Lack of N.I. support for free/cheap DAWs

I'm fairly certain this topic has popped up before but as I just joined I am not sure how to actually research this just yet so here goes. DAW's that I use and will only use are not Ableton or any of the more expensive options out there, but rather Reaper 7, Traction Waveform Pro 13 or SoundBridge. Unfortunately it appears that I cannot get any level of success in installing the MK3 S49 I just purchased and to be honest it's pissing me off! Who designs a half baked midi controller that cannot readily be connected to ANY DAW out there? KORG was bad enough but this is just stupid and now I have this controller I cannot use because its design engineers don't actually think about making its functionality UNIVERSAL on ALL DAW's!😡🤬 What is the workaround for this shortsightedness?

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chk071

"Who designs a half baked midi controller that cannot readily be connected to ANY DAW out there?"

Pretty much every manufacturer, if you want to use the special functionality, and not use it as a generic MIDI controller.

I'm sorry, but, you should really do your homework before buying. I always read the manual, and check for things I have missed, before I'm buying. The manual, and also NI's website clearly say that the Komplete Kontrol controllers' special functionality can only be used in certain DAWs, and even those differ in terms of what's possible.

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/keyboards/kontrol-s49-s61-s88/faq/

"Which DAWs are supported?
Ableton Live (11.3.11 or higher)
Bitwig (5.0.10 or higher)
Cubase
Digital Performer (11.22 or higher)
FL Studio – coming soon
Logic Pro (10.6 or higher)
Pro Tools (2023.12 or higher)
Studio One (6.5 or higher)"

Same with retailers which sell the keyboards. They also list the supported DAWs.

Vocalpoint

@SuddenShock

"What is the workaround for this shortsightedness?"

I would suggest (respectfully) - get off your wallet and use a supported DAW?

Scoops

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/152000#Comment_152000

@Vocalpoint

In all due respect, one would think your statement is an incredibly insensitive one and lacks empathy and insight for the end user. Add the ****** NI is flinging, and I seriously doubt the OP will return.

I would venture to guess that the vast majority of the end users here have don't have the discretionary cash laying around to invest in a new DAW because the expensive piece of hardware they purchased from NI is not supported in their DAW.

On the other hand, it is unfortunate that the OP didn't do his research

Vocalpoint

@Scoops

"In all due respect, one would think your statement is an incredibly insensitive one and lacks empathy and insight for the end user. Add the ****** NI is flinging, and I seriously doubt the OP will return.

With all due respect to you - I get it - however there was no intent to be insensitive. Or lacking insight etc.

If the OP would have come just a tad softer, asking reasonable questions - seeing who could help out - I am sure it would have been different.

But instead - the OP comes in ultra hot - issues a post littered with swear words, angularity and general middle finger to everyone here AND then admits he did zero due diligence before buying and makes it sound like the world owes him something. I mean I guess the responses could have been a whole lot worse.

It's all about first impressions.

6xes

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/29789/lack-of-n-i-support-for-cheap-daws

perhaps im missing something?? but this is what i found just doing a quick look in the midi area of the reaper forums…

https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=222331&page=14

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/152203#Comment_152203

The OP is/was expecting full MKIII (not II) support.

All DAWs have to be specific prepared to support MKIII devices - and then gain official compatibility

Which is apparently not yet available in Reaper. ReaKontrol is not the same as official support.

Maciej Repetowski

It is beyond my understanding how one can purchase £600 (or more) studio equipment without checking system requirements and reading through manuals first.

"Does it work with my computer and does it work with my DAW" would be first questions to ask oneself.

Followed by "Does it do what I want it to do?". Oh, well… :)

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/152213#Comment_152213

Or how one minute the price of this $649.00 keyboard is not an affordability concern but putting a couple hundred into a decent DAW is suddenly is.

Makes no sense on a bunch of levels.

6xes

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/152206#Comment_152206

if you look at that link… and pay close attention to the details surrounding the comments… it points out that it is being used with the MK3… moreover the poster in the reaper forum also mentions another method of using the komplete mk3 via drivenbymoss
if you search youtube for drivenbymoss and search his videos, he shows it being used with bitwig… but i do believe it also works with Reaper… although i personally cannot confirm it…. that poster on reaper mentions it and acknowledges DBM does work

as far as official support is concerned… if the OP wants to wait for NI to pull finger, thats entirely his choice to scream& shout and wait for everything becoming official… if he desires to use his komplete keyboard.. he has a non-official method… choice is always a good thing, when given the option!!

Vocalpoint

"He has a non-official method… choice is always a good thing, when given the option!!"

OP did not seem interested in anything else but what he was expecting.

Matthew_NI (on leave until November)

We support the DAWs we support because they cover about 97% of all DAW usage worldwide, after which things become extremely fragmented.

iNate

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/152185#Comment_152185

I am having a hard time believing there was no intent considering how blatantly sarcastic that post was.

Beyond that, I agree with Scoops that the OP should have done his research.

That being said, it is not like Komplete Kontrol keyboards actually offer much in the way of on-device controls, anyways, so it's not really a huge thing to care about.

It's not like buying an Arturia, M-Audio or Novation controller and having all of thier 50 buttons/knobs/faders/pads non-functional in your DAW.

A transport section and 8 knobs on a MIDI Controller is not goign to make or break your experience using it with any DAW.

I like more control on the hardware, for a more tactile UX, so I simply don't buy NI controllers. They are too expensive to have such intentional shortcomings.

SuddenShock

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/152432#Comment_152432

Intent? My ONLY intent was using this control surface with Reaper 7 and in the world of DAW's Reaper gets more traffic and use than most! Now while the geniuses at Sweetwater were very helpful and were in fact able to get this working with Reaper 7, it does not want to work with Komplete Kontrol and they have filed a ticket for this issue. So rather than playing at politics with your companies offering you might want to spend some time detailing something other than your prescribed marketing material listing of DAW's that work with it as Reaper does in fact work with it. What's not working at this point as I already stated is Komplete Kontrol with the S49 MK3.

chk071

@iNate

"That being said, it is not like Komplete Kontrol keyboards actually offer much in the way of on-device controls, anyways, so it's not really a huge thing to care about."

True. The only thing you will "lose" is the mixer control. Using the keboyard as a generic MIDI device works, and, the interaction with the Komplete Kontrol plugin or standalone will also work.

chk071

@SuddenShock

"My ONLY intent was using this control surface with Reaper 7 and in the world of DAW's Reaper gets more traffic and use than most!"

Nope. Reaper is rather an exception in the DAW world. The vast majority of users are on the DAWs which are supported by the Komplete Kontrol keyboards.

And, again, other manufacturers are the same.

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