How can one trust NI (Komplete Kontrol S series mk3)

ADN 01

Having warm, sunny Sunday around just found information from 2023, saying, that the company is about to have new S series keyboards - mk3. They were supposed to have more powerful processor to allow more complex instrument interfaces with animated UI, standalone functions…

Now with the latest update, 1,5years later, I can only see scale and arp functions built in eventually, but knobs that still have those ugly circles on the screen with nothing in the centre (they could have values there!), no realtime animated UI there, and I still have to bother if I connect it to the correct USB-C port on my Mac because it's not so obvious it would work with any port.

Lots of screen real estate is therefore wasted - look at Waldorf Quantum screen and how much information is put there. We just got brighter and more beautiful screen on the NI, poly aftertouch and not much more. In a year we shall get an information about the new series in the pipeline, the one to have animated screen interface, better controls and more compatible. Again.

While Komplete Kontrol software and instruments are decent, my next keyboard is going to be different make. I shall still stay with NI libraries. But I am pretty sure they will remove another functionality from their next gen keyboards just as they did with maschine functions.

greetz ;)

Simchris

i plan to drink more coffee

BIF

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/222726#Comment_222726

That's what must be missing. I've had a headache for 2 days now!

Ojustaboo

Not every product will be liked by every purchaser.

Sure in my (and many others) opinion, it was released before the software was ready, but every release it gets better and better.

The new ARP function is superbly implemented

I did have high hopes for the new Arturia Keylab, was debating holding off purchasing my S88 to see what they came up with, but in my opinion, the Arturia was a real let down, didn’t even have poly aftertouch or midi 2 (sure not much uses midi 2 at the moment but it’s growing), sure they now have a colour screen, but it’s tiny. You complain a lot of real estate is wasted on the NI and on certain screens I agree with you, but even the info shown on those screens wouldn’t fit on to the small screen on the Arturia

Everyone is different. Personally I love my S88 mk3 and if I was offered a free swap for a similar priced controller tomorrow, there's absolutely nothing else that in my opinion comes close.