Native Instruments komplete kontrol s series User manual

MANUAL

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a
commitment on the part of Native Instruments GmbH. The software described by this docu-
ment is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media. No part of this
publication may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose,
without prior written permission by Native Instruments GmbH, hereinafter referred to as Native
Instruments.
“Native Instruments”, “NI” and associated logos are (registered) trademarks of Native Instru-
ments GmbH.
Ableton is a trademark of Ableton AG.
Mac, macOS, GarageBand, Logic, iTunes and iPod are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.,
registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Windows, Windows Vista and DirectSound are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
in the United States and/or other countries.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and use of them does not imply
any affiliation with or endorsement by them.
Document authored by: Gustav Sto. Tomas, Jan Ola Korte, Nicolas Sidi, David Gover, Christian
Schulz
Software version: 1.9.1 (10/2017)
Hardware version: KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK1
Special thanks to the Beta Test Team, who were invaluable not just in tracking down bugs, but
in making this a better product.
Disclaimer

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GmbH
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UK
www.native-instruments.co.uk
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Innovative Services
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© NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GmbH, 2017. All rights reserved.
Contact

Table of Contents
1 Welcome to KOMPLETE KONTROL ............................................................................... 10
1.1 Document Conventions ............................................................................................................... 10
1.2 Box Contents .............................................................................................................................. 12
1.3 System Requirements ................................................................................................................. 12
1.4 Accessibility ............................................................................................................................... 14
1.4.1 Feature Overview ....................................................................................................... 15
1.4.2 Hardware Overview .................................................................................................... 17
1.4.3 Training Mode ............................................................................................................ 18
2 New Features in KOMPLETE KONTROL 1.9 ...................................................................19
3 The KOMPLETE KONTROL Workflow ............................................................................ 20
4 Setting up KOMPLETE KONTROL ..................................................................................22
4.1 Connecting the Keyboard to the Computer .................................................................................. 23
4.2 Setting up the Stand-Alone Application ...................................................................................... 24
4.3 Setting up Host Integration ........................................................................................................ 26
4.3.1 Setting up Apple Logic Pro X and GarageBand .......................................................... 28
4.3.2 Setting up Ableton Live (macOS) ............................................................................... 28
4.3.3 Setting up Ableton Live (Windows) ............................................................................ 30
4.4 Connecting Pedals to the Keyboard ............................................................................................ 31
4.5 Connecting External MIDI Equipment to the Keyboard ................................................................ 33
5 Software Overview .....................................................................................................34
5.1 Header ........................................................................................................................................ 35
5.2 Browser ...................................................................................................................................... 37
5.2.1 Library Pane .............................................................................................................. 38
5.2.2 Instrument Selector ................................................................................................... 40
5.2.3 Files Pane .................................................................................................................. 42
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5.3 Perform Panel ............................................................................................................................. 43
5.4 Plug-in Panel .............................................................................................................................. 44
5.5 Instrument Area .......................................................................................................................... 44
6 Keyboard Overview ....................................................................................................46
6.1 Transport Section ....................................................................................................................... 48
6.2 Perform Section .......................................................................................................................... 49
6.3 Control Section ........................................................................................................................... 50
6.4 Light Guide ................................................................................................................................. 52
6.5 Touch Strips ............................................................................................................................... 53
6.6 Transpose Buttons ...................................................................................................................... 53
7 Global Controls and Preferences ................................................................................ 54
7.1 Instrument Views ........................................................................................................................ 54
7.1.1 Default View .............................................................................................................. 55
7.1.2 Additional View .......................................................................................................... 55
7.1.3 Edit View ................................................................................................................... 57
7.2 Switching Instances ................................................................................................................... 58
7.3 Transport and Tempo .................................................................................................................. 60
7.3.1 Clock Resetting Commands ....................................................................................... 61
7.3.2 Adjusting Tempo ........................................................................................................ 61
