Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A61 [Deep Review] | Reviewer's Revival

Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A61 [Exciting In-Depth] Review

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Unless you've been imprisoned in Iqaluit, Nunavut, since the early 1990s, you’re no doubt very familiar with music technology mega brand, “Native Instruments” (NI). Chances are, the percentage of contemporary music producers, home-recordists, and DAW users who don’t own at least one NI product, is probably so low that it’s negligible to measure. Be that as it may, NI has pretty much always been the industry leader – perhaps even the industry creator – of all samples-based virtual instrumentation. Well, in regard to the personal computer and software DAW domains that is.

As magnanimous as NI’s sample and software archive is, they've not been strangers to the hardware side of the equation either. In particular, their Traktor rigs became tremendously popular with our musical wannabe cousins (DJs), and many a fine home recording was captured using Komplete Audio devices. Machine hybrid systems, which married percussive pad controllers to software samples, allowed electronic music artists to get as creative and hip-hoppy as their one drop hearts desired. The small studio and home producer crowd really sat up and took notice when NI released their industry-shaking line of dedicated keyboard controllers: Komplete Kontrol “S” series – in 49, 61 and 88 key configurations.

The original Komplete keyboards were decidedly high end, pro-grade midi controllers. Fatar keybeds, illuminated guide lights under each key, large LED display panels, deluxe encoder knobs and so forth, made them the perfect physical companions to most nearly every VI (virtual instrument) in NI’s vast arsenal. Furthermore, both Machine and Komplete hardware devices helped NI introduce a new software control standard to the masses: “Native Kontrol Standard”; otherwise known as NKS. These top-grade devices came with premium features and premium price tags.

Not to be easily outdone by less costly competition, nor miss an opportunity to maintain a strong presence in the budget to mid-tiered market segments, Native Instruments has brilliantly developed an affordable line of good quality, value-conscious alternatives to their premium range of hardware. Our present investigation spotlights one of these: The Komplete Kontrol A61. This little darling rings the till for a modest $259 (usd) at most retail shops. Is it a good buy?
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Let’s find out . . .
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I admit it – I too always kept a keen eye toward the NI S88 midi controllers. What, with weighted piano action, courtesy of a professional Fatar keybed, plus all the other bells and whistles that those ‘made-for-Kontakt’ beauties had to offer, kept me ever hopeful that I’d acquire one someday. However, silly little things like house mortgage, groceries, car payment and the like seemed to take precedence – funny, that. Then came the wonderful day when I’d received the official press release, and read with great elation, about the (then) upcoming Komplete Kontrol “A” series of midi controllers. I immediately struck up a dialogue with NI’s marketing and PR personnel.

A Winter’s Tale:

It was a cold, blustery, mid-January day when the afternoon’s monotony was paused by the ringing of our telephone. A FedEx delivery man introduced himself to me and asked if I could meet him at a certain spot; visibility was low and the icy road conditions, resultant from yet another Atlantic Canadian storm, prevented him from driving his truck up our hill. I thanked Tom for his call and readied myself for my unanticipated trek. Donning boots n’ garb befitting an Alaskan trapper, off I tromped to meet up with my FedEx Santa. I thanked Tom for his efforts, signed his clipboard, and hurriedly returned up the hill to home carrying a sturdy 4 ft’ shipping carton. 

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Brushing off the icy chill from my mini sojourn out on the Canso tundra, I set the package down in front of the glowing hearth of our wood stove to warm up after its frigid journey. I anxiously waited for about an hour before I carefully, but enthusiastically opened the carton. Inside was an inner box unassumingly marked, “KOMPLETE kontrol A61”.

​“Coool”, I exclaimed.
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I carried the keyboard into my reviewer’s den where I proceeded to inspect this classy looking piece of kit I’d just received. I was immediately impressed with the hardy, solid construction-quality of the unit. It was light-weight, yet robust and well-built feeling. 

