Can I use two keyboards with latest Komplete Kontrol?

Ojustaboo
Ojustaboo Member Posts: 332 Advisor
edited January 9 in Komplete Kontrol

Hi all, I know the NI Knowledge base says the following about using two keyboards with Komplete Kontrol

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Using more than one Kontrol S MK3 keyboard simultaneously on the same computer (e.g. Kontrol MK3 and another Kontrol MK3 / MK2 / A or M keyboard) is not supported.

This can lead to inconsistent communication between your computer and the keyboards and cause a number of instabilities.

If you want to use two MIDI keyboard controllers simultaneously, it is possible to use a second non-Kontrol MIDI keyboard controller, as this should not interfere with the Kontrol integration.

———————-

but I wondered whether I can do the following (last paragraph above doesn’t make it totally clear).

I have Arturia Keylab S61 mk2 as my synth/organ keyboard.

On Friday I’m ordering NI S88 mk3 as my piano/weighted keyboard.

Watching the Native Instruments “How to use everything in Kontrol S-Series mk3 midi keyboard controller from 35:45


the next gen NKS looks awesome. The example in that vid is exactly the sort of thing I want to be able to do and has been a huge part in me buying the mk3 now rather than waiting to see what happens further down the road.

What I want to know, can I use my new S88 mk3 as shown in the vid to change things on my Arturia CS80 software synth, while using my Arturia Keylab S61 to actually play the notes?

So I want to use my Arturia S61 keyboard to play the sounds from Komplete Kontrol while using my NI S88 mk3 to select and alter the patches etc.

Thanks

Best Answer

  • Jeremy_NI
    Jeremy_NI Customer Care Posts: 13,047 mod
    Answer ✓

    @Ojustaboo So, the article concerns using two Komplete Kontrol keyboards at the same time and expecting to have integration with the Kontakt or the Komplete Kontrol plug-ins or standalone applications, you should not have any issue with setting up your Arturia keyboard.

Answers

  • Jeremy_NI
    Jeremy_NI Customer Care Posts: 13,047 mod
    Answer ✓

    @Ojustaboo So, the article concerns using two Komplete Kontrol keyboards at the same time and expecting to have integration with the Kontakt or the Komplete Kontrol plug-ins or standalone applications, you should not have any issue with setting up your Arturia keyboard.

  • Ojustaboo
    Ojustaboo Member Posts: 332 Advisor
    edited January 16

    It worked superbly:

    Both my S88 mk3 and my 61 Keylab mk2 control my DAW, for example I can press play on the 61 note and then press stop on the s88.

    Likewise, I have 8 knobs on the Keylab that do the same as the 8 knobs on the s88 (again I can turn first knob on s88, then turn first knob on Keylab 61, both happily control it and so far, don’t seem to mind sharing.

    Have also assigned two buttons on the Keylab to next/previous page and two to next/previous preset.

    I’ve only been messing around with this tonight, I’m sure I’ll tweak it further.

    I was expecting to be able to have a sound loaded via s88 and play the 61 keyboard, I didn’t expect to be able to adjust the sounds, or control my DAW, from both instruments at the same time, this is going to be awesome, I’m a very very happy man.

  • reffahcs
    reffahcs Member Posts: 848 Guru

    And if there's a way to change the default MIDI channel on your MK2, you can play an instrument with your MK3 on Channel 1 and another instrument on a different MIDI channel at the same time with your MK2.

    I might have to mess around with this. I have the S61 MK3 as well as an Arturia Keystep 37, which doesn't get a lot of love these days after I got my Mk3.

  • Simchris
    Simchris Member Posts: 325 Pro

    Would love a 'mirror' mode for just this situation; having 88key mk3 for my pianos, but then the S61 mk3 above for synth playing. Seems like there could be a 'mirror to all' mode to simply have one master and slave follow. Anyway, would love this option, personally. Especially since I just bought both the new Mk3 models to replace older Mk2 models.

  • lewisjenkins
    lewisjenkins Member Posts: 1 Newcomer

    Did you ever find a workaround for this? I have an S88 MK3 for pianos and I’m also considering buying an S49 MK3 for synths. What has been your experience of using both together? Do you have to power off the first controller before powering on the second one? Have you experienced any issues?

  • Simchris
    Simchris Member Posts: 325 Pro

    I will be testing this hopefully over the holiday weekend upcoming (Memorial Day/US). With my old setup six years ago, I could have the 88 as master below monitor for DAW, and then other side of room had the 49 with another monitor as stand up play station. So, I'd have to go into Komplete Kontrtol and specify which of the attached devices I wanted active. A front panel control like [shift] » or something to specify FOCUS with more than one device would be super cool.

  • V84x4
    V84x4 Member Posts: 9 Member

    Was this ever figured out
    I made a mistake buying the S61 MK3 and wish I would have purchased the S88 MK3
    Now Im stuck with the S61 which is fine however I would love to be able to purchase the S88 MK3 and play both in Live 12


    Best, Rick

  • JesterMgee
    JesterMgee Member Posts: 2,969 Expert

    Has never been possible, or to clarify, it has been overly problematic to have multiple KK keyboards connected. You cannot have both operate in "smart" mode so one has to be used in just plain MIDI mode however, you can't really choose which one as the software will just select the first it finds alphabetically in the list as the master. Usually things dont work reliably or at all with multiples connected together and try as everyone might, there really hasn't been any suitable solution around this nor any sign that NI will offer any ways to try and make it possible either.

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