Kontrol 2024 outlook: what was, what now, what next?
Comments
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Everyone is entitled to their opinions, for sure.
It's just literally true that there are more NKS products than ever before, with more coming, and more NKS features available then ever before, with more coming. So it's hardly accurate when users suggest NKS is dying. It's being heavily invested in! We even hosted the Midi Manufacturers Association in Berlin last week, and had some fantastic future facing conversations on deeper collaborations between companies and brands inclusive of and beyond NKS.
It's also not accurate for users to suggest Kontrol is a niche product, or that developers at scale aren't interested in developing for NKS (we have thousands of NKS compatible products with more coming every month and some larger partnerships on the horizon). I can't share proprietary sales data, but I really do think we have more Kontrol hardware users than people realize. Not just of prior generations, but the new one. At a glance right now, the Kontrol MK3 is anywhere from #1 to top #5 to top #10 best selling at two leading retailers worldwide (Sweetwater, Thomann) depending on the model (49, 61, 88).
By all means, frustrations can be warranted, valid, and simultaneously specific to a group of users while many other users are happy using Kontrol for what it does now. My continued positivity is simply because I continue to see users care, and use, the products to make wonderfully creative things.
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But, let‘s be honest here.. I‘ve never seen a KK user raving about the fantastic software, they‘re mostly used by composers and producers as pure MIDI-keyboards because the hardware is top-notch without any real head-to-head competitors. Or do you have data that suggests something different?
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A lot more people get on with using the thing, and tend to be less vocal if they're happy. It's the frustrated users we tend to see and hear from in formats like this one.
KK for instance has a significant number of Monthly Active and Annual Active User. Kontakt even more so (hence Direct Connection).
Which is not to say that the feedback here doesn't matter. The entire point of this thread existing is because that voice matters too - and people are interested in what we're up to, and by when. Things like MIDI Templates literally do matter a great deal.
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Okay then… it‘s interesting to hear that people outside my musician friends / YouTube creators bubble are actually heavy users of KK. What would be interesting though is how many people use KK just to get access to Play Assist, because that‘s why I‘m using it 99% of the time.
Also, to make one thing very clear: I think this thread with the roadmap etc. is a really good thing. I feel like many users (including me) are just very frustrated by NIs handling (or lack thereof) of user feedback in the past, which in turn results in sometimes harsh / unfair critisism on this thread.4 -
Yeah, I very much appreciate you taking the time to talk to the community about what's going on (missed deadlines or not). And I'm also super impressed with you ability to keep cool with everything that's being said. I wish I had that skill, hahaha
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but I really do think we have more Kontrol hardware users than people realize. Not just of prior generations, but the new one. At a glance right now, the Kontrol MK3 is anywhere from #1 to top #5 to top #10 best selling at two leading retailers worldwide (Sweetwater, Thomann) depending on the model (49, 61, 88).
I notice that retailers are also cutting the price of the units a little over 6 months following their birth, which I find a little unusual… The Mk3 S88 for instance, can be bought in the UK for £1029 now.
I also find it strange that I have yet to find an independent review, be it on YouTube or other site, since the initial batch of NI rewarded reviews.
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I also find it strange that I have yet to find an independent review, be it on YouTube or other site, since the initial batch of NI rewarded reviews.
How do we see/find out if this is an 'independent review' or not ?
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The point I was trying to make was the almost complete absence of ANY review of the MK3s out there in the wild AFTER the initial batch with the declared NI provided and funded hardware.
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Sorry if this has already been covered, but I have just realised the loss in functionality of my MK1 keyboard.
I'm looking to buy a MK2 keyboard but wary of how long you are going to support this keyboard for? Concerned that in a year or so the same thing will happen to MK2. Can you advise as I feel like my MK1 has gone from being useful to a piece of junk…..I don't really want to stay on an older version of the software to keep it utility.
If I revert to 2.9, will all the same plugins work on 2.9 as do on 3? To the same quality etc.?
Thanks
Chris0 -
Using KK 2.9.6 here with my S61 MKII - and it is like a warm blanket compared with the ongoing unsettled vibe around KKv3.
And even 8 months after the V3 release - still have no intention of using it until feature parity (and stability) can be achieved when comparted to v2.9.6 - which is like a battle tank right now.
Unless you own a new MKIII - there is little point to be a beta tester for KKv3 right now.
VP
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If I revert to 2.9, will all the same plugins work on 2.9 as do on 3? To the same quality etc.?
Several users have had problems reverting despite that some may claim it to be a piece of cake (?) but it can be done
JesterMgee also gives his opinion on KK 3 app versus KK 2 app here .
All that aside then if you want to buy a new N.I. Keyboard then get the S-Series MK3. It simply represents the future. S-Series MK 3 support next-gen NKS, polyphonic aftertouch and Midi 2.0
I would though recommend to wait buying until next sale which is expected to be in a few weeks (not all items are on sale from start of sale so you may have to wait until all offers have kicked in)
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Thank you for your quick responses both, it's highly appreciated.
I can't lie, buying an MK3 for the cost seems hard to justify given I can't see many features too beneficial from what my MK1 can do in 2.9. I wish they offered discounted bundle upgrades to your Komplete version in the purchase of a new keyboard making it more compelling.
Feel pretty bummed out over this recent loss in functionality of the MK1 and the idea of having to 'down-grade' my software back to 2.9, although it sounds like some would class that as an upgrade, particularly if you have got a MK11 -
I wish they offered discounted bundle upgrades to your Komplete version in the purchase of a new keyboard making it more compelling.
What has been seen on sales is that the keyboards come bundled with full version bundles, probably because not all new keyboard buyers already have bundles to upgrade. 🤔
But your idea is something that Native Instruments ought to consider.
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"Feel pretty bummed out over this recent loss in functionality of the MK1 and the idea of having to 'down-grade' my software back to 2.9, although it sounds like some would class that as an upgrade, particularly if you have got a MK1"
FWIW - best to never to think of KKv3 as an "upgrade" to KKv2.9.6. At least not as of right now.
Think of it merely a KK replacement - needed to only to pair up the new MKIII series. There is nothing in KKv3 that implies massive "upgrade" or "must have it".
V3 is missing many great things that were in KK 2.9.6 - and for anyone using a MK1/MKII board at this time - KK 2.9.6 is exactly where you should be if you want full features, maturity and stability (AND the added bonus for some of the prior VST2 version of KK)
VP
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Probably understaffing. But "understaffing" by our opinion, because if a company would hire more programmers to finish something, they have nothing to do after it's finished, so it's a double edged sword to hire more people. But just wait til companies lay off programmers to use AI to write their code instead. It will probably design really horrible user interfaces, but be really good at fixing bugs. Same day bug fix updates.
I think it was you who mentioned the term 'Promise Ware'. That's a good name for it; I already had noticed this new kind of practice. Software companies' seeing the proof of concept from video game companies selling unfinished video games for full price, and running with that bending of the power dynamic between the buyer and seller. A while back I was making fun of Image Line for making micro transactions instead of fixing issues, calling their daw EA Studio.
I really hope this "MIDI Templates" is the same kind of MIDI editor we had before. Calling it MIDI Templates instead of a MIDI Editor makes me real nervous. NI doesn't know what a stop button is and IL doesn't know what a half note is, so I'm stuck in between trying to integrate these two technologies from companies who make some really bad decisions and also DON'T LISTEN to feedback.
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