This is not your everyday plug and play digital DJ software. This is a program for serious techy-audiophiles when put to its full advantages. Therefore, RTFM. If ever there was a prerequisite for using TRAKTOR SCRATCH, it is to “read the f*ing manual”. I learned this the hard way. With only 2 days to install and try it out before the festival, I used it for the first time at my gig the night before. My set went fine, but because this program is so feature-rich, it can cause confusion to the new user. Since that weekend, I have had time to explore TS more thoroughly and also receive the 1.1 update, which vastly improved my user experience.

NI claims the centerpiece of this system is the Audio 8 DJ audio interface. It truly is. It has Cirrus-Logic™ AD-DA converters and low latency drivers with hi-gain inputs on all channels, 8 inputs, 8 outputs, MIDI and a 1⁄4” headphone connector. What does this all mean? The sound quality of lo-res, .mp3 files is suddenly incredible. Too often, I hear lo-grade mp3’s in the clubs that sound flat, and with such hi-end crunchy-ness that I leave the club with a few less ear cilia. Most uniquely, it gives you the ability to record your live sets. It even has a microphone on a separate channel, which can then be routed through Traktor’s send effects. The connector cords are grouped and labeled with specific destinations for the inserts, and they are long, enabling you to place the box on either side of the decks.

The user interface of TRAKTOR itself has 3 views to show/hide different sections depending on what you are doing, Performing (full deck, effects, audio and playlists), Playback (reviewing tracks and setting cue points) and Browsing (nearly an all tracks view to organize your playlists). The Performing view is where all the fun takes place, with its Details section. Here you can edit cue points and lock your tracks to the Beatgrid, a feature which analyzes your tracks and eliminates drift, and marks your audio file so that you can easily mix in time, areas where there are no beats. Hip Hop DJs can sticker their files visually (as they would on vinyl) on the Scratch deck, and all DJs benefit from the Cue Edit and Beat Jump features, giving you the ability to remix on the fly and helpful when you want to bypass those long, atmospheric breakdowns.

Each deck has its own insert effects, leaving the sends to be assigned to a mic or to another insert for doubled effects. Both send and insert effects feature Allen & Heath’s X:one 92 filters, a Delay, Reverb, Flanger and BeatMasher. The BeatMasher is a cool effect that allows you to arpeggiate (for lack of a better term) beats.

Another interesting feature is the integrated Beatport store. You are able to preview tracks and view them as waveforms. And downloading them is a breeze, since with one click it automatically places them in your Track Collection. The store feature can be turned off, which I recommend before playing live, because one misplaced click can send your computer off in a never-ending attempt to connect to the store, while freezing the screen, forcing you to quit the program (yes, I learned this the hard way too!).

There are 10 assignable Hotkeys and several keyboard shortcuts that can be customized to your liking. MIDI device knobs and buttons can also be assigned and controlled through the TRAKTOR interface. And of course, TS can be used with turntables or CDJs, as well as operate on internal mode.

My recommendation before purchasing any software is to evaluate your needs, preferences, and to test it out. Play with demo versions or a friend’s. TRAKTOR SCRATCH certainly kicks things up a notch with its impressive sound quality, and offers the functionality for digital DJs, that with time and preparation can take their performance to the next-level. The possibilities are endless.

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