Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3

The Kontrol S4 MK3 is a 4 deck all-in-one controller with a sturdy build quality and integrated sound card. Compared to the MK2 and MK1, it also have motorised shiny aluminum jogwheels, screens and a set of pads which can be use for various features.

The S4 MK3 uses the standard HID protocol for the Buttons, Knobs, Faders and LEDs, and extends it for the motorized Jog-Wheels. The screens use a USB Bulk transfer. Mixxx doesn’t support rendering content for external screens yet. The easiest way to tell the MK3 apart from the other MK1 and 2 are these screens, displace between the “Move” and “Loop” encoder.

Unlike its predecessor, the Kontrol S4 Mk3 cannot run from USB power and the separate power supply must be used.

New in version 2.4.

Compatibility

The Kontrol S4 MK3 is a USB class compliant audio and HID, so it is compatible with Mixxx without any proprietary drivers on GNU/Linux, MacOS and Windows.

With the S4 plugged in, a HID device is listed as an available controller in Mixxx’s Preferences. The controller uses HID for each components on the device, except the screens, so the mapping can only be loaded when you select the HID device on the left side of Mixxx’s Preferences.

Controller

Setup audio output

Using the S4 mixer

In order to use the audio output of the controller, select the device Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3. Channels 1 - 2 should be set as Main and Channels 3 - 4 should be set as Headphones

Using the software mixer

If you don’t want to use certain outputs of the device, you can enable the mapping of the mixer knob to the Mixxx internal mixer. Head over to the Mapping options to enable these optional mappings.

Note

The mixer knobs are physically linked to the S4 embedded mixer. This means that there is no way to prevent these buttons to adjust gains of the output, and will lead to unexpected volume mixing if the Mixxx mixer is used while also using S4 outputs.

Known bugs and limitation

Audio

During the development phase, it appears that using other Sound API than ALSA would lead the Master VU meter not to work. Furthermore, audio output power would be half as loud as it should be, which can be a problem if you are also using other software, since you audio setting will suddenly become twice as loud. It remains unclear whether or not this was a common issue or if this was specific to the used setup.

Screens

Currently, Mixxx doesn’t support controller screen rendering. However, because the screens are technically a different device, it is safe to interact with them outside of Mixxx while the device is being used by Mixxx. This can be particularly handy if you want to display some images or text, or even dynamic information.

Motors

Haptic feedback (know as Haptic Drive (TM)) are partially implemented. Supported features include jogwheel tensions and turntable mode but these features remains in beta and may sometime have unexpected behaviours. Since there is no guarantee on the long term effect to the controller of how Mixxx implements these features, they are disabled by default. You can enable them by setting UseMotors to true in Mapping options.

Mapping Description

Jogwheel modes

Jogwheel can be used to control various things, depending of the mode they are in.

  1. Vinyl mode (default): The jogwheel platter can be used for scratch. The jogwheel crown can be used to jog up or down the playback.

  2. Jog mode: The wheel platter and crown can be used to jog up or down the playback.

  3. Turntable mode: The wheel behaves as a 33.3 RPM turntable. If the platter or crown are slowed down or speeded up, then it will scratch down or up the track.

    Warning

    Because this mode relies on Mixxx’s scratch mode, if the track has been pitched up, the keylock will be ignored!

    Note

    This mode is only available if the motor features are enabled. See Motors for more details.

  4. Loop in: The wheel behaves similarly to CDJ. If the platter or crown are turned, it will move back or forth the start of the loop. Additionally, if the loop encoder is used, it will move the all loop back or forth.

  5. Loop out: Like for the loop in mode, but with the exit position of the loop. If the platter or crown are turned, it will move back or forth the end of the loop. Additionally, if the loop encoder is used in the same way than Loop in mode.

