility. There are four faders, 12 standard pots, six continuous stepped rotaries with push switchers, 28 standard pushbuttons, and two large pushbuttons. Both the layout and the sparse labelling do, however, suggest certain uses. There’s a button labelled “layer”, for instance (we’ll look at layer options later). There’s another labelled “shift”. There is a set action for entering set-up mode. And the four “lines” suggest control of four channels, tracks or decks, complete with associated functions.
As we’ll see shortly, the LED feedback is also skewed to help you use the unit in certain ways. But basically, it’s as blank a page as any hardware can realistically offer: Free for you to do what you like with its 171 Midi commands.
Understanding the configuration options Not only can the Xone:K2 be used to control any software that can receive or transmit Midi, the built-in audio interface means that, unlike say the Traktor Kontrol X1, there’s no need to carry a separate audio interface with you. This is one of its big attractions.
Two could be used together to double up (it’s possible to aggregate audio), or you could use one or two of them with an analogue mixer. If you do the latter, you can either use it with your headphones plugged in the front and take one channel of the analogue mixer, or plug both the headphones socket and the RCAs into separate channels of the analogue mixer, using it effectively as a set of transport / looping / FX controls for your DJ software and using the mixer to provide, well, the mixing bit of the equation. In order to better understand how one or two of these units can work with each other or with either analogue or digital mixers, Allen & Heath has provided several simple set-up videos covering the possibilities on its website. If you’re considering the unit, it is a good idea to watch them, if only to familiarise yourself with what’s possible using it. You can find them.
Working with layers Imagine being able to press one switch on a Midi controller in order to move away from the current set of controls and activate a whole new set. If you’ve ever used a two channel / jogwheel but four-deck DJ controller, you’ll know what I mean; that’s basically an application of the concept of layers. It’s like a lockable “shift”. The Xone:K2 has three layers, and to make things easy, the LEDs light red, amber or green to show you which layer you’re currently on. But you get more flexibility than just that, though. You can cycle between layer “modes”, something Allen & Heath calls “layer latching”.
The layer button is just underneath the matrix buttons. Layers can be backlit in three colours. In the first such mode, you can layer only the 16 (4 x 4) “switch matrix” buttons under the line faders. Everything else stays the same no matter what the layer is set to. This could be useful if you’re using the matrix to trigger samples or audio clips while the rest of the device controls four master channels of audio, for instance. The second mode adds in the switches under the pots, and the top four endless encoders, but leaves the pots and faders unaffected. This gives you more options while still keeping a modicum of basic controls untouched.
Finally, it’s the all-out mode, where the layer button switches every single control to a new layer. Effectively, this is the virtual equivalent of three of these things all sat next to each other. Sending and returning Midi This will sound a bit complicated if you’ve never got involved with mapping controllers before, but really it isn’t – or at least, it’s as easy or difficult as the way mapping has been implemented on the software you’re using it with. Allen & Heath provides clear, colour charts in the manual showing the exact Midi note implementations for all controls, so for instance when you want the aforementioned lights to come on and off to indicate the states of buttons, it’s not difficult to look up what to tell your software to send to the unit.
By the way, it’s simple to change the Midi channel too with a two-step setup routine. Midi mappings take time, but thanks to the clear guides provided with the unit and the nice, intuitive LED feedback, mapping the Xone:K2 is likely to be a fulfilling experience. X:LINK – what’s it all about? We said that this was a Midi controller and audio interface with a few cool features. Layering is one, and we consider X:LINK to be another major one. At its simplest, X:LINK joins up two K2s meaning only one of them has to be physically USBed to the computer.
If you’re using a two-USB laptop and have another type of controller plugged into your other USB, you’ll instantly see the benefit of this. The Xone:K2 next to the Xone:DB2: By using X:LINK, the DB2 can power the X2.
Another use for X:LINK is to connect one or two Xone:K2s to a Xone:DB2 or Xone:DB4 mixer. Here, you can X:LINK two K2s together, and X:LINK one of them to the DB mixer – and that’s it. No USB, and both are powered by the mixer which effectively acts as a hub.
