Table of Contents 1. Disclaimer ........................1 2. Welcome to Kontrol MK3 ....................2 Document Conventions ....................3 3. Setting Up Your Keyboard ....................4 Connecting the Keyboard to Your Computer ..............4 Connecting the Keyboard to a Computer Without USB-C ..........4 Connecting Pedals to the Keyboard ................
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Edit View ......................... 30 Opening the Edit View ..................30 Navigating Parameters, Pages and Groups ............. 31 Classic View ......................32 Opening the Classic View ..................32 Switching Parameter Pages .................. 33 Custom Parameter Mappings ................33 Organizing the Loaded Products ................. 34 Removing Products .....................
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Other Parameters ..................... 67 Other Octaves ....................68 Other Dynamic ....................68 Other Gate ......................68 Gate Reset ....................68 Advanced Parameters ....................68 Advanced Retrigger ..................... 69 Advanced Repeat ....................69 Advanced Offset ....................69 Advanced Inversion ..................... 70 Range Parameters ....................
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You can find sounds quickly with intuitive on-screen navigation, and adjust them thanks to intelligent auto-mapping using next-generation NKS technology. This direct connection means no interruptions to your workflow with not just NI instruments but thousands of partner sounds, instruments, and effects.
W E L C O M E T O K O N T R O L M K 3 Document Conventions In this document the following formatting is used to highlight useful information: Italics Indicates paths to locations on your hard disk or other storage devices. Bold Highlights important names, concepts, software interface elements, and hardware controls.
S E T T I N G U P Y O U R K E Y B O A R D 3. Setting Up Your Keyboard This section provides basic setup information for using your keyboard in different situations: with the stand-alone Kontakt software, the stand-alone Komplete Kontrol software, or with any of them loaded as plug-in within a DAW.
S E T T I N G U P Y O U R K E Y B O A R D Additional configuration might be required in the software depending on how you want to use the MIDI devices connected to your keyboard, as described below. Using the Keyboard as a MIDI Interface You can use the keyboard as a MIDI interface to send and receive MIDI on your computer.
S E T T I N G U P Y O U R K E Y B O A R D → The first two outputs of your audio interface are by default assigned to the main outputs of Kontakt. Options dialog –...
S E T T I N G U P Y O U R K E Y B O A R D This procedure activates incoming MIDI notes that you play on the keyboard. If you wish to activate MIDI signals coming from the MIDI IN socket on the rear panel of the keyboard, you have to change the corresponding status in the KONTROL S[xx] MK3 (MIDI) row (macOS) or in the MIDIIN3 (KONTROL S[xx] MK3) row (Windows).
S E T T I N G U P Y O U R K E Y B O A R D 3. Click Input in the Devices section to display the available devices for incoming MIDI signals. 4. Click the KONTROL S[xx] MK3 checkbox to activate incoming MIDI signals from the keyboard. Preferences panel –...
S E T T I N G U P Y O U R K E Y B O A R D Setting Up Apple Logic Pro Before you can control DAW functions in Apple Logic Pro from the keyboard, you must confirm its automatic configuration as a control surface.
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S E T T I N G U P Y O U R K E Y B O A R D 5. Set MIDI Input for Kontrol MK3 to KONTROL S[xx] MK3 (DAW) (macOS) or MIDIIN2 (KONTROL S[xx] MK3) (Windows). 6.
K E Y B O A R D O V E R V I E W 4. Keyboard Overview The Kontrol MK3 keyboard can be used to browse, control and play your products in Kontakt and in Komplete Kontrol as well as to control supported DAWs. The keyboard is available in three sizes: The S49 and S61 are equipped with the same top-quality semi-weighted Fatar keybed with polyphonic aftertouch.
K E Y B O A R D O V E R V I E W 6. SETTINGS (MIDI): Lets you access the settings of your unit. Pressing SHIFT + SETTINGS (MIDI) switches your keyboard to MIDI mode. 7. Display controls: The eight knobs under the display, the eight buttons above the display, and the display itself are automatically assigned to parameters of the loaded product or selected mode.
K E Y B O A R D O V E R V I E W 2. Pitch and Modulation wheels: The Pitch wheel on the left lets you adjust by default the pitch of the loaded preset. The Modulation wheel on the right lets you adjust by default the assigned modulation parameter of the loaded preset.
