Komplete Kontrol MK3 Sneak Peek! 

I only have an A series keyboard and figured I would hold off until a new S series came out. Looks like I waited years for minimal changes lol

I wish NI would improve the Maschine 2 software. I don’t need another keyboard but hundreds of users are asking for Maschine 2 software updates.

Thank you for showing us Jeff! Always something learned when I watch you!

Thanks Jef! The Mk3 looks amazing!

Ahhhh always a favorite of mine I need to sign up for whatever tutorial video system you might have my friend you are the premium teacher and presenter...love....love....love...you!!! :)

Can't wait for Maschine Mk4

Thanks for reviews! looks good but no faders is a deal breaker

But I understand the working sequence they are introducing. Using a touch screen impedes your view to the screen. This time, it is simply knobs and you can view different macros depending on the type of instruments. Very cool.

very awesome....nice upgrade

Struggling to imagine how the poly touch would feel with the 88-hammer key version.

Always so thankful for the great substantive content you share ... and your communications and production quality are high-pro "TOP SHELF" .... so much appreciated .... great video!!

I almost pre ordered this thing this morning. Thank you for this upload. Nice keyboard, but not at all upgrade worthy imho.. thanks Jeff. Appreciate you fam! 🙏🏾

Thanks Jef!

100% my next hardware purchase :)

Jeff, you are the best!

I understand the new features, the polyphonic aftertouch is amazing, BUT!!! Not enough change to upgrade from S88 MK2 to MK3. Hell no. Also I believe there are many NI users waiting for a Keyboard with MORE Maschine integration, NOT less / none. I am very glad I can save money and still love my S88 MK2! But really thank you for your video! Told a lot to me! 🙏

I like the muscle memory with buttons instead of a rouch screen

Great video as always! I have the maschine and the mpc live 2. I do like the touch screen on the MPC live 2. It’s makes workflow easier. Also I’m kinda sad that the MK3 doesn’t have pads like the new MPC keyboard does. That’s one feature I was looking forward to since I have the MK2 keyboard.

LOL. Kids are precious. :)

Oh! Very cool.

The touch sound feeling like cheat materials!!!

Oooh. That play assist feature is nice.

The best part for me about this new S series is that the old S series used market will prob go down in price

Poly AT is good addition. Display looks fantastic but I always worry about longevity of these hi-tech components and cost of repair. Great initial review😊

Thanks Jef. A touch screen with the ability to edit midi data would have swayed me, so will probably stick with the MkII for now

Hey Jef, nicely done and you’re more than fair. The NKS standard is the closest thing to a universal preset tagging model and it’s nice that Arturia and u-He comply…. but so many vendors do not, it makes searching for that preset across many virtual synths still a challenge. Interestingly, all samples and loops, regardless of vendor, use the same tagging structure.

Great to see this post today Jef! How to the keys feel compared to your MK2?

"Keep that in the Video" 😂 👍

I have a MK2 and it is great and amazing integration for Kontakt but still no pads on it which every other keyboard has (Arturia) as they are afraid to canibalize their Maschine market. Too bad though

I really didn’t want to upgrade my S61 mk2 but this review is pretty compelling. I really like the Kontakt integration and polyphonic aftertouch!

I just came across your channel for the first time. Nice video and thanks for doing the review. I love the screen you are using in front of you. What screen model is that? Thanks.

Thanks for the video! Your kid interrupting was a relatable and precious moment 😁 I figured Native Instruments was working on something new when the current ones went on sale. Was kind of hoping they'd add pads to it - but then it would probably have more crossover with maschine than they're going for 🤷🏾‍♂️

I’m actually happy with the changes. I used to want drum pads, but now I prefer having a separate Maschine Mikro. I only wish they had added some faders (although I do like how they’ve added the DAW channel faders with the encoders) I’m actually quite excited for the 4 pedal (2 configurable) inputs. Time to start saving for an S66

Great vid as always, Jef. Quick question: do you notice a difference in the action/playability vs. the S61 mk2?

Hey Jeff, awesome video as always. They keyboard looks gorgeous and the updates make a lot of sense, a very good evolution. I hope this macro grouping will work will all instruments and not only new ones since Hypha. Looks like it still takes too long to scroll to any instrument lower down, browsing with many instruments should be faster. I think you forgot to mention whether it's worth the upgrade from mk2...