Of corse, in this instance as the DB mixers have built-in sound, you’ll only be using the K2s ad Midi interfaces, not as audio devices at all. In fact, under no circumstances will the X:LINK join or aggregate audio devices – for this to happen you still need to USB both units into your laptop. Furthermore, while you can create aggregate devices easily on a Mac, you’ll have to use third-party software to do so on a PC. So if you want to feed all audio outputs of a pair of K2s into a mixer to give you a four-channel stereo setup, X:LINK isn’t going to be part of your solution. Creating mappings Using the Traktor mappings is simple; you grab them from the website (they didn’t seem to be on my CD for some reason) and import to Traktor, set your audio output routing, and all works. Allen and Heath has helpfully provided printable mapping information to keep to hand, and it is a canny move to provide an X1 emulation as well as a sample deck mapping, at least to get people started. I am not going to go into too much detail about these specific mappings, as the whole point of this controller is that you map it to do what you want.
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Instead, I decided to power up Algoriddim’s djay software, mainly because it is ridiculously simple to map Midi controllers to. Within 10 minutes I had basic control over two decks, including pitch, and all EQs and channel faders mapped too. Assigning the bottom endless rotary to crossfader completed a basic mapping. With a day or so, I am confident I could get everything else mapped and have a great little custom controller for that software, using at least one of the layers for effects (for instance).
Xone K2 Mapping
Sound quality I don’t agree with arguing over whether 16-bit or 24-bit audio is best – this is 16-bit audio, but other factors (rest of equipment chain, quality of recordings, understanding gain staging, venue acoustics, more esoteric technical info such as frequency range and response, signal to noise etc) have a much bigger bearing on sound quality from an audio interface than arguing over digital bitrates. Plus 16-bit has always sounded fine to me. Instead, I’ll say this: I trust Allen & Heath not to put sub-standard audio interfaces into their gear. They’re a mixer company, after all. Suffice to say that the audio from the unit is perfectly passable, and crucially, it’s also loud enough for both headphones and feeding either straight to powered speakers/PA or into an external mixer. Good enough for me.
Conclusion Kudos to Allen and Heath for taking the best parts of their nonetheless now dated and bulky Xone:1D and Xone:2D devices, seeing the success of the jogwheel-less Trkator Kontrol X1, and bringing it all together in a new device with built-in audio. Of course, it suffers from an inherent characteristic of this type of device: One size will never exactly fit all. You’ll always want a control where there isn’t one, or the ability to label up things once you’re happy with them (a wipe-clean overlay would be a nice accessory, guys). The fact that it comes with a case shows that Allen & Heath expects it to appeal to working DJs.
But the flipside of this is that, assuming you can master the intricacies of mapping to whatever software attracts you, you can craft a controller that’s customised pretty much to how you want it to be. The built-in sound card is a good option to have as it saves you taking an extra one, but it does mean that if you’re pairing one or two of these with a digital mixer, you’ve paid for a sound card you’ll never use. I guess it’s the price you pay for flexibility. Speaking of flexibility, the X:LINK and layer options are for me ultimately what stand the Xone:K2 apart from some other Midi controllers, and coupled with its pro build quality, what make it a controller that could quite possibly do really well for the Allen & Heath.
I’m sure we’ll see some really cool mappings appearing for it in due course, and Allen & Heath would do well to foster an eco-system around what I am sure will become a fervent user community once these hit the streets in numbers. Overall, then, if you’re a DJ who wants to add extra digital control to an existing digital set-up, or who wants to use a slimline device as your only controller alongside a laptop, and you’re attracted to making a mapping that suits you, the Xone:K2 has got to be something you’ll want to look at seriously. Likewise, if you play in cramped DJ booths or in places where you never know how much space you’re going to have, and aren’t prepared to switch to CDJs in such circumstances, you’ve now got an alternative to using a Traktor Kontrol X1. What’s more, this alternative doesn’t have the Traktor focus as far as labelling and control layout goes, and so will be equally at home mapped to whatever software you choose. We think it’s a winner. I think this was a great review as always but the thing that strikes me is the fact that I don’t actually see the onboard sound being that useful, these will fit ideally with a Timecode setup and as such I would still need a sound card to provide the inputs to my laptop, this then makes the soundcard a non entity and if you have the ability to map in Traktor or other software then you would be able to map an X1 just the same, if only it had the inputs aswell, it really would have been a Read more ».