Here is how to tell what mode is on, depending the current state of the LED:

Mode

Jog

TT

Jogwheel

Others

Vinyl mode

On

Off

Circling while the track is playing/scratching

–

Jog mode

Off

Off

Circling while the track is playing/scratching

–

Turntable mode

Off

On

Circling while the track is playing/scratching

–

Loop in

–

–

The whole circle is blinking

The REV button is blinking

Loop out

–

–

The whole circle is blinking

The FLX button is blinking

Here is how to select each mode:

Mode

Vinyl mode

Press the Jog button (while the Jog button is off)

Jog mode

Press the Jog button while in vinyl mode (while the Jog button is on)

Turntable mode

Press the TT button. Pressing again while restore the Vinyl mode

Loop in

Press SHIFT + REV while a loop is enable

Loop out

Press SHIFT + FLX while a loop is enable

For all modes but Vinyl and Jog, re-selecting the mode will restore the previous one.

Move modes

Moves modes define how the “move” encoder (the one on the left) reacts when used. Here are all the various modes:

  1. Beat (default): The track will jump backward or forward by the number of beats selected. Press before turning to select the number of beats.

  2. Grid: The track’s detected beats will be move forward or backward on the waveform.

  3. BPM: The track’s detected BPM will be increased or decreased.

  4. Keyboard: The keyboard’s keys displayed on pads get moved up or down to display higher or lower keynotes.

Here is how to tell use each modes:

Mode

Beat

This mode is enable if no other mode are enabled

Grid

This mode is enabled while GRID is held down

BPM

This mode is enabled while SHIFT + GRID are held down

Keyboard

This mode is enabled while STEM is held down

All mapping detail

Button

Action

Lighting

Jogwheel platter

  • Scratch when in Vinyl mode and Turntable mode

  • Jog when in Jog mode

  • Move loop start when in Loop In mode

  • Move loop end when in Loop Out mode

  • Static light rotation: Vinyl, Turntable or Jog mode on

  • Ring blinking: Loop in or out mode on

Jogwheel crown

  • Jog when in Vinyl mode

  • Same as wheel platter otherwise

Flux

  • Toggle Slip mode

  • On shift, set a loop end at the current track position if no active loop, enable loop out wheel mode otherwise

  • Steady on: Reverse enabled

  • Steady on while pressing SHIFT: loop is active

  • Blinking, but flux steady off while pressing SHIFT: loop in set wheel mode

  • Blinking, with flux steady on while pressing SHIFT: loop in wheel mode active

Reverse

  • Toggle reverse mode

  • On shift, set a loop in the current track position if no active loop, enable loop out wheel mode otherwise

  • Steady on: Flux enabled

  • Steady on while pressing SHIFT: loop is active

  • Blinking, with reverse steady on while pressing SHIFT: loop out wheel mode active

Grid

  • Set the beatgrid at the current track position (on release, short press)

  • Enable grid move mode while pressed

  • Enable BPM move mode while pressed and pressing SHIFT

  • On when over a detected beat

  • Blinking when grid/BPM move is on

  • Blinking when grid move mode is enabled enabled

Turntable

  • Toggle on or off the turntable mode

  • On: Turntable mode on, otherwise jog or vinyl

Jog

  • Toggle on or off the vinyl mode

  • On: Vinyl mode on, otherwise jog or turntable

Deck Select

  • Select a deck

  • The deck’s main color will be the one of the selected deck

Shift

Shift controls for the all controller side, including effect unit

  • On or Off

Cue

  • Trigger the cue default effect

  • Start or stop the track while pressing SHIFT

  • Select the cue as the play mode when in Keyboard move mode

Depends of the cue mode

Play/Pause

  • Play/Pause the track

  • Long press: clone the playing track

  • SHIFT + Long press: eject track

On if track is playing

Move

  • Beat jump forward (right) or backward by the number of selected beats

  • Increase/Decrease the beats if turned while pressed

  • Increase/decrease pitch when pressing SHIFT

  • Move backward/forward the grid when in grid move mode

  • Increase/decrease BPM when in BPM move mode

  • Move down/up the keyboard notes when in keyboard move mode

Loop

  • Enable/disable loop when pressed

  • Reactivate exited loop/exit loop when pressed and shifted

  • Halve/double the loop size

  • Move 1 beat backward/forward when shifted

  • On loop in/out wheel mode: move the loop with precision, left precision if shifted

Master

  • Make the current deck sync leader (on release)

  • Long press: Enabled/disable full range tempo fader

  • Steady on: the deck is sync leader

  • Blinking: the tempo fader is in full range

Sync

  • Toggle the sync mode (on release)

  • Toggle the keylock (on release)

  • Long press: copy the BPM of the other deck

  • SHIFT + Long press: copy the key of the other deck

  • On while no shift: Sync is on

  • On while shift: Keylock is on

Tempo fader

While change the tempo only of the left indicator is either off or of the color of the deck.

