For people like me who change their library often this can be a huge time saver. It then gives you the option to relocate those tracks or delete them from the library. It even comes with an Library Analysis program that scans your library and detects any moved or deleted tracks.
Traktor can also be set to scan your files for changes when you open the program and update the library accordingly. I have 9000 tracks stored on a external network hard drive so this process took a long time, but I was very glad to see that the system works fine with files stored on an external hard drive. You can set the system to scan specific locations for music files (mp3, ogg, aac, etc) to add to the library.
The Traktor Pro Software comes with some great functionality for managing your library.
The only slowdown I experienced was switching the program from window to full screen mode. Other programs I have worked with used considerable system resources but Traktor Pro seems to require less processing power to run. I was surprised to see that the software ran perfectly on my Netbook-style computer with 2GB of RAM. After the software installed it began working with my 2 turntable and mixer configuration without any additional tweaking. This software is also offered as a standalone product for those looking to mix tracks without the use of turntables, cds or another controller. Included in the package is a copy of the Traktor Pro software. Also useful is the input button on the device, which allows you to easily switch from vinyl to CD mode. The device also includes headphone and mic inputs, each with a separate volume control. As a result you can easily troubleshoot any connection issues you might have. This gives you a visual indicator of which channels are getting signals and which are not. One feature I really love on the Scratch Pro is the useful LED indicators on the Audio Interface Device. At this time it does not seem like firewire is an option. The audio interface connects to your computer via an included USB 2.0 cable.
This saves you the trouble of having an extra power cord to deal with.Īs stated earlier, the audio interface on the Traktor Scratch Pro allows for up to 8 inputs meaning you can hook up multiple controllers including two sets of turntables or turntables plus CDs. The Audio Interface Device connects to a computer through a USB 2.0 cord, which also provides power to the device. These features allows me to easily hide all wires from view and made the setup process extremely simple. The wires even have a single XLR connection in the middle so you can easily disconnect the Audio Interface from the rest of your setup without having to undue each separate connection. Rather than run 6 sets of wires to and from the Audio Interface, you simply run a single wire that branches out into the necessary connections at each end.
If you are like me and hate messy wires crowding your setup, then you will absolutely love the innovative wires that Native Instruments includes in the Scratch Pro. Hooking up the unit to my mixer and turntables was a breeze. This is extremely useful for people not familiar with Digital Control Devices. The wizard asks questions about your setup and configures the software according to the types of equipment you are using. Once the key was entered the software updated automatically and loaded up a setup wizard.
I had a little trouble activating the software as the quick start guide said that the activation key was located on the CD cover when it actually was printed on a piece of paper included in the box.