How To Import An Old S88 Mk1 MIDI Template (.ncc file) In To A New S88 Mk3 (.kmt file)?

Matt Scales · 2025-06-29T08:20:13+00:00

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Hi all, I've just bought myself a brand new NI KONTROL S88 Mk3 after my trusty MkI wore out! Nowm with the old MkI I used to use the NI 'Controller Editor' software to create and save many useful MIDI templates, but having fired up the Mk3 for a few minutes I now realise that this MK3 controller is no longer compatible with the old 'Controller Editor' software?? This seems crazy, I just need a way of importing my old templates on to the new controller. MkI midi files are in (.ncc) file format, whilst the new Mk3 only imports (.kmt) files?? Any help or advice gratefully received…

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Accepted answers

nico5

The template files for the MK3 series (.kmt) are internally in JSON format, while the template files for the MK1 series (.nckk) are internally in XML format. So one can't copy and paste between them.

The editing for the Mk3 is fully done onboard the keyboard itself. So one has to create new templates from scratch on the MK3 itself.

However, there are quite a few more editable items on the MK3 compared to the MK1, that there's a good chance that a re-think of the template design is desirable.

For example,

the MK1 doesn't have buttons, so you had to use knobs even if you wanted on/off switches
the MK1 doesn't have wheels, so you had to configure the two touch strips - most likely as Pitchbend and CC1
the MK3 has wheels plus one touch strip, so it makes sense to assign that touch strip to something other than Pitchbend or CC1 (CC11 can be a good choice for many situations)
buttons and knobs can have labels

My little helper app doesn't really help with any conversions. It merely makes it easier to edit a subset of things that can't be edited on the hardware. It's best used after creating a template on the hardware.

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Uwe303

Hello,

you can only copy them one by one, knob by knob over to the kmt files as far as I know. There is a little helper app, online and for download available here:

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/41326/for-the-s-series-mk3-a-small-helper-app-for-modifying-kmt-template-files

Maybe there is a better way but I just would do it that way, as I'm not a coder

nico5

The editing for the Mk3 is fully done onboard the keyboard itself. So one has to create new templates from scratch on the MK3 itself.

However, there are quite a few more editable items on the MK3 compared to the MK1, that there's a good chance that a re-think of the template design is desirable.

For example,

the MK1 doesn't have buttons, so you had to use knobs even if you wanted on/off switches
the MK1 doesn't have wheels, so you had to configure the two touch strips - most likely as Pitchbend and CC1
the MK3 has wheels plus one touch strip, so it makes sense to assign that touch strip to something other than Pitchbend or CC1 (CC11 can be a good choice for many situations)
buttons and knobs can have labels

Uwe303

with copy one by one I don't mean really copy it like you would copy over a text, I mean you open up the controller editor look on the midi knobs and them enter it manually into the mk3 - maybe that was not clear enough, bit niof course your tool and the better capabilities of the mk3 then can help to make a better template

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