On the one hand, the K2’s layering system gives it lots of options when configuring it to work with just about any software, but on the other, the F1’s super tight integration with Traktor is a huge feather in its cap. There’s really nothing in it when it comes to controls; it seems to me that around an equal amount of people will prefer the options offered by each controller. Whilst the F1 has RGB lights (although they only work properly in Traktor mode right now) and slightly bigger and nicer buttons, the K2 has more knobs. And while the Kontrol F1 performance pads are a head turner, to get more adventurous with MIDI, and have greater control of more software features for the widest range of applications, the Xone:K2 has more going for it.

Perhaps this is a different folks, different strokes issue, but both lumps of gear have their own incentives for purchase. The K2 doubles up as a great sounding audio interface and comes with a carry case, but the F1 is marginally cheaper and includes a Traktor Pro licence. Then you’ll be able to specify the Hue (color/tint), saturation (fade between full-color and white), and Brightness (the intensity of the light) via MIDI Messages.There’s nothing else on the market that can handle such a task with arcane hackery, so if you’re dead set on travelling down NI’s new road, the F1 is the controller for you.

But if we’re talking about MIDI controller vs MIDI controller on a level playing field, the issue becomes considerably harder to resolve. Even though I don’t expect the F1 to fall apart any time soon, the K2 just has that little extra attention paid to its construction that make me think it might make it through just that bit nastier a bump. The default is channel 16, please see page 13 of the 1D user guide describing how to change the midi channel of the second 1D to channel 15. I do mean just, though, and it’s mainly because I think most users will do the majority of their mapping on a single layer whether they have the option to use multiple layers or not. Download the latest driver from the link above and run the installer, connect both XONE:1Ds when prompted on-screen, once driver installation is completed there will be 2 instances of the XONE MIDI device in the Sounds, Video and Game Controllers section of the Windows Device Manager, this indicates the installation has completed successfully.

When it comes down to it, it’s the F1’s Traktor integration that’s the major differentiator between the two products; if you use Traktor, then unless you have absolutely no interest in the Remix Decks the F1 is a no brainer purchase. The Kontrol F1 has pinch style, short throw faders, the Xone K2 has longer, looser faders with studio style caps. I would specify that this is not a gap of the controller since any other software actually fully support HSB messages over midi.