2025 NAMM Show: Native Instruments has announced its NKS Hardware Partner Program, which will enable third-parties to create NKS devices.
NKS (Native Kontrol Standard) is a technical standard, used by hundreds of developers across thousands of plugins, to ‘pre-map’ hardware devices to virtual instruments. It essentially means that NKS devices are compatible, out of the box, with NKS software instruments.
NI says that Akai Professional, Novation, Nektar, Korg, and M-Audio will now be supporting the NKS ecosystem, to provide seamless integration with Native Instruments software. They say that will expand support to over 2,000 NKS-compatible instruments and effects from more than 250 brands.
“This expansion highlights the impact of collaboration,” says Simon Cross, Chief Product Officer at Native Instruments. “It marks an important milestone in our mission to provide musicians with an open, connected platform, making professional-grade tools, instruments, and technology more accessible to creators everywhere.”
The new NKS Hardware Partner program enables basic integration for partner’s existing keyboard controllers, allowing musicians and producers to use the Komplete Kontrol desktop software to access a portfolio of over 2,000 NKS-compatible instruments and effects.
With mappings to supported controllers, this integration provides hands-on control without the need for lengthy setups or distractions.
Native Instruments’ expanded partnerships will extend NKS compatibility to the following devices:
- Akai Professional: NKS integration now supports the MPK Mini Series (MPK Mini, MPK Mini Play, and MPK Mini Plus).
- Novation: NKS will be supported with the Launchkey MK3 and MK4, FLkey, and SL MK3 controllers.
- Nektar: The velocity-sensitive LX MK3 adds NKS integration.
- Korg: The advanced MIDI 2.0-compatible Keystage controllers bring enhanced flexibility and sound design options through NKS, catering to both studio producers and live performers.
- M-Audio: The current-generation Oxygen Series keyboards will feature NKS compatibility.
NKS integration will be available to all partner brands in the coming months. Interested owners can sign up for updates and more details at NI site.
Additional Offerings for Akai Professional MPC users
In addition to NKS integration, Native Instruments and Akai Professional are collaborating to bring their existing content to the MPC platform:
- Expansions: Five MPC Expansions include one-shots, samples, and FX chains designed to elevate production and performance.
- MPC Edition Play Series: Five MPC Play Editions instruments.
Both the Expansions and MPC Editions Play Series Editions are available mid-February.
Komplete 15 Select: Premium Sounds Included
As part of the NKS Hardware Partner program, owners of NKS-ready hardware from Novation, Nektar, Korg and M-Audio will be eligible to receive Native Instruments’ flagship production bundle, Komplete 15 Select, free of charge.
Creators can choose from three editions tailored to specific workflows:
- Beats Edition: Synths and sound packs ideal for pop, hip-hop, and R&B.
- Band Edition: Guitars, keys, and studio effects designed for songwriters and live performers.
- Electronic Edition: Advanced synths and tools for house, techno, and trance producers.
Interesting that even Nektar is joining. Nektar has their own Nektarine software that is even more powerful than the Komplete Kontrol software. I have even created software to import the NKS tags directly into Nektarine.
This could be a big step towards making in-the-box feel as immediate as hardware. Would be great if NKS could become a free standard like MIDI.
This is neat I guess, more integration is always nice. but I wonder why we are seeing more action around proprietary standards than around MIDI 2.0. I was expecting that we would see a lot of devices touting MIDI 2.0 support by now, but so far it only seems to have been adopted in some controller keyboards from Roland, Korg, and (ironically) NI, and in some software stacks (https://midi.org/event-calendar/new-midi-2-0-products-in-the-market-1-27-2024-300pm).
Big manufacturers don’t seem very interested in promoting it, and for small manufacturers it’s a lot of extra work to do if with little potential of connecting to any other MIDI 2.0 devices that could exploit the new features. Perhaps manufacturers see gear sales as strong enough that there’s not much market pressure for improvement.
Where are Arturia, Cherry Audio, and UVI? It would be nice if more software developers supported the standard,