Siluroo
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Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
What is the pros/cons for both of these for use within Splat?
How well do these integrate when using Splat for composing music at a desk, with or without their fancy software.
I know the products from all the reviews and utube videos, but there is always so much hype around them, and most are not showing use in Sonar.
Do people working on complex projects keep using the knobs and buttons or end up giving up and going back to mouse to do most stuff anyway?
Basically what I am asking, are the gimmicks worth it, and if so which set of gimmicks? Or for that matter would I be better off getting a electric piano with midi out and and xtouch?
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azslow3
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/08/06 15:59:50
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☄ Helpfulby Siluroo 2016/08/07 05:53:29
Both keyboard are targeting Soft Synth control, throw own software. DAW control is at bare minimum, no special integration for Sonar (and no sufficient number of controls). I will think your Novation should do that part better.
X-Touch is reversed approach. It can not control Soft Synth at all (in Sonar), but can do good job for mixing.
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Siluroo
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/08/07 05:34:00
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Well that answers the without the fancy software bit, thankyou azslow3.
I will rephrase the other part of the question, the with fancy software bit!
Is the software integration useful enough when working with sonar as your DAW, assuming that NI open their architecture to use not NKS stuff like the AKAI, is the fancy software something you come to rely upon, or is it 'nice to have sometimes'. Lets assume we are using a seperate control interface such as xtouch/nanocontrol/bcf 2000.
If its not, I will stop looking considering them and look at getting a 61+ key synth/piano with midi out. I will probably start a new thread, which 61 key synth to get ;)
So if you are using one either the Akai Advance or NI Kontrol keyboards, do you think you would be better off with something else instead, or is the VST integration so good that you cant live without it? ie would I be a fool not got get one or the other?
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azslow3
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/08/07 06:56:19
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☄ Helpfulby Siluroo 2016/08/07 09:22:55
I do not have any of these boards. But I know how the "integration" works in Sonar. So I just want to add the following: the "fancy software" is not DAW dependent, so everything you see in the internet about these boards (except the part which control DAW parameters) is also true with Sonar.
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Siluroo
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/08/27 01:43:15
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Finally got to look at some of these boards, had to travel to Melbourne city for medical reasons.
Currently thinking I will get the AKAI mpk261, and later get a workstation synth for the lounge room, to swap in if I need 88 keys or to replace the ESR-333 that sits out there already, something like the yamaha mofx8.
I have been advised that the advance is ok with VIP, and if I really wanted that functionality to get a 25 key to use for the VIP function, and use the mpk261 or other keyboard for playing, basically relegating the advance to a vst control panel.
I talked to 2 sales people, and they seemed to steer me away from either the Kontrol, Advance or Nectar, towards either the maudio code 49, novation launchey or the mpk series, effectively downselling me to the cheaper products.
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Glyn Barnes
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/08/27 06:17:22
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I don't know if you have seen my thread http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3368341 It deals in the main with using the NI keyboards with non NKS soft synths and Kontakt libraries. It is is alot more capable in that regard than NI would lead you to beleive. I don't really use it to control Sonar beyond the transport controls and soft synth controls within Sonar.
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Siluroo
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/08/27 08:14:27
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Had not seen your post, are reading it now, its quite detailed and not something to quickly glance over.
I will probably need to reread it tomorrow, as I am still tired from my city excursion.
Would I be correct in assuming that you are suggesting the s61 for actuating notes and a akai advance 25 for actuating key switching?
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Glyn Barnes
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/08/27 15:48:37
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Siluroo
Would I be correct in assuming that you are suggesting the s61 for actuating notes and a akai advance 25 for actuating key switching?
The AKAI is small, simple mini keyboard that comes in useful for keyswitching on some instruments. I got the tip from Jordan Rudess demo video. I would rather have a longer board of course, but I did not want weighted keys. Keyswitching is where the NI keyboards excel and the light guide is very helpful. It works with almost all Kontakt instruments but in a few cases the developer has not chosen to use the key colour coding on the Kontakt virtual keyboard which corresponds to the light guide.
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BassDaddy
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/08/27 21:27:38
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I have an Akai Advance 49 and I love it. Anytime on the keyboard is much easier and more intuitive that before. It's great to have a keyboard that lets you interact with your soft ware with out thinking about it. The knobs are and buttons become instinctive very quickly. I like being able to set up multis with different software brands and using FX as insert or sends is great too. Though there are only a few transport controls for SONAR it has made things easier, and more instinctive. That's what I wanted and it has gone beyond my expectations.
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Rimshot
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/08/30 10:03:08
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I am shopping for a new midi controller keyboard as well. Here good/bad about M-Audio Code 61 keyboard. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Code61 Has anyone played on this? Seems like the biggest issue is with its velocity style of piano style playing in that it does not provide super low midi volume triggers and a smooth range to the top. It is now on sale at Sweetwater and with rebate I can get it for $299! Just don't want to have issues with the velocity. I have watched a few videos on it and it seems nice. I video showed a guy playing piano on it and I could hear the problem with velocity right off. He did to. Maybe look a the more expense Akai MTK?
