I can only use midi on my keyboard

Niller2000

Hi everyone,

I’m having trouble getting my Komplete Kontrol S88 MK3 to work as anything other than a basic MIDI keyboard, and I’m hoping someone here might have run into something similar.

My setup:

• MacBook Pro (M1 Pro)
• macOS Tahoe 26.2
• Kontakt 8 / Komplete Kontrol
• S88 MK3 on the latest firmware
• Native Access, all software update to latest version

The keyboard works fine as a simple MIDI controller, but I can’t get the full NI integration working. Nothing gets sent to the keyboard screen — the only thing I can access there is creating custom MIDI templates (which I could already do with my old keyboard). No browser, no instrument info, nothing.

Another odd thing: the S88 MK3 doesn’t show up at all in macOS Audio MIDI Setup when connected.

In Kontakt 8 → Settings → MIDI, I see three possible ports:

• KONTROL S88 MK3 (Main)
• KONTROL S88 MK3 (DAW)
• KONTROL S88 MK3 (Ext)

So far I’ve tried:

• Deleting and reinstalling the NI / Komplete software
• Updating the keyboard firmware
• Giving Full Disk Access to all NI apps
• Trying multiple USB-C cables
• Connecting through a USB-C hub and directly to the Mac
• Allowing all macOS permission prompts when the keyboard is detected

Despite all this, the keyboard never switches into full integration mode and the screen stays basically “empty.”

Before I go down the official support route, I wanted to ask here:
Is there anything else I should be checking or testing?
Could this be a macOS Tahoe / Apple Silicon issue, a port configuration thing, or something obvious I’m missing?

Any ideas or similar experiences would be really appreciated. Thanks!

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/49908/i-can-only-use-midi-on-my-keyboard

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Be sure to be using latest version of Native Access for your OS

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Nowhere in your post is mentioned the paramount HCS (Hardware Connection Service , installed via Native Access) .

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Quote Matthew_NI :

Also make sure that the Hardware Connection Service is running and that the Kontrol MK3 can see it. Note that the hardware connection service should be started automatically when you open Komplete Kontrol software for example.

You can verify that the Kontrol Mk3 is connected to the HCS by going to Settings > general > agent version on the device, it should say version x.x.x (or higher ?) . If it doesn't, try a different USB-C cable, and/or a USB-C hub instead of connecting directly.

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Also set keyboard to Midi 1.0 : How to Switch a Kontrol S-Series MK3 Keyboard to MIDI 1.0

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Else then check these troubleshooters:

My Komplete Kontrol Keyboard Does Not Start

Kontrol S-Series MK3 Troubleshooting Guide

Kontrol S-Series MK3: Troubleshooting Firmware Update Issues (appropriate trouble shooter even if not at firmware update step).

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For Mac then also do this :

Reset keyboard in Mac Midi Studio deleting unused midi device out of audio midi setup

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And if using Sequoia/Tahoe then N.I. apps and DAW must be added to the Local Network (Ref.: How to grant audio apps access to your local network on macOS 15 Sequoia)

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