Using a new s61 mk3 and an older s88 together

Michael Terry

I recently bought a new s61 mk3 for the bigger screen and greater access to editing features. After I bought it I found out that it didn’t have compatibility with machine mk3. I still had my older s88 which was compatible with machine and it had a full 88 keys for orchestra patches with key switches in the lower octaves. Everything looked good at first with both keyboards loading up the same patch and using the 61 key for the big screen and editing and the 88 key for low register key switches. Tonight for some reason things went off the rails. Initially the s88 started flashing and going thru some serious convulsions. After it calmed down the two keyboards didn’t have the same patches on their screens and my DAW was triggering the wrong keyboard.. I guess I’m asking is there a way to use these two keyboards in a successful and stable way… thanks in advance.

JesterMgee

Basically, no you can't reliably use 2 keyboards at the same time. It has been heavily requested over the years but no hint that it will ever be possible. It's even problematic to just try use one as a MIDI keyboard and one as a "master" keyboard as this also just doesn't work reliably (as you have discovered) so recommended to just disconnect one, having 2 connected is a headache.

You must be one of the very few (apparently) that used KK with Maschine since that was the main reason the MK3 is not properly integrated (not enough people used a keyboard with Maschine)