Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 USB Interface
Capture up to four analog channels through high-end Cirrus Logic A/D converters on the Komplete Audio 6 USB interface, including S/PDIF digital and MIDI I/O.
Overall User Ratings (based on 10 ratings)
Submitted December 21, 2012 by Darren H in Snellville, GA
"One of the best Audio Interfaces on the market"
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zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I own this and I love it, Clear, precise and smooth. I have this connected to a Intel Core I5 and it runs with precision. I am able to take it on the go as it fits easily into a pc/mac bag along with my engine (pc) and midi cables. Buy this powerful little machine as you will NOT go wrong!!!
Sound
Quiet smooth running A / I
Features
Separate monitoring from 1/2 or 3/4. Several inputs. Included Cubase AI Elements 6
Ease of Use
EASY, EASY, EASY
Quality
Well built. Quality for a small price
Value
As with all equipment, this will last a long time with proper care.
Manufacturer Support
I have not had to get in contact with themas I have not needed them.
The Wow Factor
WOW!! I love it.
Musical Background:
Producer
Musical Style:
I produce MUSIC
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Submitted August 28, 2011 by a customer from gmail.com
"Cute but Powerful"
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I see this interface lasting me for at least the next 4 years if not longer, with a nice system, I can see this thing being realllly good.
Sound
Seems like the drivers and chips are pretty solid, so the sound is great.
Features
Nice volume knob on top! I've been using this thing as my main sound card and it sounds pretty nice. I just wish they had more specifications in terms of processing power required. I'm using a 2007 Macbook with 2.16 intel core 2 duo with 2.5 GB RAM, which I thought would be plenty of power, but I get lapses. I imagine these issues would be resolved with either a clean install or a better performing system. There's a good amount of I/O, but be aware that if you want to use this for live applications and intend on sending a stereo signal, then you must use 2 inputs/per instrument you hook up. The small size is also an added bonus.
Ease of Use
Very easy to use. Throw disc in, wait for driver's to install, plug in the interface.
Quality
As others have said, this things is built very solid.
Value
Well worth the purchase. I always love NI's stuff.
Manufacturer Support
Can't rate, but I've heard some bad things about NI support, hope I never have to find out!
The Wow Factor
The indicator LED's are very pretty in addition to the small size (as mentioned above).
Musical Background:
Hobbyist, Bass, Producer
Musical Style:
Experimental, Electronic, Rock
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Submitted January 16, 2014 by a customer from msn.com in Joliet, IL
"Really Impressed"
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After months of research this was just the interface I was looking for. I was using an M-Audio Mobile Pre for the past 6+ years which served it's purpose pretty well but now I was looking for something with a little more power and professional sound quality. This is were the KA6 came in perfectly. The wow factor is how it handles vocals and how clean the sound comes thru my Mackie MR5 monitors. I had major concerns about upgrading my OS to Marvericks and if whether or not the KA6 would have driver issues like the M-Audio product line is currently experiencing. This too had a profound effect on me deciding to move in another direction from the Mobile Pre. Well, so far I'm not having any problems whatsoever. Mavericks seems to play well with the sound card as the NI website stated it would. My only regret is that I waited and could have been experiencing this fantastic sound quality sooner!
Musical Background:
been playing music for as long as I can remember. I play mostly keyboard but not professionally. Mainly home production.
Musical Style:
hip-hop, rob, gospel, pop and electronic club dance
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Submitted April 14, 2016 by ray taylor in wichita falls, TX
"Amazing build quality "
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Amazing sound, very heavy, which is good because when you push the buttons on the front it does not move around the desk like my M-audio interface, There are a ton of inputs on this very small item, super portable and the sound quality is just about as good as you can get on a micro interface without going to an apogee or a Avid HD interface. "I have both"
Musical Background:
14 years producing
Musical Style:
Hiphop, R&B, classical,
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Submitted June 6, 2016 by Ray taylor in Wichita falls, TX
"pro gear"
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zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This is a very nice, built like a tank audio interface, it has pro level quality if configured correctly, Make sure you have a decent computer and also make sure you set you bitrate properly or you will have Pops and clicks, there are a few sites that give it a bad review because you have to take a few extra steps to get the sound you want, but if you are from the pro-tools generation then this will fit in your studio just fine. highly recommend to a person that is serious but cant get a thousand dollar interface.
Musical Background:
drum machine, keyboards
Musical Style:
HIphop, jazz,
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Submitted July 27, 2017 by Hathor Gaia in Mesa, AZ
"It does everything that I need it to do."