What's up Jeff! The keyboard looks awesome but it was upstaged by your son or daughter. Cute and glad you kept it in, it shows your life in real time just like ours. Take care my brother keep up the good work!😎

Thanks for the video Jeff! Concise and informative as always. What's your opinion on the new keybed compared to the mk2?

Great video! Does your daw record the right midi notes when in arp,scale or chord mode? Or do you still need the komplete kontrol plugin for everything?

Great review, Jef, as always! I've got the 88-key mk2 and love it, but interesting to see where NI is taking this hardware. On a more prosaic note: I love the pixel art gif you have as your desktop background. Is that something you can share? Would love to have it as the header on my songwriting Notion page. (Also: hi to your gate-crashing guest star! )

Thanks Jeff. I think I am going to pre-order the S61. Only thing I am sort of watching for (especially since this just dropped) is the Novation SL MKIV

Just a thought for NI, instead of drawing the nob positions on the bottom of the screen, it would have been nice to see light rings on the physical nobs and then just labels on the screen. Give a bit more screen real estate to other info on the VSTi's. Still - seems like they are upping the integration ante which is nice. Keyboard and mouse when making music is a bit of a chore. Wonder how the weighted 88 key version will be and if the weighted keys will be similar to modern Stage Pianos / Digital Pianos??? Been eyeing a Kawai ES520 as I would like something that I can use stand alone and transport for gigs but also then hook it up to a studio setup.

Hey Jef - Nice look and nice additionsd , particulalry poly aft. But no faders??? Understand why no drum pads as that would detract from Masch. but no faders? Really.... 😲

Looks like a decent upgrade with the polyphonic AT. The better integration on the control knobs looks nice. Not making me want to run out and pick one up right away though since other than the polyphonic AT , the MKII version does everything I need.

Looks nice and shiny. I am considering 61 key keyboard, which for some Kontakt patches is more convenient, so I might pick this new one up. Other than that I don't feel like missing out a lot with my current MK2 S49. I am happy though NI is coming out with new stuff, maybe even a Jam MK2 on the horizon. One can always dream...

I want it 😂

I hope they make a Kontrol Plus, stand alone is the future

Hi JEF, Love the Info!!!! Looking forward to pre-sale purchase... were you using the 61 or 88 keys controller. What was feel feel of the keys... I'm looking to to purchase the 61 Key

Your video is better than the NI one. I have to say though, as an owner of the MK2, I find the current Komplete Kontrol software ancient tiny and unusable. I hope they release firmware for the MK2 so it integrates with Kontakt - otherwise treat us to a brand new KK version 3 software!

Hi Jef! I watched this video when you first released it.....and my S61 Mk3 arrived last night from Sweetwater! I'm very excited about it and appreciate your recommendation. BTW - I love your computer wallpaper!! Where on Earth did you get it? 🤑👍

I really like this esp polyphonic aftertouch and as always you do such a great job to introduce us to this new keyboard. As am a big fan of Unify (did you do a video about this?) and it would be so nice to use it from there .. as I unified all of my VSTs .. And for a live musician I so far did not like the NI keys. Therefor I need way better favorites .. or at least a ranking in levels of 1 to 10 or like Omnisphere. Its a very nice studio tool though and especially the Cubase / DAW Integration let me finally upgrade from my MK1.

I agree with the no Maschine integration. It was clunky in terms if workflow when rhe Maschine was there. Also, its beautiful with the one screen.

Awesome video! Do you have any videos on how you integrate Maschine into your daw? Do you start a beat on Maschine then xfer it to a daw? Do you do lots of sequencing in Maschine add vocals in Maschine or after in a daw? Same with risers etc.? I just always found the Maschine song arrangement very limiting compared to the free flow placement of a daw.

I have the A49 from NI, but I would've loved one of these... but I also would have loved if they made a 37 key version of this so I could have it on my desk together with my PC-setup :)

Thanks Jeff Poly aftertouch could make me change from mk2 to mk3 ;-) It seems bigger than the MK2 ?

I was scared I bought the Arturia Keylab mkII too soon… then NI made sure I wasn’t mistaken. This is NOT the way to go. Very APPLE of them taking away features and raising the price 🤣 Maschine was the only I mean only reason to have this and I’m a Maschine head. Arturia offers more for less and the keys feel sublime on the Keylab. I can control MPC Studio One and Maschine with FADERS and knobs oh my. Between this and Maschine + I’m sorely disappointed. MPC Live kills Maschine + and Arturia has them beat on the keyboard. Great video per usual.

