Can an NI A25/49/61 keyboard be used as a USB MIDI-class controller w/o "activation"?
Hello all. I am in the market for a new MIDI keyboard and found that Native Instruments keyboards are known for nice build quality.
The product information has me worried, however - there is mention of some kind of online activation process being needed to use the product. It would be difficult for me to do this as I exclusively use a Linux machine, and would much prefer a standalone offline unit with no strings attached. Can Komplete Kontrol A-series keyboards operate in this manner or would I be better off with e.g. a Novation SL?
I use standard MIDI-compatible software (LMMS, ALSA-seq API) to make music but would be open to working on a translation layer/driver if it would allow for finer control resolution than 7-bit MIDI CCs and enough technical information was provided.
Thank you!
Best Answer
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The only time a A (or S) Series keyboard really makes sense is if you are intent on using Komplete Kontrol and the NKS environment as your daily driver.
And - build quality wise - the A-Series is okay but it is not what I would call great build quality. There are many other boards out there that would kick this thing in that department.
I would not bother with an NI board at all if you are not planning to use the Komplete/NKS eco-system. For standard MIDI control - better options out there.
VP
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Answers
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The only time a A (or S) Series keyboard really makes sense is if you are intent on using Komplete Kontrol and the NKS environment as your daily driver.
And - build quality wise - the A-Series is okay but it is not what I would call great build quality. There are many other boards out there that would kick this thing in that department.
I would not bother with an NI board at all if you are not planning to use the Komplete/NKS eco-system. For standard MIDI control - better options out there.
VP
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Yeah i'm of the same opinion as @Vocalpoint
Technically you don't have to register the keyboard, that basically gives you access to the Komplete Kontrol bundle. Unless NI changed something I believe Komplete Kontrol is actually free with any account via the Komplete Intro (or whatever the free bundle is). I have several KK keyboards and none are registered as I already have the KK software from my first MK1 model which I already sold.
The midi side of the keyboards is very underwhelming TBH. While NKS control offers high resolution I am pretty sure the MIDI control is just standard 8 bit resolution, don't quote me on that, but one thing you can't use via MIDI is any of hte transport or function buttons, they have never opened those to MIDI.
If you really have no need for NKS (which is a shame as that is the best part of the product) then you would be far better off getting a proper dedicated MIDI keyboard.
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The keyboard is in Midi mode whenever the Komplete Kontrol app (and for S-Series MK3 also Kontakt 7+) is not running. But at a glance then there appear to be only USB for connection for the A-Series which means that the USB drivers for the keyboard must be installed and working for the keyboard to work even as a Midi controller.
The S-Series however have 5 pin DIN Midi plug and they ought to be able to function as Midi controller using a power supply and a 5 pin DIN Midi cable. So what you need is a S-Series MK2 or MK3 keyboard (I don't know the plugs on S-Series MK1 but MK1 has been declared EOL though that ought not matter to if it can be used as a Midi controller if it has the Din plug which I suspect that it has)
S-Series MK3 connections picture (but the older S-Series MK2 also have the Midi plugs) :
Picture of Kontrol A-Series connections :
would I be better off with e.g. a Novation SL?
Only you know what features that you appreciate the most and what you want. There are many keyboards out there including many so called Midi Master keyboards and only you will know what you prefer the most. I have had a number of very cheap Midi keyboards before I got my first N.I. keyboard , a S-Series MK2. I personally have had no regrets buying that. As you point out yourself then the general quality of N.I. keyboards is rather great but also for myself then as others in the thread here points out then the greatest thing about the N.I. keyboards that makes them really stand out is the software integration. I can not vouch for the quality of other brands but quality varies from brand to brand and possibly also from generation to generation of keyboards.
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Thank you all for the direction, it seems indeed this is not the product for me. Would anyone be able to recommend any alternatives, while I'm here? I only care about decent build quality and smooth action, and fitting within around the same price bracket as the NI A models
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I only care about decent build quality and smooth action, and fitting within around the same price bracket as the NI A models
From what I can see then you have to care a lot about what connections the keyboard have or alternatively need a keyboard with a Linux USB driver. (Very many Midi keyboards these days only have USB connection)
That reminds me that I think that the N.I. Kontrol A-Series is Class Compliant on Mac and I think that the Mac OS has some similarity to Linux . So maybe you first ought to check if the N.I. A-Series is also Class Compliant with Linux ? . If it is then you can maybe use an A-Series N.I. keyboard (I don't know but worth looking into)
Ref. : Note for Mac users: Most devices do not require a driver, so you will not find them in the Drivers & Other Files page. The device will be recognized by your Mac system without a driver installation. Learn more about Mac 'class-compliant' devices in this article . Quote Article : If you cannot find a driver for your NI controller or audio interface on our Drivers page, you are using one of our 'class-compliant' devices. These don't require a driver installation in order to be recognized by your system. The operating system automatically detects the device as soon as you establish the USB connection.
P.S. Quote the internet : "I currently own a Komplete Kontrol A25 but on Linux only the note keys work - no other controls function."
On Linux then unless that you get something that you are sure is natively supported on Linux then you might always run into such problems if you use an USB connection. Therefore you are in the wrong forum. What you need is Linux expert advice more than N.I. advice.
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I was under the impression that the majority of USB MIDI keyboards work OOTB as standard/class compliant MIDI devices over USB. All regular MIDI class USB devices are supported on Linux, no expert knowledge required there.
You mention they work on Mac as class-compliant devices - that hopefully means there's no need for a magic driver, but the docs imply you have to activate/register to get to that point..
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I was under the impression that the majority of USB MIDI keyboards work OOTB as standard/class compliant MIDI devices over USB. All regular MIDI class USB devices are supported on Linux, no expert knowledge required there.
Sorry for my ignorance with respect to Linux. I do try Linux once in while but I haven't bothered to attach any keyboards.
but the docs imply you have to activate/register to get to that point..
From what you write yourself then "I was under the impression that the majority of USB MIDI keyboards work OOTB as standard/class compliant MIDI devices over USB. All regular MIDI class USB devices are supported on Linux," so from what you write yourself then on Linux then you ought not have that problem.
As far as I know then there is no hardware lock on the keyboards. E.g. if you already have the drivers installed on one computer then I think that it all ought to work if you attach another keyboard of same type and model so besides access to software from using Native Access then apart from an eventual first boot procedure (?) then if you have updated the firmware on the keyboard on e.g. a PC using Native Access on Windows then I wouldn't expect you to need anything other than attaching the keyboard to the computer after that point. But I am sorry I do not have any experiences with keyboards on Linux. Also since I do not have an A-Series keyboard then I couldn't experiment with it.
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You also need to remember that while "registering" an S-Series board is not necessarily a thing - in my experience - every new board will instantly go into "update firmware" mode as soon as you plug it in and that specific process requires a Windows or Mac computer to actually complete. This cannot be done via Linux and could leave you high and dry if you cannot actually update the firmware.
As we have all suggested - you should pour your money into an actually battle ready, heavy duty MIDI controller keyboard that has no ties whatsoever to software, updating firmware or anything like that. Something you plug and go.
VP
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