Humble request for guidance: Push 2 + Komplete + KK

[MatuX]

Hey guys,

I've been an "old school" string instrumentalist almost all my life and I'm a decent piano player. And a year ago I begun immersing myself into the wonderful world of deep sound exploration.

Till recently, I've mostly been molding my string instrument sounds with Guitar Rig, assorted pedals, and a POD HD 500 to filter and control GR, among other things.

I've been playing a lot with Komplete 11 and my MPK 225 lately, but the truth is, I only use the keyboard. I've found that setting any other control tends to be convoluted and the what they end up providing aren't on par with the effort.

So I thought of evolving my setup to the following:

Push 2 to optimize my control over Live (ideally to control Live without hitting a single key on my Mac), and to create beats. I don't do melody/harmony with pads, I respect those who do, but it's just not my thing ¯\_(?)_/¯.
Komplete Kontrol S-49 to create melody/harmony, and to control Komplete's instruments to create, shape and mold samples and waves. The reason why 49 and not 66 is solely due to space constraint, and I already have an 88-key piano.

The goal is to optimize my workflow. Be able to mold sounds with ease, to experiment without impediments, and to begin improvising as quickly as possible without setbacks. I'd like to be able to play on a live environment, too.

Is this a good setup? What would you change, substract, add? Any recommendations?

Thank you so much,
M

[jestermgee]

Should work well. It's always a hard one for others to say what will work for your techniques but the KK S keyboards combined with Push are really quite good.

I'm not as experienced in instruments as you appear to be but I can say I approach things very much the same. I am use to keyboards so find a proper keybed best for most things but Push is great for just controlling Live, editing things and quickly programming drums.

I control most of my instruments using KK now simply because Push does not allow labelling of controls or easy grouping like KK does. I use Push to control effects and my MCU for controlling track automation since KK doesn't have access to effects or track controls. I find this split of tasks very helpful and it doesn't feel like I have any overlap and I have access to pretty much everything at any time. I also use KK to browse my VSTs and load sounds and the Arp and chord/scale features are great (also good on Push too) but KK is about to receive a massive update to the scales and arp feature shortly.

I do find sometimes I can get a better melody from Push because of the layout (like a bassline or guitar meldies for instance) possibly because it translates to guitar layout more? Not sure but having different methods does help with creativity sometimes when you find yourself playing the same chords and progressions from doing too much "improv" when you should be working harder.

[MatuX]

Thank you, jestermgee. This helps a lot!

Regarding automation, I assumed that was something I should be able to do decently with Push, except for the lack of motorized sliders/knobs. Isn't that the case?

Re creating melodies with pads, I'm definitely willing to try again with Push as I've never had a proper pad to play with. My current mindset is one of exploration and learning, so I'll try and try even when my instincts pull me towards to what I'm more familiar with.

Thank you again!

[jestermgee]

Push is more than capable of doing automation. The controls update their position from Live and being endless encoders, no need for motorised faders. I simply prefer the KK for this having used both simply because I can label and order the controls as I like (even leave blank ones to make things nicer).

Each has its Pros and Cons and many of the things I find I don't like with Push (like encoder mappings) I love on the KK. I think you get more functionality out of Push with Live but KK is also multi-host capable so there is that.

[cskracer]

I've been thinking of doing the same as the OP for exactly the same reasons you mention Jester - Push is poor at allowing control of the mapping of controls for 3rd party VSTs and I only have NI and U-he synths.

Having said that I hit U-he up and asked them if they'd consider putting together .adg files for Push like the .nks files they've created for the S-Series keyboards and they seemed receptive. Just a matter of resources. Amazingly they said they'd never had anyone else ask them to do it!

It would be interesting to see how many other VST developers who've put together .nks files - I don't know who else has - haven't been asked to put together .adg files with custom maps on them either.

It seems NI are more active or make it easier for developers to integrate with their products. I think Ableton are missing a trick here. Or they are purposely trying to keep people in their ecosystem.

I wish the S series keyboards came with a CV out though. For the time being I've bought an Aturia Keystep to give me my keyboard and some control of moldular.

[MatuX]

My Push and KK should arrive in a few days.

Thank you all for your suggestions!

[jestermgee]

My Push and KK should arrive in a few days.

Thank you all for your suggestions!

I think you will have a great time getting fully into it.

I have available a heap of 3rd party preset packs for some top plugins for the KK software allowing complete preset browsing and control for the following plugins:

- Omnisphere 2
- Bob Moog Tribute Library for Omnisphere
- Trilian
- Keyscape (including keyscape creative library)
- Korg Legacy
- Loom
- Xpand2!
- Vaccum Pro
- Hybrid 3
- Sylenth




https://www.native-instruments.com/foru ... ne.313687/

I also have a few for Push and am trying to get around to wrapping the above ones for Push but I struggle to get the controls in nice panks of 8 and use my KK more for this now anyway.

[eddiejag]

I have both and Maschine as well. Komplete Kontrol works amazingly with Ableton. Adding push will def help you stay away from your computer in the idea phase.