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Traktor 3 has an impressive new interface.

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Traktor 3 is best described as an excellent refinement. It offers vastly increased functionality and plenty of new features, and retains everything that made the previous versions so popular. But, in light of the progress Ableton’s Live has made over the past couple of years, we can’t help but think that the whole concept of Traktor has almost had its day.

Because it emulates the layout and interface of yesterday’s technology (rack-mounted CD decks were only ever a functional stop-gap), Traktor is inherently limited. It would be nice to see Native Instruments come up with something a lot more radical for the next version - when it comes to challenging Ableton, they’re surely the best-equipped company out there.

If you’re an existing user who doesn’t want to do more than mix tracks and add the odd loop in a familiar environment, Traktor 3 is well worth the upgrade price. Also, if you’re a scratch DJ and you plan to invest in (or already own) Final Scratch 2, this is the smartest software choice. However, if you’re just starting out in the DJing world and want the easiest option, or if you’re a creative DJ and want more mixing power than you could ever dream of, Live 5 is the way to go.