Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S MK2 keyboards are now on sale for up to 38% OFF, new teaser points to possible all-new MK3 generation.
Update: Thanks to a reader who pointed me to the new Guitar Rig 7 Pro video where you can see a rendered version of the new Komplete Kontrol S Mk3 keyboards.
In 2017, Native Instruments introduced the Komplete Kontrol Mk2 S MIDI keyboards, specifically designed for use with their Komplete Kontrol software and the NKS format. The advantage of this format is that third-party developers can integrate their plugins with the keyboards and Maschine software and hardware. In easy words, users can edit parameters right on the hardware without mapping them.
In particular, the lack of integration into the external world, i.e. instruments connected via MIDI, is one of the disadvantages of these MIDI keyboards. The MK2 is better suited for software applications rather than hardware synths when it comes to connectivity. 6 years after the release, the MK3 generation now seems to be on the horizon. There is a new teaser.
Komplete Kontrol MK3 On The Horizon
Yesterday, Native Instruments posted a teaser on Instagram with the title: “At the core. Stay tuned”. There’s not much info into it, but you can see the shape of a keyboard with the illuminated keys. There is also an illuminated knob and the classic transport buttons that we know from the MK2 generation.
Even if the teaser shows little, I’m pretty sure the new Komplete Kontrol S Mk3 generation is on the horizon. This is because the keyboards are already 6 years old and have not received any new features etc. for a long time.
The exciting question here is: Where is Native Instruments taking the keyboards? Will we see an NKS 2 standard with more functionality and more mapping freedom for non-licensed users?
One feature I would like to see would be the ability to layer NKS-enabled VSTs and build large multi-layer virtual instrument racks with instant control on the hardware.
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Then, it would be desirable if the new MK3 generation moved out of its software bubble and included hardware users with advanced functionalities. With more MIDI features (chords…) and CV/gate connectivity, you can also hook up software like Reaktor directly to the modular world.
An integrated audio interface that allows you to output the sound of the VSTs without any detours would be a nice bonus. Or Native Instruments goes all in and shows a Komplete Kontrol + keyboard with the same concept as Maschine +. It would be not a groovebox but a keyboard where you can host NKS-enabled instruments and effects. But I think it will be more classic MIDI keyboards. There is a good clue why.
Discounted Komplete Kontrol Mk2 Keyboards
Thomann provides another indication that a new Komplete Kontrol keyboard S generation is on the horizon. They are currently selling the Mk2 keyboards at up to 38% off. The S49 is now on sale for 398€ instead of 649€ (38% OFF), and the S61 is now 498€ instead of 749€ (33% OFF).
In addition, Native Instruments no longer lists the S49 and S61 in their own shop. However, there are tested B-stock versions in their Reverb.com shop for 379,16€ and respectively 441,68€.
I am almost sure that we will see Komplete Kontrol S MK3 soon. It will be exciting to see what they will look like and what features they will have. Stay tuned.
More information here: Native Instruments
Available at my partner
Thomann
I’d like an S88 with the new fatar keybed with triple sensors and aftertouch, like nord stage 4.
I think a new S88 is not yet ready, as the S88 came later to the market and isn’t on sale
Would be nice to have screens much more useful, with special pages for synths, osc envelopes etc…, visual feedback of effects, like the Push
It is already possible to layer Komplete Kontrol instruments with third-party software Blue Cat Audio PatchWork or even with good old Native Instruments Kore 2. But of course, an internal Komplete Kontrol layering option together with good hardware integration (= no need to manually set focus on different instances) would feel more complete for all the money.
I can also layer with Ableton Live and other DAWs, but my point was really something inside Komplete Kontrol.
MIDI 2.0 would be nice. Being able to buy spares would also be a huge plus my Mk2 88 has a bad display on it and I’ve got to post the whole thing to Germany for a repair as they won’t sell me a part.
MIDI 2.0 is on the paper finished, so the development for the real world in hardware/software takes more years
NI stuff gives me such mixed feelings… like in mid2000s the dream was to have the whole NI ecosystem Komplete, Maschine, Traktor, and how IN THEORY they all worked great together etc but damn how the mighty have fallen. Killing products like the S5 3 years in, not working on Reaktor/MacOS compatibility, making controllers not class-compliant, padding Komplete bundles with tons of Maschine expansions, making upgrades like Kontakt 6 to 7 (new UI and a bit better time sctretch? really?) very easy to skip, killing Absynth, iZotope getting bought by NI killing Iris and Breaktweaker), short hardware upgrade cycles, forcing you into their ecosystem (althou that changed a bit with Komplete working with any midi controller but too late, their empire was well into crumbling away)… Hell, even the new Traktor X1 MK3 is basically the same layout as X1 Mk1 (their most successful of the dj modular stuff) but with 5 tiny screens and 1 button less. You could say they returning to their roots but I see it as anti innovation and expecting old fans to return home but too late.
The X1 mk3 is a design example of the already leaked KKmk3: a reskin of an older product (MK2 in this case) but now it has one large screen intead of 2, still no faders and a horizontal strip like the CS80/Hydrasynth has but its too damn small. Hopefully this’ll have polyaftertouch and hammer action (like mk2) to make it a worthwhile upgrade but, just like it happened with king Traktor and how Serato/RekordBox knocked it out, there are just already better options from out there like KeyLab 88 MkII. Where NI stuff shines is in the bundled plugins but if you already have Komplete there is nothing for you. It would be nice to have a discount if you already own Komplete but NI just give a $25 coupon that only work in regular price, so no stacked savings and you anyways save more buying when they have a sale so that $25 coupon is just garbage.
Imho, the midi controller to have is Push 3 and this is coming from someone who loves Maschine workflow a lot but, again, NI never got Maschine into full DAW and it remained just a groovebox ever since. It is a deep hole to climb out when there are so many great established alternatives out there but the most difficult part would be getting people trust back. Quite frankly, NI is dead to me and I know for a fact plenty people think the same.
You might want to have a look at the GuitarRig 7 Video on Youtube. Its shown there as well.
thanks 🙂