Komplete Kontrol S61 Keyboard Touch-Strip Issues

I understand, I have a Korg Oasys76 and the joystick is nice and the keybed is the sweetest/fastest action I have ever played (since 1972).

For some reason the S61 touch strips seemed natural and ergonomic for me. I set the right most strip up for Pitch bend and use the left strip for other things. Having the pitch bend right next to the lower keys works out well for me and I can set the dead band region up so that just a slight movement will effect the sound yet it will return perfectly intune. I can't really change that on my other boards.

The keybed is similar to my Kurzweil K2661 fatar action but maybe not quite as smooth. Still, for the cost, it would be hard to find a nice keybed like the S61 has and with AfterTouch. I really don't use the other functions of the S61 and mainly use it as a midi controller for acoustic instruments. I also use a small pad controller on left top of S61 for key switching sample articulations. I personally think N.I. has filled a Big void by introducing this board in this price range. It's just going to get better with further software/firmware development.

 

I have no complaint with the keys in the S61. It's equal if not better in feel to the P12. I really wanted to be friends with the KKS61. I had an Oasys 88 back in the day, now have a Kronos X (version 1). At times wish I had the Oasys back. I had problems with the Kronos key bed sticking in humid weather. They did fix it and all is OK now. The Kronos keys are subtly different from the Oasys but still the best keys out there IMO.
I also always liked the key bed on the Yamaha S90 88 key synth. Yamaha 88 key boards ruled until the Oasys came out. Anyway, off topic, I'm out.

 

It was fun conversing with you, Thank You. Whatever you decide I hope you end up with a setup you feel comfortable with.

Kind regards,
Rick

 

Thank you Rick.
Best, Hoby

 

Just bring your KK back it's a hardware problem they say.

 

Let me add, that the strips allow tapping techniques similar to a guitar, that are impossible with a wheel. For this reason I much prefer touchstrips over standard wheels.

 

In my quest to subdue the berserk touch strips I tried the various Mod modes: dot, line, step, and I loved the concept. I can really see how you can make a claim for the usefulness of the strip. I am not so certain of the claim that you can simply take it back and get one that works, at least first time out. Reading back in this forum I saw on user who's on his 5th S61. Simply put, I don't have the time or the patience for this kind of thing any more. Plus, it's a 70 mile commute to the nearest GC that I now am obliged to make. Now if NI would like to compensate me for my time and mileage..

 

It does, and its really nice. But they can't do what a real spring does, and its to be forced to gradually come out of its center position, nor be pushed with the palm of your hand.

 

Hmm. Folks on this thread, hope someone can give me some advice on NI KKS61 returns. I just texted the GC salesperson who sold me the KKS61. He said there are NO RETURNS on this keyboard. Here's his quote and my response:
"
Salesguy:

Call me tomorrow. It's software based so returns are not simple and must be approved by native instruments. Is there something you wanted to exchange it for?

Me:

It's actually a hardware flaw according to NI. they seem to be happy exchanging them but one guy had 5 returns before they gave him one that works I'm good - don't want to go through that. I'll call u tomorrow. Thanks man.

https://www.native-instruments.com/...ntrol-s61-keyboard-touch-strip-issues.230800/

Salesguy:

Yea but since it comes with software there may only be an exchange option. I'll have to contact ni but if they will only exchange that will be our only option. I bet you that 5 exchange guy is a super exception.

 

He salesguy is right. The situation has changed since the release of Komplete Select. In the beginning, when the pure keyboard was sold, it was possible to easily exchange it as long as the hardware wasn't registered, which was optional and not needed to use it. But now it needs to be registered to be able to use Select.

So if a customer wants an exchange for another product, it would be a lot of hassle for the shop to get the serial unregistered by NI. In my opinion, this shouldn't matter in a warranty case, because the faulty unit needs to be sent back to NI anyway.

Nevertheless the customer (you) is on the safer side, to get the faulty unit repaired by NI, because the risk is high, that the shop got a faulty batch delivered and the exchange unit is faulty too. Several people reported this problem, that the exchange unit also had faulty touchstrips.

 

Wow. I didn't buy the product for Komplete Select. I bought it to use with Komplete 10 Ultimate, and as a kb controller for sounds in Machine.
So this minimal, stripped down Select software, which , except for the preferences panel, actually has NOTHING to do with however the KKS61 does or doesn't work is NI's way of extracting unredeemable $$$ from its customers. There is no scruple in this. I paid $700 plus tax for a product that does not work and the company does not support me as a customer. They know this giveaway software isn't even close to a reasonable excuse for not returning my money. This is a true representation of which rung of the consumer ladder the Native Instruments customer stands upon. Not quite up there with the folks buying from KORG or Dave Smith Instruments. What a ghastly performance!

 

The hardware registration and Komplete Select registration are separate. For a short while I had 2 keyboards registered to my account (the one I returned and and working one) and only one copy Komplete Select. The new keyboard continued to work with Komplete Select. To be a good NI citizen, I requested that the defective keyboard be removed from my account - I didn't wait to see if it would just disappear from my account.

 

Aren't you forced to register the keyboard to get your Select serial?

 

Yes, you have to register the keyboard first, but the two are not tied together. Komplete Select lets you download Komplete Kontrol and the products that will work with it. But once those are downloaded and installed, it appears you can use any Komplete Keyboard with the software.

 

And that was not the case, before Select was released. I was able to test the keyboard directly after I bought it without registering it. So nowadays shops are pi...ed off, because unsatisfied customers would send back registered keyboards. This is not much of a problem in a warranty case, but it is, when the customer wants a different product instead.

 

Were you able to test it with Komplete Kontrol? Or only as a midi controller?

 

I got a replacement from n.i, but didn't register it when I tried last month the serial wasn't tied too any product , I had to contact n.i . They told me they sorted it and to try again , tho I haven't done that yet ,lol

 

If you owned k9 or k10

 

I got my keyboard earlier as K10U, so I tested it in MIDI mode first and then with K10, which I registered, because I was sure to keep it. When I was sure, that the keyboard works as expected, I registered it.

It would be helpful to avoid registrations while testing, if we would be able to use the Kontrol software with the free Komplete Player, which was based on K8, when I tried it in December.

 

really glad that I read this thread. i was debating between buying the s61 or the akaipro advance 61. even if ni manages to ship me one with working touch strips, i have zero confidence that they will keep working after the warranty expires.