NI Kontrol S61 MK3
A 61-key pro controller pairing a Fatar polyphonic-aftertouch keybed with full-color screens for NKS control, over USB-C and MIDI DIN. The premium it commands is justified mainly inside NI's world. Best for players who want an expressive keybed and deep NKS browsing; skip it for budget setups or libraries that aren't NKS-tagged or Kontakt-based, where the screen workflow adds little.
Scores
BreakdownHideOverall74±6Caliber-forward blend — tier caliber + within-tier price rank 30%, value 25%, confidence 20%, compatibility 15%, upgrade path 10% — renormalized over applicable dimensions; excluded here: compatibility (no ecosystem dimension).
Scores
BreakdownHideCaliber-forward blend — tier caliber + within-tier price rank 30%, value 25%, confidence 20%, compatibility 15%, upgrade path 10% — renormalized over applicable dimensions; excluded here: compatibility (no ecosystem dimension).
Tier 'pro', adjusted for in-class price position and source coverage.
No ecosystem requirements declared for this category.
1 independent/primary source(s), 3 cited in total; 0 field(s) flagged for verification.
Tier 'pro', adjusted for in-class price headroom, sourcing, and verification state.
Tier 'pro' baseline with 0 native ecosystem(s) carrying into higher-tier setups.
Priced in the 51st percentile of its pro-tier peers in this category.
The ± band on the overall score reflects sourcing confidence — wider when fewer specs are verified.
Specifications
| Spec | Value | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| keys | 61Sourced | Sourced |
| connection | USB-C, MIDI DinSourced | Sourced |
2/2 detail specs sourced. Amber rows are flagged for verification — we show them as reported, not confirmed.
Verdict
Best for
- Fatar polyphonic-aftertouch keybed + full-color screen NKS control
Who should skip this
- Budget setups; non-NKS, non-Kontakt libraries
Where to buy
List price $849
$849 at one retailer — around list
Prices last checked Jun 13, 2026 — retailer prices change often, so click through for the current price.
Some links may be affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you; rankings are never influenced by it.
Platform support
Compatibility
No platform-specific compatibility requirements — this works in any standard music production setup.
Upgrade path
A top-tier keyboard controller — there's little to upgrade to within the category.