The Kontrol S2 MK2 has some heft to it but it isn’t overwhelmingly heavy carrying it in a bag with your laptop shouldn’t be that bad. While the F1 utilizes the standard click buttons well for mode switching, the performance buttons are some of the best that don’t include velocity sensitivity. It seems, however, that NI are moving away from those sturdier feeling buttons for the more noticeably click-y buttons on the X1 and Maschine. The larger transport and cue point buttons resemble X1 MK2 buttons, but I was really hoping they’d feel closer to the F1 performance buttons. NI has implemented their HSB (Hue, Saturation, Brightness) protocol as opposed to RGB, which almost every other manufacturer uses, and they really provide stunning colors the pads light up just like the F1 and X1 MK2 buttons do. Plugging it in gives the expected light show, and damn these LEDs look stunning. They aren’t performance style controls, and aren’t going to be hit on a regular basis in a rhythmic fashion, I’d just really like them to be a bit bigger. I need to focus a lot harder on hitting the target than on larger buttons, and it is easy to miss. The small round buttons in the effect and mixer section feel fine, but I feel like they are too small for my fingers. The endless encoders are all click encoders and, while I understand why manufacturers use these, I always wish the gain and filter knobs were smooth it feels so much more natural. The knobs all feel consistent, none of them are too loose or tight. There is still a pressing mechanism and, while it doesn’t require a lot of pressure, I always prefer the feel of capacitive sensors over mechanical ones. They feel a lighter than the original S2 jogs but I was disappointed they weren’t capacitive, like my old VCI-100. One of the big changes Native Instruments boasts with this line of updated controllers is the metal plates on the jog wheels. The transport and mixer buttons are the same style as the Maschine and Kontrol X1 MK2 buttons, and the effects and pitch buttons are almost identical to the buttons on the original S2. The controller feels exactly as I expected, what with being surrounded by various Native Instruments gear. Unfortunately, I had to purchase a 30-pin to Lightning connector, since it would not work with the USB to Lightning plug I already owned. The box includes a license for Traktor Pro 2 and hardware registration, a wall wart with various international adapters, a USB 2.0 cable and a USB to 30-pin iPad connector. The Kontrol S2 MK2 is exactly what you would expect from a Native Instruments controller. We are still going to put these controllers through their paces and cover more than just the additions. Should they upgrade their already solid controller to the new version or, if they don’t own it already, should they even spend their money on the new version when they can now get the original for less.Ī note about the S2 and S4 reviews - these are going to be more than update announcements. This direction, embraced by many hardware manufacturers lately, puts consumers in a very difficult position. While the S2 MK2 is just an update of their solid Kontrol S2, it does provide a few extra tweaks to the design and featureset. Their controllers, all-in-one solutions like the Kontrol S2 MK2 and modular products like the Kontrol Z1, always boast extremely tight integration and super high quality hardware. Native Instruments has an inherent advantage in their hardware design: they also design the software. In a world of me-too controllers, a world where almost every controller on the market looks identical, manufacturers need to dig deep to set themselves apart. Link: NI | Price: $499/€449/£379 (offer price) | Manual: PDF Introduction
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