Kontrol MK3 S61 - Browser will not load and then all keyboard inputs fail to respond

I searched the forums and did not see a similar problem.

I received my MK3 S61 today. Before doing anything, I watched the How To video on YouTube and read the Getting Starting guide on NI website. I plugged it in, registered it and then updated the firmware. I already have Native Access and the Kontact 7 Player due to an included instrument with some Artruria gear I purchased in the summer. But I am otherwise completely new to NI ecosystem. I purchased the upgrade to Komplete Standard 14, so after registering my S61 keyboard, I added the serial number for Komplete 14. I then first downloaded and installed Kontact 7, Komplete, Battery, FM8, and Reaktor. After installing those, I then just chose "Install All" to my external hard drive.

Everything said they installed except for Neutron 4 Elements and RX 10 Elements. I then spent hours reading the NI Support pages and doing everything they said. The Neutron 4 Elements installed on the second try, but the RX 10 will not install, no matter what, after about 12 attempts. I just wanted to start playing my new keyboard, so I decided to move on.

I then opened Kontakt 7 as a standalone application and configured the Audio and MIDI. I then did the same with Komplete, FM8, and Battery.

Then, I opened Logic Pro X. During startup, I auto-assigned the S61 as a controller. After that, the following sequence occurred.

Opened Logic Pro X and the DAW button on the S61 lights up
Added Kontakt 7 Stereo in an empty channel strip
Browser in S61 still hasn't loaded yet
Choose the first preset in the list on the Kontakt Browser on the computer, and Browser and Plug-In buttons on S61 light up
Press the Browser button on the S61 and nothing happens.
Then, all of the buttons and encoders on the S61 stop working. It's frozen and will not respond.
I reset by restarting the computer.

I have now repeated that sequence 5 times, and the same exact thing happens every time. I just want to play my new keyboard.

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PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/18232/kontrol-mk3-s61-browser-will-not-load-and-then-all-keyboard-inputs-fail-to-respond

First of all then the casual use of MAC computers with Native Instruments are prone to problems because people often do not know of the need for full disk access for all N.I. apps and also drives needs to be formatted with the APFS file system to avoid errors , and more things.

I am really not sure if the Kontrol S61 MK3 and the software are compatible with your OS , however , in your case I suggests that you read the article and check it out yourself : Compatibility of Native Instruments Products on macOS : https://support.native-instruments.com/hc/en-us/articles/360014900358-Compatibility-of-Native-Instruments-Products-on-macOS

Even if compatible with Apple Silicon Processors (M-Series) then that is not the same as being compatible with macOS 14 Sonoma

oobe79

What do you mean by casual use? And like I said, all of the NI apps and daemons have full disk access.

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/105188#Comment_105188

I meant that not all people have the same insight into requirements to get stuff to run or the amount problems they can get into from updating their MAC OS and so and so on. Please do not take my scribblings so personal , I were merely making a general observation and reporting generally seen problems , not making any personal accusations , but judging from your reaction then perhaps I better keep any and all observations to myself in the future !

Anyway , sorry for / if not recognizing sufficiently that you wrote that "all of the NI apps and daemons have full disk access"...

I am just another user here in this forum and if my input were not of help (guess that it were not) then please feel free to contact support , either N.I. general support or N.I. hardware support !

Please notice that solutions to some problems in connection with peoples Kontrol S Series MK3 keyboard have include both using other and better USB-C cable than what were supplied from factory and also attaching a self-powered USB C hub between keyboard and Computer and on top of that also attaching an USB-C power supply to the Keyboard USB-C power port... Also notice that any cable used between keyboard and computer must be capable of transmitting data not just power...

oobe79

Sorry, words typed on forums do not do a good job of conveying emotion. I was not reacting personally. I literally did not understand what you meant by "casual use". As in, personal versus administrative rights, etc. using the macOS...

I can try reverting the macOS to previous version (Ventura), with which the NI website says all of the applications are compatible on M1/M2 Apple silicon. But... it's a MASSIVE pain to do so. You cannot simply install a previous version of macOS on top of the current one. Unless you have a Time Machine backup with the older macOS version on it (I do not), You have to restart from a bootable USB installer, wipe the hard drive completely clean, install the older version of macOS, then reinstall literally every piece of software you have, along with migrating personal files from external storage device.

Still, I am skeptical that this will not fix the main problem I am talking about here. Which is, when loading Kontakt or Komplete in Logic Pro X, it bricks my keyboard. All of the buttons and encoders become unresponsive. Is this really a problem with macOS, or is it a problem with my keyboard? Or incompatibility with Logic Pro X?

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/105197#Comment_105197

Quote : "Still, I am skeptical that this will not fix the main problem I am talking about here. Which is, when loading Kontakt or Komplete in Logic Pro X, it bricks my keyboard. All of the buttons and encoders become unresponsive. Is this really a problem with macOS, or is it a problem with my keyboard? Or incompatibility with Logic Pro X?" (some people have reported improvement for symptoms like this by changing cable and using a self powered hub !)

I am completely as 'skeptical' as you are , and couldn't say what will help , all tried to do were to point out possible sources of errors how far any of it will bring you if anywhere at all I couldn't .

For the expert help that you need then you would have to get N.I. hardware support to assist you , it's N.I.'s keyboard and only they knows best in connection with that. If you have the possibility you could try borrowing the USB-C hub and some cables from a friend or family member if anyone you knows got something like that , just to see if that makes any difference. But otherwise , you know , support will be able to help you best in as much as they know the most about the product !

oobe79

Thanks. It looks like since I made my post, others hate having the same issues. Is there anything special about the USB-C cable I need? I have regular USB-C cables as well as Thunderbolt 4 cables.

oobe79

Also, I wanted to update. The keyboard also freezes when trying to select the Broswer when using Kontak or Komplete as standalone applications. So it’s not just when using them as plugins in Logic. I did submit the ticket to NI Support.

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/105219#Comment_105219

I have made this selection for you , which includes both what people have written about what cable to use but also about their own use as fix , I am not promising a fix , as already written then I am skeptical of it all like you are yourself , but for what is worth then in case it should be able to help ! :

S61 MK3 USB Cable Issues :

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/1455/what-usb-c-powered-hubs-and-usb-c-to-usb-cables-to-use-for-ni-controllers

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/105241/#Comment_105241

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/18216/s61-mk3-usb-cable-issues

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/105066/#Comment_105066

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/17858/kontrol-s-series-mk3-keyboard-long-usb-c-cable

https://support.native-instruments.com/hc/en-us/articles/14270580069661-Kontrol-S-Series-MK3-Avoiding-Connection-Issues-by-Using-the-Right-USB-C-Hubs-and-Cables

This is by a MAC user :

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/105220/#Comment_105220

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/105050/#Comment_105050

Advice by N.I. for flashing firmware : https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/101630/#Comment_101630

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