T H E B R O W S E R 5. The Browser The Browser lets you intuitively explore your Kontakt or Komplete Kontrol libraries directly from your keyboard. It provides a set of tools that enable you to find presets with ease, both in your factory and user content.
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T H E B R O W S E R The Browser for the selected slot (here the Hypha Instrument in Kontakt). In the right part of the Browser, you see a list of presets called the Results list. This is where you will later select a preset and load it.
T H E B R O W S E R Selecting and Loading a Preset Once you are satisfied with your search criteria, you can select and load a preset from the Results list: 1. Turn Knob 8 or turn the 4-D encoder to select each preset individually (the selected preset is highlighted) and progressively scroll through the Results list.
T H E B R O W S E R You can also adjust the volume of the Prehear feature. This is done in the Browser of the connected software (Kontakt or Komplete Kontrol). For more information, refer to the Kontakt or Komplete Kontrol manual. Selecting a Slot for Loading the Preset You can load presets into several slots in the connected software: •...
T H E B R O W S E R Selecting a Product Type in Komplete Kontrol The Komplete Kontrol software can load four different types of products: Instruments, Loops, One-shots and Effects. Depending on the slot selected in the Plug-in chain, you can browse and load only specific product types: •...
T H E B R O W S E R You can edit the tags of your user presets in the Browser of the connected software (Kontakt or Komplete Kontrol). This will allow you to use the Browser’s search tools with your own presets, and further integrate them into the browsing experience on your keyboard.
T H E B R O W S E R • The available products are displayed by default. They are depicted as tiles arranged in a grid. The white frame around a tile indicates the selected product: The brands, products, banks and sub-banks displayed also depend on your selections in the remaining filters: Sound Type and Character tags, factory/user content, and Favorites.
T H E B R O W S E R The tags displayed also depend on your selection in the remaining filters: brand/product/bank/sub- bank, factory/user, and Favorites. You will only see entries for which some presets are matching these other filters. To reveal tags that are not currently displayed, you can reset some or all of the other filters.
T H E B R O W S E R To show only your Favorites in the Results list, or to show the entire list again: ▶ Press Button 6 (Favorites) to switch the Results list between all presets (Favorites off) and Favorites only (Favorites on): To remove a preset from your Favorites: 1.
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T H E B R O W S E R → The exact Browser filters and settings that were used to find the preset currently loaded are recalled.
C O N T R O L L I N G I N S T R U M E N T S A N D E F F E C T S 6. Controlling Instruments and Effects This chapter describes the Plug-in mode, which lets you control and organize the loaded presets. Fore more information on how to load presets from your libraries, refer to Browser.
C O N T R O L L I N G I N S T R U M E N T S A N D E F F E C T S • If the slot contains a preset, the product name appears under Button 1 and 2 and the preset name appears below: •...
C O N T R O L L I N G I N S T R U M E N T S A N D E F F E C T S Parameter Type Knob Resting Knob Touched Continuous, bipolar Discrete, unipolar Discrete, bipolar Menu...
C O N T R O L L I N G I N S T R U M E N T S A N D E F F E C T S The Performance view is not available for legacy NKS products. Navigating Parameters and Pages In some products, the Performance view provides more than one page of parameters.
C O N T R O L L I N G I N S T R U M E N T S A N D E F F E C T S The gray numbers at the far right on the display indicate the current page and the total number of pages available: Within a page, parameters are often organized into sections, for example according to the submodule they belong to.
C O N T R O L L I N G I N S T R U M E N T S A N D E F F E C T S Navigating Parameters, Pages and Groups In Edit view, navigating parameters can be done at three levels, from top to bottom: you can switch to another group, select another page in the group, or scroll one parameter at a time across pages and groups.
C O N T R O L L I N G I N S T R U M E N T S A N D E F F E C T S Within a page, parameters are often organized into sections, for example according to the submodule they belong to.
C O N T R O L L I N G I N S T R U M E N T S A N D E F F E C T S Organizing the Loaded Products The Plug-in mode provides a few tools to help you organize the products that you have loaded. With these tools you can: •...
D A W C O N T R O L 7. DAW Control The Kontrol MK3 keyboard integrates with a number of DAWs, enabling you to control the transport, track selection, and mixer in your DAW directly from the keyboard’s Control section. Therefore, you can keep your focus on the keyboard when recording and do not need to turn to your computer.