The keybed felt quite satisfying – not cheap nor ‘sproingy’ as do most other keyboard controllers occupying the same price range. The generously-proportioned pitch and mod wheels were smooth and precise feeling – free of any kind of loose, easy-to-break taction. In like fashion, all eight of the neatly placed endless-encoder knobs felt silky-smooth, but durable. The kindly included 6 ft’/1.8 metre USB cable seemed to be good quality as well. Last, but not least, I saw that the universal expression/hold pedal and USB-b ports were securely inset into the back panel; both ports provided solid, tight connections.

I made the necessary USB connection, eager to test out this shiny, new A61 as a bog-standard MIDI controller. Imagine my disappointment when I quickly observed that I was getting nowhere fast! My Windows 7 test computer only saw an “unknown” USB composite device, and no amount of finagling was able to make it work. Things fared slightly better on my normal, Windows 10 production machine. Windows 10 (build 1809) could detect and correctly enumerate the device, but the keyboard’s basic functionality was very limited. Thinking that this was most likely some sort of driver/software manager issue, I installed the Komplete Kontrol application. After waiting for the better part of 40 minutes as the software went through its tiresome database indexing, I was further dismayed to find out that the hardware still wasn’t working as promised.

Oye”, I said. “Looks like we’ll have to fuss with an RMA, and get a replacement unit sent out to me”.

Now just between you and me, I really don’t like fiddle-faddling with RMAs (Return Merchandise Authorization) so I figured I’d let my Windows 10 production machine temporarily go online and check for Windows updates – just in case. As a quick aside, I have my computer configured very securely; after all, I’d worked as a professional IT ‘guy’ for two decades. Having said that, I have Win 10 configured to NOT automatically download and install every update, but rather, to give me the choice of selecting which updates I will permit. (Yes, I’m using some nifty 3rd party tools to assist me with that process). Anyhoo, lo and behold there were a few driver updates available, and among them was a driver specific to the Komplete Kontrol A61. Boy! I sure was glad that I kept the device connected while I checked for Windows updates, otherwise the NI driver would have been missed. ;)

I let Windows update my Intel chipset drivers *and, of course, the Komplete Kontrol hardware driver. After rebooting my PC, the keyboard was redetected by Windows. I launched Komplete Kontrol software and it informed me that there was a firmware update available for the keyboard. I installed the firmware without issue ; everything worked well. The keyboard now functioned tickety boo and me became a happy camper. Yes, me did!   Me, not I. *Grin.

** PLEASE NOTE: While there is a downloadable driver for the “S” series of Komplete Kontrol keyboards hosted on the Native Instruments web site, there doesn’t seem to be one for the “A” series – at least none that I could find. Apparently, the driver is only accessible via Windows Update.​

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​Installation and Storage Requirements:
 
As per all things NI now-a-days, one must activate all post-2017 NI products through Native Instruments’ “Native Access”. For the record, this is an activation mechanism based entirely on internet dependent C/R (Challenge & Response) copy protection. Thankfully, upon successful activation the software does not ‘phone home’ regularly so it is possible to happily run NI products in an offline capacity. 

Using this software manager is a convenient means of activating, downloading and installing NI products; nevertheless, I have my misgivings about it as well. For one thing, the font is way too small for my 52 year old peepers and there isn’t any way for a user to change it. Fail!  Secondly, Native Access automatically DELETES the downloaded ISO images and installation files once the given item has been installed. Another Fail!

​Native Access requires around 70 MB of space. Komplete Kontrol software itself takes up another couple hundred megabytes; plus an extra hundred MB or so for its database (depending on the number of NKS plugins and virtual instruments you have installed on your system).

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​While it’s convenient to have multiple product installations silently take place without pestering the user about each one, it is not the least bit time and/or bandwidth friendly to NOT give paying customers the opportunity to retain copies of said installation files. This is particularly irksome where multi-gigabyte sample libraries are concerned. MAC users can easily lock a file to prevent deletion, but this is not so easily accomplished within Windows. I went through the fuss of setting up folder permissions to prevent Native Access from changing or deleting its downloaded files, but that caused unwanted annoyances in the long run.

As a matter of record, I find it handy to simply snag the freely downloadable demo versions of my KOMPLETE 12 products (where available) – they activate just fine in Native Access, and I’m able to back them up on an external harddrive for future use. As regards Sample libraries, I just make zipped or rar archived backups of the library folders. These too can be activated without a hitch using Native Access. *Wink.

