Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol Z2
The Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol Z2 is a 2+2 channel USB HID mixer/controller with an integrated audio interface. It has two full channels and two further channels with limited controls The Traktor Z2 is intended for a DVS systems and is provided with Traktor Scratch MK2 timecode Vinyls and CDs.
New in version 2.4.0.
Drivers
You can download the latest Windows & MacOS drivers and firmware from the manufacturer’s website. Since the Traktor Kontrol Z2 is a USB class compliant HID and audio device, the device is plug-and-play on Linux.
Warning
Parallel installation of Traktor software on Windows
If you have a parallel installation of Traktor on Windows, there will be a NIHardwareService.exe process that takes control of the Traktor Kontrol Z2’s LEDs.
To make the them work reliable with Mixxx, you either need to uninstall the Traktor software, or stop the process by opening the task manager, selecting Show processes from all users and kill the NIHardwareService.exe process.
Audio Setup
The mapping relies on the following channel assignments:
Output Channels |
Assigned to |
|---|---|
1-2 |
Master |
3-4 |
Headphones |
Input Channels |
Assigned to |
|---|---|
1-2 (Mic/Aux) |
Auxiliary 1 |
3-4 (CH 1 Line/Phono) |
Vinyl Control 1 |
5-6 (CH 2 Line/Phono) |
Vinyl Control 2 |
7-8 (Recording) |
Record/Broadcast |
The mono microphone input and the stereo auxiliary input are mixed with each other in the hardware together in input channels 1-2, so Mixxx can record and broadcast them.
The knobs for MASTER, BOOTH, HP VOLUME are controlling the hardware mixer of the built-in audio interface. Hence, turning the knobs will not change values in the Mixxx GUI and you’ll need to set the Mixxx knobs to their default values when using the controller:
Set the master/booth/headphones levels to 100% (knob center position)
Set cue/master mixing to cue-only (leftmost position)
Note
You should assign the Vinyl Control input channels even if you do not intend to use timecode vinyl.
Controls
Mixer mode (Computer Internal vs. Direct mixer hardware)
The Traktor Z2 allows not only mixing using the mixer hardware directly, but also mixing internal in the software of the connected computer.
Unique to the Traktor Z2 is, that the mixer mode can be switched per channel. This allows the user to connect another computer and starting Mixxx, while playing a track from an analog source in direct mode, and than blend over seamless to another channel in Internal mixing mode controlled by Mixxx.
The mixing mode of channel A and B is controlled by the two buttons with the Traktor symbol on top:
Traktor button state |
Traktor button LED |
Action |
Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
Direct hardware mixing |
Off |
Press Traktor to toggle |
Only Gain, EQ, Filter and Fader of channel operation (works without computer) |
Computer Internal mixing (Passthrough) |
Dimmed |
SHIFT hold + Traktor |
Mixxx mixes the signal, but the channel is set to Passthrough. Similar to direct mode, but allows the use of features like software effects. |
Computer Internal mixing |
Bright |
Press Traktor to toggle |
Mixxx plays the track and mixes the signal internally. |
Note
The selection of the mixing mode is a hardware function overruling the software. Only if all channels are switched to computer Internal mixing, you’ve all features of Mixxx available!
Browse Section
Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol Z2 (Browse section)
No. |
Control |
Function |
|---|---|---|
1 |
LOAD/DUPLICATE A (left) button |
Load song into deck A. |
2 |
LOAD/DUPLICATE B (right) button |
Load song into deck B. |
3 |
SHIFT + LOAD/DUPLICATE A (left) button |
Duplicate track and play position from deck B to A |
4 |
SHIFT + LOAD/DUPLICATE B (right) button |
Duplicate track and play position from deck A to B |
5 |
Rotary Selector |
Turn to move tracklist cursor up/down. Press to toggle the selected item. |
6 |
SHIFT + Rotary Selector |
Turn to move sidebar cursor left right/down. |