Komplete Kontrol Articulation Delay ?

Question

Hello, I have a question regarding a problem that's been around for years it seems. I'm using KK on Logic Pro with various orchestral banks. For this example I'm going to focus on Spitfire Syphonic Orchestra and Cinematic Studios Woodwinds.

I'm using Art Conductor from babylonwaves as I'm already using metagrid on iPad to control Logic. But the problem was already there with articulation sets downloaded directly from Spitfire.

So anytime I set an articulation, either on the iPad or just on the piano roll, there is a ONE note delay, which the articulation happens on the next next note, and not on the one it should. This is really frustrating because it doesn't happens all the time. Sometimes it works (at the beginning of a session ) and it just stops working. It also happens only with specific libraries, for example CSW has no problem at all, while SSO is a mess.

I know that the easy workaround is to use Kontakt instead of KK, but I use quite a lot the scale/arp features as well as the light guide, that's the whole point of using the KKS keyboard. Plus my whole template is made with KK, so before remaking it all I want to be sure there are no solutions.

Looking on the internet it seems that's the bug is there for several years :

https://vi-control.net/community/threads/articulation-changes-too-slow-in-logic-pro-x.127634/

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/4753/articulation-changes-too-slow-in-logic-pro-x-when-using-komplete-kontrol

same person on 2 different forum ↑

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/22140/cubase-expression-maps-don-039-t-work-correctly-when-using-kontakt7-in-komplete-kontrol-3-1

someone else having the same problem but on Cubase ↑

I messages Spitfire and NI support with a bit more details to see if they could help but does anyone here had the same problem ? Did anyone find a way to fix it ?

Thank you !! (and sorry for the broken English!)

Jeremy_NI · Answer

@kerotte So the issue only appears when using Logic's own articulations on top of the library's articulations? I don't think these libraries articulations was made to work with other external ones, that could be where the inconsistencies are coming from. My colleagues should get back to you asking for this as well, could you send them a small project showcasing the issue with Cinematic Studios Woodwinds? It's easier for us to get our hands on it for a repro. Please explain, show and include what Logic articulations are used to my colleagues. If you can include 1 instance of Komplete Kontrol and 1 instance of Kontakt, both with the same instrument/preset so we can witness the differences. Since we don't have an ipad for test purposes, make the articulations with the piano roll!

kerotte · Answer

Update :  I assumed there was a similar feature on Live (articulation set) but it doesn't look like there is.

It does work indeed also on Logic with the regular KS discreetly on the Keyboard (C0 etc…)

The issue concern the articulation sets (so on Logic only) when they are triggered remotely on iPad or even set through the piano roll, there is a one note delay. And this happens only with several libraries as mentioned on the OP.

At the moment the 2 solutions are :

-Switch to Kontakt (and lose all the KK features) Most easy, but a bit annoying.

-Use regular KS which is a bit annoying as I have a smaller 61 keyboard so I'd have to reroot them or please them afterwards … also I'd rather keep my tracks clean without these phantom notes showing on the piano roll..

So many people using KK and also Logic/articulation sets but it seems that the issue is going on for years and still no fix :/

kerotte · Answer

Hey DunedinDragon, thanks for your input, I will have a try with the same setup on Ableton Live and see if the issue remains . As it works perfectly when Kontakt is loaded, I doubt it's a Mac or Logic issue, but worth trying !