Complimentary Goodies:
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Komplete Kontrol A-series keyboards ship with a jim-dandy basketful of very respectable goodies. If per chance you don’t already own a few of Native Instruments’ Go-To favourites, you’ll be well pleased to find full-meal-deal licenses for the following:

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• THE GENTLEMAN – classic upright piano sample library
• MONARK – Reaktor-powered iconic mono synth (based on Moog)
• SCARBEE MARK 1 – electric piano sample library (still one of my all-time favourite Rhodes VIs)
• REAKTOR PRISM – polyphonic synthesizer
• REAKTOR BLOCKS WIRED – modular synths
• REAKTOR 6 PLAYER – powerful player for REAKTOR instruments
• KONTAKT 6 PLAYER – including 50 instruments
• KOMPLETE KONTROL Software (This is pretty much an absolute necessity – not a bonus freebie)
• MASCHINE ESSENTIALS – includes the FULL version of MACHINE software and a better-than-expected collection of drum synths, 24 built-in FX, and more – a total of 1.6GB worth!
• ABLETON LIVE LITE

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Appointments & Presentation:
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Komplete Kontrol “A” series of USB-MIDI keyboard controllers feature clean, straight lines and a classy, black matte finish. The build quality here is excellent. The chassis is made from a very good grade of high impact plastic, but it feels decidedly sturdy. The array of backlit buttons and mini OLED display screen gleefully glow with a pale blue-ish/white cast -- although not as brightly and eye-catching as their more expensive “S” series brethren. The chic appearance and substantial tactile sense of the “A” series units greatly belies their markedly modest price tags.

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​​In contrast to the currently common trend of implementing small, undersized pitch & modulation controls, NI has sensibly outfitted the A61 with full-sized, pro-grade wheels. The spring tension and fluid range of motion is very nice and far outperforms those found on many of the competitors’ similarly-priced keyboards. Likewise, this consistent grade of quality is observed in the row of eight endless encoder knobs as well. The dials rotate smoothly with a ‘just right’ amount of resistance. They sit tightly in the chassis with nary a hint of looseness or sloppy fit. 

A tidy grouping of push buttons is neatly arranged on the upper leftward region of the chassis – these are dedicated to sets of functions such as: Scales and smart chords; MACHINE integration; and DAW integration/DAW Transport. A pair of (octave) transposition buttons rest above the pitch and modulation wheels. A trio of push buttons and a spiffy, but rugged four-way directional encoder are positioned on the top rightward section of the frame.

Taking a look at the backside, we see yet another attractive aspect of this keyboard’s build. (That didn’t sound right, did it . . . ) Occupied by naught but two recessed ports and a Kensington lock latch, the rear panel is more or less a branding billboard – due to the fetching emblazoned logo tastefully adorning the rear right side.

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Performance and Functionality:

Let’s begin with the most obvious element of the unit – its black n’ whites. The information that I was presented with from Native Instruments, was their promise of an exemplary keybed -- perhaps one of the very best available within this class of controller.  I am very happy to report that this is exactly what they’ve delivered!  The touch is a pleasant, slightly-resistant synth type of action, yet it is semi-weighted enough to facilitate e-piano and piano parts in a pinch.

The key travel is slightly deeper than you’d experience on other keyboards of this kind, but it does afford a good amount of control over velocity levels and expressiveness.  While the keybed isn’t the same über grade of quality that’s found on NI’s high end “S” series of controllers, it is a far cry better than what you’ll find on most nearly any other keyboard controller in the same price bracket.  By way of illustration, the A61’s keybed absolutely smokes my M-Audio, “Oxygen 49”, and my Arturia, “KeyLab 61”.  For its weight division, I certainly award this aspect of the A61 a solid A+ !