I was thinking of buying a 4000euro synth i didnt need to get a poly aftertouch keyboard now this came about. I am soooo happy

ty for your review. Are you able to change midi channel directly from the midi controller or do you still have to change it from komplete kontrol software?

With the MPC X, the touch screen is great, and they have a button for everything. I got rid of the Machine Plus. This keyboard looks awesome though.

I think I’d have liked a touch screen. How are the knobs (do all knobs have the same consistent resistance when turned?)

"Keep that in the video" I ❤ it!!

No Maschine, no deal!

Will there be illumination around the control knobs under the screen, to display state? Or will they just remain on the screen? Looks like a wasted opportunity.

Great video as always,but I'm going to keep using the MK2. The upgrade is good but not good enough to shell out more money for a controller the does about the same things.

It looks nice I do wish they would integrate the touch screen I was using a Mpc live2 for a while and the touchscreen was fun and useful when you got used to it. I know a lot of maschine users were hoping for a touchscreen but if they didn’t do it here I think were are out of luck !!! I still think they should have added the maschine pads to these keyboards but that’s not in NI’s marketing plan??? Thanks for the video 👍

How is the integration of Guitar Rig? It has so much potential as a multi effect rack, but I always found it not well integrated with KK and Maschine...

Looks like they were going to do stand alone but punked out at the last minute

Looks great. I really like the addition of poly aftertouch. Probably not enough for me to upgrade from Mk2 to Mk3. May have been diffident if they added more knobs (say bring it up to 16). I hope that add the feature of categorising the functions in the Mk2 given it seems to just be a software change. I do find I’m using Native Instruments software more than others given how nicely the hardware integrates.

Well this does not bode well for the future of Maschine, does it?

Good, honest review. I only have a Maschine Micro, so my KK S61 mkII is used constantly for Maschine. What gets me is NI say KK users weren’t using the Maschine controls on the controller - if they’d asked us on the community, maybe they’d know. Removing useful features (whether used widely or not) on a next gen controller seems.. daft. It’s not like they were removed for other functionality. It’s just more space. An X/Y pad on this to control all the Kontakt instruments that use it (the light series etc) would have been great. Alas - that ship sailed. Arp/scales still requiring the KK software and not being onboard is something they knew we asked for years ago. It wasn’t available in midi mode or running Kontakt or any VST outside KK. It still isn’t - even in Kontakt. That’s an oversight Loopop noticed the other day. Also, the values above the knobs don’t show as soon as you let go. I honestly have no idea what this brings to the table other than poly aftertouch and the touch strip not being in a place where it will get accidentally touched. Muting Omnisphere and Zebra and Diva constantly when using the mod wheel was painful. I might just tape over the touch strip on mine - I never use it anyway.

Hey Jef! Can you talk about if they decoupled the keyboard with Komplete Kontrol so you can use some of the smart features like chord mode, scale mode, arp mode etc. sending out of the 5 pin midi to any external synths in your studio? Also is it possible to make mapping templates for those external synths so you can switch mappings on the fly and control various parameters of those synths through the 5 pin midi? I'm not sure you could do that before and im looking for a midi controller to have great external synth support as well as great VST integration. I have a polybrute and I would love great integration with that.

I wanna know where the camera is for your top down shots...lol. It must be pretty high up huh? We can't see it in the other shots.

5:51 In fact, if you've taken a good look at Guitar Rig 7 they've done the same Kontakt thing and I really think they'll do that for Reaktor for Komplete 15. Even beyond that.

Thanks Jeff, so where did you get the cool animated screen saver?

Thank you for the video! Is the integration with hardware keyboard as poor as with MK2? Can knobs be set to different CCs similar to Novation’s MK3 without it being hooked up to a computer? Why are there still no faders??? 🤯

Question - What are the dimensions of the "empty" spaces to the left and right of the controls? Was thinking a Maschine Mikro and maybe EREA Touch might fit in those...

Nice overview Jef! The NKS2 functionality is great but getting the more than 80 vendors and 500 instruments supporting NKS updated is unrealistic. I would expect that new releases will get these features. Anything older may be a long shot. I will upgrade from my Kontrol S61 MK2 eventually, but I will wait for at least a couple of firmware updates. Is the build quality much the same as the prior version?

