Komplete Kontrol, NKS compatibility, mapped parameters and errors

Hello,

When I can I avoid posting but I am at a loss and I have tried to read as many posts as I can and there is so much finger pointing or run around or miscommunication about the topic that my brain just stopped working and I cannot read anymore. So here it is.

The vast majority of plugins I use are NKS compatible. I have an S88 Mk2 keyboard and I try to load most of my instruments through Komplete Kontrol. I want to use the knobs to fiddle around and have as much tactile fun as I can. It’s my hobby and that’s what makes me smile.

I have an M2 MacBook Pro, I had to update to Sonoma since I also use this machine for work. I have the latest version of Native Access, Komplete Kontrol etc. I have zero updates left to do on any of the software.

I purchased the UVI bundle - which is advertised as NKS compatible and I bought it through Native Instruments to use on my Native Instruments keyboard.  UVI support has a statement that these NKS plugins are fully compatible with Apple Silicon and even Sonoma. Hooray.  Heck I even watched a YouTube channel who does some of my favorite NI product reviews and he was able to use these in Komplete Kontrol on his Mk3 keyboard. I don’t have one yet but my Mk2 should work just fine.

Plugins are installed, NKS installer run through UVI Portal, Komplete Kontrol opened up in standalone so it can complete its scan. I preview the sounds, choose the one I want and click to load. Nope. None of them will load. “Plugin name could not be loaded, as it may not yet support Apple Silicon or VST2 to VST3 migration.”  

I am at a loss. Mr. YouTube guy (I am not sure if I can say who) can do it why can’t I? I am pretty sure it’s not the keyboard, or there would have been a notice when I purchased the bundle.  

Let me be clear, most plugins work great. (All NI and many other manufactures work fine) I basically see these two problems with certain software manufacturers and loading the plugin in Komplete Kontrol.  

1. Migration Error as listed above (Arturia, UVI)
2. Plugin loads but none of the mapped parameters work with the encoders. They are either blank (Spitfire, Audio Modeling SWAM) or show up in literal Chinese characters (Pianoteq 8) You can use the plugin but any attempt to touch the encoders will cause the DAW (any DAW) and Komplete Kontrol standalone to crash. As a workaround, yes they can be loaded as you would load a non-NKS compatible plugin but we all know that is not ideal. The functionality of NKS compatible is what I want and why I am invested in the NI ecosystem.

So, as I understand it Arturia needs to update their NKS support because it is broken and won’t work until they do. I have read enough posts to know that’s the situation.  But UVI? They literally say on their website that it’s compatible and NI and UVI engages in a cross promotion deal. It can’t just be an “oh well” shrug, kind of issue. I installed the NKS installers from UVI Portal today so I have the current version.

At what point do we get to figure out exactly what it is that is the problem, who needs to fix it and provide some kind of requirement to fix and stay compatible.  Let’s assume for just one minute that this is not an NI issue at all and the 3rd party must fix the NKS files or which VST version it’s pointing to, or remap the parameters or fix some broken association. When? They still continue to advertise they are NKS compatible. They make a sale from a user like myself because I think I will be able to use it with my NI keyboard, but I can’t. Is there some communication that is happening? Or do we simply not care and it’ll get fixed in a year, two or never but that NKS branded logo stays on their website as a badge of lies.

I respectfully thank you for reading this far, I understand I can be long winded, I just don’t know where else to turn.