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​Situated squarely above the C3 key of the KOMPLETE A61 we find a neatly grouped matrix of 12 rectangular buttons – these activate various ingenious functions.   The top row of buttons is specific to widely adaptable Key scale, Arpeggiator and Chord Mode operations.  Various scales can be applied to the keyboard, making it much easier for unproficient players to stick to playing scale-correct notes exclusively, or mapping white-keys-only to whichever scale they like.  Meaning, if you play the wrong key, the nearest scale-appropriate note is magically sounded instead.  Native Instruments calls this functionality the “Smart Play” feature.  The ‘Shift’ buttons toggles secondary functions of the Edit, Scale and Arp controls.

​Activating the chord mode lets you create rich arrangements by playing chords with single keys – hugely simplifying the performance of complex chord progressions.  Adding in the Arpeggiator facilitates interesting (or familiar) arpeggios that can actually be quite multiplexed and elaborate, if so desired.  All of the various scales and modes can be scrolled and selected using the rotary encoder knobs.  Quite honestly, because of the restrained dimensions of the OLED screen, I found it easier to experiment with these KOMPLETE features using the KK software.

​While a serious keyboardist might scoff at this so called “dumbing-down” of musicianship, these are welcome features for novice players.  Don’t kid yourself – there are plenty of skilled, talented horn players, drummers, guitarists and bassists, and etc., who would keenly like to produce decent-sounding, original tracks at home, but are hampered by their lack of keyboard skills.  These kinds of features make that desire become a much more tangibly achievable goal.

​As regards KOMPLETE’s kissing cousin, MACHINE, the second row of buttons in the matrix makes for simple, basic control over MACHINE software.  Easy access is granted to your Scenes and Patterns via the Ideas button while the ‘Quantize’ button enables you to quantize events to the MACHINE step grid.  The button also lets you activate or deactivate automation in supported hosts.  The ‘Undo’ button is self explanatory – facilitating on-board undo/redo functionality within supported hosts/DAWs.

In conjunction with (supported) DAWs, the “A” series controllers are also furnished with a tidily arranged group of transport buttons.  Play/pause, record, set tempo, adjust levels, quantize notes, adjust loop braces, undo/redo – are all conveniently on hand at the touch of a button.  More precisely, at the touch of six buttons.  At this time, “Logix Pro X” and “Ableton Live 10” are both fully supported, as is Apple’s “Garage Band”; Steinberg’s Cubase and Nuendo are each expected to be supported in the not-too-distant future.  Note, however, that Ableton Live 9 is left out in the cold.

Perhaps it's by cause of some sort of a big business/financial/legal-schmegal thing, but I am disappointed that PreSonus’s Studio One 3.x and 4.x are not directly unsupported – nor are many other leading DAWs.  Home producers employing Magix Samplitude Pro X4, MOTU’s Digital Performer, and the like, will not be able to benefit from the on-board transport controls.  Frankly, if a software giant like Native Instruments is bent on assimilating other developers’ products into the NKS collective, I suspect that wider adoption of the Komplete Kontrol keyboards would also ensue if the hardware were DAW-friendly across the board.

​The integration between NI keyboards and NI software is tight, if not codependent.  Notwithstanding, many of the more advanced functions are unavailable outside the sphere of Komplete Kontrol software.  Key scale options, Single finger smart chords, Arpeggios and Preset browsing are all jailed to Komplete Kontrol alone – not even NI’s own FX, VIs (virtual instruments) or Kontakt can communicate directly with the “A” series keyboards’ whiz bang features.

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IMPORTANT UPDATE! I am more than a little pleased to report that as of Firmware version 1.30, PreSonus Studio One 4.6x (and newer) is now fully supported. I'm equally tickled that the more recent versions of the Komplete Kontrol software (2.4x and newer) bundle the requisite Windows 10 and Win 11 Komplete Kontrol drivers, installing them seamlessly for you during an initial install or an update installation. And by the way, the A 61's DAW controls seem to be happily working in Mixcraft Pro Studio 9.x, Samplitude Pro X5 (and newer), and Reaper 6.3x with nary a hiccup.

Each of the 8 touch-sensitive knobs is pre-mapped to the most useful controls on all your KOMPLETE and NKS plug-ins.  Essential parameters like envelope controls and filter cutoffs are instantly displayed on the OLED display as you touch the corresponding knob.  That means you can see exactly what you’re adjusting in real time – whether it’s in kHz, dB, or BPM.  Lastly, there are three more rectangular push buttons and a four-directional push encoder giving you one-handed control over your session.

