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FEEDBACK: Komplete Kontrol A-series integration with Ableton Live

Discussion in 'KOMPLETE KONTROL SERIES' started by Endre August Krohn, Oct 30, 2018.

  1. Endre August Krohn

    Endre August Krohn New Member

    Messages:
    2
    Already posted this in a comment and figured it could use its own thread.

    Hi, I got the A25 yesterday to use it in conjunction with Ableton Live (running version 10.05). These are my thoughts so far:

    Negatives / suggestions to developers:
    • The 8 rotary encoders on the A25 can only be used to adjust the volume and pan position of the first tracks in your Live session. I don't see why this is prioritized over controlling the 8 macros currently highlighted by Lives "blue hand" auto mapping.
    • The encoders should auto-map to Abletons "blue hand" auto-mapping. Pretty please. An example of a simple controller that does this is the Behringer X-touch Mini, this is the kind of design I'm suggesting.
    • A tracks' volume should instead be adjustable using SHIFT + rotating the 4D knob in my opinion. This would make it so that only the highlighted track in Ableton Live can have volume adjusted.
    • This should have been a part of the manual (link to Ableton support site). It would make installation a lot easier to at least be aware of it.
    • I think the PLAY button should start playing from the blue arrow/marker in Ableton Lives arrangement view instead of its own separate green arrow. Right now I can not use "the scroll playhead position" (by rotating the 4D button) and play from that selected point in arrangement view.
    • There is apparently no way to arm a track to record. This would make the ability to change between tracks in arrangement view actually serve a purpose.
    Positives:
    • The keybed feels fairly nice. No it does not compare to weighted keys, but I appreciate them being a fair middle ground. As an example, they are good enough to play leads and drums.
    • The modulation wheel and pitch wheel feels awesome and quite sturdy. This is definitely not where the corners have been cutted (although the keyboards' edges are noticeably sharp haha)
    • The keyboard feet are made well and makes the keyboards' weight less of an issue (read: it does not slide around the desk).
    • The encoders seems to be of high quality (that said, there is really no use of them in conjunction with Ableton Live unfortunately)
    • My initial impression of the USB port is good. It does not move around internally a whole lot and should probably last a while.

    TLDR / Overall; The hardware itself is quite good and has the potential to be a great keyboard. However the software, if used in conjunction with Ableton Live, does not really help me creatively nor productively. If they worked a bit more on the host integration, taking feedback from us users, this keyboard has the potential to be awesome. For now it remains a tough sell. (If used with Ableton Live).
     
  2. Uwe303

    Uwe303 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    6,942
    Maybe there will be some custom integrations later that work more like you expect, but I'm not an ableton user so can't say much about that. About the hardware I can say the same as you - it feels really great.

    Uwe
     
  3. Kymeia

    Kymeia NI Product Owner

    Messages:
    6,268
    Agreed - this is completely uninteresting for me too. I am far more interested in controlling devices. However this is possible with the S Series using a script I created so hopefully once we get the midi editor I think should be coming we can remap them and script it to use the blue hand.