How to Switch between LINE and PHONO or MIC Input Level with a TRAKTOR Audio Interface

This article explains how to switch between the LINE and PHONO levels on the input channels of TRAKTOR audio interfaces equipped with this feature. The PHONO signal level is required when connecting a turntable as part of a TRAKTOR Scratch Timecode vinyl setup or as an external audio source (Live Input) from a vinyl record playing.

Note: To learn about the use of external audio sources as Live Input signal in TRAKTOR, please consult this video.

Before proceeding, make sure that your TRAKTOR audio interface or controller has been connected and recognized by your system.

Click on the name of your device to learn how to switch the level of its input channels:

TRAKTOR AUDIO 6 / 10

  1. Open TRAKTOR Preferences > Audio Setup
  2. Click on Settings in the Phono / Line section to open the Control Panel.
    Line_Phono_TA610_audio_setup.png
  3. In the Channel Setup menu, use the radio buttons under Input Sens for each channel to switch between Phono and Line level.
    Line_Phono_TA610_channelSetup.png

Note: Make sure that the Direct Thru option of the input channels is disabled. Additionally, if you wish to save the Input Sens configuration for future use, perform these changes under the Startup tab. Read about the Direct Thru and stand-alone use of the TRAKTOR AUDIO 6 / 10 in this article.

TRAKTOR KONTROL S4

Move the switch to either LINE or PHONO next to the INPUT CHANNEL B or INPUT CHANNEL A on the rear panel of the TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 hardware.
Line_Phono_S4_rear_panel.png

Note: The older generation TRAKTOR KONTROL MK1 model offers this switch functionality on the rear panel for INPUT CHANNEL C and INPUT CHANNEL D. The additional THRU / USB switch on INPUT CHANNEL D must be set to USB. Additionally, INPUT CHANNEL D shares its input channel with the microphone (MIC) input so that a microphone and an external audio source cannot be used at the same time on this channel.

AUDIO 4 / 8 DJ

  1. Open TRAKTOR Preferences > Audio Setup
  2. Select Phono or Timecode CD / Line from the drop-down menu under channels A(1,2) and B(3,4).
    Line_Phono_A48DJ_Audio_Setup.png

Note: Channels C(5,6) and D(7,8) of the AUDIO 8 DJ only offer the LINE input level. Additionally on the AUDIO 4 / 8 DJ you can adjust the Phono input gain levels in dB from within its Control Panel. On a Mac, the Control Panel can be displayed from the drop-down menu below its icon appearing on the top bar of the Desktop. Read more about Phono Gain level settings in the AUDIO 4 / 8 DJ user manual.
Line_Phono_Mac_show_panel.png

TRAKTOR KONTROL Z2

  1. Make sure to connect the output cable (left and right) of your external audio device to either the LINE (CD player, drum machine, etc) or PHONO (turntable) sockets in the INPUT section of the TRAKTOR KONTROL Z2 rear panel.
    Line_Phono_KZ2_rear_panel.png
  2. Set the channel toggle switch on the top panel to either PH (Phono) or LN (Line) in correspondance to the external device you connected in step 1.
    Line_Phono_KZ2_Toggle_Switch.png
  3. Make sure the TRAKTOR button next to the toggle switch is engaged (lit up). In this manner the channel can operate in TRAKTOR mode, allowing the routing of the external signal into the software for the use of Timecode or Live Input Deck.
    Line_Phono_KZ2_traktor_button.png

TRAKTOR KONTROL S8

  1. Set the switch above the channel input sockets on the rear panel to either LN (Line) or PH (Phono) depending on the type of device you are connecting.
    Line_Phono_KS8_switch_rear_panel.png
  2. Make sure the TRAKTOR button below the GAIN knob of the channel in the TRAKTOR KONTROL S8 Mixer section is engaged (lit up). In this manner the channel can operate in TRAKTOR mode, allowing the routing of the external signal into the software for the use of Timecode or Live Input Deck.
    Phono_Line_KS8_Traktor_button.png

TRAKTOR KONTROL S3/S4 MK3

In order to switch the input type on your TRAKTOR KONTROL S3 or S4 MK3, follow the steps below:

  1. Plug your S3 or S4 MK3 to a power source via the power supply or USB, then switch it on.
  2. Press and hold SHIFT on either side of the device to access the secondary Deck functions.
  3. While holding SHIFT, press the EXT button on the corresponding Mixer channel you want to modify. In this example, we are showing the S3, which only has one EXT button, on Channel D.S3_ShiftExt.jpg

    Note: the S4 MK3 will have an EXT button on each Mixer channel.

The chosen channel will now be set up for MIC signal type. Follow the steps above once again to change the input signal type back to LINE.