Dying at the Simpsons reference Jef. It is a very good point. Touch screens can be so finicky and most times I'd prefer tactile control.

Question though Jef, Will I still be able to use Maschine Software with this keyboard? I don't have an Mk3 and I enjoy using Maschine with my S49Mk2. I hope it does allow me. Thanks.

So Jeff you think the Komplete Kontrol MK3 is worth getting? Or should I stick with my old Komplete kontrol MK2?

Hmm wonder what the price tag is going to be? Definitely don’t think this is worth the upgrade imo doesn’t offer enough. What an upgraded led screen? Aluminum wheels, a couple more 3rd party plugin support? I surely figured they were going to beef up the hell out of the mkiii but once again let down by native. Ill wait until another playbox type of gear/software comes out.

Surely it would be possible to add that grouping feature into the MK2 S series keyboards?

Lovely, but it amazes me that they still don’t use the space above the pitchbend/mod wheel to have three sliders for inputting orchestral parts.

I know u said they are getting away from Maschine integration. But curious. If u are running maschine and building a track and want to add in say arturia cs80 and do some poly aftertouch will it record that in maschine. I never managed to get it worki g with Maschine plus and my Kontrol 49. Seemed weird since i could do in ableton but not maschine even though they were the same company (49 and maschine) and the 49 has aftertouch

I'm already pretty much sold on the KKMK3. But its the animated desktop wallpaper in this video I'm mostly interested in. Where can I get it?

I would have been sold if it was touch screen !! Is the playability of keybed any different ?

NI's own video waited almost until the end to mention the poly aftertouch, which I thought was strange since that's such a huge upgrade. I know not everyone will care, but if you do care, there are very few midi master keyboards with poly aftertouch (and relatively few standalone synths also). The rest of the changes wouldn't motivate me to upgrade - the mk2 is still a great keyboard.

Maschine user here.. bought the MK2 instead of the MK3 after watching this...

Jef, did you show your kiddo you kept it in the video? LOL. Had a good laugh at that. After touch.. scares me. I worry that I may press too hard and break the key off. Not to mention.. how do you press multiple keys from one hand with different levels of aftertouch.. I am sure I'd press all down the same force. Not that dexterous with my fingers.

The removal of the Maschine support seems like a strategic mistake and the result of a flawed vision. As a composer I want to be able to have the arrangement functionality within the same reach as my keys and sound design knobs. That is one of the strengths of the MK2 S series. Perhaps NI is quietly abandoning the Maschine platform? Time will tell. For the moment I am going to stop investing in anything NI. I absolutely love the Maschine workflow because it is incredibly low-friction and makes even Ableton look like an outdated clunky 1990’s DAW. But if NI is not prepared to invest in the necessary hardware to exploit Maschine’s unique strengths, I will move to a different platform. Really, what a shame, NI….

Hi, very good introduction . I have read that the Cubase implemantation will be finished at Late 2023. One question: how will we get the icons into the Display of the synths ? Does NI Scan the Computer of compatible vsts ?

does the Play Assist aka Smart Play feature work also without NI software running? (is it integrated into the hardware?) could i use it with outboard gear or non NI software without running Kontrol vst inbetween?

I like my last season-model. I don't even use those screens usually. I prefer to manually tweak in the plugins themselves. Not going to upgrade.

As someone with an S88 MK2 I'm curious to know whether the S88 MK3's aftertouch will affect the playing experience when playing classical piano (i.e. when used as a traditional piano). Not sure how much of their customer base would care about that, but part of the S88's appeal (to me) was that it provided more of a piano experience than the S49/S61. Will be tough to pull the trigger on an upgrade without knowing how the keybed feels with the new aftertouch zone.

Other than the screen , I don’t see how this is necessarily a upgrade . And $749 for the 49keys is crazy . It’s a controller , not a synth or workstation .

Hi thanks nice video i just ordered mine at musicians friend but im a little worried can you collaborate on type c cable? Its type c on one end and type a on the other to hook to laptop im use to the maschine mk3 cable i hope i dont have to buy a adapter lol

Do you think the MK2 will be price cut pretty good?

No pads, no touch screen..no go

How does the key bed feel compared to the MK3? I was a big fan of the S88 MK2 feel so interested to know if they've changed it at all.

The giant banner seems like a huge waste of space on that deluxe screen. It would be nice to be able to see things like filter shape, envelopes, eq, etc.

Thanks, can it control the Maschine Software?