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D A W C O N T R O L DAW Function Keyboard Control Activate/deactivate count-in Stop playback/recording at current position When stopped, relocate play head to song start Activate/deactivate loop playback Move loop in increments of one loop Activate/deactivate metronome Tap tempo Move play head position...
D A W C O N T R O L Edit DAW Function Keyboard Control Undo last action Redo last action Quantize to grid value Toggle automation mode between read and touch Mixer You can control the mixer in your DAW from the keyboard by activating DAW control mode. ▶...
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D A W C O N T R O L DAW Function Keyboard Control Mute/unmute track Solo/unsolo track Select previous/next track Switch between volume and panorama control Adjust volume/panorama of selected track Adjust volume/panorama of respective track...
D A W C O N T R O L DAW Function Keyboard Control Fine adjust volume/panorama of respective track Move track focus in banks of eight Navigation DAW Function Keyboard Control Select previous/next track Select previous/next region DAW Integration in Ableton Live When using Ableton Live, you can control the following functions in the DAW directly from the Kontrol MK3 keyboard.
D A W C O N T R O L DAW Function Keyboard Control Start clip recording Start arrangement view recording Stop playback/recording at current position When stopped, relocate play head to song start Activate/deactivate loop playback in arrangement view Activate/deactivate metronome Tap tempo Move play head position...
D A W C O N T R O L DAW Function Keyboard Control Redo last action Quantize to grid value Toggle automation on/off for selected track Mixer You can control the mixer in your DAW from the keyboard by activating DAW control mode. ▶...
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D A W C O N T R O L DAW Function Keyboard Control Solo/unsolo track Select previous/next track Switch between volume and panorama control Adjust volume/panorama of selected track Adjust volume/panorama of respective track Fine adjust volume/panorama of respective track Move track focus in banks of eight...
D A W C O N T R O L Navigation DAW Function Keyboard Control Select previous/next track Select previous/next clip in selected track Start/stop selected clip When empty clip is selected, start clip recording DAW Integration in Steinberg Cubase and Nuendo When using Steinberg Cubase/Nuendo, you can control the following functions in the DAW directly from the Kontrol MK3 keyboard.
D A W C O N T R O L DAW Function Keyboard Control Activate/deactivate count-in Stop playback/recording at current position Activate/deactivate loop playback Move loop in increments of one bar Activate/deactivate metronome Move play head position Edit DAW Function Keyboard Control Undo last action...
D A W C O N T R O L DAW Function Keyboard Control Redo last action Quantize to grid value Toggle automation write on/off Mixer You can control the mixer in your DAW from the keyboard by activating DAW control mode. ▶...
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D A W C O N T R O L DAW Function Keyboard Control Solo/unsolo track Select previous/next track Switch between volume and panorama control Adjust volume/panorama of selected track Adjust volume/panorama of respective track Fine adjust volume/panorama of respective track Move track focus in banks of eight...
S C A L E S 8. Scales The Scale engine maps the notes you play using your keyboard or sequencer to the closest notes contained in the selected scale. It features a vast amount of different scales that you can use to play your instruments.
S C A L E S 2. Press Button 1 (Scale) to display the Scale parameters. 3. To select a scale, turn Knob 1 (Root Note, by default set to C), Knob 2 (Bank, by default set to Main) and Knob 3 (Type, by default set to Major) until you find a scale you like. 4.
S C A L E S • You can select the scale to be mapped to the keys of the keyboard and set its root note by using the SCALE parameters Root Note, Bank, and Type. For more information, refer to Scale Parameters.
S C A L E S The Light Guide indicates the selected root note via fully lit LEDs, while other active keys are half-lit. The Root Note setting includes the following values: • C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B Scale Bank and Type The second and third SCALE parameters from the left are Bank and Type.
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S C A L E S Scale Bank Type Degrees Hungarian Min Main Hung Min 1 2 ♭3 ♯4 5 ♭6 7 Arabic Main Arabic 1 ♭2 3 4 5 ♭6 7 Altered Main Altered 1 ♭2 ♯2 3 ♯4 ♭6 ♭7 1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 ♭7 Whole Tone Main...