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zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This is a decent interface. It works great and has high build quality. I am using it in the studio, but it definitely seems like it is rugged enough for the road. I have used in on both Windows and Mac. It is aesthetically pleasing. NI seems to make quality products and they somehow keep the prices reasonable for us starving artists. Plus zZounds generous financing makes this a no-brainer if you don't already have an interface. Perhaps audiophiles will be more nitpicky, but I'm a musician not an audio engineer, and it certainly gets the job done.
Musical Background:
Semi-professional studio musician/music producer
Musical Style:
electronic, industrial, orchestral
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Submitted July 13, 2011 by a customer from yahoo.com
"Great Card, but..."
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Overall I like the product. I did return it due the preamp issue. Since it doesn't work with the mic I chose I'll have to get something else. Otherwise this would work for me.
Sound
I previously had the Audio Kontrol 1 and loved the sound. I needed more inputs and bought the KA6 I think the sound is slightly better on this unit. Nice conversion and decent pre's.
Features
I love the big volume knob on top. I don't like the fact that unlike the Audio Kontrol 1 the AK6 doesn't have a separate volume control for outputs 3-4. I have a small mixer to handle this but a missed feature non the less. Nice NI software package included as well as Cubase 5 LE. ADAT would be nice.
Ease of Use
Very easy to setup. I didn't bother with the drivers disk I downloaded the drivers from NI's site. I use Win 7x64 and Cubase 5. No clicks, pops, and low latency. Not as low as my Echo Gina 3G but nothing that affected performance.
Quality
Built like a tank. Small and compact but very solid but...
Here's where I had a problem. I ordered this with a CAD M179 Microphone. The CAD seems to draw a little more current than the average LDC. It didn't work with the KA6. Works on my other interface. Bummer.
Manufacturer Support
As mentioned above I had a problem with a CAD M179 Mic. Native Instruments Support is not very good. I submitted an online request. I'm still waiting for an answer. I finally got someone on the phone. Their phone support is only from 11am-5pm PST. I live in PST and have a regular 8-5 job so it's hard to call during those hours. When I explained the problem, they quickly offered to have me send the unit back to them for repair/replacement. This leads me think there is a known issue here.
The Wow Factor
As mentioned above, built like a tank.
Musical Background:
Active Musician, Hobby Engineer/Producer
Musical Style:
Jazz, R&B
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Submitted May 16, 2015 by Francisco Gonzalez in Draper, UT
"Great audio interface"
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zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
No complaints. This thing sounds great, has a quality feel, and works very well with my Mac running OS X Yosemite.
Musical Background:
Played Clarinet from 5th grade to University symphonic band. I've dabbled in keyboards on and off for 25 years.
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Submitted April 15, 2015 by Shawn D in Colorado Springs, CO
"Well built but with issues."
I purchased the KA6 a few months ago. I previously owned an Audio 8 interface that I used with Traktor Scratch Pro. The Audio 8 interface was used with the same system and worked very well.
After installing the KA6 there have been numerous issues. The interface experiences dropouts and clicks/pops. I have followed all troubleshooting steps. I have adjusted the USB buffer and sample size, adjusted the DAW settings, removed the system audio device, adjusted the system power scheme, eliminated system throttling, removed all other USB devices and disabled them in the device manager, I have uninstalled and reinstalled the device several times, and I have completely wiped and reinstalled the O/S. None of the recommended troubleshooting steps have resolved the issue.
I am using a 2.2 duo core with 8 GB of RAM and the system meets or exceeds the device requirements. I don't believe this to be system related as I had no issues with the previous Native Instruments audio interface.
I have researched this issue only to find numerous reports of the same issue. I have yet to find a solution or work-around. I will be updating to a newer system in the near future. I am going to keep the interface and try again with that system. I suspect that if I experience the same issues then I will purchase another brand of interface.
The device seems to give almost decent audio quality when set to CD quality sound, with highest USB buffer setting, at almost 19.3 ms of latency. The NI latency test shows no system spikes. LatencyMon shows no system issues. The device works well as long as it has only 1 client in use. If the client is in use with more than 1 client then drop-puts are common. Disabling then enabling the interface from the sound manager may work; often all clients need to be closed and re-opened.
In addition I had trouble registering the device on the NI site. After researching I found that many others experienced the same issue. I contacted NI support with a picture of my serial number from the device and was able to have them register it.
The pros: Comes with a reasonable amount of trial/demo software. Well built - rugged chassis. Huge volume knob for easy access. Intuitive design.
Cons: Terrible sound quality with the clicks/pops, drop-outs, and constant resets. Latency issues (some what acceptable sound quality with 19.3 ms of latency).
Musical Background:
Multi-instumentalist, producer/composer
Musical Style:
EDM, hip-hop, downtempo
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