Any problems operating Kontakt on a Windows Tablet PC (e.g. Microsoft Surface)?

Is anyone using Kontakt on a Windows tablet? If so, is it all working as it should?

I want to buy a tiny MIDI keyboard and tablet to perform in a band setting (as a backup to my usual instrument). I'm already heavily invested in Komplete 15, so being able to use that in live performance makes most sense.

I want to avoid using Apple products if at all possible. And I want to keep the hardware as small as possible for ease of portability.

The iRig Keys I/O 25 looks ideal. It works with Windows tablets. So if Kontakt works on a Windows tablet I believe I should (?) be able to use the iRig Keys to play live music via Kontact.

But first I want to be absolutely certain that there's no issues performing with Kontakt on a Windows tablet. For example, that it's stable, and there's no crippling latency, etc.

Thanks in advance for sharing any experience with this.

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LostInFoundation

It does work well on Surface Pro

As a main rule, the device must work with a full version of Windows. No Windows RT or any other stripped down version (but maybe that is a thing of the past… frankly I don’t know if nowadays Windows tablets all work with full Windows… Surface Pro always did… but it is practically a “full” computer with a detachable keyboard… while many Windows tablets were not back in the days).

Oh… also… be careful with latest Surface Pro version: they have a Snapdragon processor… and someone reported NI stuff aren’t working on it.

Make some researches

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LostInFoundation

It does work well on Surface Pro

Oh… also… be careful with latest Surface Pro version: they have a Snapdragon processor… and someone reported NI stuff aren’t working on it.

Make some researches

Appogee

Thanks so much for your excellent, detailed response. I really appreciate it.

Vocalpoint

"Oh… also… be careful with latest Surface Pro version: they have a Snapdragon processor… and someone reported NI stuff aren’t working on it.

Correct. As of now - both series of the very latest Surface devices (Pro and now Laptop too) run on the Snapdragon processor (and the ARM version of Win 11) - which is not compatible for any NI stuff.

Microsoft Surface Copilot Plus PCs, touchscreen 2-in-1, laptop and all-in-one computers | Microsoft Surface

LostInFoundation

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/238771#Comment_238771

You’re very welcome 👍🏼

LostInFoundation

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/238792#Comment_238792

In facts… as I said, that has been reported by some (mainly you)…and, on paper, it should be true (ARM is not officially supported… but sometimes things work anyway, out of luck).

We also have some cases reported with users able to install NI software on Windows ARM (specifically Maschine on Surface Laptop). Some workarounds were needed (installation through NA failed, but manual installation succeeded), but in the end, it worked.

I specified the Snapdragon issue to avoid troubles to OP (since we are not sure what works, what not, how good,…) and, in facts, I’m also avoiding buying a new Surface Pro exactly for that uncertainty…but… up to him to make some researches and decide on his own.

I would REALLY like to have more infos on the matter from people ACTUALLY owning these devices and using NI stuffs on them, because a new Surface Pro would be my next purchase in case we discover everything is ok

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/31112/approaching-arm-on-windows

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/238798#Comment_238798

Do not have enough "road" intel to know what (or what does not) work from a "DAW-centric" angle on ARM64. Do know that this tech is very similar in scope to Apple Silicon - where an app, plugin etc (ideally) needs to be complied for that platform to guarantee correct operation - and most importantly - best performance.

One app that I hold very dear - and can confirm NEEDS an ARM specific version - is Studio One:

Have had a number of internal conversations with their crew and they indicate that if you are planning on using a Snapdragon (or any other ARM CPU) - see above.

As far as anything else out there - including all NI software - I use this general menu as a guide:

The first three rule out NI right off the bat. The fourth item is an unknown and is specific to Windows 11 - which I am not running (yet).

That said - IF I did have Win 11 and a Snapdragon (or any other ARM based) CPU and wanted to actually get anything done - I wouldn't just install a non-ARM specific version of Kontakt - hoping it "might" work. Even with MS and their Prism tech.

If all the NI stuff (or anyone's stuff for that matter) "just worked" on ARM - they would probably all have said so by now. And for certain - Presonus would not need to bother issuing a separate version of Studio One.

For me - unless a piece of software specifically indicates it is 100% supported (and compiled) for ARM - it is not and therefore could exhibit issues that I would not want to deal with. Especially since the app would immediately land in "unsupported" territory (by the vendor) just from me trying to shoehorn it into an ARM environment.

I guess comes down to the risk you are willing to take. I will stick with pure support for my given CPU.

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