Just saw this, didn't see it listed on GS yet (mods please correct me if I missed it):

NAMM 2025: StudioLogic’s new SL mk2 MIDI keyboards promise tight control of both the Numa Player 2 software and your favourite DAW

https://www.musicradar.com/music-tec...-favourite-daw

Lack of poly aftertouch, and those stupidly small and uncomfortable controllers on the left side, are an enormous oversight in my opinion.
It's a shame, because the keybord feels great.

Yeah the poly aftertouch is a shortcoming, but what controller of this kind at this price has it? It has channel aftertouch, MIDI 2.0 support, the "improved" TP/110 hammer action (from the Numa X Piano 73), plus a basic audio interface (interesting). I'm not a fan of the little sticks either, but they managed to keep the price about the same (from what I can see on Sweetwater)... so this actually looks very promising to me. I'll be eager to try one when they ship.

The NI Kontrol S88 Mk3 for example has poly aftertouch, and proper wheels.
However I don't think it has the same keyboard as the SL88 GT Mk2, and it doesn't support MIDI 2.0.
What upsets it with Studiologic in general, is that gelerally their products are very good, but there are always a couple of shortcomings that make them... Well, not great to be honest.

The NI Kontrol S88 MK3 is very good in many regards, but it costs more than 2X as much as the SL mk2 series. That's my main point. Where are you going to find a decent bed in a controller anywhere near the price? But yes, I agree, there are shortcomings and some of them are odd shortcomings, like the sticks, which are not great. I wish they'd replace them, or at least add wheels.

Personally, I don't want any of the extra features of NI Kontrol, I want something very simple. But I want a few things improved on the SL mk2. The "perfect" controller still doesn't exist for me. But I will give the SL mk2 a good test when I can. I've been in the market for a new 73+ controller and it's pretty close. If I could replace the sticks, I'd be basically happy with the SL73 mk2. Poly aftertouch would also be nice of course, but not quite as necessary on a weighted keybed, where IMO it's harder to play/control. Channel aftertouch is fine for weighted IMO.

Although now that I think of it, there's enough space on top of the SL to attach a small third-party wheel controller or small device with a wheel controller on it... I'm going to look into that.

It’s weird they’re not building a flagship TP/8S controller.

I thought one of the features of the S88 Mk3 was that it supported MIDI 2.0?

I was about to pull the plug on Kontrol S61 mk3 today, but then I read a couple of long threads about major problems with velocity inconsistencies. I wonder if that is due to not having poly AT engineered quite right yet? I also want a simple controller with premium keybed and wheels. Seems like there just isn’t a market for it, surprisingly?

I’d happily pay for a simple Fatar TP8/S-based controller. But most people haven’t had the pleasure of using one, and don’t know what they’re missing.

Isn't Studiologic known for it's solid keybed?

It’s all Fatar keybeds in SL but there are many models. The best synth action Fatar is TP/8S but no controller uses that as it’s too expensive.

In the past many flagship synths had it but now it’s rare even there (I had a few and stupidly sold them).

Anyway, there are many kinds of Fatar action, the piano-feel SL models use a variety, with the TP/400 Wood being the best.