Allen & Heath AH-XONE:K2 XONE:K2 Professional USB DJ MIDI Controller

Product Information

I would specify that this is not a gap of the controller since any other software actually fully support HSB messages over midi.

Download the latest driver from the link above and run the installer, connect both XONE:1Ds when prompted on-screen, once driver installation is completed there will be 2 instances of the XONE MIDI device in the Sounds, Video and Game Controllers section of the Windows Device Manager, this indicates the installation has completed successfully. To be able to Map both the 1D devices in Traktor Controller manager, add a new Generic MIDI device and assign the In-Port and Out-Port to the Xone MIDI Device, there will be another instance titled Xone MIDI Device (2), leave this for the moment.

There’s nothing else on the market that can handle such a task with arcane hackery, so if you’re dead set on travelling down NI’s new road, the F1 is the controller for you. Both the F1 and K2 are well built, sturdy units; it’s quite difficult to choose a victor in this area. And while the Kontrol F1 performance pads are a head turner, to get more adventurous with MIDI, and have greater control of more software features for the widest range of applications, the Xone:K2 has more going for it. But if we’re talking about MIDI controller vs MIDI controller on a level playing field, the issue becomes considerably harder to resolve. Download the latest driver and connect both Xone:1Ds, run the installer, when this has finished, restart OSX then once restarted, check the OSX MIDI device window to ensure 2 instances of the Xone MIDI Device (direct) icon are present and not greyed out, this indicates the installation was successful.

The bottom line is that because both units are so good, and their added extras are worth roughly as much in ‘real money’ as each others, I’m declaring this area a tie as well. I do mean just, though, and it’s mainly because I think most users will do the majority of their mapping on a single layer whether they have the option to use multiple layers or not. So just to echo the review, I can’t help but think that it you want the most up to date features with seamless Traktor integration, the F1 is for you. What I mean by that sentence is that the F1’s full scale RGB lighting can only be accessed in Traktor’s ‘F1’ mode, though, as opposed to being able to specify basic lighting parameters via MIDI CC value in ‘MIDI’ mode. The reason I’m giving the K2 the nod is because of the nutted rotary pots and pro grade, large fader stems.

There’s really nothing in it when it comes to controls; it seems to me that around an equal amount of people will prefer the options offered by each controller. The K2’s extra controls and layering mean it’s probably the better choice if you use other software or just want to control standard Traktor functions… and that’s about as much of an official line as I think you’ll get out of me, guys! Even though I don’t expect the F1 to fall apart any time soon, the K2 just has that little extra attention paid to its construction that make me think it might make it through just that bit nastier a bump.

The K2 doubles up as a great sounding audio interface and comes with a carry case, but the F1 is marginally cheaper and includes a Traktor Pro licence. At the time of writing, the biggest differentiator is the F1’s ability to handle Remix Decks fully and completely. The Kontrol F1 has pinch style, short throw faders, the Xone K2 has longer, looser faders with studio style caps. The default is channel 16, please see page 13 of the 1D user guide describing how to change the midi channel of the second 1D to channel 15. When it comes down to it, it’s the F1’s Traktor integration that’s the major differentiator between the two products; if you use Traktor, then unless you have absolutely no interest in the Remix Decks the F1 is a no brainer purchase.The two controllers are so close to each other in all the important stakes that it’s really tough to put one ahead of the other overall.