Kontrol S-Series MK3: 6 Months Later!

🎹 Learn more about the amazing Kontrol S-Series MK3: bit.ly/s61-mk3
My Kontrol S61 MK3 is one of my favorite pieces of studio gear. And after six months of daily use, I'm still loving it. However, I've encountered some unexpected insights and behaviors that hopefully help you determine if you're ready for the upgrade.
MY FAVORITE TOOLS & STUDIO GEAR
🧳 Komplete Kontrol M32 - My favorite MIDI keyboard to travel with - bit.ly/46tRqyT
🔊 Frontier Monitors - My favorite studio monitors- bit.ly/frontier-onesto
🔕 Acoustic Treatment - The most beautiful way to sound treat your room - bit.ly/frontier-onesto
🎧 Beyerdynamic DT880 Pro - I still love how these headphones sound - bit.ly/3UkFsoR
🖥️ Compact 88 - I finally found a studio desk that’s compact and not ugly - audiohousing.com/
🎵 MOTU M2 - My favorite audio interface, especially for recording my videos - bit.ly/motum2-gc
🪩 Logitech MX Ergo - This trackball mouse saved me from Carpal Tunnel- bit.ly/logitech_mxergo
MY OTHER SOCIALS:
📸 Instagram - thisisonesto
📱 TikTok - thisisonesto
WHO AM I?
Hey, it's Onesto. I'm a dad who tries to run a KZbin channel.
On this channel, we explore the latest plugins and gear that help keep our lives musical and creative. If that sounds interesting, consider subscribing! Can't wait to see you in the next video!
P.S. Some of the links in this description are affiliate links that I get a kickback from 🫂

[@ThisIsOnesto]

Hey there! Thanks for watching. Learn more about Kontrol S-Series MK3 here: bit.ly/s61-mk3

[@r0tekz]

I have a MK3 and I think it is a bit half-baked. For example: it is a MIDI controller, but you cannot yet make custom MIDI templates for non-NI plugins and hardware instruments. There is just one 'default' MIDI template which only ever shows CC numbers and not any parameter names. So if you only ever use NI instruments, no-problem, but for the rest of us it falls far short of the potential offered by the large screen. I should add that for Bitwig there is a custom editor template from DrivenByMoss that will allow the MK3 to edit non-NI plugins and present parameter names, but the names do not always match what is shown on the plugin UI controls.

[@petero1068]

Overpriced crap box that’s limited. Like, why sell a LED display that’s not touchable? No seamless Maschine support, and non NI VST support with limited automation support for their own software. 🤦🏻‍♂️A paper weight. Plus, looking at their website, you have to jump through hoops to use it with Ableton.

[@simon-cross]

Hey - CPO of NI here. MIDI templates and on-device Play Assist are coming real soon. On-device play assist is one of the most-requested features since the Mk1, but only with the new technology inside the Mk3 can we finally make this actually happen. And yes, there's more to come now that we have move to a tech architecture that used to entirely run on your computer, to one that runs mostly on the device. We're also working on deepening the DAW integration and Maschine integration. Net: you said it right when you said this was a great keyboard today, but an even better keyboard tomorrow.

[@NativeInstruments]

