Traktor Makes PROgress
This is the second time in a month that I’ve put fingers to keys to write about Native Instruments’ Traktor. After highlighting Richie’s inspirational videos a couple of weeks ago, it now turns out that both Traktor and Traktor Scratch are receiving a major update that will be available next Saturday. But what do these new PRO versions of the software have in store for us?
Well, if the press release is to be believed, then quite a lot. NI are touting PRO as being easier for you to use, with several new features and improved workflow. There are also some muscular sound shaping tools to help you generate interesting effects, improved syncing capabilities to keep things in time, and the obligatory ‘much more’, just for good measure.
Traktor Scratch PRO comes with all the features of Traktor PRO along with the Audio 8 DJ interface that enables you to control it via supplied time coded vinyl and CDs.
To the untrained eye both new versions look quite similar to their predecessors, so you have to dig a bit deeper to see the differences. NI say that the focus has been on making the software more efficient and simple to use rather than adding lots of complex new options. You still get some new stuff that sounds pretty darn good though…
The sound manipulation capabilities have been revised and expanded to include over twenty different effects that NI says are ‘studio quality’. You get all the standards like Delay and Reverb, along with the decidedly less conventional sounding IceVerb, Bitcrusher and Reverse Grain etc.
Browsing your music collection in a visual way is made possible with Traktor’s new Crate Flick interface, and in 2009 Beatport will be adding data to their tracks so that you can stick them straight in your Traktor collection without any prep work. The software is also fully compatible with the most up-to-date 64-bit Mac OS and Windows operating systems.
Traktor PRO will be on sale for about 229 USD / 199 EUR, with Traktor Scratch PRO at 669 USD / 599 EUR, from the start of November. Updates from Traktor 3 or Traktor Scratch will be 99 USD/ 79 EUR, and the good news is that if you already own them both you’re entitled to the new version completely free.
To get more details, hear the new software in action and catch some videos of Richie Hawtin talking to Grandmaster Flash, visit the Traktor Microsite.
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