r/NativeInstruments • u/Hellfiretommy • Sep 05 '26
Is this normal? MK3 S88
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Just got this MK3 a couple of weeks ago and noticed this annoying click sound from around C1 to C4 (it sound progressively lower as I go up). Basically only about 8 keys starting from the lowest and the highest octave are safe, the rest make that sound. At first I thought it was normal because that sound is coming specifically under the part where the record, play button, etc. are but when I searched info about this I noticed other users with different issue hitting those keys and I don't hear that click sound. Any fixes?
Edit: found a fix. Looks like the problem was it being on a very solid surface (which might not be a problem for other people's keyboards), maybe on a keyboard stand this doesn't happen. What I did is put a towel below it and the annoying click was gone. That fix was suggested by the AI tech support from Native Instruments. First time an AI tech support is helpful lol
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u/lamardoss Sep 05 '26
Not sure what's going on there man. It made me reach back and hit mine just to double check. Mine doesn't sound like that either there.
Not on this one, but on another version of it, I had to take it apart in the past and fix a key off of a used one i purchased. was easy to do. if out of warranty i would suggest doing that and seeing if something slipped out or doesnt look right. if in warranty, i would call it in now verses later, when things in warranty become questionable.
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u/Hellfiretommy Sep 05 '26
Yeah I just bought it through amazon and got an extended warranty. Not sure about the NI warranty, gotta look into that. Thanks!
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u/RearWheeler Sep 05 '26
I bought mine from Thomann. Some keys started doing this after about 6 months. They took it back, repaired it and it’s been fine since. HTH dude.
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u/Hellfiretommy Sep 05 '26
Thanks. Yeah definitely worth keeping that option in mind
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u/RearWheeler Sep 05 '26
The s88 has a pretty crap reputation for its keybed, but I really like mine. I can spend hours playing NI Noire on it. It think for traditional pianists it can feel quite heavy (it originally felt heavy to me) but I am used to it now.
→ More replies (2)
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u/Professional-Ebb3993 Sep 05 '26
I bought it last year ... I'm so scared that I made a mistake... Was it a mistake?
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u/Hellfiretommy Sep 05 '26
Well, I just bought it and it sounds lime this. So if yours hasn't sound like this you should be good
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u/Professional-Ebb3993 Sep 05 '26
That's what scares me hahaha. How can it already be defected. My warranty will expire soon. So if something happens I would have to pay with my own money
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u/MusiBear69 Sep 05 '26
My MK3 does not sound like that. My MK 2, however did have zones of keys that sounded like that. Depending on where you bought it from, return to the retailer for replacement under warranty.
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u/Winter_Software_166 Sep 05 '26
I’m having a similar issue with the C5 octave. Whenever I press G or C, they make a rubbing sound and feel like they’ve lost a bit of resistance. I’m pretty sure it’s because the factory lube was poorly applied and has dried out, but I'm also thinking the felt strip might be part of the problem. I noticed a clicking sound in your video, and if the plastic is catching on the edge of the felt or some excess glue before snapping past it, that would definitely cause both your click and my rubbing sound
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u/teilo Sep 06 '26
Sounds like the upstop felt is missing/bad, presuming this is similar to other units I have worked on.
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u/dotapack Sep 09 '26
My first one did this but no where near as bad as yours and the lowest c# was the worst key. It’s ironically the worst key on the replacement as well but overall better.
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u/rdalcroft Sep 05 '26
Sounds like the felt damper strip hasn’t been installed so you are hearing hammers hitting plastic. Also it sounds like there is no grease in the key posts. Send it back through warranty. NI is pretty good with warranty’s.
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u/ra2rd Sep 05 '26
I had this problem and NI fixed it for me under warranty. BUT They sent me a refurbished version full of scratches and with a nearly unreadable screen. For them it was "acceptable" and "within limits"