For years, Traktor was one of the biggest names in digital DJing. Then, while rivals kept pushing out exciting new updates to software and hardware, Traktor felt like it was being left behind. That all changed with Traktor Pro 4. It now feels current again, there’s new excitement around it and Native Instruments is back in the conversation.
The MX2 is the first controller to really ride that new wave. It comes in at a beginner-friendly price, yet it looks and feels like something you can grow with. You get the Traktor way of doing things, which always feels very creative and performance-based, which makes sense given Native Instruments’ long track record in music production.
Let’s dive into all the details of this new controller, and whether it’s done enough to make Traktor one of the top picks in the DJ world once again.
Video Review
Design & build
Native Instruments, the company behind Traktor, have always been known for making some really slick, modern-looking gear and software. This latest controller is no different. The design is a little bit sci-fi and futuristic, but still really minimal and sleek with an all-black colour scheme.
Overall, the build quality throughout is pretty top-notch, as we’ve come to expect with most modern Traktor gear. All the knobs and faders feel great and seem like they could survive a decent amount of gigging abuse.
The jog wheels are fairly small and are relatively stiff compared to some other controllers out there. It’s a matter of personal preference for the most part, as this is better for nudging tracks and beatmatching, but you’ll probably want something different, like a DDJ-REV1 if you’re more into scratching. They’ve got a couple of different modes, Turntable and Jog, which change how they work but this is just in the software rather than physical tension control.
The main new thing that stands out about the design of this new MX2 compared to the previous S2 is the clear light-up bottom shell. This is something that we saw Traktor first introduce with the new Z1 and X1 modular controllers that this is designed to work alongside, so it’s no surprise to see it brought in here. Basically, it’s got some LEDs under the controller that give you extra visual feedback on what’s going on in your mix. They’ll show you some key info at a glance, like when a track is about to run out or you’re stuck in a loop.
Sound & I/O
The MX2 comes with a 24-bit/96 kHz audio interface built in, which is a strong spec at this price point and should be better than what you’ll find on a lot of entry-level rivals. In real terms, that means your mixes will sound clean and detailed whether you’re recording at home or plugging into a proper soundsystem at a venue.
Inside Traktor, you also get the Maximiser from Ozone, who are widely known for their professional mixing and mastering plugins. This basically ‘masters’ your mixes as they’re coming out, keeping everything nice and loud and polished without introducing any clipping or unwanted artefacts. It’s a really handy tool to have, as it just gives everything a bit of a professional sheen and helps avoid too many big jumps in volume between tracks.
Ozone has a couple of presets to affect the sound. Fast pushes loudness for punchy energy, while Smooth keeps things glued and natural.
On the back of the unit, you’ll find a set of RCA outputs. This is pretty standard for DJ controllers of this price point and is perfectly fine for both home use and connecting up to proper soundsystems.
Software and streaming
The MX2 is designed around the new Traktor Pro 4. This new bit of software represents a big step up for Traktor, and after years of fairly stagnant progress, really reestablished them as one of the major players in the DJ world.
As such, the MX2 ships with the full version of Traktor Pro 4 included, not a stripped-back version like we’ve seen with previous entry-level Traktor controllers. Given that this software retails for £129 on its own, this is great news and also sets it apart from a lot of competitors in the affordable controller space, which may only come with Lite versions of their respective software.
The fact that this is so singularly designed around Traktor is both good and bad. It means that everything is of course mapped perfectly and works exactly the way you’d expect from the second you plug it in. You are, however, somewhat trapped within the Traktor ecosystem as unlike with competitors such as the DDJ-GRV6, it isn’t really compatible with multiple DJ software options (at least without some awkward MIDI mapping).
In terms of music, Traktor supports streaming through Beatport and offers two months free for new members. You can also preview these Beatport tracks directly in Traktor without having to log in. Beyond that, you can also use Beatsource streaming in Traktor, but other options like Spotify and Apple Music are not currently available, which puts it at a real disadvantage compared to the likes of rekordbox, Serato and djay.
Creative toolkit
Traktor has always stood out from the rest of the pack in the DJ world because of its wide selection of super high-quality effects and creative tools, which shouldn’t be too surprising given Native Instruments’ background in making loads of pro-level music production software.
