S88 mk2 - Mod wheel and Pitch wheel - Only using 20% of the range. Anyway to recalibrate it?

rdalcroft · 2025-03-01T13:10:33+00:00

There was an error rendering this rich post.

Hello

Both the mod wheel and pitch wheel are only using 20% of their range. Why is there not a recalibration with in Komplete control, like it has for the foot pedal on continuous.

They both us HALL effect sensors which can be calibrated and recalibrated using software? why is this not an option.

Is there a fix for this, otherwise an option to buy the module, I can fit it myself it looks easy enough.

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

JesterMgee

Pretty certain they just use typical potentiomenters and no, there is no calibration or even any way to change the behaviour of these controls such as remap the CC value to a different parameter or even setup limits, like most keyboards can do. Crazy I know, but that is NI for ya.

Have you checked or can you post the high/low value limits in a DAW? Just so you can visually show what this 40% is (is both the low and high end missing, just the low or high)?

Not had an issue that wasn't related to the plugin I am using but also, not aware of any way to adjust the actual controls either.

rdalcroft

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/214051#Comment_214051

Hi Jester. Thanks for replying. Agree with you totally.

You asked what range? I am struggling to find a daw which will display this. As I said its probably less than 40% movement registered more like 20%. Its the middle (equal both + and - from centre. But it will go from 0-127 but using the small range i have +/- 20% from centre.

The only program i have that displays midi data is MIDI OX but this displays raw data. Again, this is no use as it will show the full range but I am only moving the mod or pitch wheel 20% from centre and it has reached the upper limit.

Its strange that both the mod wheel and pitch bend are displaying the exact same issue and same percentage.

They both have identical potentiometers; I have opened it up to check. I did initially think these were Hal effect sensors, as they look similar, I thought maybe there was a magnet involved.

They look easy enough to replace, But getting the actual mod wheel out of the case, is proving difficult, I removed the Daughter board, un did all the screws holding the Mod wheel base. But where the actual rubber wheel sticks out through the casing, God knows how I get the wheel out.

A simple calibration tool would make more sense, Fair enough, if they were defectinve, I could still zero the calibration, and still have full movement register, but may loose some resolution.

Just like you calibrate a joystick or flight stick, game pad etc.

Hell, Komplete kontrol has this calibration function for the Foot pedal on Continuous mode, why not for the mod wheel and Pitch bend.

I have sent support a request, to either let me buy replacement modules (potentiometers), or maybe they have an external calibration program, not available to the public, you know like their firmware updater, or something like that.

JesterMgee

Right, so the issue isn't it's sending only about 40% of the range, more that it only sends data within about 40% of the overall range of the control.

That seems strange especially for the mod wheel. In Ableton for instance I can either just start recording or select the midi MOD wheel for a selected instrument rack and see the live value as I move the wheel, seems to use close to 100% of the range for me on an MK2 S61

Wouldn't think the pots could be defective TBH. Potentiometers don't just change value, they can become spotty/flakey in operation over years due to carbon buildup from the contacts or develop dead spots but not change the range of value.

Have you tried to open a plugin in KK that has a visual pitch/mod wheel and simply observing what range it shows compared to the movement of your controls? Should show a 1:1 movement position. I'd personally test that outside your DAW, maybe there is something configured in your DAW that adjusts the Pitch/Mod sensitivity input and makes it more sensitive using less overall range because i've not read of this issue on the forums in the 12 years i've been here.

Skijumptoes

Looks like someone else had similar issue and around the same 40% threshold that you're experiencing.

Post is here

rdalcroft

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/214379#Comment_214379

Hi Jester

Mathew from NI contacted me, asking for more information. I sent him this video I made of the Issue.

This will explain it a bit better, i think.

Mod wheel Pitch Bend.MP4

Hopefully Mathew will have some Insite, as this must have happened to others, and looking at the post below, I see someone has also posted a similar issue, I still need to read that post though.

