Native Instruments Kontrol S88

NI’s latest 88‑note controller introduces a keyboard with hammer‑action polyphonic aftertouch and a lot more besides.

There are a fair few weighted controllers available these days, but until now, there hasn’t been one that features polyphonic aftertouch. Indeed, this is still far from universal even on synth‑action controllers. So it was refreshing to hear that Native Instruments and Fatar have worked in collaboration to create a brand new keybed that provides polyphonic aftertouch for the weighted‑action S88, which is otherwise known as the Kontrol MkIII keyboard.

First Impressions

Unboxing is sometimes challenging with 88‑note keyboards, but the S88 was a lot easier than expected, as it weighs a very manageable 13.5kg. Not bad for a hammer‑action controller, and something that makes it feasible to cart around to gigs.

At first glance it’s very appealing. It feels sturdy, has a single‑shell body with no seams, and a logical layout with buttons grouped by function. This model sports a single large glass display screen, rather than the two smaller screens offered by previous versions. There are eight soft buttons located above the screen, eight soft knobs below, and to the right is the 4‑D Encoder, a multi‑function control that can operate as a joystick, button and continuous encoder.

It’s a relief to see a chunky pair of pitch‑bend and mod wheels to the left of the keyboard, which I find much more practical than joysticks placed above the keys. Of course this is down to personal preference, but for this keyboardist it’s a welcome change. The wheels each have an LED light, which is handy for locating them easily during performances on a darkened stage or in a mood‑lit studio. The knobs and wheels are aluminium, and feel more sturdy and superior to those on the previous model.

Above the wheels is the assignable touch strip, set to CC11 by default but with the option to switch to Pitch‑bend, Control Change or Program Change. Moving this to be positioned above the wheels on the MkIII makes logical sense, as it can be more easily accessed during a performance and is less likely to be triggered accidentally.

For those of you who like to balance additional kit on the edges of your keyboards, you’ll be glad to know that there’s plenty of space for this, with flat areas of approximately 17 x 40cm on the left and 17 x 45cm on the right.

On the back of the keyboard are the power switch and two USB‑C sockets, one to host and one for mains power if needed. There are also MIDI In and Out sockets, which can be used normally or assigned to work as a MIDI interface with your computer. Four assignable pedal sockets are available, of which the first two are set to sustain and expression by default. Having such a generous complement is handy if you need to use soft, sostenuto, damper or any other performance controls.

Changes can be made to hardware and controllers from the settings button, with multiple pages accessible using the soft keys above and arrow buttons to the left of the screen.

Faders and pads are surprisingly absent. This was apparently done to keep down costs, and because Native Instruments have other products that handle things like Maschine integration, but it’s strange nonetheless: composers, producers and performers all benefit from these controls, and it’s often easier to have them all within one unit due to limited desk and stand space. Using the touchstrip to add expression can partially compensate for this omission, but otherwise you’re left with the pedals or the soft controls surrounding the screen for all other functions.

The Fatar Keybed

While all three models in the new range (the S49, S61 and S88) are identical in terms of function, the S49 and S61 have a synth‑action keybed (TP90), while the S88 benefits from hammer action (TP100).

Since Italian company Fatar have been designing keybeds for keyboard manufacturers since the late ’80s, they know a thing or two about creating very playable instruments. This particular keybed for the S88 has been in development as a collaboration with Native Instruments since 2017, and has had a complete redesign to include polyphonic aftertouch in a weighted keyboard for the first time. This very welcome addition uses an FSR (Force Sensitive Reistor) matrix to sense independent key pressure without affecting the feel of the instrument.

Although the keys feel like sightly harder work to play than those of a higher‑end digital piano, the weight and expression of the keybed are extremely impressive and should please those keyboard players who have had some classical training. The velocity curve can be adjusted in edit mode, or alternatively you can hit the fixed velocity button to instantly play everything at 127.

All three versions come bundled with a selection of software that includes Ableton Live Lite, iZotope Nectar Elements, Komplete 14 Select and Komplete Kontrol. Some of these included instruments come with presets that use polyphonic aftertouch, so you can explore this feature straight away.

Getting Set Up

Although the S88 MkIII is advertised as plug‑and‑play, it took me a little while to get things fully up and running. First you need to download the Native Access app and register your serial number. Once that’s done, you’ll need to download and install the Hardware Connection Service software. This is a good time to check that Komplete Kontrol and Kontakt are up to date. Plus, if prompted by the hardware, you may also need to download the KSMK3Update app to make sure that you have the latest available version of firmware for your S88.

Next you’ll need to map your DAW — make sure your S88 is switched on and boot your software. For Logic, an option to auto‑assign controllers pops up, and for the sake of speed, I accepted, with a view to adjusting later. For other DAWs you’ll likely need to complete setup manually, something that may possibly change with future updates. If at this stage you find that your pre‑installed library products are not available, you’ll need to relocate them by opening Kontakt as a standalone app.

Integration

While the S88 is a very appealing keyboard in it’s own right, it’s really designed for integration with the Native Instruments ecosystem. As someone who has always preferred working on a computer screen, I experience a slight reluctance when it comes to using smaller screens on hardware, but it soon became apparent why working in this way could be hugely beneficial.

While previous versions of the Kontrol keyboards have worked with Komplete Kontrol software, you can now also load Kontakt and access your entire Kontakt library. When activated, the library artwork is displayed on the screen. The knobs below the screen, meanwhile, are touch‑sensitive and can be used to filter sounds by Brand, Product Name, Bank, Sub‑bank, Instrument Type, Subtype and Instrument Character. Use knob 8 or the encoder to scroll through the displayed list of sounds and hear a preview without loading, then press on the encoder button to select. Once sounds are loaded, the soft knobs can be used to either edit the sound or apply filters during a performance.

Sounds can be layered quickly and easily by using the soft button at the top to select the next available sound slot. You can store favourite sounds for fast recall later using the relevant soft button, and save an edited or layered sound by naming it on your computer screen so that it will then appear within the user presets on your controller. Komplete Kontrol users can also load loops, one‑shots and effects.

The DAW transport controls are the handiest item for speeding up your workflow. Hit the DAW button to the right to view your mixer on the screen and select your track using the joystick function on the encoder. Arm with the Record button, start recording with Play. Pressing the Stop button a second time returns you to the start of the track. You can even quantise and record automation directly from the Kontrol. While the whole process takes a little getting used to, a small amount of perseverance will see you through the learning curve, and it could ultimately save a lot of time to work in this way.

It’s undoubtedly the introduction of polyphonic aftertouch into a hammer action keyboard that’s the highlight of this release and what will set it apart from other weighted keyboard controllers.

Conclusion

So who is the S88 for? While it appears to be primarily designed for studio use by producers and composers, performers will also benefit from the sturdy design, weighted action and fast recall of user sounds. Faders and pads will be missed by some, but it’s undoubtedly the introduction of polyphonic aftertouch into a hammer‑action keyboard that’s the highlight of this release, and the feature that will set it apart from other weighted keyboard controllers.

Information

Kontrol S49 £649, S61 £749, S88 £1129. Prices include VAT.

www.native-instruments.com

Kontrol S49 $749, S61 $849, S88 $1299.

www.native-instruments.com