​@@petero1068 Joining Simon, this is Matt (Associate Director of Product Management). Sorry to hear you feel this way. Regarding the touchscreen - most users seem to prefer physical, tactile knobs and buttons over a touchscreen when it comes to instrumental parameter control. We may add touch to some future products for specific use cases where it may be useful (e.g. browsing a list) but for parameter control, it's often a sub par experience. As noted: a basic Maschine integration is something we may bring back later this year (e.g. basic Transport, perhaps Browsing and/or Mixing). We do not plan to bring back the much deeper integration (multiple screens synced to the Kontrol hardware itself, or the dedicated hardware buttons). That large-scale implementation was a huge effort for Kontrol MK2, and ultimately rarely used. A significant majority of users didn't use the integration, and were left with redundant buttons on their interface. Given the low usage and high effort, it didn't make sense to bring this forward for MK3. Of course I absolutely understand why it's absence is frustrating for you, if you're one of the few who used it prior. Please note that MK2 continues to be supported, and the functionality remains available there. With regards to non-NI VST support, could you clarify? Kontrol MK3 supports thousands of 1st and 3rd party instruments and FX via the deep and seamless NKS integration. It also works with any non-NKS VST instruments as well. I'm also a little confused about what you mean by limited automation support for our own software. Kontrol MK3 maps automatically to every single automatable parameter in every single NI product. Please note that Kontrol MK3 and Ableton auto configure all the DAW control and parameter maps. All you need to do is select Kontrol in the Ableton menu. support.native-instruments.com/hc/en-us/articles/4406832231441-How-to-Integrate-Your-Kontrol-Keyboard-with-Your-DAW

[@petero1068]

@@NativeInstruments I appreciate your efforts to engage in constructive dialogue and address concerns regarding the development and promotion of Native Instruments' products. As a longstanding NI customer utilizing equipment such as the Jam and Maschine Studio in conjunction with Nord and Juno synths, I've noticed a tendency toward linear development strategies that may overlook broader industry trends and user preferences. While the emphasis on sleek metal knobs is commendable, the primary focus should extend beyond hardware aesthetics to encompass seamless integration with a variety of DAWs, including popular platforms like Ableton Live. In today's landscape, where touch screens are ubiquitous among millions of smartphone users, dismissing their relevance may indicate a disconnect between market insights and product development strategies. Moreover, while the Komplete Kontrol ecosystem offers valuable tools, there exists a significant demand for compatibility with third-party VSTs such as Serum or VPS Avenger, reflecting the diverse needs of modern music producers. My firsthand experience with subpar automation support underscores a critical area for improvement within NI's offerings. Issues such as inconsistent automation behavior, as described in many examples involving Maschine, detract from the overall user experience and hinder creative workflows. Addressing these micro-level challenges, including comprehensive automation support and enhanced integration with external software, will be instrumental in propelling Native Instruments to the next phase of innovation and industry leadership.

[@schragemusik]

@@petero1068 brilliant hyperbole. Not everyone wants a touch screen. Not everyone wants ANY Maschine support. Not everyone wants to use Ableton Live (which is what I guess you're referring to, rather than the company that makes it). I've had some 'overpriced crap box(es)' in my time; none of them as capable as this.

[@MickBenjamins]

Great video, nice one Onesto!

[@song23ministries]

Thank you Onesto. Very pro! Always enjoy your videos. Hope your family is well.

[@ThisIsOnesto]

Thanks again! We're doing great, just hanging out with the grandparents for Easter celebrations. Thanks for watching, glad you thought the quality was great!

[@jroc2k]

I'm sticking with my Mk2 version

[@ThisIsOnesto]

I think that’s a smart move in most cases. It’s possible that the MK3 might get some more buy-worthy updates, but we’re not quite there yet.

[@ellensoomers9496]

Good info, THANKS!!!

[@ThisIsOnesto]

Of course! Thanks for watching!

[@Ahmad-Mounir44]

6:59 The difference between K7 integration and KK software is the usability within your DAW. It wasn't practical to use Kontakt wrapped inside KK for my 60 tracks project as KK uses lots of RAM and CPU per KK instance. But with K7 integration, I can only use Kontakt without a "wrapper" in my 60 tracks project since it's more lightweight on system resources. In fact, K7 direct integration is the result of many customers requests to NI since MK2 but NI delivered it very late actually lol

[@YuriMocellin]

I`m really inclinated to buy this model to complement with my Roland Fantom 8... Could you tell me the exact mesures of the blank space on bouth sizes? I'm thinking in put a Ableton Push on the right and a Midi Knob controller on the left. If you could tell me tease infos I'll really help me cause no one gives it yet. Thank you for your time and energy

[@ThisIsOnesto]

No problem, that's a good question. On the left side it is 22cm (width) x17cm (depth), and on the right side it is 27cm (width) x 17cm (depth). Keep in mind, these dimensions are for the S61, I'm sure the S49 will have smaller spaces.