  • If green, it means the fader is out of sync with the software, bringing it down will eventually catch up.

  • If white, it means the fader is out of sync with the software, bringing it up will eventually catch up.

Deck color: default track speed Green: out of sync (down) Green: out of sync (up)

Hotcues

  • Toggle the hotcues page

  • Shift: toggle the second hotcue page

  • Deck color with dim off: Current page isn’t related to hotcue

  • Deck color with dim on: page 1 of hotcue

  • White: page 2 of hotcue

Rec

Currently unused

Sampler

  • Toggle the sampler page and display samplers on the Using

  • Off: Current page isn’t related to sampler

  • On: sampler page is active

Mute

Currently unused

Stems

  • Toggle the keyboard (on release) while press: enable keyboard move mode

  • Deck color with dim off: Current page isn’t related to keyboard

  • Deck color with dim on: Keyboard active

  • Green: keyboard play mode active

Pads

  • While in hotcue:

    • press will activate

    • SHIFT + press will delete

  • While in sample:

    • press will play (load selected track if none are)

    • SHIFT + press will stop (if playing) or eject

  • While in keyboard:

    • will set the key to the selected note

    • will play from the cue if in keyboard play mode

  • While in beatloop roll mode:

  • Will activate a beatloop roll of 1/16, 1/8, 1/4 , 1/2, 1, 2, 4 and 8 beats, or custom size if you have changed BeatLoopRolls in Mapping options

  • In hotcue: color of the cue

  • In Sampler: Dim on, sample is playing dim off sampler is stopped, off no sampler loaded

  • In keyboard: keyboard color on each note, if Dim on, currently active note

  • In Beatloop roll: brighter means a loop roll is active with the given size

FX 1st knob

  • Master volume/mix of the unit

FX 2nd knob

  • Meta arg of the first selected effect

  • First arg of the focused effect in effect focus mode

FX 3rd knob

  • Meta arg of the second selected effect

  • Second arg of the focused effect in effect focus mode

FX 4th knob

  • Meta arg of the third selected effect

  • Third arg of the focused effect in effect focus mode

FX 1st button

  • Trigger all effect

  • Trigger all effect

  • Assign/de-assign effect to master while pressing SHIFT and no focused effect

  • Exit focused mode while pressing SHIFT and focused effect

  • On if all effect are off and not pressing SHIFT

  • On when effect is attached to master and pressing SHIFT

  • Blinking in effect focused mode

  • Blinking in effect focused mode

FX 2nd button

  • Toggle (short press) or trigger (long press) third effect if not focused effect or if pressing SHIFT

  • Toggle first arg (short press) or trigger first arg (long press) of the focus effect if any

  • Switch to next effect available if no focus effect and SHIFT

  • On if effect is active and no focused effect or if pressing SHIFT

  • On if focused effect parameter is enable

FX 3rd button

  • Toggle (short press) or trigger (long press) third effect if not focused effect or if pressing SHIFT

  • Toggle second arg (short press) or trigger second arg (long press) of the focus effect if any

  • Switch to next effect available if no focus effect and SHIFT

  • On if effect is active and no focused effect or if pressing SHIFT

  • On if focused effect parameter is enable

FX 4th button

  • Toggle (short press) or trigger (long press) third effect if not focused effect or if pressing SHIFT

  • Toggle (short press) or trigger (long press) third arg on the focus effect if any

  • Switch to next effect available if no focus effect and SHIFT

  • On if effect is active and no focused effect or if pressing SHIFT

  • On if focused effect parameter is enable

Library knob

  • Move up/down in tracklist

  • Move up/down in tree structure while shifted

  • Move up/down in the context menu if playlist button is pressed

  • Zoom in/out the waveform when in grid move mode

  • Beatjump by 16 beats backward/forward if a track is being previewed using the button

