Komplete Kontrol S61 MK2 - sustain pedal only works with a PC connected?

ThomasOlesen

I would like to connect my S61 MK2 via MIDI out to a Korg Nautilus, having the S61 function as master and the Nautilus as slave. The connection is a MIDI DIN 5-pin to DIN 5-pin, and the S61 is powered by a power supply.

My sustain pedal M-Audio SP-2 is listed to be compatible with the S61. The S61 has two pedal slots, Pedal A (sustain) and Pedal B (expression).

I now have the S61 playing sounds off the Nautilus, but the sustain pedal is not working!

If I connect the S61 to a PC via USB (with Komplete Kontrol installed), then the sustain pedal works. But as soon as I disconnect the PC again, the S61 kind of goes stand-by – but with the ability to play sounds from the Nautilus, blue LED lights, pitch bend and modulation wheels. But no sustain! I have tried numerous sustain pedals with the same result.

I also have an expression pedal, Roland EV-5, and connected to the Pedal B slot on the S61… it works on the Nautilus sounds!!

It seems that the S61 only works when connected to a PC…. But I would like to have it confirmed, before I look around for another MIDI keyboard with a working sustain pedal.

Does anyone have any experience in this matter?

Best regards,

Thomas Olesen

Sunborn

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/16917/komplete-kontrol-s61-mk2-sustain-pedal-only-works-with-a-pc-connected

If it is correctly configured and assigned to MIDI, it should work.

https://support.native-instruments.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005166305-How-to-Configure-Sustain-Expression-Pedals-on-KOMPLETE-KONTROL-Keyboards

ThomasOlesen

With all do respect!

Your are referring to a configuration guide, which I have already followed numerous times. But the configuration made to the Komplete Kontrol S61 MK2 is RESET when I disconnect the PC. So the problem is, that the configuration cannot be saved in the keyboard, but in the software - which is not connected.

I need to have the S61 with me on stage without having to bring a PC.

I guess you have access to an S61 and perhaps also another type of synth? Have you tried connecting them as I describe? That is, The S61 with nothing but a power supply and a DIN MIDI cable (MIDI out) which goes to MIDI IN in the other synth. Then the sustain pedal in Pedal A slot. It doesn't work!

Can you confirm this?

Best regards,

Thomas Olesen

Kymeia

Unfortunately I think this is one of the design flaws of the MkII series, that it has no internal brain, or memory even, so relies far too heavily on the computer (and Komplete Kontrol) connection (one that I did point out btw when it was first made available to me). It does look like NI may have learnt that lesson (although the jury is still out till I have the keyboard in front of me) in that the series III does have an internal brain and we have been told in the AMA it should be possible to do the MIDI config from the keyboard itself (but as I said, let's wait and see). Sorry that none of that helps you in your immediate situation, can you bring a laptop?

ThomasOlesen

Hi Kymeia

Thanks for your input. And yes, that doesn't help me, since I'm not bringing a laptop to the stage... It just puzzles me, that it doesn't work, since the sustain pedal always uses MIDI CC 64. It's not like I want to make some advanced MIDI configuration here! The funny thing is, the expression pedal as Pedal B actually works. But not the sustain pedal as Pedal A. And I have tried numerous sustain pedals/polarity etc.

I guess, I'm going to have to get myself another MIDI keyboard. I am NOT taking the chance on the S61 MK3. I think NI has disappointed me a lot in this matter.

Thanks again,

Thomas Olesen

Kymeia

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/96535#Comment_96535

Maybe the Expression pedal just works at default settings so doesn't need any additional setup in KK whereas the Sustain pedals do? Perhaps there are some that also work with default settings in that case? Or Expression pedal settings get saved in the template but sustain pedal setup doesn't?