Berlin, Germany music software developer Native Instruments GmbH on Friday announced that it will soon release an update to Traktor FS, the special version of its DJ mixing software designed to work with Stanton Magnetics’ FinalScratch turntable interface system. The news came from the NAMM 2004 show in Anaheim, Calif.
Traktor FS improvements
Traktor is a DJ studio for Mac and Windows. The software enables DJs to mix live in MP3, WAV, AIFF and audio CD formats. It provides a huge array of mixing features graphic waveform displays, tempo recognition and automatic synchronization, real-time time stretching, up to 10 cue points and 10 loops per track, and a track database with search functionality.
Traktor FS is a special version of Native Instruments’ software developed to work with FinalScratch; FinalScratch uses special timecode-embedded vinyl records on any turntable along with an interface kit. With Traktor FS installed, DJs using Traktor can utilize an interface they’re familiar with — the turntable — to handle pitch, cueing, spinning, start-stop and scratching abilities — while streaming digital video.
The new version of Traktor FS, v1.5, adds Panther support for Mac OS X users. It also offers a new “Key Correct” feature — a real-time tempo change capability that keeps music playing at its original pitch regardless of the playing speed. It’s based on the same time-stretching technology found in Traktor DJ Studio v2.5.
Traktor FS 1.5 will be available in February; it’ll be made available for a limited time to all customers who bought FinalScratch 1.1 after January 1, 2004. Others will be able to download the upgrade for US$49. FinalScratch, which bundles Traktor FS, costs $549.
X, XP exclusivity
In related news, Native Instruments also noted that it will focus all future development efforts on Mac OS X and Windows XP. The company said it’s doing so to “ensure the best possible user experience on these powerful platforms.”
“All current NI software products are now available for Mac OS X, including support for technologies like AudioUnits, CoreAudio and CoreMIDI, while Windows versions have seen numerous updates for RTAS and Windows XP compatibility in the last months,” said the company.
This means the end of the road for Native Instruments’ Mac OS 9 support, as well as for older versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems, according to the company. Native Instruments pledged to continue to support users of older versions of their products working with legacy operating systems.