MK1 - use without KK with hardware and USB midi - no presets selectable

Hi there,

I'm new here - and keen to learn more about the komplete kontrol (so I think I've come to the right address). If this question, or a very similar one has already been asked, I apologise in advance.

KK MK1 S49 (newest firmware) - Mac OS (the newest one) - controller editor (also up to date) -

I've been using the KK MK1 for about 4,5 years, and love it for the amazing keybed and the cool sounds that come with it using the NI KK software.

Now, I'm looking to use this keyboard for gigging, using 2 synths that are hooked up via 5-pin midi.
I'm already aware of the limitations of 'standalone mode', i.e. I can only have one standalone preset defined in controller editor, and this is the one I'll then be using. Furthermore, if I attach the MK1 to a computer via USB, the hardware attached via 5-pin midi will no longer receive the midi signal. I've sidestepped this with a python midi routing script that duplicates USB midi to 5 pin midi.

Now, I've been trying to do a new thing.
1 - I'm attaching the 2 5-pin synths as described above
2 - additionally, I'm attaching a Raspberry Pi 4 via USB. The Pi is running Samplerbox (https://samplerbox.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html).
3 - I've written some scripts that feed the midi coming from the MK1's USB midi to the Pi back to the MK1's 5-pin Midi using 'rtmidi' (https://pypi.org/project/midiroute/)

So, when I was developing/testing this, it worked!

- I had the sampler on the pi playable from the MK1, and could tweak params using the CC rotaries, when assigned to the correct ones.
- Further, when I started my midi-routing script, I could simultaneously play my hardware synths (I used a key-split template for this) and the Pi.
- I was also able to cycle through the templates which I defined in controller editor. Most of these templates were just different midi channels, while some of them were key splits with different midi channels (in order to play e.g. one song with 3 different sound sources).

Now, I've tweaked my templates in controller editor, and I've made the code on my Pi more robust to ensure that the midi routing script and samplerbox run on startup.

However, now,
- I can no longer change templates on the MK1 (the buttons aren't even lit up)
- clicking shift+midi makes no difference
- I can only access the 'standalone default'
- this is now also the case when, e.g. I plug my MK1 into my iPad. previously, when plugging into the iPad, it would be in midi mode rather than KK mode, but it would allow for templates to be switched. I tested this in order to check if I broke something by tweaking the Pi.
- When I plug my MK1 into a computer (even one that doesn't have KK installed), I'm able to cycle through the templates on the unit.

My theory: tweaking in the controller editor broke something.

If anyone has any ideas on how to achieve: 1) midi routing, 2) template cycling while connected to a Pi via USB and 2 synths via midi, I would be hugely grateful!! Thanks in advance.

 

Why don't use a DAW to route midi through, you then can change presets from hardware in kk software, or select a midi channel in your daw where midi goes out to your hardware. Or you then can use keysplits and all that cool stuff. Depends of course on what do you exactly want to achieve.

Uwe

 

Hi Uwe, thanks for the reply.

As I mentioned above, I want this setup for playing live. I'm not a fan of using a daw for playing shows, unless it's some complex ableton set perhaps... but in this case, I'm just playing traditional synths / keys. Having a laptop on stage is clunky IMO, plus a huge potential point of failure.

Also, pretty much every single midi controller on the market can do this, why not one of the most expensive ones?

 

The selling point of a komplete kontrol keyboard is the kk integration i guess, but i also can't understand it, for example arturia keyboards are full midi keyboards on their own and also have integration with their synth software.

Uwe