Are we going backwards, Large screens to small ones?

I think you have to combine BOTH screens and interfaces to get the most out of them because one doesn't replace the other, but it does enhance the workflow.

After watching Simon Franglen video on the S88 I copied his setup and purchased a small bluetooth keyboard I can place on the top of my s88MK3 so I can easily work with either. For detail work I concentrate on the S88's knobs, pedals, and embedded features like Key Assist, for general DAW operations it's easier to use the mouse and keyboard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMbfjWAekzc

I am very disappointed in NI's strategy of keeping the NKS2 ecosystem tethered to a "hardware dongle".

Shortchanging the KK3 desktop from NKS2 feature is a BIG MISTAKE.

A desktop screen + QWERTY/mouse/trackpad combo is FAR superior to the on device screen and on device selection/navigation controls.

Screens are a strange one these days because one of the reasons people like hardware is that it allows them to get away from the computer based environment that many of use use every day. So in that scenario any screen should be differnent to a standard monitor to avoid the feeling of pulling people back into their work laptop.

AKAI have seen this and tried to land somewhere in the middle of all the options out there. To my knowledge, the MPC range is unique in that it fits a price category not unlike the NI ecosystem. However, when you buy MPC, that is a standalone device. For example, you can get the MPC Key 61 at the same price as the S-Series 88 key version. But the S-Series is a MIDI controller only. The MPC Key is a full workstation WITH a touchscreen. So in their eyes, my guess is, they want you to finish full tracks on there, and the touchscreen plays an important part in that process. Even if it's just for 10% of the functionality, like renaming a track etc - there are certain things that it can be nice to literally touch on the screen to access.

In that scenario, since you're not hooked up to a computer - a MIDI controller where the screen is there for aesthetic reasons often leads to comments about it being faster to just use the mouse. Like if you're hooked up to a computer then you have a 24/32" screen anyways. And if it's too small to be useful, then that can also lead to the same result. I have to say I don't envy NI in this department, but wish them well of course.

For me, premium MIDI controllers are out. Screens or not, they don't have enough utility to warrant the price, especially when they get tossed once heavy editing starts. In that regard, any hardware has to be an instrument to warrant that value, and that means standalone functionality. AKAI have everyone licked on price so I would like to see someone challenge that. Mainly because others have better and more effecient workflows.

I like midi controller keyboards, I really like my Keylab Mk2 61 note with all it's faders, knobs and buttons, however the one thing I don't like about it, is the tiny two line display, would much rather a colour screen simply to display more information.

I personally don't want only an ipad type thing, I do own an Ipad pro, but it would be yet another thing to look at in addition to my PC screen and keyboard displays.

With regards to looking at the screen and not the PC, I tend to agree that when I'm recording into my DAW, I'm looking at my PC anyway.

I have my Keylab set up so the first 8 knobs do the same as the 8 knobs on my S88, and it's becoming second nature to look at komplete kontrol and use the knobs on my Keylab rather than look at the screen on my S88.

I'm not entirely sure what NI is trying to achieve, I got the MK3 as I was after an 88 note, was going to get the mk2 and the mk3 was released, watching the NI vid of them playing Arturias CS80 and using the buttons on the top of the screen to jump to sections of the CS80 controls, this to me made it worth the extra cost.

Personally I like synths with buttons/knobs/faders and never understood why synths went through a phase of minimal buttons and everything meaning multiple key presses on a two line screen etc.

Likewise, I don't quite get why NI have less buttons on their MK3 than their mk2, seems a step backwards, I would love them to have faders as well as knobs, certain parameters just feel better when changed using faders.

I only got both the S88 mk3 and my keylab in January, before that I had a S61 mk1 and separate digital piano.

I'm so very very glad I made the decision to get the Arturia keylab mk2 61 and the S88 mk3 rather than the S61 mk3 and the Arturia 88, simple reason being that while I love my S88, and of course when playing piano type instruments or when using articulations with it's lights, it's superb, I do enjoy playing my Keylab for most other sounds far more (although often play left hand on S88) , obviously the synth keybed is one of the reasons but I would have got that which ever 61 note I chose, the other big reason is the added faders and buttons, much prefer using faders on my keylab to control volume on my DAW tracks and while true the S88 screen gives me a nice display showing the volume, I have my DAW open anyway with the mixer showing, so again I can use the faders on the keylab and see on the screen exactly what I'm doing.

And as I said earlier, playing most things in komplete kontrol, the first 8 knobs on my keylab do the same as the 8 knobs on my S88 and having komplete kontrol open, I can easily see which knob does what.

Even articulations, having the keyboard showing in Kontakt, I can see at a glance which note does what, and if it's within the 61 notes of my keylab, I can instantly press the required notes to do whatever articulation I want, but the light guide on the S88 is very noce, especially when the articulations are out of the 61 note range (without changing the octaves up or down)

Like @reffahcs my S88 is also on a pull out shelf/table and like them, 99% of the time I now only pull it out far enough to see the knobs if I'm playing a piano or just enough to see the keyboard if I'm playing mainly on my 61 note keylab

At the moment, the only time I really use the S88 screen is when using edit mode on the few enabled instruments.

ABSOLUTELY. This video really inspired me to re-examine how I approach arranging and developing my projects with my S88MK3. I've had a more traditional approach using instrument libraries but I can see now how important it is to make use of ambience and motion to raise the level of the arrangement and its emotional impact. I've been taking baby steps in that direction with libraries like Piano Colors, but I'm now looking at some of the tools similar to what he was using like Lores and Fables to take that next step in combining ambience with traditional song structures to give them greater emotional impact.