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S C A L E S Scale Bank Type Degrees Lydian #5 Jazz Lyd #5 1 2 3 ♯4 ♯5 6 7 Jazz Minor Jazz Jazz Mi 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7 Half Dim Jazz Half Dim 1 2 ♭3 4 ♭5 ♭6 ♭7 1 ♭3 3 5 ♯5 7 Augmented Jazz...
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S C A L E S Scale Bank Type Degrees Bhupalam 5-Tone Bhupalam 1 ♭2 ♭3 5 ♭6 Amritavarshini 5-Tone Amrita 1 3 ♯4 5 7 Modern Scales Scale Bank Type Degrees 1 2 ♭3 4 ♯4 ♯5 6 7 Octatonic Modern Octatonc...
S C A L E S Minor Scales Scale Bank Type Degrees 1 2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 Natural Minor Natural Dorian Minor Dorian 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7 Phrygian Minor Phrygian 1 ♭2 ♭3 4 5 ♭6 ♭7 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 7 Minor Major Minor...
S C A L E S Mapped Mode (Default) In Mapped mode, the notes are mapped to the keyboard according to the selected scale. Notes outside of the selected scale are not active. Pressing the corresponding keys will trigger the next available note in the selected scale.
S C A L E S The Light Guide indicates the keys being played back in a chord via fully lit LEDs, while active keys are half-lit and inactive keys are unlit. CHORD Mode has one inactive (Off) and two active states, which are described in detail below: •...
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S C A L E S The Light Guide indicates the keys being played back in a chord via fully lit LEDs, while active keys are half-lit and inactive keys are unlit. The available CHORD Type values depend on whether CHORD Mode is set to Harmonizer or Chord Set, as described in detail below.
S C A L E S • Maj 1, Maj 2, Maj 3, Maj 4, Maj 5, Maj 6, Maj 7, Maj 8, Min 1, Min 2, Min 3, Min 4, Min 5, Min 6, Min 7, Min 8 CHORD Type and the Chromatic Scale The Chrom (chromatic) scale consists of every semitone in an octave.
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S C A L E S Position Description Root The root position of the selected chord is always played. -1 to -8 Decreasing Position with negative values moves the highest note of the current chord down by an octave, this inverts the chord to a lower position in the selected scale.
A R P E G G I A T O R 9. Arpeggiator The Arpeggiator enables you to automatically generate musical sequences according to the notes you play using your keyboard or sequencer. It features a vast amount of different motives and rhythms that you can use to play your instruments.
A R P E G G I A T O R 2. Press Button 2 (Arp) to display the Arpeggiator parameters. 3. To change the direction of the sequence to e.g., Up-Down, turn Knob 2 (Type parameter, by default set to Up). 4.
A R P E G G I A T O R • You can change the range of available notes for the arpeggiator sequence, as well as their velocity and length, by using the OTHER parameters Octaves, Dynamic, and Gate. For more information, refer to Other Parameters.
A R P E G G I A T O R Main Parameters The MAIN parameters Mode and Type allow you to switch between Arp and Note Repeat mode and change the playback direction of the arpeggiator sequence. The MAIN parameters Mode and Type. Main Mode The first MAIN parameter is Mode.
A R P E G G I A T O R The RHYTHM parameters Rate, Sequence, and Swing. Rhythm Rate The first RHYTHM parameter, Rate, is available in both Arp and Note Repeat mode. It sets the beat of the Arpeggiator in relation to global tempo in musical values, ranging from 1/1 to 1/128. All note values (except 1/1 and 1/128) are available as basic notes, dotted notes, and triplets.
A R P E G G I A T O R • 1/128 Rhythm Sequence The second RHYTHM parameter, Sequence, is only available in Arp mode. It gives you a way of adding interesting rhythms to your arpeggiated notes. Select one of eight different sequences and apply it to the arpeggiator sequence you are playing.
A R P E G G I A T O R Other Octaves The first OTHER parameter, Octaves, is only available in Arp mode. It lets you decide the range of the arpeggiator sequence. You can choose to play back your sequence within the octave of only the keys you pressed on the keyboard, or you can select up to eight octaves and let the corresponding notes of your chord or scale be played back in as many octaves.
A R P E G G I A T O R The ADVANCED parameters Retrigger, Repeat, Offset, and Inversion on page 2. Advanced Retrigger The first ADVANCED parameter, Retrigger, is only available in Arp mode. Retrigger sets a number of steps in the arpeggiator sequence after which the sequence restarts its cycle, regardless of the number of pitches in the sequence.
