S88 Mk3 Firmware 2.0.4 is a GREAT update!

jimknopf01 · 2025-08-13T21:27:06+00:00

There was an error rendering this rich post.

After having been an outspoken critic of the S88-Mk3 (less controls than my Mk2, no sliders etc.), two software updates have nevertheless finally won me over to the Mk3:

first the ability to create user onboard templates
now the incredibly useful 2.0.4 update offering so much hands on functionality beyond NKS, and no longer being as dependant on Komplete Kontrol software as intermediate tool.

This is so much more fun and immensely useful functionality both for DAW and live use, that I really enjoy it! And as much as criticism has its place, it should also be applauded, when something has been done as well as this MK3 functionality update: it takes the Mk3 keyboard to a whole new level, as far as I can see!

The keybed feels really nice for my taste as well. Despite seemingly belonging to the same Fatar TP100LR family of keybeds, it feels better to me than the S88 Mk2 which I had so far.

Find more posts tagged with

Komplete Kontrol Keyboards

Comments

pewpew2000

Totally agree, this new update takes it to a whole new level!

LostInFoundation

I agree, although I’m still puzzled by the (now even more) vastly inferior integration with their own Maschine software.

As someone from NI just said yesterday, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar (which means praises when he wins a war, but also criticisms when he loses one)

timrae_NI

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/237542#Comment_237542

Unfortunately Maschine SW itself requires extremely deep (expensive) changes to swap out the old browser with the Kontrol Mk3 compatible browser used in Kontakt and KK, there's not really anything we can do on the keyboard side about this :'(

JesterMgee

Only thing that would make things better is having some of the long standing issues users have reported over the years actually addressed…

timrae_NI

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/237688#Comment_237688

Are you talking about the keyboard or Komplete Kontrol software? If the former then you'll need to be more specific...

JesterMgee

The issues are known, we are just waiting on

Kymeia

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/237694#Comment_237694

This sort of thing:

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/236540#Comment_236540

Although to be fair Accessibility WAS also one of those 'outstanding issues'.

timrae_NI

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/237820#Comment_237820

Thanks, so afaict basically 99% issues with KK not the keyboard itself…

Kymeia

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/237825#Comment_237825

This IS a great update. But KK has now fallen well behind the capabilities of both the MIDI templates editor and DAW integration (and it was already needing to catch up with what it lost from 2.9.6). So it's time for some KK love :)

Skijumptoes

Agree with the main sentiments here, this update is absolutely brilliant.

What it means in the real world is that I can have one piece of hardware on my desk as the main focus vs several MIDI controllers that I used to have laying over each other in the past.

That's because it can control the DAW as per an MCU would, but includes coloured track support and larger track/parameter names. It can control external gear via the MIDI templates. And it can recreate that standalone workstation feel via the NKS instruments.

Not only that, but i've been using the scale modes to teach my kids how to play in tune and a bit of music theory, it's easy to forget how useful tools like these are.

Surely is the gold standard, right? People always gonna get caught up on certain features, but if you're wanting to sit down and compose and create music these are just bang on.

timrae_NI

Thanks y'all, really appreciate the feedback. We've been working so hard on this, for so long, across so many DAWs, so many iterations to get the perfect UX and stability.

People significantly underestimate just how much work goes into building even a seemingly small feature "right".

I hear you about KK SW, unfortunately that is a totally different team from us and as much as they want to make all these improvements they are focused on Maschine for the time being.

LostInFoundation

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/237838#Comment_237838

In case you are interested… this answer of yours perfectly underlines 2 of the biggest problems NI has…

“That is a totally different team”… if the team for the Kontrol Keyboard doesn’t see itself as part of a bigger picture (specially with the team of Komplete Kontrol), that will lead to… well… most of the problems the post linked by Kymeia is showing
“they (the team also working on Komplete Kontrol) are focused on Maschine for the time being”… the underemployment forcing people to jump from one task to another and leaving products unable to be looked at is also something that isn’t healthy at all for NI as a brand

I know this comes from higher above… but in my opinion is a worker duty to say something to the people taking decisions, when those decisions are wrong…

Not easy, I know… in the end they are THE BOSSES… but… in my experience, when well presented, correct remonstrances give food for thoughts even to people we think are not reachable. Unless they are brainless.

Maybe you won’t be seen as the most obedient soldier… but (always if they have a brain) as the soldier that will make them win the war

J-B00gie

I dunno, as much as I like the better DAW/plugin integration in v2.04, I still miss my faders and pads. I get by with the pads on Logic Remote for iPad and a separate 8-fader controller, but it’s not the same as having them on your main keyboard. Just sayin’

timrae_NI

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/237845#Comment_237845

I think everyone is aligned that we're working on all the right things in the right order tbh. It's unfortunate that certain things you particularly care about have been de-prioritised, but if we prioritised those things over the ones that we are working on then there would be even more people angry at us for different reasons.

Personally I think you should evaluate buying our products based on their current merits without setting unrealistic expectations about what value we might be able to deliver in the future.

LostInFoundation

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/237851#Comment_237851

Quite a strange answer…

I never said things I care have been de-prioritised, because that’s not the case.

And I never bought something based on what might be delivered in the future. It’s more a NI thing lately to release stuff saying “this is still not there, we will add it in future updates”.

But I get the message: you are not interested in what I said, which is ok

Quick links

Unanswered questions