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DJ Tech Reviews

Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4

Traktor's four-channel flagship with motorised haptic jog wheels; tied to a laptop and Traktor, and now discontinued.

Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3 at an angle

Photos: Native Instruments

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13 of 13 professional reviews recommend it4.9/5 from 7 Guitar Center owners
Best for
Traktor DJs who want turntable-style motorised jogs across four decks.
Skip it if
You need standalone playback or want software other than Traktor.

The Internet’s Opinion

From 13 professional reviews and 5 owner reviews: a fair amount of evidence.

All 13 professional reviews found recommend it, for motorised jog wheels that feel like a turntable, tight Traktor integration and better audio and outputs than earlier S4s. The repeated reservations are small screens, jogs and controls smaller than club gear, and a laptop-only design; the standalone mixer mode missing at launch was added later.

13 recommend0 mixed0 avoid

What people praise

  • Motorised jog wheels feel like a turntable
  • Better sound and club outputs (XLR main, booth out) than earlier S4s
  • Solid, well-made build
Show 3 more
  • Tight integration with Traktor
  • Mixer FX, pads and remix tools invite creative mixing
  • Works as a standalone mixer for turntables and other sources

What to know first

  • Small screens show little beyond the basics
  • No standalone mixer mode at launchFixed
  • Jog wheels and controls are smaller and closer together than club gear
Show 5 more
  • Traktor itself can be complex or crash
  • Big and heavy to travel with
  • Laptop-only: no standalone playback
  • A microphone takes over one of the four mixer channels
  • Haptic cue feedback and spinning platters don't suit everyone

Owner ratings, as the retailers publish them

See the 13 reviews behind this

13 professional reviews (13 recommend, 0 mixed, 0 avoid); 5 owner reviews read at Guitar Center (Thomann no longer lists the S4 MK3)Compiled 2026-10-11How this is compiled

Prices

Before you buy

Released
November 2018 (announced September 2018)
Status
Discontinued

Works with

  • Traktor Pro 4Included

    NI's product page listed Traktor Pro 4 as the included software Manufacturer spec sheet (Native Instruments (archived product page)), checked 2026-10-11

  • Turntables and DVSPhono on A and B

    Channels A and B have phono preamps for turntables, and Traktor's Scratch function runs timecode vinyl or CDs through the built-in interface Manufacturer spec sheet (Native Instruments (S4 MK3 manual)), checked 2026-10-11

  • Standalone mixer modeNo computer needed

    Mixes external sources such as turntables or players without Traktor running; it cannot be combined with Traktor at the same time Manufacturer spec sheet (Native Instruments), checked 2026-10-11

  • VirtualDJPro licence only

    A mapping from the VirtualDJ development team is available to Pro users; the screens and haptic feedback are not supported Manufacturer spec sheet (VirtualDJ), checked 2026-10-11

  • MixxxFree, no screens

    Mapped from Mixxx 2.4 on; the S4 MK3 is class compliant on Linux, macOS and Windows, but Mixxx does not drive its screens Mixxx, checked 2026-10-11

You’ll also need

  • A Mac or PCLaptop required

    Playback runs in Traktor on macOS 12 to 15 or Windows 10/11 with an Intel Core i5 or Apple M1 or later, 4 GB RAM and USB 2.0 Manufacturer spec sheet (Native Instruments (archived specifications page)), checked 2026-10-11

  • Powered speakers or an ampNot in the box

    Main outputs on balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA, plus a balanced 1/4" booth output Manufacturer spec sheet (Native Instruments (S4 MK3 manual)), checked 2026-10-11

  • Headphones1/4" or 1/8" jack

    Front-panel headphone outputs on 1/8" and 1/4" jacks; with two pairs connected the maximum volume drops Manufacturer spec sheet (Native Instruments (S4 MK3 manual)), checked 2026-10-11

  • WASAPI on Windows 11ASIO blocked

    A Windows 11 security change blocks NI's ASIO driver for the S4 MK3; NI recommends switching to WASAPI (Exclusive) in Traktor Pro 4.5 while it works with Microsoft on an ASIO update Manufacturer spec sheet (Native Instruments), checked 2026-10-11

Our take

Tony AllenWritten from the sources on this page, not from a loan unit.

All thirteen professional reviews recommend the S4 MK3, mainly for motorised jog wheels that feel like a turntable and tight Traktor integration. The repeated reservations are small screens, raised by five reviews, and a laptop-only design; the standalone mixer mode missing at launch was added later. Only five owner reviews could be read, all at Guitar Center. NI has dropped it from its lineup and names no successor: buy it if you are staying with Traktor.

What it is

Status, October 2026: discontinued. Native Instruments has dropped the Traktor Kontrol S4 from its DJ controller range and names no successor.

What it is

The Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3 is a four-channel DJ controller from Native Instruments, built for its own Traktor software (Native Instruments product page, archived). It was announced in September 2018 and released that November, as the third version of the S4. It shipped with Traktor Pro 3, and Native Instruments later listed Traktor Pro 4 as the included software.

Its headline feature is Haptic Drive: motorised, touch-sensitive jog wheels with three modes. In Jog mode they nudge the tempo and click as they pass cue points and loops, in Turntable mode they spin with the track like a record, and a third mode adjusts beatgrids. Start/stop time and torque are adjustable, and RGB light rings show deck, speed and nudging. Two high-resolution colour displays show waveforms, loops, key, BPM, Stems and Remix Deck samples. Each deck has eight RGB pads for hot cues, samples and Stems, and each channel has a one-knob Mixer FX with eight effects and three filters.

The built-in 24-bit/96 kHz audio interface has two phono/line and two line inputs, two mic inputs, main outputs on XLR and RCA, a balanced 1/4" booth output, and 1/8" and 1/4" headphone jacks. Turntables or CD players with timecode run Traktor as DVS, and a standalone mixer mode mixes four external sources without a computer, though not while Traktor is running.

It needs a Mac or PC for decks, connects with the included USB cable and runs from its own power supply. It measures 542 x 339 x 60.5 mm. VirtualDJ Pro and Mixxx have mappings, without the screens.

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