Traktor Kontrol S2 Mk3 vs. Pioneer DDJ-400. Which one is better? Which one should you choose? Are these 2-channel DJ controllers any good for beginners or as nifty practice devices? We’ll now compare the DDJ-400 and the Traktor S2 MK3 in terms of their feature sets, their similarities and differences. We hope this in-depth comparison will help you decide on which of these two devices should you get in the end.
- Control layouts & build quality
- The mixer sections
- Audio FX controls
- Pitch faders
- Performance pads
- Jog wheels
- Inputs and outputs
- Software compatibility
- The MIDI mode on the Traktor S2 MK3
- Pros and cons
- The conclusion – which one should you choose?
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Control layouts & build quality
On the Pioneer DDJ-400, the general workflow during a live performance slightly resembles the one from the flagship Pioneer DJ CDJ players and DJM mixers that are considered a club standard in many venues.
The control layout on the DDJ-400 is made to resemble a 2xCDJ player x 1xDJM mixer setup and so it can make a future transition from an entry-level DJ controller to an actual club setup a tad easier.
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The Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 has its own layout that is really not that different from the DDJ-400’s one. There are some differences such as the S2 MK3 having a separate library browse knob for each deck or it having just a simple one-knob FX solution instead of a classic FX section or a Beat FX strip.
What’s also important, is that while the DDJ-400 has the classic audio loop control buttons that you might recognize from the Pioneer CDJ players, the S2 MK3 lets you control your loops by using a loop knob present on each deck.
The S2 MK3’s loop control solution is certainly fun to use, but it may not suit people who prefer the simple in/out/reloop button scheme present on most DJ controllers these days.
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The other thing is that the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 features RGB backlit performance pads, while the Pioneer DDJ-400 only has its basic red edge backlight for this part of the device.
The build quality of both these controllers is fine for their price. Don’t expect overly sturdy mixer knobs that don’t wiggle around a bit or any kind of outer case reinforcement. It is what it is and it’s perfectly good for this price range and the intended use of these devices.
You won’t be disappointed with the build quality of either of these, however you cannot really compare them to slightly more pricey units.
The mixer sections
Both these devices feature 2 mixer channels and neither of them let you easily control virtual decks 3 and 4. On the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3, to do this you’d have to resort to 3rd party MIDI mappings, and on the Pioneer DDJ-400, while using Rekordbox DJ software you cannot access the decks 3 and 4 at all.
If you’re searching for a DJ controller that will give you access to 4 decks then we strongly recommend you to get yourself a full-fledged DJ controller with 4 actual physical mixer channels.
The most important difference regarding the mixer sections of the DDJ-400 and the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 are the FX control sections. Let’s take a look at these.
Audio FX controls
The Pioneer DDJ-400 features a classic simplified version of the Beat FX strip you might recognize from the high-end Pioneer DJM mixer series. Using the Beat FX strip you can activate one effect at the time on one audio channel of your choice.
Other than that, you have access to the high-pass/low-pass filter knobs on the mixer (one for each mixer channel), and 2 customizable Rekordbox Pad FX preset pages accessible via the performance pads.
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The Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 has quite a different approach to FX controls. On this device, you won’t find a traditional FX control section. The only way you can apply effects to your tracks using the S2 MK3 controls is to use the FX knobs in the mixer section and 4 customizable FX preset select buttons.
This makes the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 quite limited when it comes to the FX handling experience, as you don’t really have much freedom when it comes to applying effects to your tracks compared to the Pioneer DDJ-400.
Pitch faders
Both DDJ-400 and the S2 MK3 feature half-sized small pitch faders with reasonable accuracy enabling you to set your track’s tempo up to 0.01 BPM without much trouble.
In this price range, most DJ controllers don’t feature full-size pitch faders. There is one exception though, if you’re interested check out the Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX.
Performance pads and pad modes
When it comes to performance pads, the main thing that makes these two devices different, is the available amount of features that the performance pads let you control, which is quite limited on the S2 MK3.
When it comes to the size and feel of the pads on both controllers, they are very similar. The pads on the Pioneer DDJ-400 and the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 are rubberized and make a distinct “click” sound when pressed down. No large differences here.
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As we’ve already mentioned, the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 features RGB backlit performance pads, while the Pioneer DDJ-400 only has the red edge backlight available.
The Pioneer DDJ-400 when used with the Rekordbox DJ software gives you access to 8 performance pad modes in total. On the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 used with Traktor DJ software there are only 2 basic pad modes you can use.
Performance pad modes on the Pioneer DDJ-400:
- Hot cue – a standard hot-cue mode allowing you to set hot cue points remembered by the software.
- Beat loop – a set of secondary loop controls.
- Beat jump – a function that lets you jump a set amount of beats forwards or backwards throughout your track.
- Sampler – a standard sampler utility with 8 sample slots available.
- Keyboard – a mode allowing you to easily pitch-shift set points in your track for all kinds of tone-play routines.
