Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol X1 Mk3 DJ Controller

Traktor Kontrol X1 Mk3 — Compact Modular DJ Controller for Traktor Pro 4

The Traktor Kontrol X1 Mk3 is Native Instruments' portable USB DJ controller for effects, loops, and mixing, redesigned from the ground up after a decade since the X1 Mk2. Slim at 129 x 323 x 56 mm and weighing 754 g, this model fits into a backpack and still offers deep control over Traktor Pro 4 in clubs, festivals, and house-party setups. Included are a Traktor Pro 4 licence and two months of free Beatport or Beatsource streaming, letting DJs plug in and start right away.

Standout Features

Across the top and middle of the unit, five OLED displays surface track name, elapsed and remaining time, loop length, and effects parameters. This means the laptop screen is optional mid-set. What stands out for performers is the light-based notification system under the chassis: it flashes red when a deck slips out of sync, pulses as a track nears its end, and turns green with a loop active, providing a visual layer of muscle memory lacking in previous X1 generations.

Connectivity and Hub — Travel-Ready Modular Rig

DJs building modular rigs will appreciate the built-in three-port powered USB hub, a significant workflow upgrade. The X1 Mk3 can run bus-powered from a laptop, but when a CDJ, audio interface, Maschine, or a second X1 is connected, the 15 V power supply (included) powers the entire chain via one tidy cable to the computer.

• USB Hub: 3 powered ports on the rear panel — daisy-chain CDJs, an audio interface, or a second X1 without a separate hub.
• For standard plug-and-play, use the supplied USB-B to USB-A cable to connect to any laptop running Traktor Pro 4.
• Power: Bus powered via USB, or 15 V DC adaptor (supplied) — switch to mains power whenever the hub is in use.
• Dimensions: 129 x 323 x 56 mm — slim enough for cabin-luggage DJ setups.
• Weight: 754 g — light enough to pair with a second X1 and still stay under 2.5 kg in a backpack.

Controls and Displays — Built for the Booth

Every control on the X1 Mk3 has been reconsidered for live performance. Ten transport buttons per deck cover play, sync, cue, reverse, beatjump, and hot cues, while four endless encoders handle loops and library browsing with separate left/right deck knobs. The two vertical rows of four centre-click knobs above the transport strip give full parameter access to all four Traktor effects engines, with soft takeover and on-screen indicators when one set of controls is shared between two engines.

• Displays: 5 OLED screens (3 across the top, 2 in the middle) — show track progress, loop size, FX parameters, and current mode.
• Transport Buttons: 10 per deck — play, sync, cue, reverse, beatjump, and hot cues with tactile dots for blind orientation.
• Encoders: 4 endless rotary encoders — dedicated loop and library controls for each deck.
• FX Controls: 8 centre-click knobs plus 8 vertical buttons — full parameter access to all four Traktor effects engines.
• With larger button sizes and tactile dots, orientation in low-light booth conditions is more intuitive and efficient.

Software and Customisation — Mixer Mode and Beyond

Traktor Pro 4 ships in the box, and the X1 Mk3 unlocks a dedicated mixer mode that turns the unit into a software-mixer controller with three-band EQ, channel volume, hi/mid/lo kills, and headphone on/off per channel. Two new settings panels in Traktor's preferences let DJs remap controls and recolour the underside LEDs and button backlighting, with 16 colours available for the ambient lighting and per-button RGB colour coding for instant visual grouping.

• Included Software: Traktor Pro 4 licence — flexible beatgrids, stem separation, Ozone Maximizer, and Pattern Player.
• Switching to mixer mode with a single button allows toggling from FX control to three-band EQ, volume, kills, and headphone cues instantly.
• Lighting: 16 ambient colours plus per-button RGB — visual feedback for loop, sync, and track-end states.
• Streaming Bundle: 2 months of Beatport or Beatsource — explore and tag tracks directly inside Traktor Pro 4.

Who Is It For

This instrument is right for Traktor Pro 4 users who want deep, modular control over a club rig, a CDJ setup, or a travel kit without losing tactile feedback. Electronic-music DJs who rely on Traktor's effects engines, looping, and beatjump workflows will find it especially useful, and it also fits hybrid performers pairing the controller with modular synths, samplers like the Roland SP-404 Mk2, or a second X1 for four-deck control. Those upgrading from earlier X1 models or switching from an Allen & Heath Xone:K2 will appreciate the improved screens, mixer mode, and native mapping.

Brand and Product Story

The Traktor Kontrol X1 line has been a cornerstone of Native Instruments' modular DJ ecosystem since the original X1 launched, and the X1 Mk3 is the first major hardware revision in roughly a decade. Native Instruments designed this generation around direct feedback from the Traktor community, returning much-loved features such as separate left/right library encoders while introducing OLED displays, a powered USB hub, and an official mixer mode.