​Arguably, the S-series of keyboards’ most important feature is their amply-proportioned, high-res colour displays.  At just a glance you can see a picture of whichever instrument and/or VST FX is actively being controlled while patch information is highly visible by way of large, easy-to-see text readouts.  Conversely, the budget-tiered “A” series controllers are equipped with small – no, wait – tiny OLED screens.  At this price point, I’m perfectly fine with just having text readout; I don’t have to have fancy pictures n’ such.  However, did the OLED display really need to be this small?  C’mon, Native Instruments! If you make a 2nd generation line of A-series keyboard controllers, please consider making the OLED screens two or three times as large as the current iteration.

​Lastly, there doesn't seem to be any means of changing midi channels or making semi-tone transpositions – on-board nor via Komplete Kontrol.  There is a pair of octave transposition buttons located directly above the modulation and pitch wheels for making octaval increments and/or decrements.  In direct comparison to inexpensive M-Audio midi controllers, any budget-priced Nektar keyboard, or Arturia’s KeyLab Essentials units, the lack of midi channel selection and semi-tone transposition are sorely negligent omissions on Native Instrument’s part.

Generally speaking, most standard expression pedals fitted with a 10k-ohm potentiometer *should work just fine with Komplete Kontrol A series keyboards. I can assure you that a Mission EP-1 absolutely works perfectly with with this keyboard - or any other Komplete Kontrol A model for that matter.

  >> Click here to read my in-depth review of the Mission Engineering EP-1 <<

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Keeping it Under Kontrol:
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Here’s where the main tie up takes place.  Komplete Kontrol keyboards can be used tout seul as basic midi controllers, and the Komplete Kontrol software can be used on its tod as well.  Nonetheless, neither of these reaches its full potential unless they are working in tandem with each other; together they become a synergistic, hybrid cohesion of hardware-controlled-software (or perhaps software-controlled-hardware, depending on how you look at it).  Sounds can also be searched using musical tags and keywords.  What's more, a Preview Sound function now lets you hear sounds when browsing presets to help with a fast and efficient workflow.

​As per most database-powered applications, Komplete Kontrol is a utility that automatically sorts and itemizes all of your NKS compliant software into a convenient, browser-based compendium.  Beginning from the top left panel, you’ll see that we can view three library types: Instruments, Loops and One shots. 

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​Choosing ‘instrument’ as our test subject, we can scope out our tagged instruments by All Types, Category, or Vendor.  For perusal’s sake, it can be fun to experimentally scroll through all available patches by ‘Type’, but rest assured, if you have a large collection of NKS compatible VIs on your system, it could take a long time to investigate them all.  Further search refinement is possible by narrowing down perspective patches with characteristics such as: Evolving, Acoustic, FM, Monophonic, Long Release, and et cetera.

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​All of this browsing can be accomplished by manipulating the software directly from the A61 – without laying a finger on your mousing device.  This is where the onboard four-directional encoder comes into its own.  This multi-actuator is an all-in-one combination of endless (detente) rotary encoder, push knob and four-directional paddle – reminding me somewhat of a video console controller.  It allows a user to scroll and select presets at will.  Any VI or sample library that provide NKS previews will emit a brief audio sample of each patch as it’s being scrolled – all tuned to the middle C note.

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​This is also where the onboard OLED screen behooves our attention.  I think it’s safe to assume that most users would prefer a larger OLED display.  Not only are many of the item and/or patch names truncated, the text is quite small.  In all fairness to Native Instruments, the sharpness and clarity of the text display is very good -- it’s just diminutive.  It goes without saying that the necessary cost-cutting measures Native Instruments undertook to keep the price of the “A” series so low, understandably required the engineers to eliminate certain lavish accoutrements.  Most notably, the lush, large screen displays and nifty keybed guide-lights are sorely missing here.  Inevitably, the hands on, mouse-free independence of the “A” series is nowhere close to being in the same league as that of the deluxe “S” series.  Don’t let that be a deterrent though – the A61 provides much of the same functionality, it simply can’t do so with the same degree of flair and performance-friendliness that the (3x more expensive) S61 can.

