cc @Symian and @aortan Loopop gives a very brief sneak peak of what looks like the KK update here. Looks very much like the Kontakt interface.
If this contains the same features as those mentioned in the hardware launch video (layering presets specifically) this would certainly be something I’d be excited to try.
And maybe one day (when I get a bigger boat) I’d be interested to try the bigger keyboard as a studio centrepiece.
Just placed an order for 88 keys of fully weighted hammer action! I honestly don’t care too much about poly aftertouch, but knowing it’s capable is a big plus.
Now I just need to go back and install the NKS info for some plugins that I opted to leave out.
Oh cool! Good news that things are happening in that area 
Nice hopefully it’s scales backward to mk2s if not no big deal I’m totally happy with it as it stands, nice control over Ableton, and in conjunction with a maschine mikro I get the best of both worlds right now… looking forward to seeing some real world use cases though, I like loopop but still don’t fully trust the influencer circuit to be absolutely frank in these matters…
From a chat one another forum, the word is that KK3 should work with Mk2 keyboards. I’m always reluctant to be definitive with NI, but that’s what I heard. And I guess this clarifies things a bit. As you said earlier, nerfing the gateway into NKS and NI in general would be kinda mad, especially since it’s tied to Komplete Start which of course free to anyone with a DAW and a computer.
So far, the interesting thing I’ve heard is one way KK3 works (maybe KK 2 is the same, but I wasn’t aware?) Apparently if you use it to load Kontakt it will load a specific version (not sure why) and so for example you can have it load Kontakt 5, 6 or 7 and KK will always give you the “correct” Kontakt in the background.
I also hear that loading multiple presets and layering is still limited to Kontakt. Of course with Ableton instrument racks this is doable via another route, but I guess if you’re gonna commit to a wrapper then it would be nice to run one, rather than 2 - but that workaround is probably what I’d stick with, or I’ll gravitator more towards Analog Lab.
I’m off to watch a few vids to see if I can glean more. Still mostly interested in the software, but also the HW in a “someday, maybe, if I’m feeling fancy” kinda way.
The biggest problem I have with NI now is that I just don’t trust them anymore. Every lunch seems to have been full of issues (From Massive X to Machine X) and the key ‘framework’ of most of their core software is falling further and further behind modern standards.
Always wait at least 6 months from launch before buying anything NI…seriously, look at their track record!
I don’t think the MK3 has near enough to make me want to upgrade, in fact I prefer my MK2 for machine control.
Kontakt 7 is brutal at the moment. It’s brining my M2 Max to it’s knees with only 2 instances. Stutters galore. I have to go up to 512 buffer in Ableton to not get stutters.
That’s just fucking nuts for an M2 Max with 32gb of Ram. It sucks because I have a bunch of libraries that I love.
It ironically runs a lot better on a 7 year old Intel CPU…
It took them well over 2 years to get Apple Silicon Native, and it’s almost fucking useless when it finally arrived.
Yes, NI have to keep doing ‘new things’ as it’s their primary sales model…they just don’t dedicate enough resource to fixing or improving the core software and products that most of us use.
This seems to have co-incided with Ableton launching Push 3 and then NI updating to M1. I believe most software “works” on M1, but there’s a difference between working and being optimised to use the cores. Since the 11.3 updates, I’m seeing non-Kontakt/KK tracks are having this issue, although NI seems more affected. Thinking I need to try & purge samples a bit more - is that useful on your side?
Yeah, the purging doesn’t have any effect here. It’s more with the libraries that use heavy scripts, that are impacting the processors, rather than ram or HD.
What’s interesting is I see less issues if I run in Rosetta mode.
Wow. That’s mad 
Just looked this up, I’m not sure it will? Might do if you drop the brackets down on the keyboard tray, but that gets wobbly and horrible to use.
Kontrol S88
Height: 120 mm
Width: 1353 mm
Depth: 347mm
Weight: 13.5 kg
EDIT - Looks like the Platform Desk has been modified recently with slightly different dimensions!
Old specs:
https://support.output.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500009433821-Platform-Specifications
Interesting. I’ve kept mine in the lower position for my last CME UF80. I took that one out the housing to fit.
The tray is wobbly, but functional.
I’m curious about the sides. I might have to reach out, because the issue with it being wobbly is that they cheaper out on the sides, when they should either be thicker, or at least reinforced.
In his video review of the just announced Korg Keystage Loopop says in the “pros and cons” section that the Keystage is the only keyboard controller with MIDI 2.0. ( video in this post )
I’m confused. The Kontrol S Series Mk3 Keyboards from Native Instruments have MIDI 2.0 as well. Well maybe Loopop means something like it is incomplete at the moment, or something. Not sure what the status is for it.
Would seem to me that these two controllers deserve a head to head comparison. The Native Instruments Mk3 controllers have encoders, not pots, and a much larger color display, and is close in price though marginally more expensive, and the also have an 88 key version.
I think he means Midi 2.0 that actually utilizes 2.0s ability to map parameters of synths.
Lol cons of Keystage to Kontrol:
Don’t get me wrong, this thing seems super neat- and I’m glad Korg is heading the trail of utilizing 2.0 to make my dream controller. But from stress headaches of trying to update and utilize my Opsix and SQ-64 in a DAW environment its surprisingly convoluted to get things running
They both have bundled software, and it is opinion, but Native Instruments wins on this. There is also NKS on the S Series Mk3.
Native Instruments : Komplete 14 Select, Komplete Kontrol, Hypha, Stradivari Cello, Guitar Rig 7 LE, iZotope Element Suite, Ableton Live Lite.
Keystage : Korg Gadget Producer Bundle, Wavestate Native LE, Ableton Live 11 Lite
The Keystage has the Stereo Audio Output, nice if you want it. Not a killer though in any way.
The Keystage has two pedal inputs – DAMPER (half-damper supported) and EXPRESSION.
Native Instruments has four pedal inputs – sustain and expression pedals, as well as two more assignable jacks.
There’s only one thing Korg can do to entice me to buy this thing. And its something no other company is doing(which baffles me)
Make a keyless desktop version.
I’ve GOT keyboards, but I want a good control surface for adjusting parameters in my DAW! Come ON! Why oh why can’t Korg, Native Instruments, Novation, (I don’t know any others so I’ll just say…) etc do this?!
I probably wouldn’t like the ControlStage given the above concerns- thats just a voting with my wallet scenario.
Hint, hint NATIVE INSTRUMENTS!
Could be nice, but seems more of a potential hindrance than a feature. To utilize the controller outs, you probably have to assign it as an audio interface. Maybe good for a beginner studio, but that money would have been better suited making the encoders vs pots.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING KORG?!
You’re right. I didn’t think about that.
BUT!
Then why not make it portable?!
Edit: or a portable version of the model?
