Monthly Archives: August 2022

Customizing Native Instruments Traktor 3 for MacBook Pro

Making notes here for getting my custom S8 setup on my MacBook Pro 2019

S8 Setup with Technics 1200 SL-1200M3D timecode vinyl jog/scratch control

First steps are making sure the screen does not hibernate or go to sleep. I use Caffeine. The app works great and you can turn it off easily on the system tray menu if you want default MacBook behavior. Now your MacBook will not turn off when you’re an hour into a sweet set. https://caffeinated.app/

Next, let’s create a custom layout. I like mine to look a little more like Serato or RekordBox. Under Traktor settings, go to upper right pull down menu and choose mixer.

Choose mixer from menu
Choose settings to further customize.

Go to Decks Layout and customize for full 4 decks with parallel full display.

Layout Manager Preferences after adding customized Full 4 Deck Mixer Display

Then shift over and setup your new deck layout.

  • 4 decks, parallel full
  • Grid mode: dim
  • Show Minute Markers: on
  • Show Bar Markers: on
  • Color mode: spectrum
  • Show cover art: on
  • Show Phase Meter: on

Close to save these settings. I would recommend closing Traktor and reopening at this time to force the save preferences for subsequent reboots.

At this point on a MacBook Pro 15, which is what I have, the screen real estate may feel crowded. It is. But maybe you’re near sited and have glasses and want all these options up in front. Perhaps you even have a Wacom Mobile studio tablet in front of your mixer for quick access, but it is still 16 so you suffer the same crowded setup. If you go to default system preferences under display properties and try to scale it may be somewhat limiting. But it can be unlocked, without having to do developer hacks. This great little tool SwitchRes will unlock your preferences and you can scale up your screen size to get a nice layout that is still readable. https://www.madrau.com/srx_download/download.html (14 euro)

System Preferences SwitchResX
SwitchResX settings at 2560×1440 at 60Hz NTSC
Traktor 3 with custom deck layout at 2560×1440 at 60Hz NTSC
S8 with Custom 4 Deck Layout

Be sure to get all the remix sets from Traktor as well:

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/traktor/dj-accessories/traktor-remix-sets/free-remix-sets/

Custom Native Instruments Traktor S8 Kontrol Setup with Technics SL-1200M3D Timecode Vinyl running with MacBook Pro 15 and Wacom Mobile Studio 16.

Hardware Overview:

  • Monterey 12.5 
  • Model Name: MacBook Pro
  • Model Identifier: MacBookPro15,3
  • Processor Name: 6-Core Intel Core i7
  • Processor Speed: 2.6 GHz
  • Number of Processors: 1
  • Total Number of Cores: 6
  • L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
  • L3 Cache: 9 MB
  • Hyper-Threading Technology: Enabled
  • Memory: 32 GB
  • System Firmware Version: 1731.140.2.0.0 (iBridge: 19.16.16064.0.0,0)
  • OS Loader Version: 540.120.3~19

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