[@YuriMocellin]

Thank you very much

[@NativeInstruments]

@@YuriMocellin The full dimensions are listed on our website depending on the model you're interested in

[@mistermartendj]

I want to buy this one but still doubting when looking at the comments. Does anyone recommend it to use with logic or what other controller is the best to use now?? Please help, thankss! ;)

[@ursullavandenbord2322]

Yes great video thanks . One question : how do you power it ? Everybody says usb-c from a computer is not enough ....so what ? Thanks.

[@r0tekz]

If the USB-C output from the computer or hub can provide 5 V, 7.5 W or higher, 1.5 A or higher, as they should be able to do, then just one lead is needed to the 'host' port on the MK3. If it cannot provide this power then a second USB-C lead is used to a USB-C output power supply that can provide it. The second USB-C lead plugs into a port on the MK3 named 'power'.

[@ThisIsOnesto]

Yeah this is pretty much the case. I have it plugged into my M1 Mac Mini and it's fine. I did try to connect via a USB C to USB-A and the USB A port on my Mac Mini couldn't provide enough power.

[@r0tekz]

@@ThisIsOnesto Yep, USB-A is usually limited to about 4W.

[@JeffyG]

Despite the flaws folks point out, it’s still the best available midi controller - unless you program a more General midi controller from Novation, M-Audio or Arturia. So, for out-of-the-box integration with Native Instruments software and most DAWs, what are your options? I’m holding off to see if NI offers a firmware upgrade to the MK3. Hopefully, midi 2.0, maybe Machine 2.0 software, etc. I’ll wait.

[@ThisIsOnesto]

Thanks for your input. I’m pretty much on board with your evaluation. I know that NI has more updates in the works for MK3, so I’m excited to see how the MK3 develops. I think it’s smart to hold off, or at least save up money for the MK3 or another controller that catches your eye.

[@stevexowenmusic]

what about if i have an NI A series Keyboard what do you think of buying de S49 MK2 or do you think that its better choice de mk3. the mk2 in my country used cost 50% less than the mk3

[@ThisIsOnesto]

For you situation, I would recommend getting the MK2, since it's 50% less than the MK3. It'll feel like a big upgrade compared to the A Series.

[@DirtyJokesFan]

The big question mark is how do they implement Maschine workflow for the user base that rely on the tight integration in the MK2 model?

[@ThisIsOnesto]

The lack of Maschine Workflow is a big missing piece. However, I believe that NI commented somewhere on this video that they are working on an update for the MK3 that will finally include Maschine integration. So once again, the MK3 is supposed to get even better over time with updates, but we're left in the dark on that timeline.

[@pentachronic]

Is this worth buying since I want to upgrade my old A61 ? I have a Yamaha digital piano but that’s a standalone whereas I have a Maschine Mk3 and the A61 for my DAW stuff.

[@ThisIsOnesto]

I think the upgrade from the A61 to the S Series MK3 is a big upgrade. The build quality is better overall and the high-res screen really does change how you use the keyboard. If you like utilizing the screens on the Maschine MK3, than you’ll really like what the S-Series offers. If you like the NI ecosystem and your budget allows it, I think upgrading from the A61 is well worth it.

[@pentachronic]

@@ThisIsOnesto Thanks. It’s now on my wish list when finances are available! Defo want a weighted keyboard and A61 was a stopgap.

[@ThisIsOnesto]

Nice! The S61 MK3 is a Fatar semi-weighted keybed. While the S88 MK3 is fully weighted. The A61 also has semi-weighted keys, but the Fatar Keybed on the S61, you should feel a nice quality bump. If you're still unsure, I find it best to test them out at a Guitar Center or local music store.

