Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 MK1

The Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 MK1 is a 2 deck all-in-one controller with an integrated audio interface. It has a pair of balanced 1/4” TRS outputs and a pair of unbalanced RCA outputs which both output the main mix, a 1/4” TRS headphone jack, and a 1/4” TRS microphone input. The microphone input is not digitized and routed internally to the outputs. The Kontrol S2 MK1 can run with only USB bus power and an optional power supply can be connected to make the LEDs brighter and the headphone output louder.

The Kontrol S2 MK1 can be distinguished from the Mk2 by the jog wheels. The S2 MK1 has pressure sensitive jog wheels made of black plastic, while the S2 MK2 has touch sensitive jog wheels made of shiny aluminium; The Kontrol S2 MK3 does not have effects knobs at the top.

New in version 2.3.4.

Compatibility

The Kontrol S2 MK1 is a USB audio and HID class compliant device. It is fully compatible with Linux, Windows, and macOS. No proprietary driver is required on Linux or macOS. For Windows, download and install the latest driver from Native Instruments’ website.

The mapping uses the hardware calibration which is necessary to detect a jog-wheel press. A calibration might be necessary before first use. This is possible in the Controller Manager or Traktor from Native Instruments which is available for Windows and macOS.

Audio routing

Output	Channels
Master	Channel 1 - 2
Headphones	Channel 3 - 4

The microphone is routed internally and is not accessible to Mixxx.

On Windows setting the sound API to ASIO might be necessary.

Mapping

Decks

Jog Wheels

Press the top of the jog wheel and turn it to scratch. Move the jog wheel from the edge without pressing the top to nudge the track. Hold SHIFT and spin the jog wheel to seek quickly.

Loop Section

We are going to use the terminology from loop controls and transport controls.

Activate loop: To beatloop press the right encoder. To reloop hold SHIFT and press the right encoder. Holding SHIFT and pressing the right encoder when a will pause the deck and jump to the start of the loop. To set the loop-in marker press LOOP IN. If the loop-out marker is set it will also activate the loop right away. To set the loop-out marker press LOOP OUT. If the loop-in marker is set it will also activate the loop right away.
Deactivate loop: To deactivate a loop press the right encoder.
Changing beatloop size: To half or double the beatloop size turn the right encoder. The loop-in marker can be moved by pressing or holding LOOP IN. The loop-out marker can be moved by pressing or holding LOOP OUT.
Beatjump/Moving loop: To beatjump by the beatjump size forward/backward turn the left encoder. To change the beatjump size press and turn the left encoder. To jump one beat forward/backward hold SHIFT and turn the right encoder.

Top Pad Row

The top pad row has 3 different modes.

Hotcue mode: This is the default mode when Mixxx starts. This mode is active if the SAMPLES and the RESET lights are off. The pads control hotcues 1-4. Active hotcues light up blue. Press an unlit button to set a new hotcue. When a loop is active it will save the loop instead. Press a lit pad to seek to the hotcue or seek and activate the loop. Press a lit pad with SHIFT to delete the hotcue or loop.
Intro & Outro cue mode: This mode is activated by pressing the RESET button above the tempo fader. This mode is active if the RESET light is on. Pads 1 & 2 are used for the intro start & end cues and light up green. Pads 3 & 4 are used for the outro start & end cues and light up blue.
Sampler mode: This mode is activated by the button under the SAMPLES knob in the center of the mixer. This mode is active if the SAMPLES light is on. Press an unlit pad to load the selected track in the library to the sampler. Loaded and stopped sampler pads are lit dim green. Press a dim green pad to play a sampler. A playing sampler is lit green. Press a lit pad with SHIFT to stop a sampler, or if it is already stopped, unload the sample. Looping sampler pads are lit cyan.

Transport Controls

The transport controls work mostly as labeled on the controller:

SYNC button: Press to sync tempo. Press and hold to enable sync lock. Press again to disable sync lock. Press with SHIFT to enable sync lock without needing to hold.
CUE button: Behavior depends on the cue mode set in the Mixxx preferences. Press with SHIFT to seek the beginning of the track and stop.
PLAY button: Play or pause the deck. Press with SHIFT to toggle key lock.
TEMPO fader: Adjusts the tempo.
SHIFT and left encoder: Adjusts the key.
RESET button: This does not reset the tempo but rather switch between the intro/outro cues and the hot cues.

Mixer

Deck Columns

GAIN encoder: Controls the Quick Effect superknob for the deck. With SHIFT, controls gain. Press to reset the Quick Effect superknob. Press with SHIFT to reset gain.
FX 1/FX 2 buttons: Assign the deck to effect units 1 and 2.
HI/MID/LOW knobs: Adjust the high, middle, and low frequencies.
CUE button: Toggle whether the deck is routed to the prefader headphone output. With SHIFT, toggle quantize for the deck.
Fader: Control the deck volume.

Center Column

MAIN LEVEL knob: Adjust the volume of the main output. This acts on the controller’s audio interface output in hardware, so it is not mapped to the main mix gain knob in Mixxx.
SAMPLES knob: Adjusts the gain of samplers 1-8.
SAMPLES ON A/SAMPLES ON B buttons: Toggles the top pad row of the corresponding deck to control samplers. Press when lit to return the pads to controlling hotcues.
BROWSE encoder: Scroll through the music library. Turn with SHIFT to scroll a whole page at a time. Push to open/select the highlighted item. Push with SHIFT to cycle through the windows (Track List, Sidebar, search box).
LOAD A/LOAD B buttons: Load the track selected in the library to the corresponding deck. Press with SHIFT to clone the other deck.
LEVEL meters: The meters show the levels for each deck.
Crossfader: Crossfade between the decks.

Effects

The Kontrol S2 MK1 uses the standard Mixxx effects mapping.

Front panel

The cue volume knob adjusts the volume of the controller’s audio interface in hardware, so it is not mapped to Mixxx (otherwise the gain would be applied twice). The cue mix knob is mapped to Mixxx. The Mic Engage button toggles talkover for Microphone Input 1 in hardware.