  • Star down/up the currently playing track while pressing the star button

  • Sort by next/previous column while pressing the view button

  • Expand the context-manu item when pressed while pressing the playlist button

  • Load track when pressed or expand/collapse tree node when shifted (if view button is not pressed)

  • Inverse the column sorting if view button is pressed

Preview button

Preview the currently selected track while pressed

Star button

Change the selected track color on short press (next color, or previous if shifted)

Playlist button

Open or close a context menu for the currently selected track

On if there is a context-menu open, off otherwise

Mixer FX button

Toggle third effect (short press) or trigger third effect (long press) or assign the quick effect of FX select buttons are pressed

  • Dim on if the effect is active

FX Select button

Apply effect to all deck on release, if no mixer FX button have been pressed

Ext

Apply the current gain as default. This will reset the gain knob.

Master

If enabled in the Mapping options, change the main gain

Booth

If enabled in the Mapping options, change the booth gain

Cue

If enabled in the Mapping options, adjust the headphone mix

Headphone volume

If using Mixxx internal mixer, change the headphone gain

Looping

Control

Description

Right Encoder (turn)

Double/halve loop size.

Right Encoder (press)

Activate/exit loop of set size from current position

SHIFT + REV (while no loops are enabled)

Set the loop in point. This will reset the loop out point as well.

SHIFT + REV (while a loop is enabled)

Toggle the loop in jogwheel mode. See Jogwheel modes for more details.

SHIFT + FLX (while no loops are enabled)

Set the loop out point.

SHIFT + FLX (while a loop is enabled)

Toggle the loop out jogwheel mode. See Jogwheel modes for more details.

Mapping options

There are various option that can be used to change some behavior:

Setting

Variable value

Default

Range

Description

Deck colors

DeckColors

LEDColors.red,LEDColors.blue,LEDColors.yellow, LEDColors.purple

All colors as defined in _LedColors_. Must be four color, separated by a comma

Define the leading colors for each decks. Note that some buttons have only one color

Sortable column in the library

LibrarySortableColumns

LibraryColumns.Artist, LibraryColumns.Title, LibraryColumns.BPM, LibraryColumns.Key, LibraryColumns.DatetimeAdded

All values defined in the Mixxx control documentation separated by a comma

Define the list of columns on which it possible to sort the library using the library encoder and the view button

Loop In/Out jogwheel sensitivity

LoopWheelMoveFactor

50

-500..500 (Recommended)

Define the sensitivity when moving the loop start or end point using the loop jogwheel mode. Negative value will reverse the order

Loop encoder sensitivity

LoopEncoderMoveFactor

500

-3000..3000 (Recommended)

Define the sensitivity when moving the loop with the encoder when using the loop jogwheel mode. Negative value will reverse the order

Loop encoder sensitivity (Shifted)

LoopEncoderShiftMoveFactor

2500

-5000..5000 (Recommended)

Define the sensitivity when moving the loop with SHIFT + the encoder when using the loop jogwheel mode. Negative value will reverse the order

Color of the tempo led when on low takeover

TempoFaderSoftTakeoverColorLow

LEDColors.white

All colors as defined on line 19

Define the color of tempo LED when the tempo fader is out of sync, and the actual value is less than on the controller

Color of the tempo led when on high takeover

TempoFaderSoftTakeoverColorHigh

LEDColors.green

All colors as defined on line 19

Define the color of tempo LED when the tempo fader is out of sync, and the actual value is more than on the controller

Keep transport and play button dimmed when off

InactiveLightsAlwaysBacklit

true

true/false

Having this setting on will keep LED always dimmed, even when off, although they may not have a matching color with the deck’s color

Keep the unselected deck button off rather than show its deck color

DeckSelectAlwaysBacklit

true

true/false

Having this setting on will keep the LED of the unselected deck dimmed instead of off.