Fingers crossed.

rdalcroft

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/214429#Comment_214429

Yes I did see that post from doing a google search. Seems to be the exact same issue. I wonder if he did in-fact get in touch with the Hardware dept. I can't reply to the post as it has been closed. I wish they would not close old posts. lol

rdalcroft

Here is my question, as I have a feeling, from experience, Native instruments never ever sell parts, they always want you to send it in for repair. Which can result in £100's cost to send to Germany. It's my only Gripe, and probably why, my next purchase will never be Native Instruments. All other major Keyboard Manufacturers sell the parts that tend to wear out over time.

If I bought a cheap

Komplete Kontrol A25

From ebay, they look as if they have the same Mod wheel / Pitch bend. Could I use the pots from that and transfer it in to my S88 Mk2?

JesterMgee

Yeah I couldn't see the details on the screen but I can see what you mean and since it is happening with the standalone KK software, it's not something like a filtered MIDI message in your DAW.

Is quite strange, certainly not common as apart from that linkes post with a similar issue, nothing I have seen over the years and I wouldn't think it is a fault with the actual potentiometers, having 2 both do the same thing is almost impossible and even if the POT had a fault I would expect no movement then a quick jump to the value not a limited range, that does seem more like an issue with the calibration of the range and yes, likely a calibration feature would fix the issue but alas, it's one of many features we see missing from these keyboards

Not sure replacing the actual controls would fix the issue and also uncertain if the A series has the same value pots in them either, if I was going to replace them i'd open it up and test the value of them then just order a $0.05 component that has the same value and just use it as a test to see if it worked first.

Have you tried to do a reinstall of KK, maybe ditch the V3 version of KK, uninstall the drivers and also uninstall Bome Midi Translator which is installed along with the software then do a reinstall from scratch? Personally I would recommend the V2.9.6 version of KK as you have the MK2 keyboard since we know that seems to work fine with keyboards, not convinced the newer software/drivers aren't part of the problem. If nothing else, it would rule out software/drivers as the issue and squarely point to the keyboard

rdalcroft

hello jester.

You make a good point. I did not think of uninstalling KK and going back to the old version. I will give that a try tonight.

In the meantime. I contacted support on the issue, they have offered a warranty repair. I am just waiting on a response, as the asked if I would need a box sent.

I also, in haste, bought a defective S49 Mk2 on eBay last night. Seller said unit has never been used since new as it was defective from the start, but says all screens, keys, encoders etc will work, good for parts.

So I’m going to see first if I can fix it, maybe just a few loose ribbon cables, if I can fix it, I could re sell it. If not. I can strip it for parts.

If the warranty repair ends up not being a warranty repair, and is too expensive to send to Germany then I will transplant the mod wheel and pitch bend along with the small circuit board they plug in to.

I also need a new right side screen as mine has become slightly lighter that the left one.

The rest of the parts I can sell on eBay.

JesterMgee

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/215201#Comment_215201

The right/left screen being slightly dim is a common issue, even mine is like that (was from new)

rdalcroft

Well,

I transplanted both Potentiometers from the S49 mk2 (i bought on ebay), to my S88 mk2, including the daughter board where the pots plug in to.

S88 Mk2 (above)

S49 Mk2 (above)

Pots:

S88 Mk2 Mod Wheel

S88 Mk2 Pitch Bend

S49 Mk2 Mod wheel

S49 Mk2 Pitch bend.

Both sets have the same issue in my S88 Mk2,

Both sets work fine in the S49 Mk2 ??

This suggests to me the S88 Mk2 needs to be recalibrated. As no 2 pots are the same, and when these are built, I am sure Native instruments has software they run, to do an initial calibration of the Pots for both Mod wheel and Pitch bend. I have asked Native instruments support if there is such a software, which will calibrate the pots, and saves the calibration to the firmware.

I have no idea, how My S88 lost its calibration. Maybe it was when i last regreased the Keys? I do this once a year, as I can't stand it when they become Noisy (Clicky rattle).

Failing that, I guess I will just have to get used to having such small travel on my Mod and Pitch bend.

But on a plus side, I have gained a fully working S49 Mk2 and also a fully working A25.

Both were listed on ebay as faulty. But they both work fine. The A25 had totally different pots inside, so I did not want to try them in the S88 Mk2.

Quick links

Unanswered questions