KONTROL S88 Power Issue

Question

Greets:

I've submitted a ticket over a week ago about this issue, so posting here while in wait.

I am having an issue with my S88 MK3 where the keyboard, while not in use, eventually goes dark…no guide lights, no touch strip lights, no buttons lit, and a black screen. However, the power button is still on. Also, I am using the port next to the USB host port to provide additional power.

When I toggle the power button off and on, the keyboard returns to life and it's back in business. However, this issue has started last month, and continues. I thought it might be a cable issue, except that the power port and the USB port next to it has the plugs flushed in and secured, and I know the ports are secured on the other end. BTW, my computer is the M1 Max MacBook Pro, with 64GB of unified memory (RAM).

I am hoping to get some guidance to try and rectify this issue. For a keyboard that has quite the price point, having this issue is concerning.

I also use Logic Pro, and have three other MIDI devices connected. As I had the other devices for awhile, alongwith the S88, they seem to co-exist fine. This issue with the power is recent.

Thank you.

Jeremy_NI · Answer

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/257382#Comment_257382

Thanks for the feedback. I don't think we've seen a similar behaviour before. We need to determine if this is coming from a hardware defect of the keyboard or if it is a powering issue. On some Mac models the usb c power is known to be problematic, but your model is not known for that, it was only an issue on M2 Mac Studios, IIRC.

A powered USB C hub usually fixes these issues, so if you have access to one for testing that would be great. I understand that buying a hub just for troubleshooting might be too much to ask. An alternative could be to try on another computer, if the behaviour is the same, it would confirm the hardware defect. My colleague suggested a video, if you can provide that, that would be great, as we can show this to colleagues, devs, hardware specialists, etc…

PoorFellow · Answer

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/257382#Comment_257382

Also, I am using the port next to the USB host port to provide additional power.

How are you powering this keyboard ?

Have you tried using a self powered USB-C hub ?

I had it powered for over an hour, not using it at the time, and not moving the keyboard or the tray it was on. When I heard "Accessibility Mode Off" voice prompt, the keyboard ended up losing power again.

This particular incidence makes one think of some computer power saving feature (?)   are all such completely turned off ?

.

velanche · Answer

Hi Gents:

@Jeremy_NI - I must have missed the earlier email, but I did receive one a few days ago. Thank you for that.

I have actually another NI USB-C cable, and swapped the main one with that. I had it powered for over an hour, not using it at the time, and not moving the keyboard or the tray it was on. When I heard "Accessibility Mode Off" voice prompt, the keyboard ended up losing power again.And this the second cable, so it seems to Abe that it's not a cable issue.

I did replied to Andrew @ NI Support of this, and informed him that, despite my doubts, I will continue to troubleshoot.

I restarted my Mac with the power button still on, to see if the keyboard would power on and be found like my other MIDI devices. It did not.

I never had this issue with my KK MK2, and I've had this S88 MK3 for over a year (it was a warranty replacement). I did not started experiencing  the power issue until recently, as mentioned earlier .

In the meantime, I ordered a different MIDI keyboard  to use. This is disruptive and need a backup while trying to get the S88 sorted out.

That said, I'll persist.