Arturia Keylab MK3 49 vs Native Instruments Kontrol S49 Mk3 49-key: Seeking Feedback!
Hey everyone, I’m looking to upgrade from my Yamaha PSR‑E473 and move to a proper MIDI controller. Right now I’m torn between: - Arturia Keylab MK3 49 - Native Instruments Kontrol S49 Mk3 (possibly the 61‑key version) If anyone here has experience with either (or both), I’d really appreciate your thoughts. A bit about my setup: I use a mix of VSTs, including NI Komplete, but I’m not fully locked into the NI ecosystem. I’m trying to figure out which controller will feel better day‑to‑day, not just look good on paper. What I’m especially curious about: - Software integration: How good is the real‑world integration with Komplete on each of these? The Kontrol S49 Mk3 is obviously built for the NI ecosystem, but I’ve also seen people say the Keylab works well with both NI and other third‑party plugins. If you’ve used either with Komplete and other VSTs, how smooth is the workflow? - Hands‑on control / workflow: The Keylab has more knobs and sliders, which I like in theory because I enjoy a more tactile, “hands on” way of working. On the other hand, the Kontrol S49 Mk3 has fewer knobs, but they’re context‑sensitive and show parameter names and values on the screens, with multiple pages of controls. If you’ve used them, which style did you actually find more usable and fun when sound‑designing, mixing, or performing? - Overall experience: How do they compare in terms of: Also, if you’ve tried both the 49‑key and 61‑key versions of the Kontrol, did the extra keys make a meaningful difference for you in practice? Any stories, pros/cons, or “if I were buying again, I’d choose X because…” type feedback would be super helpful. Thanks in advance for any insight!