Hi All,
I’m looking into upgrading my keyboard controller with two goals: a) have 88 hammer-action, piano-weighted keys; b) serve as a hardware controller, allowing me to do more plugin/DAW tweaking without using the computer’s keyboard and mouse.
After some research I narrowed it down to the NI KK S88 mkII and Arturia Keylab 88 mkII.
I already own a KK A49 and built my workflow around the NKS standard so I thought that the S88 would be the way to go. But then I came across the KL88 which has the same keybed (Fatar) and 8 knobs, plus: 16 pads, 9 faders and 9 buttons at the same price range, so seemed very attractive.
What is crucial for me is to be able to tweak plugin instruments’ parameters in real time using the knobs and affect a track’s panning and volume using the knobs and faders (having drum pads being a welcome bonus of course). So the KL88 seemed to have the upper hand.
I then went to a shop top try them both. The S88 worked better than I expected (the LCD displays are more useful than I thought). But I couldn’t make the KL88 control anything in the DAW and the chap who was showing it to me was unable to help other than say “uhhh… it will… work…”).
Online research hasn’t shed much light either so I’m resourcing to my expert KVR fellas.
In a nutshell, I’m more inclined for the KL88, but I’m concerned that it won’t be so straightforward to use all its functionality and plethora of encoders.
Does anyone know if the KL88:
1) Can have its knobs assigned as NKS encoders (and buttons assigned as page / preset browsers)
2) Can have its knobs assigned to Macros
3) Can be used to control track parameters (i.e. pan / volume)
4) Has a template for Bitwig (the DAW I use)
Thanks in advance, Sandro
Arturia Keylab as an Universal DAW and Plugin Controller?
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- KVRian
- 528 posts since 11 Apr, 2019 from UK
I have the keylab essential 61, works fine with bitwig 3 and 4, I don't use half the controls on it, keybed is synth action not hammer, the sliders and dials can be assigned to any mapping via right click and map in bitwig (so anything the DAW will allow you to map can be mapped to a slider or dial, pan and volume, most midi controllers with sliders and dials should be able to do this) and that's all I use really. The only thing that annoys me for both keylabs is that the sliders and nobs are on the right and not the left. I would much pref to be able to play with my right hand easily and use the dials & sliders easily with my left hand, than the pads which I never use.
The Keylab Mk2 is the upgrade to the Essential (supposedly) but they are pretty much identical, just with a few more pads etc and one is in a plastic case and the other metal.
As for the LK88, I would simply assume the same just bigger.
I had the NI M32, not a bad keybed but needed more controls (sliders and dials) and I don't care much for the Komple Kontrol software, now I have a keystep 37, not as good a keybed but far better for me, for about 20 days, but is now in RMA due to a F***** keybed and key clicks developing (I think DV247 sold me a used unit and it was damaged in transport), but was much more usable than the M32. I find having a mini key around is very handy as you don't need the full size all the time. The keylab essential is my go to when I need the range and its a lot easier to fit somewhere than the 88 full size keyboard are, and should you need more octave ranges it has the octave down and up. But if you got the skills to dance around an 88 key then get an 88 key.
The best keybed I've used though is on the NI S61, but again I don't care much NI's Komplete Kontrol and it's missing the slider and dial banks which I would use, it has 6 or 8 endless dials, that's it, the screens are for NI KK etc, which I don't care to use.
Macros
Don't know, never tried.
Summary
If you want to work with NI Komplete Kontrol and page through NI Stuff you get the S88 or S61, if you want more control in DAWs in general, get the Arturia Keylab or the Mk2 61 or 88. The keybed is nicer on the NI but the Keylab's is nice also (note I not tried the hammer action models and I perf synth action).
The Keylab Mk2 is the upgrade to the Essential (supposedly) but they are pretty much identical, just with a few more pads etc and one is in a plastic case and the other metal.
As for the LK88, I would simply assume the same just bigger.
I had the NI M32, not a bad keybed but needed more controls (sliders and dials) and I don't care much for the Komple Kontrol software, now I have a keystep 37, not as good a keybed but far better for me, for about 20 days, but is now in RMA due to a F***** keybed and key clicks developing (I think DV247 sold me a used unit and it was damaged in transport), but was much more usable than the M32. I find having a mini key around is very handy as you don't need the full size all the time. The keylab essential is my go to when I need the range and its a lot easier to fit somewhere than the 88 full size keyboard are, and should you need more octave ranges it has the octave down and up. But if you got the skills to dance around an 88 key then get an 88 key.
The best keybed I've used though is on the NI S61, but again I don't care much NI's Komplete Kontrol and it's missing the slider and dial banks which I would use, it has 6 or 8 endless dials, that's it, the screens are for NI KK etc, which I don't care to use.
Macros
Don't know, never tried.
Summary
If you want to work with NI Komplete Kontrol and page through NI Stuff you get the S88 or S61, if you want more control in DAWs in general, get the Arturia Keylab or the Mk2 61 or 88. The keybed is nicer on the NI but the Keylab's is nice also (note I not tried the hammer action models and I perf synth action).
Web Developer by day, DAW tinkerer by night...
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- KVRAF
- 35671 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
I read the Keylab's manual the other day. You need to switch between the different modes. There's a DAW control mode, which uses the Maeckie HUI protocol, which controls the mixer stuff in your DAW. Several pages of track panning, and volume control. Then you can switch to user mode, which lets you control your virtual instruments via the instruments' built in MIDI learn. As far as I read in the manual, you can even switch the knobs and faders between 3 pages of MIDI CC's, which is a great feature!
Read the manual, it's all in there really.
If I had the money spare, I'd go for the Keylab. It seems to be a nice controller. Just like you, I think I'd miss the additional faders in comparison to the Komplete Kontrol keyboards. They're all optimized for use of just 8 faders, and the KK software. Which can be cool, but, if you happen to not use the KK software, then it's not that useful really.
Read the manual, it's all in there really.
If I had the money spare, I'd go for the Keylab. It seems to be a nice controller. Just like you, I think I'd miss the additional faders in comparison to the Komplete Kontrol keyboards. They're all optimized for use of just 8 faders, and the KK software. Which can be cool, but, if you happen to not use the KK software, then it's not that useful really.