I ordered mine. Planning to use it with a launchpad, to imitate an apc 40 setup (minus cross fader). I already own a launchpad I LOVE, and really don’t like AKAI’s customer service, ac adapter necessity, and the fact I had purchased one before during a bad run and it BUZZED!!! AKAI wouldn’t acknowledged the defect despite EVERYONE HAVING IT HAPPEN in that 4 month span.
I could go on about the rest of their unorganized software downloads and lack of support for some of their products (had to find software once that was only on the Japanese site). This Read more ». You dont have to buy the carry case it comes with it btw.
My main concern about this unit is the output stage. Novation Twitches out put, bc it is USB powered, has caused many complaints, mainly bc even when boosted buy a mixer it didnt generate enough gain to compete in clubs to djs that had been red lining the system, i.e a lot of djs lol. I really want to know with all those lights, whether the output level has been compromised as it is USB powered to. Nobody seems able to give me an answer to that, Read more ». Thanks for getting back Phil. I’ve never used the twitch so it seems there are a lot of conflicting opinions on it.
I think the K2 is what I’m really after, it would be great if that could hold up in clubs, I may take the plunge, its that or a Faderfox FT3, the Faderfox looks like it is built like a tank, and an external Soundcard. I’m going to be trying out traktor as I have always dj’d with Ableton and bypassed cdj from vinyl. But I can see myself going back to Live tbh, if only bc Read more ». UPDATE It is early days, but I just got my Xone K2 through. It is simply the best built midi controller I have used that isn’t (boutique) It make my APC40 look like a Fisher Price controller ? The sound output is excellent, and the 44.1 out should be of no consern to a dj. I can honestly say it gets loud and punchy, if you’re looking at this controller, soundcard quality and sound is not an issue atm. The encoders feel very good indeed, infact the best I have felt, upfaders/encoders are sturdy too.
Would feel totally confident using Read more ». Dear Phil, Thanks for the interesting article, very informative. In the original “Allen and Heath” videos of this product they mention the “analog rotary knobs”. Can I ask whats “analog” about them? I mean they are just controllers that send digital commands to the host, right? Another question is about the sample rate (SR). If I play “crazy” files on my host (Traktor or Abelton), like a “96KHz, 32 bit” file, the host will do the conversion to support the “A&H K2” soundcard as a 44.1KHz, 24Bit resolution?
The file will play via the analog out RCA’s. Am I correct?
Dear Phil, Thanks for the interesting article, very informative. In the original “Allen and Heath” videos of this product they mention the “analog rotary knobs”. Can I ask whats “analog” about them?
I mean they are just controllers that send digital commands to the host, right? Another question is about the sample rate (SR). If I play “crazy” files on my host (Traktor or Abelton), like a “96KHz, 32 bit” file, the host will do the conversion to support the “A&H K2” soundcard as a 44.1KHz, 24Bit resolution? The file will play via the analog out RCA’s. Am I correct? I’ve been using the K2 for almost 6 months now, and it’s an absolute winner for my setup: laptop + k2 + club mixer. I also use it as a standalone mixer in my micro setup for small parties.
Xone K2 Drivers
It hasn’t failed me once. Great sound quality, great build, and once you get around the mappings, great fun to play around with. At first I didn’t like the faders on the K2, being used to the normal ‘slab’ like faders but the more I use the K2 the more I realize I have a better grip with one-finger fading by Read more ».
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