With the latest edition of Traktor Pro and without the need to install any drivers on our Mac we’re up and running in under 10 minutes, from sealed box to everything working in true ‘plug and play’ fashion. Having recently spoken to Native Instruments, we can however confirm that as from April DDJ T-1 customers will be able to upgrade to Traktor Pro 2 for €129 (about £110). This is basically Traktor Duo over four decks with certain features such as advanced/single FX mode, quantize, MIDI clock, broadcasting and some deck and browser detail not included. The DDJ T1 ships with Traktor DDJ T1 Pioneer addition software. On the front you’ve got the aux/mic input selector switch, RCA headphones and mic inputs plus an additional headphone minijack adaptor. There’s an RCA aux input pair with mini volume knob, USB B connector and a Kensington security lock. There is no separate booth output, and looking at the preferences no way to reroute either of the existing outputs. Looking at the connection hook-ups on the back panel, Pioneer have graced us with balanced 1/4 inch and unbalanced RCA stereo outputs. The only slight issue here was the poor quality on the EQ knobs which were sharp to touch and a bit too stiff. There’s a further six buttons located along the top horizontal axis for record, load and favorites recall. Moving inwards, the four channel mixer looks well laid out, with 3-band EQ control per channel, assignable crossfader, effects sends, cue sync and master keys plus a very meaty push to make step encoder for loading and selecting tracks. There’s also a single knob-controlled high and low pass filter plus deck select buttons. The players on either end have the illuminated jog wheels from the CDJ-400, a needle search ribbon similar to that of the CDJ-2000 (this looks better as it is split into five sections which can control other features), plus loop, reloop and hot cue module and effects control on each, with selection for three simultaneous effects. With a length and width of 680 x 95.2mm and weighing in at a cool yet noticeable 5kg, it’s definitely portable and you’ll see familiar features from Pioneer’s past and present range dotted around the control surface. Reassuringly, however, the bottom is made of sheet metal which does ease any worries. “Weighing in at a cool yet noticeable 5kg, it’s definitely portable and you’ll see familiar features from Pioneer’s past and present range dotted around the control surface” The casing does feel a bit light, following suit with most of the Pioneer (and a great many other manufacturers) range these days – in fact it’s only really Allen & Heath and Reloop that seem to be taking the durability of the outer shell as seriously as the intricacy of the circuitry. They fit neatly underneath the controller, exposing the screen only as you won’t need to touch the keyboard or mouse. Looking strangely like one of those high speed catamaran hydrofoil boats, the DDJ T-1 stands upon two removable triangular supports which act as a docking station for your laptop. Is it a quick fix using their current stock of components or could these two monoliths of joy be the first advancements in the standardisation of club controllers? We’ve got the DDJ T-1 (that’s the Traktor one to you and me) on the Juno Plus testing slab and we’re going to find out. So with literally hundreds of DJ controllers now available across the price and performance range it’s easy to question the motive for Pioneer to introduce two all in one DJ consoles – one optimised for Serrato Itch, the other for Traktor Pro – especially with the latter’s platform S4 unit dominating much of last years’ DJ equipment media. Pioneer have long had the professional CD deck market sewn up, and these days it seems that they are launching new products as quickly as their predecessors are going out of fashion.
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