NI Komplete Kontrol S-Series Keyboards- How Do You Like it?

BD, they do look really cool.....
I've also thought about getting an S-Series as they integrate well with Komplete.....might pick it up later if they go on a nice sale price. 
 
Jim started a thread on this and you might find it interesting: http://forum.cakewalk.com/Komplete-Kontrol-Standard-m3207659.aspx

Until third party support really picks up, I don't know that it's worth the price, tbh. It's a good board but it's very comparable to my Impulse boards except about $400 more.

Thanks guys. The price is the main factor. After they have been around a bit longer maybe the price will come down. Or buy the keyboard and get the upgrade to K10U or some other "worth while" promotion. The always have their half off deal for software in the second half of June so who knows?
 

The Komplete Kontrol keyboards don't have an onboard audio interface.
The onboard browsing feature doesn't (currently) work with 3rd party plugins... but works great with Komplete 9/10.
It's such a simple thing... but a tremendous boost for work-flow.  
Wading thru thousands upon thousands of sounds can be daunting... and slow creativity to a crawl.
 
Note that you can control 3rd party virtual instruments (Kontrol Editor can be used to customize all MIDI controls).
It's just not as instant/seamless...
Here's hoping NI get 3rd party developers on board... or they come up with a more "Komplete" solution for 3rd-party plugins.  
 
The key-bed actually feels pretty nice (much better than many inexpensive MIDI controllers)... and the overall build quality is substantial.  The keyboard also has after-touch... which is (sorely) lacking on many MIDI controllers.
 
The transport controls are nice.
When you're "in the zone" with a part, it's a great convenience not having to leave the keyboard.
 
I'd been looking for a quality MIDI controller for a long time (with features similar to the best hardware workstations).
Thus far, Komplete Kontrol is the best overall solution that I've found.
I'm anxious to see the new Akai Advance series... 
It's nice to see development of higher-quality MIDI controllers... with the intention of tight integration with software/plugins.  Seems like this should have happened years ago...
 
 
 

Monday will bring a new Komplete promotion according to Uncle E of JRR fame.

Thanks Jim, that answered a few remaining questions. If it is a quality controller with Komplete integration that helps with the price issue.

If you purchase the Komplete Kontrol now, I believe you qualify for a free copy of Komplete 10... or a half-price upgrade to Komplete 10.  I bought just before this promotion started.     Oh well... I still like unit.
I am looking forward to checking out the Akai Advance.  Sweetwater has the 25-key version in stock.
I'm interested in the 61-key version...
 

I was looking at the Akai Advanced but I'm not convinced about it. You still need to go back to your computer and load the VST inside your DAW before it can be loaded by your keyboard, won't you? Otherwise how will it load the VST into the track the way you want it to such as in Sonar, sometimes I want a Simple Instrument Track, sometimes not which means I'd need to have all my tracks preloaded in Sonar anyway and all this would do is scroll through the sample library for me.

Jim, Vastman and others thanks for heads up on Akai Advanced. Having K9U, this seemed like a rather simple decision but the Akai is throwing a monkey into the wrench. Doktor A makes some good points too. I didn't get any answer as fast  as I would have liked, but that is because there is more to consider. Maybe I will get the Akai and duct tape my Kore 2 controller to it.

I have no real horse in this race. I han't heard of the Akai Advanced before but it sounds like the better choice for the reasons people have pu out there.