Hi Muziksculp,
It is my main “desktop” keyboard for almost everything, though I still have my fully weighted StudioLogic NUMA as well. Running in MIDI mode (set up through NI Controller Editor), it has all I need for assigning the eight knobs, but also for now reassigning the “useless” pitch wheel for orchestral work to another CC (Expression). That is, when not using the Kontrol S with Komplete Kontrol, or in the Maschine workflow, as those settings take priority.
With the JAM touch strips, it’s all like an extension of one controller now, including the Mikro’s pads which I’ll use for percussion (and have pages configured to work with different libraries, and for short string notes too). I did not intentionally set out to do all NI, except where it all dovetails into the flip side of working with Maschine now.
I’m a fan of the NKS integration, particularly with multiple articulations patches (or something like Sonokinetic’s phrase libraries), though I only use this about thirty percent of the time in projects. On a personal note, the LED aspects of all of these things were a primary consideration for me as well, as I am visually impaired (these cues have made a huge difference).
But I love the keybed, and after eighteen months of using it, I still find it enjoyable to play compared to an Akai I had (keys too tight for me), two different Novations (loose keys, some good features, terrible DAW integration), and a Nektar Impact (too cheaply made for my tastes) all of which moved in and out of that space over the course of three years. And, I’ve heard people love some of the above, and yet dislike the action on the Kontrol S synth-style keys, if not regard the features as lacking for some MIDI control use. So, it’s all subjective.
Cheers, G