Native Instruments releases Traktor 3.1

Geschreven door Reind Dooyeweerd vrijdag, 21 juli 2006 00:38

Native Instruments just released TRAKTOR DJ Studio 3.1, a free update for its acclaimed digital DJ software. The new version improves several key aspects of the software and adds a large number of minor enhancements and optimizations.

TRAKTOR DJ Studio 3.1 makes preparing and executing a digital DJ performance more convenient by offering a comprehensive Undo functionality for playlists as well as the possibility to "lock" them to prevent accidental changes to a meticulously planned set. The user interface has also been further improved and refined, offering increased overview and more customizability.


Furthermore, the update brings performance improvements of up to 30% under Mac OS X, now allowing for the operation of multiple simultaneous decks with high-quality time-stretching and effects, even on less powerful Macintosh computers.

The new version also makes browsing and purchasing new club music releases easier by offering to context-search the integrated Beatport store with a single mouse-click from any entry within the TRAKTOR library. The 3.1 update for Windows and Mac is now available as a free download for all registered users of TRAKTOR DJ Studio 3 on the NI website.

TRAKTOR DJ Studio 3 continues to be available for the special NI-VERSARY pricing of $119 / 99 Euro until September 10th, 2006. Mac Intel compatibility for TRAKTOR DJ Studio will be introduced with a separate update, which is scheduled for release in the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2006.

Fixes and new features

GUI

• New: Progress bar has been moved under the tree and can be activated individually
• New: Shortcuts have been moved under the list and can be activated individually
• New: Browser buttons labeled with icons
• New: Better visibility of sorted colum in playlist

USABILITY

• New: Loop lenghts, beatjumps and knob sensitivities recalled after restart
• New: Shows selected track in Mac Finder / Windows Explorer
• New: Shows playlists (NML) and mixfiles (NMX) in TRAKTOR Explorer
• New: Autoplay proceeds in listed sequence
• New: Undo function for sorting and for removal of tracks from playlists
• New: Recalls Master Tempo after restart
• New: Starts and pauses preview of selected track with a single command
• New: Draging playlists on occupied shortcut slots replaces shortcut
• New: Shift dragging playlists on occupuied shortcut slots appends their content
• New: Shift+Up/Dn now works for group selection in playlists
• New: Shows latest playlist as first
• New: BPM search range narrowed to +/- 2.5 BPM
• NEW: Save option in context menu of playlists
• NEW: Controlling Phase Sync via mouse scroll wheel
• New: The "Renumber" button has been replaced by a "Lock" function in the context menu of each playlist. Locked playlists do not recall changes made to them during a Traktor session. Permanent changes to playlists have to be applied in unlocked mode. Sorting by the numbered column (#) restores the original sequence of the playlist. All old playlists are initially locked by default.

INFO

• New: AAC (.m4a) metadata now fully supported (writes Traktor metadata into .m4a files)
• New: Determines total track time during import
• New: Shows number of tracks, total time and total size of selected playlist

BUGFIXES

• Fixed: Shifting beatgrids of AAC encoded files
• Fixed: Untight mix recording when usind AAC encoded files
• Fixed: Autoselection of stored loops and loop jump
• Fixed: Missing backup folder on Mac
• Fixed: Explorer does not sort playlists alphabetically
• Fixed: Wrong estimation of variable bitrates
• Fixed: Fade-In/Out markers do not work in autoplay
• Fixed: Track history in mixed playlists not correctly displayed