Any point updating to KK 3.3.0 as a S61 MK2 user?

Mark Oxley
Mark Oxley Member Posts: 332 Pro
edited October 22 in Komplete Kontrol

I've seen a few KK S series MK2 owners are having problems getting KK software recognising the keyboard after updating to 3.3.0.

Is there any real benefit in updating as a MK2 user or should I stay on 2.9.6?

Best Answer

  • Matthew_NI
    Matthew_NI Product Team Posts: 1,454 mod
    Answer ✓

    It's up to you.

    Check the release notes in NA2 since 2.9.6 - there have been a ton of stability fixes and improvements (ironic, given that some users of 3.3 are experiencing and as-yet undiagnosed issue with connection).

    Some users choose to stay on 2.9.6 if they prefer the side panel browser vs the overlay browser, or the use of sub banks for user presets for instance, which still have some issues in 3. But otherwise, if you want the rest of what's been added, many used have happily updated.

    At least for right now, I'd either install 3.2.1 or nothing, and wait until we confirm tomorrow whatever has been affecting some users this afternoon with 3.3.

«13

Answers

  • Matthew_NI
    Matthew_NI Product Team Posts: 1,454 mod
    Answer ✓

    It's up to you.

    Check the release notes in NA2 since 2.9.6 - there have been a ton of stability fixes and improvements (ironic, given that some users of 3.3 are experiencing and as-yet undiagnosed issue with connection).

    Some users choose to stay on 2.9.6 if they prefer the side panel browser vs the overlay browser, or the use of sub banks for user presets for instance, which still have some issues in 3. But otherwise, if you want the rest of what's been added, many used have happily updated.

    At least for right now, I'd either install 3.2.1 or nothing, and wait until we confirm tomorrow whatever has been affecting some users this afternoon with 3.3.

  • Mark Oxley
    Mark Oxley Member Posts: 332 Pro
    edited August 1

    Thanks Matt.

    The reason I stayed on 2.9.6 is because I don't like the new layout in version 3, if anything I feel it's a step backwards. I was hoping some of it's issues had been addressed in the latest update but if the browser and sub bank layout is the same as 3.2.1 I'll keep using 2.9.6 which is not giving me any noticeable issues with bugs or stability other than I wish it was resizable.

  • JesterMgee
    JesterMgee Member Posts: 2,973 Expert

    If only what we thought actually mattered…

    I would love to update to fix the problems that they failed to fix in V2 before dumping it, but I have the same issues with V3 as you (and many others), sadly it will likely never improve in that area…

  • Kymeia
    Kymeia NKS User Library Mod Posts: 5,019 mod

    Sub banks are not fixed yet but many users are voicing their need for them

  • Kymeia
    Kymeia NKS User Library Mod Posts: 5,019 mod

    I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect that KK2 also gets some further bug fixes since it is required for MKI owners and still a preferred version for many MKII users. It really should be counted as an active legacy version rather than a defunct one

  • Hywel
    Hywel Member Posts: 55 Member

    That's not my reading of the future situation regarding NI and the MK1 hardware…

  • Matthew_NI
    Matthew_NI Product Team Posts: 1,454 mod

    Somewhat related to KK 3.3.0 and now 3.3.1, and also indicative of continued support for A, M and S MK2 hardware…

    What went wrong:

    • Komplete Kontrol 3.3.0 shipped on 2024-08-01.
    • Komplete Kontrol 3.3.0 broke connection for some A, M and S MK2 keyboards (MK3 was unaffected).

    Why it went wrong:

    • In certain circumstances, Komplete Kontrol 3.3.0 was inadvertently ignoring NIHardwareAgent, a service used by A/M/SMK2 keyboards.
    • This service handles Komplete Kontrol's NKS integration for those keyboards, thus causing a failure to connect for affected users.

    Severity and Symptoms:

    • The A/M/SMK2 keyboards for affected users would still have functioned as generic MIDI and DAW Controllers, but experienced a failure to connect to Komplete Kontrol 3.3.

    Please accept my sincere apologies for the incident.

