Use of 2 Komplete Kontrol keyboards in live setup

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koljaw
koljaw Member Posts: 3 Newcomer
in Komplete Kontrol

Currently I am using 2 Workstations and one iPad in my live Setup in which I simply step on a foot pedal and all sounds and lead sheets (on the iPad) move forward in the setlist. So I can change programs while playing with both hands and don´t lose track of lead sheets.

But I miss 2 things:

a/ I´d love to have "Light Guide" as I can´t always remember all the zones in which I put my sounds on those 2 Workstations for each part of the songs

b/ I´d love to use all my NI plugins and NI sample sounds on stage

Therefore I would be willing to buy myself 2 Komplete Kontrol keyboards to fulfill those wishes. But what I´m not sure of before buying:

1/ Is it possible to run 2 Komplete Kontrol keyboards with one laptop (Windows please) ?

2/ Which software would I need additionally to the Komplete Kontrol software ? Or is it possible to do everything in that program ?

3/ If it was possible to only use Komplete Kontrol software, how is it possible to set zones of different sounds for both Komplete Kontrol keyboards ? And will those zones automatically show up in different colours in the light guide ? Can I change the colours so that a lead sound always has a specific colour, a pad a different dedicated one etc. ?

4/ If all previous questions work fine, how can I use a foot pedal in such a setup to step forward in the songs ?

5/ How can I integrate the iPad in this setup to display lead sheets ?

Thanks for input & best regards!

Kolja

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Best Answer

  • PoorFellow
    PoorFellow Moderator Posts: 7,349 mod
    edited November 2024 Answer ✓
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/192190#Comment_192190

    what about all my other questions ?

    If you want specific answers then ask specific questions including what exact model of keyboard version that you are asking about, e.g. A-Series or S-Series and which generation , MK 1 , MK 2 , MK 3 ?

    1/ Is it possible to run 2 Komplete Kontrol keyboards with one laptop (Windows please) ?

    No

    2/ Which software would I need additionally to the Komplete Kontrol software ? Or is it possible to do everything in that program ?

    There is a misunderstanding here Komplete Kontrol software is sort about 'control' and communication and when you open Komplete Kontrol then the sounds that you open are from other software (that is NKS compatible) , e.g. Kontakt. (Using the S-Series MK3 keyboard then you can also communicate directly with Kontakt 8 without using the Komplete Kontrol app) . Your question ought to be : "Which software would I need additionally to the Komplete 15 bundle software ?" And my answer would be that that would depend entirely upon what you are trying to do , right ?

    3/ If it was possible to only use Komplete Kontrol software, how is it possible to set zones of different sounds for both Komplete Kontrol keyboards ? And will those zones automatically show up in different colours in the light guide ? Can I change the colours so that a lead sound always has a specific colour, a pad a different dedicated one etc. ?

    I am no keyboard expert and I am not sure , also then the answer with respect to ability might depend on exact keyboard model and version.

    4/ If all previous questions work fine, how can I use a foot pedal in such a setup to step forward in the songs ?

    Don't know , someone else or support will have to answer this

    5/ How can I integrate the iPad in this setup to display lead sheets ?

    Don't know if it is possible , as far as I know then iPad support is rather limited if existing. You would have to ask support or someone else will have to tell you.

    Again for all questions you might want to ask a specific question with respect to a specific setup.

Answers

  • mykejb
    mykejb Moderator Posts: 2,609 mod

    Using two keyboards on the same computer isn't supported as mentioned in the knowledge base article here:

    https://support.native-instruments.com/hc/en-us/articles/13143471670045-Can-I-Use-More-than-One-Kontrol-S-Series-MK3-Keyboard-Simultaneously

    I'd suggest two laptops if possible, that way the keyboards will work, you have redundancy in case of a software crash and mainly because two laptops always look better than one laptop!!

  • koljaw
    koljaw Member Posts: 3 Newcomer

    This is too bad.

    Okay let´s assume I only use one Kontrol keyboard and one laptop, what about all my other questions ?

  • PoorFellow
    PoorFellow Moderator Posts: 7,349 mod
    edited November 2024 Answer ✓
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/192190#Comment_192190

    what about all my other questions ?

    If you want specific answers then ask specific questions including what exact model of keyboard version that you are asking about, e.g. A-Series or S-Series and which generation , MK 1 , MK 2 , MK 3 ?

    1/ Is it possible to run 2 Komplete Kontrol keyboards with one laptop (Windows please) ?

    No

    2/ Which software would I need additionally to the Komplete Kontrol software ? Or is it possible to do everything in that program ?

