Audio Kontrol 1.exe will NOT RUN

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum, and I'm glad it's here!

I just bought and installed the Audio Kontrol 1, and everything works fine, except I cannot get the "Mapping Application" to run. I've updated the Audio Kontrol 1 program, updated the driver, updated the device's firmware, set my computer's USB Hubs to disable power-saving, etc., etc., etc., etc.

The Audio Kontrol 1 device itself works FINE. I have its outputs wired to a nice set of studio monitors, a great set of headphones also plugged into it, and everything sounds REALLY GOOD. -- But the Mapping App won't run, so I can't as of yet take full advantage of all this package has to offer.

I'm running Windows XP (SP2), have 3 GB ram, tons of free drive space, and everything on my computer checks out nicely. AMD Athlon, running at about 2.6 Mhz. It's clean, mean, and running like a champ.

Whenever I attempt to run "Audio Kontrol 1.exe" -- NOTHING HAPPENS. I get no error dialogs or messages, no visuals or sounds of any kind, nothing at all. It's as if I never even tried to run the program. This happens with the shortcut on my desktop, and also when double-clicking the application itself, and also when I right-click on the app and select "open." A quick check of the Task Manager indicates that no applications at all are running.

I've searched the Knowledge Base, and found nothing on this topic. I'm corresponding with NI tech support (a slow, laborious process, sigh), but so far, nothing we've tried has helped. I am hoping someone in this forum has encountered something similar, and can give me the "magic answer" that I need!

Thanks for any ideas!

Michael

 

Welcome =)

If AK 1's plugged in, there will be an icon on your Windows toolbar . Click on that to get access to the mapping application.

ew

 

Thanks

Well, well ...

I read about that icon, and looked for it earlier, but it wasn't there. It's there now. Maybe it requires the Audio Control Panel to be pointing to the AK1. Thanks for your reply.

"It's buggy until I understand it."
Michael

 

OK, now that I've actually RUN the AK1 "mapping app" -- and on this system it will ONLY run from the Windows Toolbar -- I have a couple of questions:

1. WHY does the installer put a shortcut on the desktop if it does nothing? This was very misleading to me, as I expected the shortcut which is pointing to an application, to actually RUN that application. It took five days of waiting for tech support to respond, and in the mean time, you graciously answered my query.

2. Right now, I want to run the AK1 Mapping App. The AK1 is plugged in, the Windows Audio Control Panel is pointing to the AK1, and in fact, I am playing a recent composition through iTunes and the AK1, but ... the little AK1 icon is NOT THERE in the toolbar. So how do I get it to appear so I can run the Mapping App?

3. Can anyone else run the AK1 Mapping App using the shortcut on the desktop, or by opening the app itself?

Thanks,
Michael

 

1. SLow and poor tech support is something you have to deal with for the AK1. Petition for NI to hire better personnel. =X

2. You must have disabled the quick launch option for the Mapping App somehow. Run the App and find the option for it to run on startup and in the quick launch.

3. It's very odd that the mapping app shortcut is spoilt. Here's what you can do; delete the current shortcut, then navigate to where you installed your Mapping App, Right click on it and then select "Create -> Shortcut (Desktop)". The new shortcut should work this time.

 

Thanks for your response.

Yeah, poor communicators abound in the NI tech support staff, but we got there eventually. (If you're going to only do tech support via email, then get good writers and clear linguistic thinkers. Doh!) After a MONTH of tech support follies, I sent the AK1 back and am currently awaiting a replacement.

I replaced all the shortcuts early on: no help. The app itself (in the Programs folder) fails to run as well. Support kept telling me that the mapping app wasn't running because my usb connection must have been bad, but the AK1 itself ran flawlessly the entire time, so how could the usb connection be bad? Several local programmers told me it is a design flaw to not run if the usb is intermittent. Allowing a "midi lock" is apparently a design flaw as well.

If the replacement AK1's mapping app also fails to run, then I will try one last thing before abandoning hope with this product: I will install a pci card for usb 2.0, to replace the usb module on the mainboard. If that doesn't work, then the AK1 just isn't for me.

Michael

 

I hear ya fully man. For me, it took MONTHS of troubleshooting, waiting for tech support to respond, persistent emails to tech support, more troubleshooting from tech support; Even an exchange for a new unit, which didn't help either; and I had absolutely no choice but to return the unit. It was just interfering with my production too much.

If it was just the mapping app, I would have absolutely no issue since I dont really need the MIDI controller functionality. The thing is that the unit just didnt like my system; crashes, bugs, dropouts, etc.

Its really such a big shame such a great unit didnt work with my system, and is bundled with poor tech support.

 

So if my future with the AK1 ends up like yours, please tell me which sound card/controller you finally ended up using?

Thanks,
Michael

 

I ended up buying an E-MU 1616m; BUT I prefer the sound quality of the AK1 much more. Even though the 1616m boasts superior converters the bass is very much more muddy and less refined than the AK1's. Mids and highs wise the E-MU's are noticeably better and clearer; as well as the mic preamps. But there's a price to pay for those.

When new 64-bit drivers are out I might try the Session I/O since it uses the same converters as the AK1. Anyhow, good luck with your AK1!