USB and MIDI Connection on S49 MK3

vollmero

Hi, I have my S49 MK3 connected to my Mac Studio M2 Max via USB and to my MIDI interface (mioXL) via MIDI. When I start the Komplete Kontrol software, or Kontakt, or my DAW (Ableton Live 12.1), I use the USB connection to take advantage of the benefits of the Komplete Kontrol or Kontakt software/plugins. But when I want to work completely DAW-less, I have to remove the USB cable every time to control my synthesizers with the MIDI templates. This is really annoying and I wonder if there is another solution for this.

Who can help?

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/199345#Comment_199345

Even if , and this is probably a pretty big if, then I personally doubt if something like that is going to be implemented any time soon. (but of course I could be wrong)

I posted this quote yesterday and I will give it to you also to make you understand where things are , my point being that what is quoted below is more than 11 months old , soon a full year , and there is no news that I know of with respect to the touch strip :

(Readers please notice that moving forward then Chris_NI has taken over Komplete Kontrol and Matthew_NI has now moved to the Kontakt team !)

Quote Matthew_NI , January 9 , 2024 :

Kontrol S MK1 had some fantastic Touch-strip physics options.

Kontrol S MK2 for some reason did not inherit these options. Why, I'm not exactly sure, as those answers left years ago (the transition from Kontrol S MK1 to Kontrol S MK2 occurred in 2016). But I'd imagine it was largely a function of time, and a lack of follow up, rather than by design. MK2 did have some basic stuff (like bipolar lighting from center).

Fast forward to Kontrol S MK3, which we intend to be a much more expressive MIDI generative instrument than any controller we've yet released (hence the focus on polyphonic aftertouch thus far, and other things we're actively working on like Play Assist standalone).

To bring back to MK3 those physics models that MK2 skipped (and also the bipolar lighting that MK2 did have) was never a launch priority, but it does exist on our backlog as a to-do. Most people use the Pitch Wheel for Pitch Bend, so we rolled with that.

There are still quite a few things higher in priority. I've mentioned a few in other threads, but MIDI Templates, Play Assist Standalone, Accessibility support, are all things we're working on now, shipping throughout the first half of this year (2024) and would first complete before moving on to Touch-strip improvements. I cannot give a timeline for the Touch-strip improvements just yet, as we have a combination of the aforementioned features and some additional product releases to deliver this year. I can keep interested people informed as it gets higher up the backlog, or indeed, lower for whatever reason.

mykejb

Unfortunately that's the way the MK3 keyboards work at the moment. Seems a strange design decision to me too but I'm assuming there's a good reason for it.

vollmero

Yes, looks like.
But it should be no problem to implement a function (automatically or manually) to switch between MIDI and USB. Manually would be the best option.
Hi @Native Instruments, please find a good solution.

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/40324/usb-and-midi-connection-on-s49-mk3

Why not just use an USB-C hub that has individual on/off switches for all units ? Problem solved.

vollmero

sure, I am looking for a workaround now. But could be easier if native would think about this and give us an option. They made the MIDI Template function so well and then I have to unplug the usb for using it?

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/199345#Comment_199345

Even if , and this is probably a pretty big if, then I personally doubt if something like that is going to be implemented any time soon. (but of course I could be wrong)

I posted this quote yesterday and I will give it to you also to make you understand where things are , my point being that what is quoted below is more than 11 months old , soon a full year , and there is no news that I know of with respect to the touch strip :

(Readers please notice that moving forward then Chris_NI has taken over Komplete Kontrol and Matthew_NI has now moved to the Kontakt team !)

Quote Matthew_NI , January 9 , 2024 :

Kontrol S MK1 had some fantastic Touch-strip physics options.

Kontrol S MK2 for some reason did not inherit these options. Why, I'm not exactly sure, as those answers left years ago (the transition from Kontrol S MK1 to Kontrol S MK2 occurred in 2016). But I'd imagine it was largely a function of time, and a lack of follow up, rather than by design. MK2 did have some basic stuff (like bipolar lighting from center).

Fast forward to Kontrol S MK3, which we intend to be a much more expressive MIDI generative instrument than any controller we've yet released (hence the focus on polyphonic aftertouch thus far, and other things we're actively working on like Play Assist standalone).

To bring back to MK3 those physics models that MK2 skipped (and also the bipolar lighting that MK2 did have) was never a launch priority, but it does exist on our backlog as a to-do. Most people use the Pitch Wheel for Pitch Bend, so we rolled with that.

There are still quite a few things higher in priority. I've mentioned a few in other threads, but MIDI Templates, Play Assist Standalone, Accessibility support, are all things we're working on now, shipping throughout the first half of this year (2024) and would first complete before moving on to Touch-strip improvements. I cannot give a timeline for the Touch-strip improvements just yet, as we have a combination of the aforementioned features and some additional product releases to deliver this year. I can keep interested people informed as it gets higher up the backlog, or indeed, lower for whatever reason.

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/199345#Comment_199345

It is probably like this since anyone actually purchasing an S-Series board is most likely not going to use it as a basic MIDI controller anyway - and if they did - it is a distant second on the list.

But if you peruse the MKIII manual - there is extensive MIDI control options:

VP

vollmero

I know the manual and i was trying it. Still have to unplug the USB Cable. All guys that I know purchased a Komplete MK3 are using it in both ways. Maybe someday they will give us hybrid guys a solution.

Matthew_NI

The hybrid solution is in beta right now. If you'd like to test it out pre launch - please message @Chris_NI or @timrae and they can add you to the beta.