[@Ahmad-Mounir44]

It seems that NI design their hardware gears with "live performance" in mind more than designing them for music production. I mean this thing costs at least $750 because of just fatar keybed, polyphonic AT and a few new aesthetics? ... I get the feeling that NI completely forgets that this should be a MIDI keyboard for music production in a studio. Pads and faders are vital elements for any music production. I'd buy the S49 in a heartbeat if pads and faders are there. I make lots of percussive tracks and Pads not only help me to create the most smooth percussive performances but they also help me to preserve the keybed and protect them from wearing out.

[@schragemusik]

And yet there are many folk who wouldn't touch a pad - EVER. As a keyboard player, I've bought boards with pads, thinking they may come in useful, but hardly ever use them. As a result, I begrudge the fact that I'm paying for functions I'll never use. So, vital? Not at all. Vital in limited circumstances perhaps. Same with faders. More useful than pads but still not 'vital,.

[@Ahmad-Mounir44]

@@schragemusik It really depends on the genres of music you produce. I mostly produce hybrid orchestral music so I utilize the faders for more expressions and realism. For the Pads, they are very important to me because cinematic percussion expressiveness is easier to achieve on pads than on keys. On the other hand, EDM producers nearly can't live without them for beat making. But in the general view, everyone is different I agree.

[@djRoyalTee]

No way I'd pay $1300 for this.. That's insane!

[@ThisIsOnesto]

Hopefully this makes it a little less insane. The $1300 is for the 88 key version that has fully weighted hammer-action keys. It’s still an expensive keyboard but weighted keys almost always bumps up the price a lot. In this video I’m showing off the 61 key version that’s $849, which is certainly still a high price point, but not as high as $1300.

[@Oldskoolprod]

I've owned one for about 2 months. No Maschine Integration... No way to midi learn plugins outside of Komplete Control..... Buy hey... the 9in screen is pretty. Don't get me wrong... i love this keyboard, But I bought it to replace my Arturia Keylab MkII.. Now I have to run both keyboards..... the Arturia keyboard as the Midi controller for Cubase and the Kontrol S61 MK3 only for Native Instruments Products.... Save your money. the 9In screen isn't worth the $1000 bucks.

[@ThisIsOnesto]

Hey! I wanted to make sure I'm understanding you correctly in case I can help you out. The MK3 doesn't offer Maschine Integration. Not sure if this is a future update, NI says "they're investigating opportunities" but for now, no maschine integration. However I wanted to check in on the MIDI learning issue. I'm using Bitwig Studio and there I can assign plugin parameters outside of Komplete Kontrol to the MK3. I saw that you mentioned Cubase so I dug around to try to help. I bookmarked this page because it shows how to route the MK3 with most DAWs: support.native-instruments.com/hc/en-us/articles/4406832231441-How-to-Integrate-Your-Kontrol-Keyboard-with-Your-DAW Also here are some steps I found to use the MIDI Learn feature in Cubase with the Kontrol S-Series MK3: Open the Steinberg Cubase/Nuendo application Select Studio Setup from the Studio menu Click the + button in the upper left corner of the Studio Setup Select ** Kontrol MK3** from the drop-down menu Select the parameter to which you want to assign a MIDI controller Click the MIDI Learn button to the right of the MIDI assignment pop-up menu Use the knob or fader on your MIDI device that you want to assign to the selected Note Expression parameter I really hope this can help. If it doesn't sorry. If it does, great! Just wanted to make an effort for you. Thanks again for watching!

[@NativeInstruments]

MIDI Templates are coming soon!

[@chrislisten87]

May I ask you how is the difference in the keybed in comparison to your arturia mk2? The loudness, feeling and so on :-) thank you.

[@ThisIsOnesto]

@@chrislisten87 great question! In comparison to the Essential Keylab MK3, I like the keybed on the S-Series MK3. It's a little quieter, softer on the ears. The S-Series feels better quality, and I feel like my fingers are less clunky on it if that makes sense.