7.4 Adjusting Master Volume ............................................................................................................ 62
7.5 Preferences ................................................................................................................................. 62
7.5.1 Preferences – Audio Page .......................................................................................... 63
7.5.2 Preferences – MIDI Page ............................................................................................ 66
7.5.3 Preferences – General Page ....................................................................................... 67
7.5.4 Preferences – Library Page ........................................................................................ 69
7.5.5 Preferences – Plug-ins Page ..................................................................................... 74
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7.5.6 Preferences – Hardware Page .................................................................................... 77
8 MIDI Communication .................................................................................................80
8.1 Host Automation ......................................................................................................................... 81
8.1.1 Automation IDs for the Perform Panel ........................................................................ 81
8.1.2 Recording Automation ............................................................................................... 82
8.2 Using the Keyboard in MIDI Mode ............................................................................................... 85
8.3 Using the Keyboard as Stand-Alone MIDI Controller ................................................................... 86
9 Host Integration ........................................................................................................87
9.1 Integration with MASCHINE ........................................................................................................ 87
9.2 Integration with MASCHINE ........................................................................................................ 91
9.3 Integration with Apple Logic Pro X and GarageBand .................................................................. 91
9.4 Integration with Ableton Live ...................................................................................................... 92
10 Browsing the Library ..................................................................................................94
10.1 Browser Basics ........................................................................................................................... 94
10.1.1 Browse Modes ............................................................................................................ 94
10.1.2 About the Library and Meta-Information .................................................................... 95
10.1.3 Browsing the Library vs. Browsing Your Hard Disks ................................................... 96
10.2 Selecting Browse Mode Keyboard ................................................................................................ 97
10.3 Opening the Browser .................................................................................................................. 98
10.4 Choosing Between Factory Content and User Content ................................................................ 99
10.5 Loading an Instrument with its default Preset File ..................................................................... 100
10.6 Filtering Preset Files by Bank ..................................................................................................... 103
10.7 Resetting the Instrument Selection ............................................................................................ 104
10.8 Types and Modes Filters ............................................................................................................. 105
10.8.1 Filtering Preset Files by Types and Modes .................................................................. 108
10.8.2 Selecting Multiple Tags from the Same Level ............................................................ 111
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10.9 Working with Favorites ............................................................................................................... 111
10.9.1 Adding Preset Files to the Favorites ........................................................................... 112
10.9.2 Displaying Favorites in the Results List ..................................................................... 113
10.9.3 Removing Preset Files from the Favorites .................................................................. 114
10.10 Performing a Text Search ............................................................................................................ 116
10.11 Displaying Preset File Information .............................................................................................. 116
10.12 Auditioning your Preset Files ...................................................................................................... 117
10.13 Browsing via the On-Screen Overlay ........................................................................................... 119
11 Managing the Library .................................................................................................121
11.1 Saving Preset Files to the User Library ....................................................................................... 121
11.2 Deleting User Preset Files from the User Library ......................................................................... 123
11.3 Editing the Tags and Properties of User Preset Files .................................................................. 124
11.4 Working with the Files Pane ........................................................................................................ 127
11.4.1 Additional Features in the Results List in the Files Pane ........................................... 128
11.4.2 Navigating to File Locations with the Location Bar .................................................... 129
11.4.3 Navigating to Recent File Locations .......................................................................... 130
11.4.4 Working with File Location Favorites .......................................................................... 130
11.5 Loading VST Plug-ins ................................................................................................................. 132
11.6 Installing NKS Instruments ......................................................................................................... 134
11.7 Importing KOMPLETE KONTROL-Compatible User Files ............................................................... 137
12 Controlling Instrument Parameters ............................................................................. 139
12.1 Pre-Mapped Instruments ............................................................................................................ 139
12.2 Adjusting Parameters ................................................................................................................. 139
12.3 Switching Parameter Pages ........................................................................................................ 140
12.4 Customizing Parameter Mappings .............................................................................................. 140
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13 Playing and Editing Scales and Chords .......................................................................143