A R P E G G I A T O R Advanced Inversion The fourth ADVANCED parameter, Inversion, is only available in Arp mode. Inversion adds inverted alternations of the arpeggiator sequence to the cycle. For example: • If the arpeggiator sequence consists of a 3 note cycle (1 - 2 - 3), Type is set to Up, and Inversion is set to 0, the Arpeggiator output is 1 - 2 - 3 - repeat.
A R P E G G I A T O R Hold Parameter The Hold parameter is available in both Arp and Note Repeat mode. The Hold feature allows you to latch the notes played by the Arpeggiator. When Hold is active, the Arpeggiator will continuously play a sequence according to the last pressed keys on the keyboard.
M I D I M O D E 10. MIDI Mode This chapter describes the MIDI mode of the Kontrol keyboard. On your keyboard, various elements can send MIDI data: • Keybed controls: The keys, the Pitch and Modulation wheels, and the Touch Strip always send MIDI messages: •...
M I D I M O D E • If there is no USB data connection between your keyboard and your computer. You can then use your keyboard as a stand-alone MIDI controller. As soon as a Kontakt or Komplete Kontrol instance is found on your computer (running as a stand-alone application or as a plug-in on the track currently selected in your DAW), your keyboard automatically switches from MIDI mode to Plug-in mode...
M I D I M O D E The following table shows the MIDI Control Change messages assigned to the Knobs 1–8 on page 2: Control Element Mode/Type Range/Values Control Function Knob 1 Absolute 0–127 Undefined Knob 2 Absolute 0–127 Undefined Knob 3 Absolute...
M I D I M O D E Using the Keyboard with a Power Supply Only In order to function as stand-alone MIDI controller, your keyboard needs a power source. This section describes the two available options, depending on your setup environment. If your keyboard is connected to an “always-on”...
K E Y B O A R D S E T T I N G S 11. Keyboard Settings The Settings mode of your keyboard gives you access to settings and information related to the hardware. ▶ Press SETTINGS (MIDI) at the left of the display to open the keyboard settings: The settings are organized into categories, which you can select using Button 1 and 2 above the display.
K E Y B O A R D S E T T I N G S The following sections describe the settings available in each category: • Hardware • Keybed • Pedals • Touch Strip • Wheels • General • Usage Data •...
K E Y B O A R D S E T T I N G S The following settings are available on page 2: • MIDI: • Version Selection: Selects between MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0. The MIDI 2.0 protocol adds or extends various functionalities to the MIDI 1.0 protocol.
K E Y B O A R D S E T T I N G S Selecting the Pedal Socket First of all, you have to choose the pedal socket you want to configure: ▶ Turn Knob 1 (SELECT Pedal) on page 1 to select the pedal socket you want to configure. Available values are Sustain, Expression, Assign 1 and Assign 2: →...
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K E Y B O A R D S E T T I N G S The following settings are available on page 1: • SELECT: • Pedal: Selects the pedal socket you want to configure. Refer to Selecting the Pedal Socket for more information.
K E Y B O A R D S E T T I N G S Pedal Calibration When your pedal socket is in Continuous mode, you can calibrate the connected pedal. 1. Press Button 8 (Calibrate) to start the calibration process of the connected pedal. 2.
K E Y B O A R D S E T T I N G S • ASSIGN TIP (page 2) / ASSIGN RING (page 3): • Type: Selects the type of MIDI message used. Available values are CntrlChg (Control Change), Ptchbnd (Pitchbend) and PrgrmChg (Program Change).
K E Y B O A R D S E T T I N G S The following touch strip settings are available: • ASSIGN: • Type: Selects the type of MIDI message used. Available values are Control Change, Pitchbend and Program Change. The following settings will vary depending on the type selected here.
K E Y B O A R D S E T T I N G S • ASSIGN: • Type: Selects the type of MIDI message used. Available values are Control Change, Pitchbend and Program Change. The following settings will vary depending on the type selected here.
K E Y B O A R D S E T T I N G S Usage Data Settings The Usage Data settings let you choose whether you want to disable usage data tracking. The following setting is available: • Allow Usage Data Tracking?: Lets you deactivate or activate usage data tracking (active by default).
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