The jogs are tight, the sheer amount of control is vast, and the feature set they focus on is mostly the important stuff. On its face, the Kontrol S4’s integration feels exactly as great as you would expect in Traktor, just like the S2. There are integration changes, though, including more control options over the Remix Decks and more options through the controller manager. Overall, the layout is exactly what it was with the original S4, with the exception of the Flux button over the pitch fader and the metal caps on the jog wheels. Hooking an F1 or an X1 MK2 into the S4 MK2 would allow for a lot of extra control and would fill in a lot of the gaps. My main complaint, with Native Instruments providing so many powerful modular controllers, is there is no USB hub available. These can both be pressed into the units face, allowing for safer travel. The front face has the headphone input, as well as volume and cue mix knobs. The Mic is still plugged in on the rear of the S4, something I think should definitely be on the front of the unit, but the Mic gain is on the front with the Activate button, as opposed to on the rear on the S2. You not only have the same ¼” Main output and RCA Booth Out, but you have two Line/Phono inputs for hooking in turntables or CD decks, as well as a MIDI in and Out for syncing with external gear or another computer. The audio interface is a little larger on the S4 as well. The mixer is set up in the now very popular scheme with A and B on the inside channels and C and D on the outside. Included in the S4 is also a deck swap button for each channel, allowing you to swap decks A with C, and B with D. There is also the same large On Air and Master display from the original S4, not to mention that same bright LED readout for your Loop and move lengths. The Effects sections have a Mode switch button, but you still can’t directly switch which bank the effects are controlling (more on this later). Instead of Reset being a shift function under the Flux button near the pitch fader it is a separate button next to Flux, and there is a Load button above each jog wheel instead of needing to use the Cue buttons when in Browse mode. The center panel has a Quant and Snap button right under the Browse knob, as well as a Master Clock button for swapping Auto and Master settings. Each channel has a chunky Filter knob, but still includes an endless single-function clicking push encoder for the Gain at the top. Instead of certain functions being hidden behind shift layers, the S4 presents them right on the face. The center section of the mixer is a little larger as well, allowing for full Loop Recorder control, as opposed to a knob and two buttons on the S2. The extra two channels are well spaced, and all the controls feel just as secure. You will require a larger bag to carry it as it won’t fit in most average sized laptop bags like the S2, but it should fit in most booths and is just as sturdy for transport from gig to gig. The Kontrol S4 MK2 is a reasonably sized 4 channel controller, more akin to the G4V and Studio 4a in size than the mammoth controllers we’ve been seeing recently. The Kontrol S4 MK2 does differentiate itself, though, even beyond the extra two channel strips. They are also both integrated directly into Traktor DJ for tactile control of the award-winning mobile platform. The core features of these products, namely the LEDs, jog wheels, knobs, faders, buttons and overall design are pretty much identical. If not, go back and read that one first, since these controllers are so similar in design, form and function that I don’t want to waste too many words covering the same things. Hopefully you’re finding your way here from our exhaustive Kontrol S2 MK2 review. Link: NI | Price: $699/€699/£579 (offer price) | Manual: PDF Introduction
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