Kontrol A25 doesn not connect to Windows11 PC

pestifiu

Received my Komplete Kontrol A25 two days ago. I already had a Native Instruments account as I previosuly owned a Komplete Kontrol S25. Followed the suggested installation steps, but after a few installations my Native Access keep aborting the process. Finally, after some 12 hours of hit and miss, I managed to reinstall all the software components.

However, my keyboard doesnt respond, nor shows up on my Windows 11 settings. When I connect the USB cable to the PC all lights on the keyboard flash for a moment. After that all turn off except "Octave + and -" keys the M< and S> keys and the window shows "Template 1 MIDI Mode." The keys are not responding.

I need to reset the keyboard, but after searching on the Internet the available manuals I could not find any refernces or work araounds. Please help.

Jeremy_NI

@pestifiu So, changing the USB cable fixed the issue? The keyboard is now recognized or you still need help? We also have this article to set up Ableton and other DAWs: How to Integrate Your Kontrol Keyboard with Your DAW

Uwe303

Hello,

what happens if you open komplete kontrol? And can you check windows device manager.

pestifiu

Komplete Kontrol works fine, it can even connect to my monitors and play samples.

The windows device manager does not recognize the A25 keyboard.

Uwe303

Sorry, maybe my question was not clear enough, if you open kk and use it with the keyboard does it work?

pestifiu

Uwe: Thank you for the follow up. Until this morning there was no recognition on my PC of A25 and no apparent connection between the two.

ALL instructions state to use the USB cord that came in the package. This morning on a whim I found my old NI USB A to B cable and used it instead. The keyboard came alive!!!

First I ran Komplete Kontrol and the BIOS updater and it worked! The final message was I am up to date and there is no BIOS updates.

Next I tried to use Komplete Kontrol sofware and the A25 keyboard. While they communicate and I can use the keyboard to make adjustments in the KK browser, I don't have any sound when pressing the keys. I need to work on my proper Kontrol A25 and software setup.

I am re-energized and will continue this afternoon. If I can't fix the setup, I may ask for your help gain. Meanwhile thank you for getting involved. It was appreciated that someone cared.

Uwe303

No problem, then look into the device manager and maybe make a picture. Also check the settings in kk stand alone, you have to enable there a midi in port, the one without DAW in the name.

BIF

This can serve as a good reminder to all of us. Any USB cable can be bad.

Also, and I'll probably bend, twist, fold, and spindle a few brains here with this comment: Some USB-C cables might perform better if you reverse the plug at the device end!

Now I know I know, right? But you heard it here first. If you're having trouble, it might not be a bad idea to reverse the cable connection at one end. Or go back and reverse the other end.

If it's USB-C at both ends, you may be able to reverse either end. If it's USB-A at one end, well you can't reverse that end because the connection itself is keyed. So it will have to be the other end.

Ask me how I know this? I have a cable tester. USB-C cables do NOT light up the same when you reverse the connection at one end! Normally, this is not a problem because the device can figure things out. But then there's always that one goofy pup in the litter, right?

Jeremy_NI

These steps might be also good to check: My Komplete Kontrol Keyboard Does Not Start

pestifiu

Jeremy: Thank you for the site. It was one of the first places I found. I went through the steps with no success. I even thought about the USB mention and replugged it to several different input slots. It only occured to me later than the USB cable itelf needs to be changed.
I am still in the setup and Ableton Live 11 connection stage, but making progress. I am a slow learner.
Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. This is a great, friendly forum and great resource for learning about Native Instruments and electronic music.

Jeremy_NI

@pestifiu So, changing the USB cable fixed the issue? The keyboard is now recognized or you still need help? We also have this article to set up Ableton and other DAWs: How to Integrate Your Kontrol Keyboard with Your DAW

pestifiu

The replacement of the faulty USB cable solved the issue.