[@chrislisten87]

@@ThisIsOnesto Thank you very much for your answer

[@oblitafier]

All I want to know is... does it still have the terrible lag when controlling softsynths?

[@ThisIsOnesto]

Haha great question, I haven’t experienced any lag when using soft synths or sample libraries.

[@oblitafier]

@@ThisIsOnesto Thanks for the reply

[@ThisIsOnesto]

@@oblitafier you got it, thanks for watching

[@mjrisinsd6836]

Yes. Noticeable lag, particularly on Roland plug-ins. Seems worst when you have a lot of custom mappings.

[@NativeInstruments]

There is no lag.

[@pentachronic]

Logic has Midi 2.0 AFAIK.

[@ThisIsOnesto]

Yeah, I believe Logic is MIDI 2.0 compatible.

[@user-kc8tm3sy2m]

what's up with the wool hat.

[@ThisIsOnesto]

There are two things up with my wool hat. The first, is that I genuinely like it. I appreciate the color, material, and the way it keep my head warm. The second thing is that I’m growing out my hair so my hair is in a very awkward stage. So I find the wool hat to be a lesser evil than seeing my hair.

[@mjrisinsd6836]

Worst midi controller ever released. You are way better off with any M-Audio Oxygen Pro at less than half the price or MK2, which has about 10x the functionality. How can you say integration with DAWs/Logic is great when you have to move through tracks one at a time by clicking the data encoder? Way worse than the MK2 and borderline insane design decision. Only useful if you have a low number of tracks, but even then that encoder is going to fail in 2 years. Also, to say the parameter markings are improved is crazy to me. All parameter labels are now a collection of random letters vs full words on the MK2. You also can’t hit any target value with the encoders because they jump in random values. Trying to get anything to zero is impossible after moving it. It’s maddening. Seriously, worst controller ever released. Last, they broke Kontakt integration…not enhance it. The integration is important because Kontakt is an open system that theoretically could make KK obsolete if partners design better way to control parameters with Midi 2.0 relative to the midi learn/preset methodology in KK. BUT…because you cannot use any midi mode to route different instrument controls in the MK3…all loaded instruments sound at the same time. This means where I would use one instance of Kontakt with the MK2 for up to 16 instruments (1 per each midi channel), I now need 16 tracks all running a separate instance of Kontakt. Not good…as in get ready for crashing. Seriously, worst midi controller ever released. Did I say that already?

[@ThisIsOnesto]

Hey, I really appreciate the well thought out response. It always helps to see why someone might disagree with me. After reading through your comment a couple of times, I think I see your points. And thanks for sharing your take on Kontakt integration. I spoke with someone from NI and they mentioned that Kontakt integration is meant for users who don’t want to use Kontakt inside KK. And apparently composers really like this new integration. I hope that developers and the people at NI spot your comment and implement the parts of your feedback that they find valuable. This year, my goal is to review a lot more hardware/controllers. Maybe I’ll check out the M-Audio Oxygen Pro, and write a review about that one.

[@mjrisinsd6836]

@@ThisIsOnesto NI was bought by a private equity firm and laid off 20% of staff. The new head of product development is a former Meta (Facebook exec) that (to my knowledge and in my belief) had no history before joining of using Kontrol keyboards professionally. Why would you talk to them? Did they ask for a video? NI is well aware of all the issues with the MK3. While they did address the most glaring issues like midi control in the roadmap recently published in their forum, they consistently delay updates releases (non-existent pace this year imo) and seem to have taken the stance that more customers are happy with their products than not. In other words, long-time customers like myself (and all Maschine users) can go pound sand. I have chosen not to buy from them anymore because the experience has been so bad with this keyboard. It was not honestly advertised in my opinion as all influencers seemed to cover only the same collection of provided talking points with no objective counter balance of all the negative aspects. Very disappointing all around and testament to how worthless “reviews” are.