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Siluroo
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/08/30 11:09:27
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I believe the main differences are, the actual keys themselves are sturdier and can take more punishment in the Akai as its meant to be piece of stage gear and designed as such, that the mpk261 does not have touch sensitive drum pad directly under the synth wheels which some people find annoying as you can accidentally trigger a loop etc, and to my understanding the mpk261 has the midi/mackie/hui programming done in the keyboard hardware for all the controls and not reliant on a software driver for some of them which might help future proof it in case of maudio not updating stuff.
These are the reasons I am looking at the mpk261 and not the maudio, but my information may not be correct, I did not have long to look at them instore, and do not own either yet, so may well be wrong.
The youngest sales assistant I spoke too did love the maudio code 69, he has one and uses ableton live with it, he love s the keys on the maudio, but I do not know his level of ability and he was a junior salesperson.
Dont know if this helps you at all.
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dcumpian
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/08/30 11:48:45
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So far, I am loving the NI S88. If you play piano, you will love the keys.
As for Komplete Kontrol integration, I'm still learning my way around it. For VSTi's with keyswitches and lots of CC controllable parameters, it's pretty awesome, but you will spend a lot of time setting up non-NKS stuff to make it worthwhile. As a pure midi controller, it is still a great keyboard.
Regards,
Dan
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Rimshot
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/08/31 03:06:21
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I am now going to commit to the Akai MPK261. The M-Audio Code 61 just has too many reviews of poor velocity quality. It is on sale with a rebate so I could have picked it up for $299 at Sweetwater. Now I will spend $500.
The Akai's key bed, drum pads, and quality helped me to decide.
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Del
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/09/04 16:55:25
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Glyn Barnes
I don't know if you have seen my thread http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3368341
It deals in the main with using the NI keyboards with non NKS soft synths and Kontakt libraries. It is is alot more capable in that regard than NI would lead you to beleive. I don't really use it to control Sonar beyond the transport controls and soft synth controls within Sonar.
Hi Glyn; I am a 'non keyboard/piano' player and would like to ask you a question. I am looking to find something to help me create MIDI parts (in particular guitar parts) and with the nice features that the NI S-61 has for helping to create 'chords' and with my very, very limited talent as a keyboard player, would this product be something that you might recommend for me? I don't have any of the big NI libraries and NI support has indicted to me that they are not necessary for the S-61 to work, I would have to start looking into getting the necessary instruments to fill my needs. Your thoughts and suggestions will be very much appreciated. Thank you.
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Rimshot
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/09/04 20:53:41
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FWIY,
I have had my new Akai MPK261 since Friday and it is awesome for my needs.
I programmed bank of pads for my Superior Drummer, Addictive Drums 2, and EZ Drummer percussion libraries. I also have full level control of the faders. The keys feel great. I really like this unit.
It may not be for you but after many days of searching, this one is the best for my world.
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Glyn Barnes
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/09/05 11:30:56
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Del
Hi Glyn;
I am a 'non keyboard/piano' player and would like to ask you a question.
I am looking to find something to help me create MIDI parts (in particular guitar parts) and with the nice features that the NI S-61 has for helping to create 'chords' and with my very, very limited talent as a keyboard player, would this product be something that you might recommend for me?
I don't have any of the big NI libraries and NI support has indicted to me that they are not necessary for the S-61 to work, I would have to start looking into getting the necessary instruments to fill my needs.
Your thoughts and suggestions will be very much appreciated. Thank you.
I would say the chord, scale and arpeggiator functions are best suited to keyboard / synth styles. For this it seems very good but its not a feature I use a lot. I can't see that it would be useful in putting together guitar parts as you are not going to get the right chord voicing and its not going to strum. There are VSTi and Kontakt libraries that will help. Orange Tree's Evolution guitars for example let you "draw" you strum pattern on a virtual fretboard than feed it with a chord which it will revoice to guitar voicing and strum acording to your pattern. They also have a factory library of strum patterns. These are NKS compliant so compatable with all S-Series keyboards. Also check out the latest updates to Music Lab's "Real" series. These enable the construction of chord sequences and strums without having to touch the keyboard. There are some annoying limitations like no odd metres, I cant get it to do 5/4 or 7/8 for love or money but they have some very nifty features.
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Del
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/09/05 11:58:41
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Glyn;
Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions it looks like more studying and evaluations for me!
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Siluroo
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/09/05 12:08:03
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Del
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Re: Akai Advance or NI Kontol S for Splat?
2016/09/06 12:40:40
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Thank you Siluroo, this is good helpful information.
post edited by Del - 2016/09/06 13:01:52
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