- Pad FX 1 – fully customizable Pad FX presets.
- Pad FX 2 – the second bank of customizable Pad FX presets.
- Key shift – simple track pitch-shifting utility.
Performance pad modes on the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3:
- Hot cues – a standard hot-cue mode, no differences here.
- Samples – a sampler utility that lets you control decks 3 and 4 in the form of Traktor software Remix decks. Nifty feature for all the DJs that incorporate lots of audio samples or song stems into their mixes.
Jog wheels
The jog wheels on both the DDJ-400 and the S2 MK3 are similarly sized and there aren’t many substantial differences here. While in our opinion the MK3’s jogs feel a little bit more sturdy than the DDJ-400’s ones, they will both serve their purpose just fine and they are similar in terms of their feel. The jog wheels on these devices are not motorized as expected at this price point.
Inputs and outputs
The Pioneer DDJ-400 and the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 feature all the inputs and outputs typical for a standard entry-level DJ controller and they both can be powered solely via the USB connection.
Pioneer DDJ-400:
| Inputs | 1x microphone input (1/4″ TS Jack) |
|---|---|
| Outputs | 1x master output (RCA) 1x headphones output (1/8″ stereo mini jack) |
| Other | 1x USB B port (for laptop connection and power) |
Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3:
| Inputs | 1x microphone input (1/4″ TS Jack) |
|---|---|
| Outputs | 2x master output (RCA and 1/8″ stereo mini jack) 1x headphones output (1/8″ stereo mini jack) |
| Other | 1x USB B port (for laptop connection and power) 1x USB A port (for iOS devices connection) 15V/1.2A optional power adapter input (power adapter not included) 1x Kensington security slot |
While the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 can be powered via USB only, it can also be powered using a dedicated power supply. A power brick however isn’t bundled with the device and you’d have to purchase it separately if you decide you need it for one reason or the other.
Using a power adapter instead of powering your S2 MK3 via USB lets you set higher brightness levels on the device’s dials and makes the headphone output ceiling slightly higher.
Software compatibility
The main difference between the Pioneer DDJ-400 and the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 is that these two DJ controllers were designed with two different pieces of DJ software in mind.
The Pioneer DDJ-400 is a dedicated Rekordbox DJ controller, while the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 is a device native to the Traktor DJ software ecosystem.
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When it comes to the software the devices come with, the Pioneer DDJ-400 unlocks the full version of the Rekordbox software while plugged into your computer, while the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 comes with the full version of the Traktor Pro 3 software. This means that in both cases you can start DJing right away, without the need of purchasing additional software or license upgrades.
In both cases you get your device with the full versions of the dedicated DJ software
Pioneer DDJ-400 besides Rekordbox also supports the Djay Pro software (which also has its mobile version compatible with iOS devices), the Virtual DJ software, and theoretically could support Traktor Pro 3 and Mixx software, provided you’ll be able to find or create an appropriate MIDI mapping for that.
The Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 supports Traktor Pro 3, Virtual DJ and again in theory can be mapped to any kind of software that supports MIDI communication.
The MIDI mode on the Traktor S2 MK3
To use your Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 with any kind of MIDI-compatible software and create your own custom mappings you have to enter the MIDI mode. You can do so by pressing and holding the left FLX button on the S2 MK3 while connecting it to your computer.
When you do so, only then the S2 MK3 will start sending MIDI signals to any kind of 3rd party software.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Layout corresponding to a CDJxDJM “club standard” DJ setup.
- Quite a few options regarding audio FX (Beat FX strip, Pad FX, mixer channel filters).
- Great deal of useful performance pad modes with Rekordbox software.
Cons:
- No key lock button on the device.
- No access to virtual decks 3 and 4.
Pros:
- Clean and rather simplistic control layout.
- Separate VU meters for each mixer channel.
- Traktor Pro 3 in general allows for more controller customization than Rekordbox.
Cons:
- One-knob FX control with a few presets might not be enough for some people.
- No access to virtual decks 3 and 4.
- Lacks some useful features especially when it comes to its very basic and few performance pad modes and audio effects handling.
| Controller | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Pioneer DDJ-400: – Unlocks the full version of Rekordbox software. – Great value for the price. – Club control layout. | Check price on Amazon Check price on Ebay |
  | Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3: – Comes with full Traktor Pro 3 software license. – Clean, efficient control layout. – RGB backlit performance pads. | Check price on Amazon Check price on Ebay |
The conclusion – which one should you choose?
Both the Pioneer DDJ-400 and the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 are great affordable DJ controllers suitable for beginners and DJs who need a reasonably small nifty practice device for a great price.
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You won’t be disappointed with any of these devices, however if we were to choose one of these, we’d probably go with the DDJ-400, because of the larger amount of features it supports compared to the S2 MK3 (including better FX controls).
| Pioneer DDJ-400 on Ebay: |
| Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 on Ebay: |