[@ThisIsOnesto]

A lot of staff changes have been going on at NI. It's really hard. One friend was a part of the early lay offs. Another friend of mine who still works there is who I was referring to. Pretty much I ask him a question and he finds the right person to provide an answer. I'm sorry that NI really disappointed you with their products and updates. That hasn't been my experience so that's why I gave the MK3 such a great review. Some videos like to use superlatives and hyperbole ridden reviews. I try really hard not to be one of them, mainly because I think it's misleading. I simply try to identify products that I think are good for most musicians and then share my experience with it. I'll supplement it with info I find online but I like to share what I think is valuable rather than what the brand thinks. I still have a lot of room for improvement for my reviews and videos. I hope that I get better and better. Thanks for all the feedback, it helps suggest ways to strengthen my future content.

[@Oldskoolprod]

The 9" screen is pretty.

[@NativeInstruments]

Hi! Matt (Associate Director of Product Management) here. Everyone is entitled to their opinion (it's worth noting we've tens of thousands of happy users too). In your feedback I hear some opportunities to improve as well. I'd love to respond, and can also take further questions as they come. I *think* you may perhaps be asking after MIDI Templates? Those are coming on-device soon (meaning, they can be created on-device, work with anything, and are immune to any future OS or plug-in issues). Regarding the move between tracks - I agree that it's frustrating to scroll one track at a time. I would challenge anyone who refers to my team as insane - that's a little unkind. It's worth noting that a significant volume of feedback from users of MK2 was frustration at the inability to mute/solo multiple tracks at a time, hence our decision to use the buttons for that instead of track select itself. Research indicated almost all users did track selection via a mouse in their DAW/computer screen, rather than scrolling through contiguous pages. Yes - what we have could be improved, and I've filed a ticket to introduce a SHIFT+ modifier that allows this. Hope that'll help, and hope this helps explain why the design is the way it is. Also - if the encoder fails within two years we have far bigger problems. It's been tested and should last significantly longer than that.

[@youtubevideos415]

Another of those paid influencers. While everybody who has experience with this thing knows it's one of the worst product releases ever and even after half a year you still can't to midi templates, this guy is paid to say the product is "great today and even better tomorrow". Sure.

[@ThisIsOnesto]

Hey, this may or may not help, but I thought that I'd give a quick response. I wasn't paid for this video, I wish I was, that would have been great. The "great today, and even better tomorrow" line I made up, I thought it was pretty catchy and it reflects my opinion so I was happy to include it. I do use affiliate links which does get me a small cut for anything purchased after someone clicks it. These commissions are really important, they make it financially possible to keep up this fun project. And when I am paid for a video, I make sure to say it up front. There's a few other comments here that ding this keyboard for lack of MIDI templates. What's pretty cool is that some the NI KZbin account responded and said that MIDI templates will be coming in a future update. So hopefully you find that to be good-ish news. Anyways, I hope this clarifies some things. I really try to offer helpful, honest, and valuable content to the community. I also hate the gross tactics that some influencers use at times, I try really hard not to be one of them.

[@xacolima8892]

The real problem I have doesn't really gravitate around the keyboard more so how the the employees are late on delivering the same features that could have been implemented in their last line of keyboards. NI has a complete disregard to the communities requests and I can't stress enough how much of a pain it is to only be able to load and use one instrument at a time. Akai VIP advanced got this down giving you the ability to load combine different plugin instruments simultaneously to create your own sound and I can't imagine how hard this would be to implement since Akai has had this around for almost a decade not to mention NI employees fail to deliver on time over and over again and they treat their customers like dirt. All we got after all this time was a few added bells and whistles at an outrageous price being that it's just a midi controller with a bigger screen, touch strip, and polyphonic aftertouch which is great but compared to the MPC key which is a full standalone work station with the same features at $1300 I've seen brand new is incomparable. Also as an FL user, they advertised and promised DAW integration coming soon for 6 months before product launch and only recently implemented the integration for DAW control.