I’ve got the 88 note mk3 and so far love it (firmware/software updates aside).
I know there’s a lot of upset over missing features etc, I just wanted to do a thread on what we like/dislike about the S mk3 series ignoring for the sake of this thread, the things discussed multiple times in other threads, like Maschine integration.
Having the pages grouped into tabs in those instruments that currently support it, is in my opinion superb.
I really like the feel/action of the S88 mk3.
I like the position of the ribbon controller
The more I get used to what button does what, the more I like it and the more I’m really impressed and glad I bought this instead of the mk2.
If I had to pick faults with the design, there’s two small things that slightly bug me.
1), the position of the on/off button, my S88 is in a pull out table/shelf and it would be so much easier if the button was on the top of the back, even better if over the left or right hand side, but where it’s positioned, I have to pull the S88 out far more than I would have liked to comfortably reach it.
2) Don’t know if it’s just my unit, but the pitch bend wheel makes a loudish (very noticeable) clunking noise when it passes through the mid/default point. This might be my imagination, but it also feels mush looser to push the pitch bend wheel up than when I pull it down.
This evening I had Komplete Kontrol open stand alone with a piano loaded. I then started my DAW (studio one). The S88 automatically went into DAW mode and wouldn’t let me select Browser mode or Plugin mode, bearing in mind I hadn’t even loaded/started a song/project in my DAW, I found this a little annoying, maybe it’s a setting I’ve got wrong, will have to have a good read of the manuals.
I also discovered tonight that I only need one sustain pedal. As I have both S88 mk3 and Arturia Keylab 61 mk2, I bought a 2nd sustain pedal. Tonight I realised that it doesn’t matter if I press the sustain pedal on my S88 or Keylab 61, either sustain pedal sustains both keyboards, which is really useful.
I bought both keyboards in January and every time I play, I end up telling my wife how happy I am with both of my keyboards, and how the more I use them, the more impressed I am by them. They work flawless together, load a sound on the S88, knobs/faders on Keylab 61 happily control same parameters as the knobs on the S88 etc.
Sure there’s a few software/firmware things with the S88 that need addressing , but overall I have high hopes for it in the coming months.