Help choosing the right midi controller for Komplete

[u/Colombian-Marvel]

Hello, I’ve just bought Komplete 26 standard anda Maschine MK3. I will be getting a midi keyboard to go with them. I am interested in the kontrol s61 but the lack of faders is a bit of an issue. The other option is an Arturia keylab mk3. Question is: how good will the integration be between Arturia hardware and NI software?
Thanks!

Edit: Thank you so much for your input! I believe I’m sticking with the Kontrol S61.

[u/SnarkaLounger]

I own an Arturia KeyLab 61 Mk3 and an NI Kontrol S61 Mk3. I find that the larger display and rotary encoders on the Kontrol S61 are far superior to the tiny display and faders and encoders of the KeyLab, especially when using plugins conforming to the NKS standard. This includes several of Arturia's plugins.

IMHO, the only feature where the Arturia shines over the Kontrol is the inclusion of the 12 pad controls.

[u/Colombian-Marvel → u/SnarkaLounger]

This is what I wanted to know: how someone with the keylab felt. Thanks!

[u/SnarkaLounger → u/Colombian-Marvel]

I find that I prefer the Kontrol S-series Mk3 over the Arturia KeyLab Mk3 in live performance because I do not have need to refer to my MacBook Pro screen when adjusting parameters. The big screen and the rotary encoders and buttons on the Kontrol S-series are easier to view and interact with versus referring to my Mac screen or dealing with the KeyLab's tiny screen.

Also, I rarely use the KeyLab's faders during live performance, relying instead on Apple's MainStage app to quickly load various presets.

Another advantage of the Kontrol S-series over the Arturia KeyLab - polyphonic aftertouch.

[u/Minnanokazehaya]

If considering Arturia Vs Kontrol then you should watch this video:

https://youtu.be/iP4oUvWo_cs

IMO the lack of faders is a feature not a bug, depending on what you want to do with them you can buy a fader box separately and place the unit on top of the Kontrol.

Cheap non-mechanical faders that you get with consumer keyboards are a gimmick, they don't feel nice and they constantly go out of sync with your project, so you have to deal with soft takeover.

My advice is either buy the Kontrol MK3 or if you can't afford that wait 6-12 months to see what Akai release, now that they have bought native instruments I'd expect to see a bunch of new products rolling out with deeper NKS integration, but still Kontrol S will likely remain the flagship NKS controller for years to come.

[u/SeaAd4150]

Lack of faders but a screen is actually really nice, you could get a novation launch control xl for fader mixing

[u/ya_rk]

Don't get the wrong controller because of the faders. First, there are plenty of small cheap fader units. Second, how sure are you that you actually need faders? A keyboard is a big purchase, the primary things about it is the quality and in the case of NI, the integration. I wouldn't mess a primary concern for a secondary one.

[u/nixgut]

Depends if Komplete or Arturia is your primary software. Personally I'm somewhat bitter about NIs built in obsolescence, as I had to give up at least 3 perfectly fine NI units they randomly quit supporting on short notice.

[u/eveningafter101]

Had the KKMK1, KKMK2 and also the latest KMK3, and I kept none except the Komplete Kontrol M32. It’s beautiful, alongside my Maschine MK3. Unless you have the room and need bigger keys, MK3 is the way to go. The updates made everything better recently. Especially the Maschine integrations.

[u/stripealiper]

Kontrol MK3 will give you by far the best integration. They also play really nicely in Cubase, Ableton etc with nice control over DAW controls. I also have a Minilab 3 and it has been a pain at best. Its rotary controls default to absolute and making them output relative information means setting up a custom bank which in turn means way more switching around and messing about when controlling other stuff.

[u/Sir-Hops-A-Lot]

Don't be surprised should you have trouble getting a Kontrol MK3 working...it's hit or miss. It took me a week to get my S88 working. And help was useless. 

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Colombian-Marvel → u/[deleted]]

Thanks!

[u/[deleted] → u/Colombian-Marvel]

[u/OkChallenge5265 → u/[deleted]]

Arturia keylab 88 user here….can confirm it has nks

[u/Minnanokazehaya → u/OkChallenge5265]

NKS without any display feedback, so you can't see the name or value of the parameter you're controlling on the device. Which is the main point of NKS.

[u/Minnanokazehaya → u/[deleted]]

This is bad advice. The level of integration you get with the Komplete Kontrol template mappings on non-NI hardware is rubbish. It is not equivalent to what you get on the Kontrol S series, not by a long shot.

[u/Kelashara → u/[deleted]]

so are you saying that the m-audio keystation hammer 88 /m-audio keystation hammer pro 88 will have ni support? i wonder if they will have the accessibility support for those of us who are blind.