This time around, one of the headline bits of news is the addition of stems control powered by iZotope RX, which is an industry-standard bit of software and amongst the best sounding stems tools out there. These let you control the volume of each track element and also apply individual effects and filters to each.
The biggest drawback with the stems however, and somewhere they certainly fall short compared to competitors, is that they don’t work in real time. Tracks have to be analysed for stems before you load them into a deck so you can’t just pick a random track from your library and instantly separate it like you can in some DJ software.
On top of that, you get Mixer FX, a one-knob section with nine options including filter, reverb, delay and gate. This gives you a super streamlined approach to using effects, without having to do too much diving into menus.
For those who do want more control, the MX2 also has two full FX units loaded with over 40 Native Instruments effects, including some pretty unusual stuff like time-stretching algorithms that you won’t find on most DJ gear. Overall, the sheer variety of these effects, coupled with their top-tier audio quality, easily makes them some of the best in the business.
As well as the FX, you also get 16 RGB performance pads that control things like hot cues, stems, flux loops and the Pattern Player. The Pattern Player is worth highlighting because it takes things further than just mixing track to track. It basically works like a mini drum sequencer built into the controller, so you can program your own rhythms, play in fills, or layer percussion over the top of your tracks. It turns this controller into more of an instrument than most DJ gear and really adds an extra live element to your set.
Put together, the MX2 brings a lot of powerful tools without ever veering too far into gimmick territory (unlike some controllers we’ve seen). All of this, even the Pattern Player, feels like it will be genuinely useful to DJs and the layout feels logical and easy to use.
Modular System
Traktor has always been about building a modular DJ system where you can pick and choose different elements to create a super-specific setup that’s tailored to the way you mix.
The main things that this is designed to work with are the Traktor X1 and Z1 controllers. These always felt like a bit of a weird niche bit of gear when used by themselves, but alongside this more conventional controller, they really give you loads more power.
Add an X1 when you want proper deck handling and deeper effects without touching the MX2. You get five OLED displays for track progress, names, loop size and selected effects, plus two encoders per deck for browsing and looping, and ten transport buttons per deck for play, sync, beat jump and hot cues. There’s also a three-port powered USB hub on the back so you can daisy-chain more gear and a one-button mixer mode that lets the X1 take over EQs and channel levels.
Pick the Z1 if you want small, tactile mixing plus an extra audio interface. With Stem tracks, pressing the Z1’s Stems button repurposes lets you control the four stem levels directly, which could be great to avoid having to switch between EQ and stems modes on the main controller.
If you’re more of a producer-DJ hybrid artist after some Fred Again.. style drumming in your sets, you can also hook this up to a Native Instruments Maschine, which gives you loads more performance pads and tools for adding more live elements to your sets.
Now, it’s important to note that, while Traktor see this as potentially being the heart of a modular system, this is by no means essential. It works perfectly fine by itself, and this will likely be how most people use it most of the time. It’s just nice to have the option down the line to add in extra power without having to splash out on a whole new rig.
Price and value
MSRP: €399, US $449, £349.
It costs more than the old S2 at £309, but the MX2 is a clear step up. Traktor Pro 4 is included, which would normally be a separate purchase, so the overall value feels really competitive.
Against the market, it sits a bit above some first-deck options, such as the DDJ-FLX4 (£279), yet it earns that premium with a sturdier build and a generally more creative toolkit available. Especially if you like the idea of adding some performance as well as mixing, the MX2 makes a lot of sense. It is still priced where it can be your first serious controller, especially as you can plug and play straight away and then grow with more modular tools down the line if you feel the need.
Learn to DJ with Traktor
If this new controller has you considering taking up Traktor, you’re in the right place. We’ve got you covered with beginner to pro-level Traktor courses, all taught with clear step-by-step lessons from experienced pro DJs. If you sign up for Crossfader for free, you’ll unlock a personalised learning journey that shows you what you need to know to meet your DJ goals, as well as three free courses to watch straight away.
Hello good day, I have bought once a Traktor s2 mk3 But the s2 mk3 output sound was not loud enough for a big gig. How is this with the MX2?
Not quite sure what you mean by not loud enough as that’s more of an issue with the speakers etc usually but the output of this should be absolutely fine for gigging.