13.1 A Note about Music Theory .......................................................................................................... 144
13.2 Playing a Scale ........................................................................................................................... 145
13.3 Playing Chords ........................................................................................................................... 146
13.4 Editing Scales and Chords ......................................................................................................... 146
13.5 Setting the Scale Parameters ..................................................................................................... 147
13.5.1 Scale Root Note ......................................................................................................... 148
13.5.2 Scale Bank and Type ................................................................................................. 149
13.6 Setting the Key Mode Parameter ................................................................................................. 155
13.7 Setting the Chord Parameters .................................................................................................... 157
13.7.1 Chord mode ............................................................................................................... 157
13.7.2 Chord Type ................................................................................................................. 159
13.7.3 Chord Position ........................................................................................................... 162
14 Playing and Editing the Arpeggiator ............................................................................164
14.1 Playing Arpeggiator Sequences .................................................................................................. 165
14.2 Using a Sustain Pedal to Control the Arpeggiator ....................................................................... 166
14.3 Editing the Arpeggiator .............................................................................................................. 166
14.4 Setting the Main Parameters ...................................................................................................... 167
14.4.1 Main Mode ................................................................................................................. 168
14.4.2 Main Type .................................................................................................................. 168
14.5 Setting the Rhythm Parameters .................................................................................................. 169
14.5.1 Rhythm Rate .............................................................................................................. 169
14.5.2 Rhythm Sequence ...................................................................................................... 170
14.5.3 Rhythm Swing ........................................................................................................... 171
14.6 Setting the Other Parameters ..................................................................................................... 172
14.6.1 Other Octaves ............................................................................................................ 172
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14.6.2 Other Dynamic ........................................................................................................... 173
14.6.3 Other Gate ................................................................................................................. 173
14.7 Setting the Advanced Parameters .............................................................................................. 174
14.7.1 Advanced Retrigger ................................................................................................... 174
14.7.2 Advanced Repeat ....................................................................................................... 175
14.7.3 Advanced Offset ........................................................................................................ 175
14.7.4 Advanced Inversion ................................................................................................... 175
14.8 Setting the Range Parameters .................................................................................................... 176
14.8.1 Range Min. Key .......................................................................................................... 176
14.8.2 Range Max. Key ......................................................................................................... 176
14.9 Setting the Hold Parameter ........................................................................................................ 177
15 Configuring the Touch Strips ......................................................................................178
15.1 Accessing the Touch Strip Settings ............................................................................................ 178
15.2 Configuring the Pitch Strip ......................................................................................................... 181
15.2.1 Adjusting Relative Mode ............................................................................................ 181
15.2.2 Enabling Absolute Mode ............................................................................................ 182
15.3 Configuring the Modulation Strip ............................................................................................... 184
15.3.1 Modulation Strip Modes ............................................................................................. 184
15.3.2 Selecting and Editing a Modulation Strip Mode ......................................................... 187
16 Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................189
Index ........................................................................................................................191
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KOMPLETE KONTROL - Manual - 9

1 Welcome to KOMPLETE KONTROL
Thank you for choosing KOMPLETE KONTROL!
The KOMPLETE KONTROL software and its dedicated keyboard—the KOMPLETE KONTROL
S-Series—form a tightly integrated music production and performance system that brings all
the sounds from KOMPLETE and the Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) to the heart of your work-
flow.
KOMPLETE KONTROL offers advanced integration with a number of hosts and provides full
control of any Instruments supporting NKS, both from Native Instruments and partners. The
keyboard lets you browse your Instruments in an intuitive way and play them creatively with
KOMPLETE KONTROL’s unique Scale engine and Arpeggiator.
We hope you enjoy this fantastic instrument as much as we do.
—The team at Native Instruments
1.1 Document Conventions
This document uses particular formatting to point out special facts and to warn you of poten-
tial issues. The icons introducing the following notes let you see what kind of information can
be expected:
The speech bubble icon indicates a useful tip that may often help you to solve a task
more efficiently.
The exclamation mark icon highlights important information that is essential for the giv-
en context.
The red cross icon warns you of serious issues and potential risks that require your full
attention.
Furthermore, the following formatting is used:
Welcome to KOMPLETE KONTROL
Document Conventions
KOMPLETE KONTROL - Manual - 10