Would you buy NI Komplete Kontrol S49 MK3 as a Maschine user?

It's not currently a full featured MIDI controller. But eventually it will be and will be fully capable of more advanced two way MIDI communications between devices in the next generation of MIDI. I'm personally willing to wait for the more advanced capabilities to come about rather than have to upgrade in the future to have them.

It's hardly a nightmare. My S88 MK3 does all the things I need it to do on all my projects and I use it daily producing projects that are used live every week.

So... I'm new to the Kontrol Keyboards. I just Purchased an S61 MK3 less then a month ago. I used to run a Arturia Keylab 61 in my rig.

I own a Maschine MK1, a Micro MK2 and a Maschine MK3. I have also been using the NI software products for more then a decade...

I like the concept of S61 MK3.

I understand the issues people are complaining about the loss of the Maschine integration. Personally, I look at the Maschine as drum VST not a DAW. I treat it as such. If I need the Maschine in one of my projects I just turn on the Maschine hardware on and use it. No loss for myself.

I really do like the built-in display of the MK3 s-series. It works very well with the NI ecosystem. The key bed is also nice.

The biggest pitfall to the MK3 controller is that it virtually useless as a DAW controller for Cubase. Sure you can get it to play and record parts... but you cant even use any of the available knobs to add real-time automation to non-NI plugins.... Pretty pathetic....

Midi learn is not even possible...

It's like the 8 available knobs don't even exist outside of Komplete Kontrol or Kontakt...

I'm being really honest... this is not a midi controller. For it to be a midi controller it would need the capability to control midi.

I really like the feel and esthetic of this keyboard, but I should not have to add a second midi controller to midi learn a parameter on a non-NI product.

A word of advice: Fix your ******.

I can understand the caution, but I'm betting on the technology more than anything, but time will tell. So far with other leading edge technologies I've invested in it's paid off. This is very similar to my investment in the Line 6 Helix in 2015 which was a similarly intelligent architecture that could be intermittently updated with more compelling performance and features and that 2015 version bears little resemblance to that same unit that's gone through numerous updates over the years and is still a key component in my studio and live performances. It's not like us early adopters didn't have our doubts. That early release suffered many of the same things in that there were actually more features and capabilities in the units it replaced, and it took the better part of 2 years to see how that initial vision was going to pay off and remove our doubts.

The way I see it this entire industry segment is in a very dramatic state of flux similar to the guitar modeling environment of 2015. With the changes happening in MIDI and VST3 as well as numerous other trends it's going to take some time for all the competitors to figure out where the real hot spot features are going to be. Line 6 was probably at the same level of corporate maturity as is NI when they launched the Helix, and now as part of Yamaha they've become a very well respected part of that industry based largely on the success of the Helix and all it's offshoot products. In the same way Line 6 alienated much of their installed base by sunsetting previous products, but eventually they expanded their market 10-fold post Helix. So we'll see if the same thing happens here.

Honestly I've had my S49 MK2 for over two years and really haven't put it to much extensive use, so anything I get out of the S88 MK3 will be a plus and not a loss, so I really can't lose either way.

And PA works in Maschine does it?

I would trust Mark's point above.

You see, I have Maschine Studio and Maschine 2, but it hasn't been hooked up or even started for more than a few years now. Maybe one day this year I'll find a spot for it on my desk.

Yes I already know that PA AT isn’t supported by Maschine, I own a Maschine and it’s been a gripe for ages, which is why I suggested the MK3 is not a good option all round for a Maschine user, stick to the mk2 .

I’m fascinated by poly aftertouch too. As I’m fascinated by cars with a nice electronic regulation system for the seats.

But I would never buy a car with an engine underperforming respect its predecessor just because it can lift my seats electronically. and if they tell me “but the engine will work better in 4-5 years”, I would wait 4-5 years and see…and maybe THEN buy it. Although then they will tell me in a couple of years the car will be abandoned because “it’s already around from many years and we have to move on”.

But since, once again, the question was “as a Maschine user”, and the responsible for the choices on Kontrol MK3 (Matthew_NI), although answering without answering about many subjects, on this precise subject more than one time clearly said it will never be back as it was before (although in his last updates Chief Product Officer Simon_NI said otherwise (“knowing we can and will add it later”)…another example of saying everything and the opposite of everything in order to keep users quiet), I would make my choice based on what it can do NOW in relation to Maschine. In this case, NOTHING (or better, what every other normal midi keyboard not costing 1000 bucks can do)

More than this, on this subject I’m more inclined to believe to the guy materially responsible for the choices on the device. Therefore I would never count on any integration with Maschine ever coming (at least not something more than pushing Play and Rec, things on which also Matthew_NI said “MAYBE in the future we’ll think if ever adding them”).

Waiting a few more fix cycles sadly underline the fact that the product needs fixes. And that we are dependent of NI deciding to make or not those fixes (and on the Maschine integration subject it seems they have no intention to make them).

As said, if I buy something I’m not willing to buy it when it’s not doing what I want based on promises it will in future years. I will wait to see it doing it…and then decide if it is too late and my purchase will soon be called obsolete and replaceable or if it still has value.

Sadly I see in this MK3 similarities to the cases of Maschine Jam and Kontrol D2s…a good product that risks to fail because of NI decisions. Therefore, the only reason I see to buy it now as it is is if you are scared it will make the end of the 2 aforementioned devices, you really want it and you are scared it will soon not be available anymore.

Otherwise…unluckily the Kickstarter model (give us the money now and we will deliver later) is not applicable here. Specially because at least on Kickstarter if you want to trust someone and finance him, they make you pay for the thing a lot less than when it will finally be completely ready. In this case, it’s probably the opposite, and once MK3 will really make everything promised (if ever), we will be able to buy it for less.

Early adopters pay more and receive less is unluckily the new trend (see the sad Maschine+ case).