How to Configure Sustain / Expression Pedals on KOMPLETE KONTROL Keyboards

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This article explains how to configure Sustain and Expression pedals with the KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series, A-Series, and M32 keyboards.

Note: Please check this article for a list of MIDI control pedals that have been verified to work with KOMPLETE KONTROL.

Click to expand the section below for directions based on your KOMPLETE KONTROL model.

KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK2 / A-Series / M32

Connection

  1. Switch off your KOMPLETE KONTROL keyboard (or disconnect it from the computer).
  2. Connect your Sustain pedal to the input labeled PEDAL A and / or connect your Expression pedal to the input labeled PEDAL B on the KOMPLETE KONTROL rear panel. 

    Note: the A-Series and M32 have only one Pedal input.

  3. Switch on your KOMPLETE KONTROL keyboard (or re-connect it to the computer) and launch the KOMPLETE KONTROL software in standalone mode (not in your DAW) at this location of your computer:
    macOS: Macintosh HD > Applications > Native Instruments > Komplete Kontrol
    Windows: C: > Program Files > Native Instruments > Komplete Kontrol
  4. Click on the MIDI icon at the top-right of KOMPLETE KONTROL and select the PEDALS tab.
    MIDI_Icon_Pedals_Tab.png

Assignment

Read below to learn how to assign your Sustain or Expression pedal. In this example, we are assigning Sustain to Pedal A and Expression to Pedal B.

Note: If using an A-Series or M32 keyboard, follow the steps below for Sustain or Expression, depending on which pedal you wish to configure with your keyboard.

Sustain (Pedal A)

  1. Click Pedal A and set the Mode to Switch.
    Pedals_Mode_Switch.png
  2. Set your pedal's connectivity type to either Tip or Ring, depending on the physical characteristics of your sustain pedal connector. This is important to ensure that the full VALUE range is interpreted correctly by the KOMPLETE KONTROL software. Please consult your sustain pedal's documentation for more info.
  3. Click Tip and set Number to MIDI CC# 64.
  4. Set the Type to Ctrl Change.
  5. Set the MIDI Channel to 1.
  6. Set Mode to Gate.
    Tip_CC_64.png
  7. Click Ring and set its Number to MIDI CC# 65 (keep Type, Channel, and Mode settings the same).
    Ring_CC_65.png

Expression (Pedal B)

  1. Click Pedal B and set the Mode to Cont (Continuous).
  2. Set the Type to Ctrl Change.
  3. Set the MIDI Channel to 1.
  4. Set the Number to MIDI CC# 11.

The additional parameters Invert and Swap T/R allow you to further customize the assignment according to the characteristics of your expression pedal model. Please consult the KOMPLETE KONTROL user manual as well as your pedal's documentation for more info. You may also Calibrate your pedal to ensure that the KOMPLETE KONTROL software interprets the full continuous RANGE correctly.

The complete assignment for Expression is summarized in the image below.
Expression_Assignment.png

Half-Damper (Pedal B)

  1. Connect a footswitch that is capable of Half-Damper pedaling.

    Note: Please check this article for a compatible list of pedals.

  2. Click Pedal B and set the Mode to Cont (Continuous).
  3. Set the Type to Ctrl Change.
  4. Set the MIDI Channel to 1.
  5. Set the Number to MIDI CC# 64.

The complete assignment for Half-Damper is summarized in the image below.

Half_Damp_Assignment.png

Note: Not all virtual instruments support half-pedaling. Further configuration within your plug-in may also be required.

KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK1

Sustain

  1. Switch off your KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK1 keyboard.
  2. Connect your sustain pedal to the Sustain Jack on the KOMPLETE KONTROL rear panel.
  3. Turn the KOMPLETE KONTROL keyboard back on.
  4. Launch the Controller Editor software at this location of your computer:
    • macOS: Macintosh HD > Applications > Native Instruments > Controller Editor > Controller Editor.app
    • Windows: C: > Program files > Native Instruments > Controller Editor > Controller Editor.exe
  5. Click to select the Sustain Pedal port in the Controller Editor interface as seen in the example below. When selected, the port will be outlined in red.
    KKS_MK1_SUS_Setup_SelectSustainPedalPort.png
  6. Go to Assign > Tip and set Number to MIDI CC# 64. In the same area, go to Assign > Ring and set Number to MIDI CC# 65.
    KKS_MK1_SUS_Setup_AssignRingAndTip.png

Your KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK1 keyboard is now set to accept control messages with your MIDI Sustain pedal.

Expression

  1. Switch off your KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK1 keyboard.
  2. Connect your expression pedal to the Expression Jack on the KOMPLETE KONTROL rear panel.
  3. Turn the KOMPLETE KONTROL keyboard back on.
  4. Launch the Controller Editor software at this location of your computer:
    • macOS: Macintosh HD > Applications > Native Instruments > Controller Editor > Controller Editor.app
    • Windows: C: > Program files > Native Instruments > Controller Editor > Controller Editor.exe
  5. Click to select the Expression Pedal port in the Controller Editor interface as seen in the example below. When selected, the port will be outlined in red.
    KKS_MK1_SUS_Setup_SelectExpPedalPort.png
  6. Go to the Assign tab, and set Number to MIDI CC# 11.
    KKS_MK1_SUS_Setup_AssignEXPToCC11.png

Your KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series MK1 keyboard is now set to accept control messages with your MIDI Expression pedal.

Expression Troubleshooting

Follow these steps below, if you notice your Expression pedal function is inverted or reversed.

  1. Open the Controller Editor Preferences from the menu bar.
    KKS_MK1_SUS_Setup__OpenCEPreferences.png
  2. Select the Komplete Kontrol S tab, and tick the Invert Range checkbox.
    Inverted_Range.png

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