So the idea of getting pre-mapped, first-party hardware controls over the lot, on a keyboard I can use in Logic Pro X, is certainly enticing. Native Instruments has one of the best and most diverse lineup of software instruments effects on the planet. In fact, the keys happen to strike a fantastic balance between being very playable/responsive and not feeling like they could break under my fingers at any moment. All-in-all, it is a sturdy keyboard, and the partially-weighted Fatar keys themselves feel quite nice whether you are chopping out some rhythm parts, or articulating subtle piano lines.
You’ll also find buttons to move up and down the octaves and a pair of touch-based sliders for pitch and modulation. On either side of the top panel, NI has provided us with some DAW transport controls to integrate with Logic, Ableton and others, and a basic browsing module that allows us to whip through our potentially vast library of sounds and effects without using a mouse. These controls are essentially the heart of the machine, allowing for pre-mapped control over various parameters across the multiple thousands of Native Instruments patches, instruments, effects and more. The sleek black shell is highlighted by the 8 macro control knobs and almost invisible looking displays set underneath. You’ll immediately notice that every key has an accompanying LED light along the top which are used to convey information from various patches and keyboard settings to the user (more on this below). It may not quite stack up to Akai’s tank-like MPK series in that regard, but the Kontrol S-series also has a lot more going for it elsewhere. Alongside an almost Apple-style packaging philosophy, the keyboard is actually much heavier and sturdier than I imagined it would be. Native Instruments hardware has never been especially known for its build quality, but this keyboard is actually quite robust. It is time to see how deep and user friendly the hardware/software integration goes, how well it gets along with Logic Pro X, and whether or not it warrants the comparably steeper price tag… We have spent some hands on time with the Kontrol S49 model alongside Komplete Ultimate 10, the latest version of the company’s flagship software bundle. While NI already offers a wealth of software powered controller gear for DJs, the stellar Maschine systems and more, the Kontrol keyboards bring deep hardware integration for the company’s best-in class software instruments/effects into a more familiar form factor then ever before. In this week’s episode of The Logic Pros, we thought it was time to look at the Komplete Kontrol S-series controller keyboards from the folks over at Native Instruments.
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