Published
Tue, Oct 13, 2015, 13:18
- An 88-key version of the hardware is also part of the company's controller update.
A couple of big changes are coming to Native Instruments' Komplete Kontrol keyboard instrument.
One of the changes is literally big: in October, the Berlin company will roll out an 88-key version of the controller, which features functionality and visual feedback made to work with the Komplete range of virtual instruments and effects. (For more, check out our review of the range's initial release.)
The other is more subtle, but it'll have implications for the whole Komplete Kontrol range: the introduction of the Native Kontrol Standard (NKS), by way of a Version 1.5 software update. NKS was first outlined earlier this year as a way of letting third-party plug-ins take advantage of Komplete Kontrol's feature set, like its multicolor keyboard light guide and built-in browsing functionality meant to take your eyes off your computer screen. Developers will now be able to map plug-in functions to various controllers, and they'll also get to incorporate Smart Play features like touch strips, scale mapping, Chord Sets and an arpeggiator into their software. Companies like Arturia, U-he, Waldord, Softube and Heavyocity have already signed on to NKS, and they'll all release NKS versions of their wares as free updates to current users.
The update is detailed in the video below.
Native Instruments will release Komplete Kontrol S88 on October 27th, 2015 for an estimated retail price of $999.