Kontrol S61/S49 MK3 Velocity Response

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  • Vili
    Vili Member Posts: 10 Newcomer

    Hi.
    Just got a new S61 MKIII and black keys SUBSTANTIALLY more sensitive than white, I would say to the point that it is not playable. I thought I was crazy, and it is my bad piano playing, but then found this post.
    Any of you found you needed time to adjust to the keys and then it became better, or you think this is an actual problem. News on any fixes on this? If this is really happening on so many keys I think I will be returning this keyboard and looking at some completely different manufacturer. I think this is absolutely unacceptable in this price range and especially when it happens to so many of us. Very annoyed. 


  • davinwv
    davinwv Member Posts: 23 Member
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/162215#Comment_162215

    I would suggest swapping it for another S61 MK3 (I'm about to swap for my 4th unit!), and the keybeds on some have been slightly better than others, but none great.

    All we need from NI is a velocity offset for the black keys in the settings. I think NI is confused because these keybeds seem fairly inconsistent from unit to unit (very surprising from Studiologic), but this is all pretty subjective.

    Wait until the phantom touches on the knobs start! There's a thread around here about that, too!

  • Vili
    Vili Member Posts: 10 Newcomer

    Oh wow.Thanks. Maybe I will try to switch to something different completely since I am not still deep in the Kontakt plugins system. I also don't care much about DAW control etc., I just need a good keybed and good sounds.

    I have recently switched to a keyboard already (not a NI one but StudioLogic) and I can't start working on my project because I can't find a normal working keyboard. 

    So NI is aware about this? Do you know if anyone from NI has addressed this? Thnx

  • davinwv
    davinwv Member Posts: 23 Member
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/162339#Comment_162339

    Look back at this thread. NI is ignoring the issue and stating that the keybeds are functioning as expected.

  • Vili
    Vili Member Posts: 10 Newcomer

    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/162341#Comment_162341

    Ill look trough thanks.

    Was this happening with the MK2 versions as well? Seems to be a better option to get that one, only problems with new MK3.

  • Jeremy_NI
    Jeremy_NI Customer Care Posts: 12,886 mod

    Hey all, there were different cases here. Some were not pleased with the response of the keyboard, in other cases there were defective units/keybads. The best is to get in touch with our hardware support: https://bit.ly/NI_support_Hardware

  • LLRDMD
    LLRDMD Member Posts: 1 Newcomer

    Comparing a S61mk3 with an A49 side by side - same software setup with KK and Grandeur VST piano plug in- A49 is acceptable with normal velocity response on white and black keys, but S61 velocity too sensitive on black keys making (piano use especially) it unusable. Will return to store. This seems to be a design issue, or some widespread hardware effect.

    Could you "play around it"? Yes!! Throw out all proper techinque, and play black keys super softly without any dynamics! ) or just return the defective keyboard to NI which is a better choice. Any one that plays a piano would find it unacceptable.

  • matt robertson
    matt robertson Member Posts: 1 Member

    o maaaaaan! I just got an S61 mk3 and IMO its un-playable for pretty much anything with velocity. Its so disappointing because otherwise this controller is awesome with the new midi map features. Regrettably I will be sending it back tomorrow because the action sucks. I thought we had worked around these issues a decade ago. I used to beta test to a large brand controller manufacturer after this exact issues showed up in a bunch of boards in like the 2010s…. and it was resolved in firmware eventually, so I hope NI will do the same. It's sortof understandable I guess in that proabbly 95% of the user base are not piano players (no judgement there…. just probably a fact) but come on NI…. its a MIDI KEYBOARD!!

    In hope of a fix but not holding my breath….

    I'll be sticking with my S49 mk1 for the time being, which while not perfect in this regard (the black notes trigger a little hotter than the white but its minor and workable) is significantly more playable than the mk3 with its super short key throw. Eek!

  • FilmCompos3r
    FilmCompos3r Member Posts: 32 Member

    Bought one of these back in January off Amazon and saw this issue. Returned it, just bought another. Was still on Firmware 0.2 or something, so its an early unit again. Same issue.

    Anyone getting better luck from units that were produced later? Should I try buying on direct from NI?

  • FilmCompos3r
    FilmCompos3r Member Posts: 32 Member

    Can anyone from NI confirm that the key beds in newer MK3 units are in any way improved from release units? I opened a ticket with NI but am unsure if I'm better off spamming Amazon to ship out replacements while I'm in the return window.

    Speaking of, can anyone tell me how to tell new stock from old stock so I can compare results?



  • trusampler
    trusampler Member Posts: 199 Advisor
    edited October 28

    Hi,

    I just recieved a brand new unit, the Kontrol S88 MK3 on ( 10/25/2024 ) and have the same issue. My issue is only with Kontakt v8.1 where I'm noticing the velocity settings are too quiet. If I switch to any other 3rd party instrument, or my analog synths, then the s88 mk3 plays velocity correctly.

    Test : It's Very obvious if you load eg: Noire, play notes testing the 6 different velocity settings, then load Arturia Piano V. You'll notice Arturia's Piano V responds correctly while NI's own Noire struggles to reach velocity settings correctly with the S88 Mk3.

    Conclusion : I have zero issues with the velocity settings when using the S88 MK3 when playing any other 3rd party instruments in Komplete Kontrol ( v3.3.3 ) , so this makes me think the velocity settings on the S88 aren't calibrated correctly with Kontakt ( v8.1 )

    Being this thread is now 11 months old, I'm curious to know what changes we're made to the firmware if any since then? What is being worked on to fix this issue ?

  • j222
    j222 Member Posts: 7 Member

    Having same issue @trusampler . I installed software for my S61 MK3 on Oct 28th. Initially everything was perfect. But now I think I'm experiencing the exact same issue as you. I also notice increased latency - although I can't be 100% sure if that's related. The issues seem to coincide with when I updated to Hardware Connection Service 1.8.6 a day or two ago - but again, I can't be certain. That update shows a date of 10/28/2024. I'm still trying to properly describe what's going on to open a ticket or something, but it's very obvious something has happened with how velocity is handled. THat's all I know for sure at this point. I'm currently trying to figure out if there is a way to revert back to the previous version of Hardware Connection Service to see if my theory is correct.

  • davinwv
    davinwv Member Posts: 23 Member

    Just wait until the ghost touches start - haha! I've been battling those for a while, but they seem exponentially worse since I updated to Hardware Connection Service 1.8.6 earlier today.

    This thing is a total ****** show, and NI isn't even acknowledging the issues!

    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/18854/ghost-touches-knobs-at-s88-mk3

  • trusampler
    trusampler Member Posts: 199 Advisor
    edited November 1

    NI Tech support contacted me back, and they're gonna arrange to swap it out I'd assume, it's only a week old. Or I can return it. I'm having alot of fun programming User NKS and Midi remote templates in the meantime. ;) If your analog/digital synths have VST editors, you can create NKS patches, and recall them on the s88 mk3.

  • trusampler
    trusampler Member Posts: 199 Advisor
    edited November 1

    Is Tech support aware, have you guys reached out to them recording some video's of it ? That might help them narrow down the issues, I hope.

    Apparently my board had a issue that they said is not normal.

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