![]() My initial scepticism was that it was a cost cutting measure, but in use I found these to be very acceptable. These replace the more traditional pitchbend and modulation wheels. Speaking of responsiveness, below the octave +/- buttons are two vertically-oriented ribbon controllers. I ran the unit alongside Logic X and the integration was utterly seamless, and extremely responsive. Ableton requires some tweaking for complete integration, but NI provides explicit instructions for the setup on its website – I’m sure Ableton users are easily up to the task of installing a few extra files here and there. These link with whichever DAW platform you’re using, with support for Ableton Live 9.1.4, Cubase 7.5.1, Nuendo 6.0.7, and Logic X 10.0.7. Off to the left again are transport buttons, backlit of course. NI refers to this controller mapping system as ‘Native Map’, and there are thousands of patches across the Komplete range of instruments which have been mapped to suit the Kontrol keyboard. To the immediate left of the rotary controllers are two buttons to scroll through additional sets of assigned parameters, so you’re not limited to eight parameter controllers per patch. What’s even cooler is the pots are sensitive to capacitance, so the slightest touch of a knob immediately alters the display to reflect the numeric or text status of the assigned parameter. When switched off (or unassigned) they disappear beneath the black translucent panel. These displays seem to be of the OLED variety, and are invisible until turned on. Below each variable pot is a display to represent what each pot is assigned to, and a level display. It’s a great feeling keybed, and one that will probably outlast the electronics surrounding it.Ĭentrally located on the upper panel are eight continuously variable pots which can be freely assigned within the Komplete 10 software instruments to activate or adjust all manner of parameters. The semi-weighted keybed is quite firm to the press, with a solid stop at the bottom end of the key’s travel. It’s the pinnacle of keybeds - with a duty cycle of three million key presses per key. The Italian company has been in the business since the mid 1950s, having started out supplying keyboards to electronic organ manufacturers. The actual keybed is manufactured by Fatar, long-time manufacturers of primo electronic keybeds. So remain aware that this keyboard only functions with a computer attached. These are, however, only accessible when the keyboard is connected to a computer via USB and you instigate the Controller Editor software. The unit includes sustain and expression pedal inputs, and sports real MIDI DIN-plugs for MIDI in and out. Bear in mind the keyboard requires power - no USB power-only option - no doubt due to the plethora of LEDs. With the overall finish a glossy mirror black it looks every bit the modern studio accoutrement (and all those pretty lights… ooh la la!). The S49 presents as quite an attractive piece of hardware - it’s a very impressive effort when you consider this is Native Instruments’ first crack at a keyboard, but then remember, NI has put some pretty sturdy runs on the board with Traktor and Maschine. Included in the review setup was a Komplete 10 software package which, in itself, is a formidable sonic arsenal, but again, more on that later. In terms of sound generation, the S-series are strictly controller keyboards, and are designed to helm the Komplete suite of virtual instruments and sample players. For review purposes I received the 49-key, S-49 model. The Komplete Kontrol keyboards come in three typical keybed sizes: 25, 49, or 61 key models, dubbed S25, S49, and S61 respectively. Much sensation indeed! However there’s more to ‘Light Guide’ than whiz-bang lighting effects, and I’ll expand on those features a bit later, in the meantime, let’s look at the more traditional features of the Komplete Kontrol series. If sci-fi aesthetics are your thing the Komplete Kontrol keyboards are the only keyboard worth owning. Absolutely fantastic look, and perfectly suited to a dimly lit studio atmosphere. Upon boot-up this array of lights goes through a Las Vegas display, pulsating every colour the system allows, blue, red, green, purple, yellow, orange etc, before settling into a subtle blueish hue. Every key on the keyboard has a multiple colour LED situated at the rear of each key. The Komplete Kontrol keyboards sport this crazy feature called ‘Light Guide’. With the various sized Kontrol S-Series keyboards, NI has gone utterly berserk with LED lighting - this thing lights up like the Sydney Harbour Bridge on New Year’s Eve. ![]() I honestly thought I’d seen everything there was to see in the world of controller keyboards, but Native Instruments’ Komplete Kontrol controllers have relieved me of that claim. ![]()
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