timboalogo
I can't seem to get the advance 49 and VIP to work with X3 through Komplete Audio 6 in Windows 10 ... The keyboard works, sends midi, feels sweet, but the VIP software doesn't connect to the keyboard and I'm big time frustrated.
 
Timbo

go to your windows services and check and see if Advanced Audio Monitor service is running or if you can start it,
mine wouldn't until i did a reg hack and loaded some attributable windows  packages and net framework

DUPLICATE

Sorry, I didn't get the reply until I checked the thread.
 
I figured out the problem (answer posted on the AKAI site) - they hadn't included the c++ redistributable on the installation - friggin AKAI, I'm still not pleased.

TerraSin
The word on the street is there are some incredible controllers that will be at NAMM this January.

Where is this street word coming from?

Most balanced reviews rate the NI and Akai keyboards as being really close, so it's unlikely you'll find you've made a catastrophic error.  Having said that, I notice that you have Komplete 9 Ultimate and IMO that definitely makes the NI the better choice - the integration is really excellent and will only get better if you ever upgrade to K11.
Good idea to wait for NAMM though, you never know what might come up.

Akai has been very good about having maps for Native Instfuments plugins. I bought my Akai about a year ago and have never regreted it. I love the ability to make multi's and use all my effects to do it. All the AIR Music Tech plugins  that came with it including a28 plugin FX package have been very good surprise. The Akai is a very nice keyboard also. I knew the Akai and NI would both be good packages and I got the Akai for around $150 cheaper, so that's how I went.

I've been shopping keys.  I've been leaning toward workstations, but the Advance keyboards look almost too good to be true.
 
My reluctance on workstations is that I already have VSTi galore.  OTOH, trying to get control of them via the keyboard is a nightmare in SONAR.
 
Is the advertised integration a reality with these?  Do they really work well with SONAR without a degree in Biophysical Manipulation Of Psychologically Challenging Device Manipulation?
 
The 61 has me intrigued.

BobF
I've been shopping keys.  I've been leaning toward workstations, but the Advance keyboards look almost too good to be true.
 
My reluctance on workstations is that I already have VSTi galore.  OTOH, trying to get control of them via the keyboard is a nightmare in SONAR.
 
Is the advertised integration a reality with these?  Do they really work well with SONAR without a degree in Biophysical Manipulation Of Psychologically Challenging Device Manipulation?
 
The 61 has me intrigued.

I'll try to answer your questions as best I can, Bob.
1. Getting Control of Your VSTi's.
My Akai Advance has done more for me than I would have thought. The only plugins that have not showed up on scan are a few of the newer Waves. Electric 88,IM Pusher, Shepps Parallel Particles Abbey Rd Plates. They should have maps for them pretty soon. All the other Waves I have has shown up on scan and almost everyone had a map for it so I didn't have to do anything to use them.  Even if Akai has not made a map for a plugin as long as it shows on scan you can make your own. I wind up changing most the ones I get so I can have similar function use the same knobs and buttons from one plug to another. You are able to make MIDI maps also not just VIP maps. If I recall my EZ Keys map has VIP for everything but the volume which is a midi controlled knob in my map. At the Akai site there are people making their own maps and sharing them so that is helpful too. All my Native Instruments work real well in the VIP software, even Kore 2  and Kore player. They seem to have gone out of their way to get all the NI stuff going and that makes sense.
 
2. I have not had any problems using it in SONAR Plat. I have put in a number of VIP tracks at one and have not had any problem. I usually use the multi function in SONAR so I actually have a number of instruments on the same SONAR track. There are 8 slots in the mixer for Instruments with 4 FX per track and also 4 send busses and a Master all with pan and solo and mute. You can save everything you put together as Multi's. Effect Stacks can be saved also. There are 4 buttons for transport control in SONAR but I have not been able to get the loop on and off to work. Play, stop and record work fine although the last Windows 10 update knocked them out so I will have to look up how to set them up and they should work fine again. The VIP software is the big deal to me but it is a very nice midi keyboard also. Big knobs and Pads(the mute buttons in multi mode).
 3. I'm a guitar player so I didn't want to fry my brain trying to get it to work and it's been pretty good that way for me. I had an Edirol keyboard that just wasn't working as well as I thought it should. It had a very soft no resistance action and at times my hand would get sore playing it. I heard the Akai was a stiffer action so I was concerned but the little more resistance seems to keep my hand frombanging when the key ran out of travel. It seems to act like a shock absorber or I get more feedback through my fingers, I'm not sure. The short story is I have not had any pain in my hands since I got the Akai. That's a big deal to me.  
 
3. The AIR Music Tech instruments that came with it are all very nice and some top notch. I really like the Velvet EP and Loom. They all have a huge number of presets and work with the keyboard well. About 8 months ago they came out with an update that enabled FX to be put into your multis and I really like that. I can use all kinds of effects now not just what is in the instrument. Along with that update they gave us 28 AIR effects and they seem to pretty good. The are real nice for just bread and butter FX. I haven't used too many Cakewalk effects but that was the case before I got the keyboard. One negative the Nomad Factory Blue tubes suit does not work in VIP because the license is tied to SONAR and wont allow it to be used outside of it. If I was to do it all over again I would get the 61 key. Other than that I am very happy with mine. There has been a learning curve at times but I got things to work for me. I usually open up the instrument GUI inside VIP and choose presets form there so that makes it easy.
I would go to the Akai Advance Forum and the Advance Map sharing Forum and spend some time. There were people who seemed to want to get upset early on but even some of the loudest have become big fans. 
Hope this helps.

Thank you for the detailed response.  This just might be what I've been looking for.
 
How is it without VIP, as a regular ole controller?

I like it a lot. Seems very sturdy and solid. I like the feel of the keyboard. You should be able to download a manual at the website. There are good tutorial videos at Groove3 and AskVideo and AskAudio. I prefer the Ask videos over the Groove3. Groove3 spends a lot of time showing how to use it with the keyboard display. The onboard display and being able to make set lists would help if playing live but 24" beats 4" any day for me. There are some good videos on YouTube and at the Akai site. Alesis and  M-Audio also have keyboards that come with the same AIR Software and function. The Alesis cost less than the Akai. Idont really know how the M-Audio is priced. Also they were giving new customers and old a copy of Eventide Blackhole when buying a  keyboard. These should have some type of promotion as we get closer to the holidays.