    There is a misunderstanding here Komplete Kontrol software is sort about 'control' and communication and when you open Komplete Kontrol then the sounds that you open are from other software (that is NKS compatible) , e.g. Kontakt. (Using the S-Series MK3 keyboard then you can also communicate directly with Kontakt 8 without using the Komplete Kontrol app) . Your question ought to be : "Which software would I need additionally to the Komplete 15 bundle software ?" And my answer would be that that would depend entirely upon what you are trying to do , right ?

    3/ If it was possible to only use Komplete Kontrol software, how is it possible to set zones of different sounds for both Komplete Kontrol keyboards ? And will those zones automatically show up in different colours in the light guide ? Can I change the colours so that a lead sound always has a specific colour, a pad a different dedicated one etc. ?

    I am no keyboard expert and I am not sure , also then the answer with respect to ability might depend on exact keyboard model and version.

    4/ If all previous questions work fine, how can I use a foot pedal in such a setup to step forward in the songs ?

    Don't know , someone else or support will have to answer this

    5/ How can I integrate the iPad in this setup to display lead sheets ?

    Don't know if it is possible , as far as I know then iPad support is rather limited if existing. You would have to ask support or someone else will have to tell you.

    Again for all questions you might want to ask a specific question with respect to a specific setup.

  • PoorFellow
    PoorFellow Moderator Posts: 7,349 mod

    P.S.

    To get a full version of e.g. Kontakt 8 and Guitar Rig 7 Pro then you will need at least Komplete 15 Standard or higher tier bundle :

    Manuals for Kontrol S-Series MK3 keyboards and Komplete Kontrol app.

    Komplete 15 bundles compare

    Kontrol S-Series , offer with %50 off bundles if bought with keyboard

    Native Instruments on Youtube

    How to use everything in KOMPLETE KONTROL software | Native Instruments

    What’s new in Kontakt 8 | Native Instruments

    Kontrol S-Series MK3 on Youtube

    Komplete 15 on Youtube

  • mykejb
    mykejb Moderator Posts: 2,609 mod

    If you're using Kontakt you can switch presets using MIDI. If you use something like BandHelper on the iPad you can use a foot pedal to switch between songs, then configure BandHelper to send MIDI program change commands when a song changes. You can then set up Kontakt to change presets when it receives the MIDI commands. MIDI program change doesn't work in Komplete Kontrol as far as I'm aware.

    You could also try something like Gig Performer which lets you stack various VSTs and switch them with MIDI.

    Not sure about the lighting colours though, I've never actually tried assigning them.

  • koljaw
    koljaw Member Posts: 3 Newcomer

    Thanks a lot for all the input so far.

    To my understanding Light Guide only works on the S series, so I would consider to buy an MK3. I´m now diving through all the documents PoorFellow shared and so far could figure out how to assign the Light Guide and MIDI channels to different VST plugins, but then that would be within Komplete Kontrol software. I do own NI Komplete 14 ultimate, should be enough sounds to use within Komplete Kontrol.

    But so far I couldn´t see any indication on programming a SetList within Komplete Kontrol that I could step through during a gig.

    Probably mykejb is right that it would require an additional program (e.g. BandHelper or Gig Performer), I would prefer Camelot as far as I can judge. Then probably I would have to load instances of Komplete Kontrol into such a program to have access to the Light Guide programming.

    Anyone who has been using such a setup to take advantage of Light Guide and stepping through a Setlist is welcome on sharing his/her advice what really works, before I consider buying.

    Thanks

  • PoorFellow
    PoorFellow Moderator Posts: 7,349 mod
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/192366#Comment_192366

    With respect to the the Light Guide programming then I spotted this :

    How to create your own Komplete Kontrol light guide

    How to use everything in the Kontrol S-Series MK3 , 5. Light guide (18:31)

    With respect to the Setlist then I found this, however I don't know if it is also valid for Kontrol MK3 , MK3 could have changed by now , including to the better.

    Q: How do you organize your setlists for the stage and the lightguide on a mk2
    A: Quote : MyStudioOne :
    You can cycle through your templates live with the preset up and down buttons on the MK2

    With respect to using Kontrol MK3 then some other users has discouraged that. While I can say nothing about their general criticism then I must agree that there have been a number incidents where Native Access has suddenly made peoples setup go haywire one way or the other. So at least it is very much advisable to not use Native Access to update or anything shortly before a gig as well as also having a backup of it all in a state where it is all working OK so that one has that to fall back on. Ref. : Using S61 mk3/Komplete Kontrol in live/stage scenario

    I am sure that Matthew_NI does most likely not agree with the above but I can try asking if @Matthew_NI do you have anything to add on the topic of Light Guide and Setlist and any eventual improvements made in the Kontrol S-Series MK3 ?

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