im about to get a new keyboard controller (preferably 61 keys) and im trying to decide for one of these models, novation sl mk3, komplete kontrol or arturia keylab

my highest priority is the most possible compatibility with presonus studio one and a mpc x, then nice keybed and overall usability/features

i have seen reviews and im of course going to test them physically but wanted to hear from people here what your thoughts are, its a bit much info so im still not sure what would be the better one. I pasted some links, im sure more than me are after one of these
/regards

https://www.arturia.com/products/hybrid-synths/keylab-mkii/overview
Reviews

(Sonicstate)
https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/arturia-keylab-mkii
https://www.soundonsound.com/news/arturia-introduce-keylab-mkii-controllers

https://novationmusic.com/keys/sl-mkiii
Reviews

(Sonicstate)
https://www.keyboardmag.com/gear/review-novation-sl-mkiii
https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/novation-sl-mkiii
https://www.musictech.net/reviews/novation-sl-mkiii-review/


https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/keyboards/komplete-kontrol-a25-a49-a61/
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/keyboards/komplete-kontrol-s49-s61/
Reviews

https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/ni-komplete-kontrol-s61-mkii

 

thats very easy....
the only one
the mk3 wipe the other....ok if u use hardly NI synths and stuff you want go for NI...but the other kill it anyway
novation mk3 is most expensive i guess...round 600
i have older mk2 and i fckn love it...novation is still novation

dont need any review from advertising mag to kno that...
+ novation has a lot of outs....also cv a lot
there is no compare between this controllers imho

its predicment but i kind of kno both others are not that well made as novation mk3
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good point...if you cant find it on ebay..it must be good..just btw indicator...

another option get a used one , the version before arturia keylab...its also 600 buck level...no plastic shit...had no money could have one for 60 bucks...wtf...this really another level to the ach so toll new plastic stuff

 

Last edited: Feb 8, 2019

I can only speak about keylab 61 (not the mk II) it's the one I use.
The keyboard felling is very synthetic, very soft, which is good to use for synth but not for piano.
The after touch is strange and use to stair.
The pads are not sensible enough.
So check these points when you try it.

Other than that it's very practicle to use for midi programming.

 

I Have the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S61 MK2. Wanted this keyboard for awhile and the day I bought it, i get home, hook it up, and cant get the transports to work in Sonar. Few hrs researching, I find out that they took away MCU which was present in the Mk1 and it only works with like 2 DAWs. Who the hell takes away features from a MK revision..SMFH..I have 6 useless buttons just sitting there...and come to find out, NI sucks as a company and does not listen to the hundreds of users requesting for it in their forum. Been waiting since last year for them to add it back..alot of pissed people off in this forum:

https://www.native-instruments.com/...ol-mk2-due-to-ni-removing-mcu-support.329081/

If Novations mk3 was out around this time, I probably would have went with that one. But other than the lack of transport Kontrol I do like the rest of the keyboard.

 

thanks for the input guys! then its looking like ill be checking the novation a lil extra at the store. ill let you know what happens
its so cool that the scale function is present in the novation and not only the komplete kontrol, that is a feature that I find of great potential use to me.

i want that full size keyboard to stay put in the studio room, and it seemed like difficult to figure out which was the better in general terms, now with you help I think im pretty close to now what to get.



when that is fixed ill get a portable keyboard like the cme air 25 or arturia keystep to use with the macbook/mpc/ipad moving around in he house, bringing out with me, etc. the darn m-audio Keystation 32 I have is a nightmare with my macbook, it drops connection after a minute every time. i think it has to do with macs usb3 voltage and the Keystation dont work together well. I dont know if their later version of the keystation works better but the f&ckers never bothered to comment about this problem despite a lot of people had problems with their first units connectivity. also the freaking port/cable sticking out the side is made for alway landing of the side and getting bent.. piece of sh%t hardware

 

Last edited: Feb 13, 2019

Which one did you choose ? thx

 

yep keystep is a no brainer .....
NEKTAR was missing here in thread...

 

I love my Kontrol A49
The integration with every daw now and the price you cant beat it.
It really depends on what daw and instruments you use.
I spend a insane ammount of time in Kontakt so this just made sense

But I love the Kontrol series I've had Kontrol 49 61 and no A49 and I've loved them all.

I too use studio one.
Currently i have this set up completely using MACKIE UNI control

i scrub With wheel, Play stop rec loop. all mapped.
I especially love the 4 rows of faders.
Kontrol has good int with S1 now.