    Komplete Kontrol 3.3 was in beta for weeks, and passed all of our own internal tests as well –both manual and automatic. The variable that had to exist for the above incident to be true didn't surface until we released en masse to a much larger audience.

    Solution:

    We deployed Komplete Kontrol 3.2.1 rollback installers via the Community Forum overnight, solving the issue for any user who we were able to reach and had prepared an email to send to all users today, had the issue not been properly solved.

    The good news is… Komplete Kontrol 3.3.1 contains a fix, has been deployed worldwide and should appear in your Native Access 2 accounts already, or within minutes.

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 2,718 Expert
    edited August 2

    v2.9.6 WAS the last version to get any fixes and is now officially retired as of Oct 2023.

    But - totally useable as long as you OS continues to support it.

    As an S61 MKII user - it is mature, stable and reliable - plus has all the functionality that KKv3 does not.

    No reason for me to stop running it until that day (which may never come) when V3 finally achieves feature parity with v2.

    This latest debacle with KK v3.3.0 was just a hint of what's to come for us MKII users. And enough to show me that staying on V2.9.6 is the smartest play for now.

    VP

  • Matthew_NI
    Matthew_NI Product Team Posts: 1,454 mod

    I will say that although we updated it twice after announcing EOL, to version 2.9.6, at this point we do not intend any further updates for KK 2.9

  • Kymeia
    Kymeia NKS User Library Mod Posts: 5,019 mod
    edited August 2

    Not sure what you mean, just saying how I think it should be ie KK 2 receiving at least bug fixes and compatibility updates to keep it functional for longer. Isn't that desirable compared to it just being frozen at the current version, bugs and all? If you think differently that's fine.

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 2,718 Expert
    edited August 2

    Well - I am not thinking differently.

    I am very clear on what was said in Oct 2023 and @Matthew_NI just said it again. v2.9.6 is it. Forever.

    Whether you "think" v2 should be receiving bug fixes and updates - is a moot point. It is getting nothing.

    Enjoy it for what it is.

    VP

  • Mark Oxley
    Mark Oxley Member Posts: 332 Pro

    I would just like to add that I purchased my S 61 MK2 keyboard about 8 months before the MK3 series was announced. This means I've only owned it from new for less than 2 years and I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

    In this time NI have announced (1 year ago) that no more firmware updates for the keyboard will be released and now we're told that kk2 will no longer be supported. Just how long will kk3 support my MK2 keyboard before an update stops it working with kk permanently?

    Not what I envisaged when I purchased it less than 2 years ago. If this is a sign of how NI treat their customers then I will not be purchasing anymore hardware from them.

  • Matthew_NI
    Matthew_NI Product Team Posts: 1,454 mod
    edited August 2

    As a point of order - there is no suggestion of dropped or dropping support for Kontrol S MK2.

    Kontrol S MK2 is fully supported, and also fully supported by Komplete Kontrol, which itself continues to be maintained and developed.

    Komplete Kontrol is currently on version 3.3.1, and continually increments.

    That some users choose to use an older version of Komplete Kontrol on account of desiring one or more of some specific capabilities it used to have, in lieu of those it has now, is up to them.

    Choosing to use an older version of a currently maintained software, all versions of which support your hardware, is not something I would necessarily equate with us dropping support for Kontrol S MK2 in any way.

  • Mark Oxley
    Mark Oxley Member Posts: 332 Pro

    In my opinion the fact that NI announced that they will no longer release firmware updates for MK2 S series keyboards is already showing signs that this keyboard has in part already being forgotten about. This announcement was made almost as soon as the MK3 keyboards were launched and less than a year after I purchased it. My question regarding the longevity of my MK2 keyboard under KK3 is a valid one so forgive me for being a concerned customer. If NI are going to make sure that all versions of KK will continue to support my MK2 keyboard going forward then I will be greatful for this.

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 2,718 Expert
    edited August 2

    For the record - I bought my S61MKII in Nov 2020 and there were no new firmware updates for at least 2 years prior to my purchase.

    To my knowledge - there has never been a MKII firmware update since late 2017/early 2018-ish and that was it.

    This is not a new thing and certainly not something that suddenly "ended" with the advent of the MKIII series

    VP

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