Keylock on SHIFT + MASTER instead of SHIFT + SYNC

UseKeylockOnMaster

false

true/false

Use SHIFT + MASTER to toggle the keylock instead of SHIFT + SYNC

Make the grid button blink when over a detected beat

GridButtonBlinkOverBeat

false

true/false

Make the GRID button blinking when the playback goes over a detected beat

Make the jogwheel ring blink when the track playing is near the end

WheelLedBlinkOnTrackEnd

true

true/false

The jogwheel LED ring will start blinking when a track is near the end. The end section can be defined in Preferences ‣ Waveforms ‣ End of track warning

Use the mixer to control input when using SHIFT

MixerControlsMixAuxOnShift

false

true/false

Make the GRID button blinking when the playback goes over a detected beat

Number of samples used for jogwheel speed

WheelSpeedSample

3

1..50

Number of samples used to determine the jogwheel movement. A higher value will increase precision but latency too, and vice-versa

Replace the sampler tab by a beatloop roll tab

UseBeatloopRollInsteadOfSampler

false

true/false

Replace the sample tab as well of the sample feature with 8 beatloop roll

Define the predefined size to use for the beatloop tab

BeatLoopRolls

1/16,1/8,1/4,1/2,1,2,4,8

eight number in range 1/32..512

Define the size of loops of each pad, from left to right, starting from the top row.

Use the two last tab as loop half/double buttons in the beatloop tab

AddLoopHalveAndDoubleOnBeatloopRollTab

true

true/false

Use the last two pad from the bottom row as loop half and loop double. These can be used to interact with beatloop roll and normal loop.

Jogwheel speed (in turntable mode, as well as LED indicator)

BaseRevolutionsPerMinute

33 + 1/3

33+1/3, 45 (Recommended)

The turntable mode defines how fast the jogwheel turns (if on) as well as the LED, and the overall jogwheel sensitivity. It is recommended to keep either 33 + 1/3 or 45 as a value

Whether or not to use haptic feedback features

UseMotors

false

true/false

Whether or not to use haptic feedback features. This is a beta feature, some of them may be unstable.

Map the mixer :hwlabel`Master` knob to the Mixxx internal mixer

SoftwareMixerMain

false

true/false

When enabled, the Master knob will drive the Main gain of the Mixxx internal mixer as well as the hardware built-in mixer in the device.

Map the mixer :hwlabel`Booth` knob to the Mixxx internal mixer

SoftwareMixerBooth

false

true/false

When enabled, the Booth knob will drive the Booth gain of the Mixxx internal mixer as well as the hardware built-in mixer in the device.

Map the mixer headphone knobs :hwlabel`VOL` and :hwlabel`MIX` to the Mixxx internal mixer

SoftwareMixerHeadphone

false

true/false

When enabled, the headphone knobs will drive the headphone controls of the Mixxx internal mixer as well as the hardware built-in mixer in the device.

Default Pad Layout

DefaultPadLayout

default

default,hotcue,samplerBeatloop,keyboard

Define the default layout used for the pads.

This settings are only useful if you are using haptic feedback features

Setting

Variable value

Default

Range

Description

Number of samples used for jogwheel speed in turntable mode

TurnTableSpeedSample

20

1..50

Number of samples used to determine the jogwheel movement when the turntable is on. A higher value will increase precision but latency too, and vice-versa

Define the tension of the jogwheel

TightnessFactor

0.5

0..1.0

Define the jogwheel tension. 0 makes it very tight while 1 makes it very loose

Define how much force can the jogwheel use

MaxWheelForce

25000

10000..30000 (Recommended, can go up to 60000)

Define how much resistance can the wheel use when its rotation is held

Changing settings

Mixxx 2.4

Making these changes is still a little awkward, this will be much easier to do starting in Mixxx 2.5. For now you’ll have to make a small change to the mapping script file. Don’t worry, the actual edit only involves replacing a single word in a text file.

  1. Open Mixxx Preferences and select the Kontrol S4 in the side list.

  2. Select Traktor-Kontrol-S4-MK3-hid-scripts.js.

  3. Click Open Selected File.

  4. Either the file should open in an editor, or you should see a file browser window with that file selected. If you see a file browser, right click the file and select an option to edit it.

  5. Starting from the block entitled USER CONFIGURABLE SETTINGS, there should be configurable options.

Mixxx 2.5+

Settings can be edited in the preference windows, under Preferences > Controllers > Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3 ….