Serious shortcomings of the Komplete Kontrol Keyboard

I don't understand why NI decided to make their chord/arp mode completely proprietary to the komplete kontrol software. Like, it doesn't make any sense to me! How can the keyboard apparently come programmed with a cool boot sequence, but somehow chords and arps can't be kept in the keyboard's memory as well to control say, a simple instrument in ableton. That's one of the main reasons I purchased this keyboard, for it's ability to CONTROL (or I suppose I should say, lack thereof) my NON NI software as well. Honestly, I'm really debating on returning this thing!

Secondly, I was noticing that the Komplete Kontrol software doesn't seem to support a sustain pedal. Is there a setting I have to turn on or something? That seems ridiculous to me. It works when I'm using the keyboard as a midi controller, but not when I am using the komplete kontrol software. What's up with that?

Also, in komplete kontrol mode, I can't add any further midi mappings, it's like only the mappings of the particular plugin/synth are allowed. It seems the only way I can on-the-fly map knobs is if I use it in MIDI mode, but then lose the chord and arp functionality.

Like, what the heck NI? Am I missing something here? Has anyone experienced this? Found a solution? I'm quite dissatisfied with this...

 

In regards to point 1, You can control Ableton devices using a MIDI remote script and MIDI mode on the keyboard or you can create MIDI mappings from the keyboards MIDI mode. It can take over the 8 macro controls (or first 8 parameters of any device automatically using the blue-hand feature of Live (but you do not get any controller names which is a shame) or you can hard-map controls. I use combinations of both using Page 1 of MIDI mode as Macro controls and pages 2-10 for MIDI mappings if I need. YOu need to create MIDI pages yourself.

You can send Arp/Chord to ANY ableton track easily by first creating a Komplete track then sending the MIDI to another track in Live. I use this all the time to create chord progressions with multiple instruments. It's not the most elegant way to do it but obviously the software will not work with a DAWs proprietary plugins.

Second point, a Sustain pedal is supported if you simply plug one in. It is pre-mapped already and works just fine. If you want to change the CC for the sustain you can use the Native Instruments Control Editor to edit your controller (not the KK software which is the VST wrapper/browser).

It is possible to add additional control parameters to devices in KK for the loaded VST within KK but not for external control of other devices unless you switch to MIDI mode.