​With this in mind, it becomes all the more necessary that we maintain a healthy appreciation for the Komplete Kontrol software and its interface.  After all, without the benefit of a large S-series onboard display, I suspect that one would need to keep an eye on one’s computer screen more often.  This doesn’t diminish the usefulness of the A61 and its minuscule OLED display, but if you aren’t blessed with youthful, razor-sharp 20/20 vision, you’re going to be eyeballing your computer screen too – trust me!

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CPU, Power & Memory Consumption:

As far as USB BUS-Powered keyboards go, the A-Series actually require very lite current draws.  I’ve not experienced any dropped connections or interferences while my A61 is patched into the same passive USB hub that holds my iLok, e-Licensor, and Waves/Plugin-Alliance dongles.  Neither has this setup disturbed my USB 2.0 audio interface(s) which are, of course, plugged directly into a dedicated USB port on my laptop.

​Regarding CPU consumption, Komplete Kontrol software didn’t seem to introduce any discernible overhead throughout the time I spent with it in preparation for this review.  Here are a couple of screenshots using PreSonus’ Studio One v4.5.  In the first picture, Komplete Kontrol hasn’t any instrument loaded.  In the second picture, both Reaktor and Komplete Kontrol are using an identical patch from NI’s Reaktor-powered “Super 8” synth: the “Circuits” preset.

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KK Matching Reaktor - Click to Zoom

Concluding Remarks:

I’m pleased to report that there is a lot that I dig about the A61 and the requisite KOMPLETE KONTROL eco system.  By my estimation, the only other notable hybrid software/hardware design that directly competes with it is Arturia’s fabulous KeyLab series of keyboards.  Quite frankly, I consider the KeyLab’s functionality to be better by a wide margin, over that of the A-series’, but the A61’s keybed definitely feels much, much nicer.  Arturia’s keyboards are more adaptable and DAW supportive. They also hold down Plain Jane, straight-ahead MIDI keyboard duties more affably – without the necessity of installing specific drivers, or functioning with ONLY the most recent versions of Windows and OSX.

However, Native Instrument’s NKS platform reaches across a broad spectrum of 3rd party products – including those by Arturia.  Supported products and vendors include, but are not limited to: Waves, U-He, Rob Papen, 112dB, Applied Acoustics Systems, Eventide, Embertone, Softube and many more.  It’s fair to claim that most of the industry’s stronger 3rd party Kontakt-samples vendors are also whole-heartedly onboard.  Cinesamples, Orange Tree Samples, SonicCouture, and others of their ilk, all create NKS-supported libraries; as a matter of fact, many of the aforementioned have released updates for their older products too.
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A couple of potentially negative aspects of the NKS system are the lengthy, disk-intensive database indexing and large clutter of NKS preview files.  While the preview files are convenient, they can occupy a fair amount of hard drive space and create disk fragmentation.  In respect to Komplete Kontrol’s database indexing, every time you install a new NKS-supported product, or update an existing one, the scanning is evoked again – similar to VST scans within a typical DAW.

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     4 out of 5 Stars

:: Pros

• Best-in-class keybed.
• Classy, professional-looking design.
• A decent bundle of good quality instruments and FX included.
• Convenient, user-friendly onboard functionality.
• Excellent build quality while remaining light weight.

 

:: Cons

• Advanced features confined to Komplete Kontrol software.
• The OLED screen really should be two or three times larger.
• Unable to change MIDI channels or make semi-tone transpositions.
• DAW love is sadly lacking - only Logic Pro X, Ableton Live 10, and newest Garage Band are presently supported.

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​Brother Charles is a freelance writer, Gospel music artist and minister. Charles had been a professional touring musician during the nineties; working primarily as a lead guitarist in the Canadian country music industry. Brother Charles is also involved with music production and quality home recording."

Intellectual Copyright - 2019 - All rights Reserved. This review may not be copied or reproduced in whole, nor in part, without express written permission from the author.

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