Here’s how to set up a Korg NanoKontrol2 MIDI control surface on Windows 11 Pro, with Digital Performer 11, or other similar DAW’s.
This setup will be solely used for controlling the expression, dynamics, vibrato, volume, etcetera, of the instruments in an orchestral sample library, via the MIDI continuous control messaging sent by manipulating the unit’s faders.
I won’t go into using the controller to control the digital transport and on-screen faders in DP11, past what the instruction manual provides, for that particular DAW.
This article is part of a larger series on building a music production PC for use with orchestral sample libraries. Click here to read the main article, How to Build a Music Production Computer.
Download the latest driver for Windows
Before you even take the nanoKontrol2 out of the box, go to the Korg website and download the latest Windows driver.
Link: here is the link to the Korg website page, where the appropriate driver can be found for the
This driver is appropriate for Windows 11, and Windows 10 64-bit. However, on the website there is a link to previous versions of the driver. I’ve installed it on my PC, that I’ve just got done building in the first quarter of 2024, which has Windows 11 Pro on it. It seems to be working fine there.
Related: if you want to check out the parts I used to build my music production PC that can house all the modern orchestral sample libraries, check out my article entitled, How to Build a Music Production Computer. It covers everything you need to know about building a PC for orchestral music production in 2024.
And of course install your driver before going on to the next step.
Download the latest Korg Kontrol Editor for Windows
The Korg Kontrol Editor looks a bit dated for Windows 11, but again, it will work for this version.
Link: here is the link to the Korg Kontrol Editor download page.
Again be sure to install the editor before you proceed to the next step and plug in your controller.
Plug your nanoKontrol2 in
The nanoKontrol2 comes with a cord that plugs into your PC via an A-type USB slot.
Pick a particular USB slot on your PC that you can exclusively use the controller with. I haven’t tried to change mine up since I installed it, but I heard the driver is finicky, in that it expects that the controller will be plugged into the same exact port each and every time, and possibly won’t recognize it if it’s in a different one than the what was used for your initial setup.
Before you plug it in the first time, press and hold down the cycle and set buttons. This will tell the driver that you want to use the unit as a midi CC controller. There are other button combinations that you can use on the step if you want to use the Nano control 2 as a transport for your digital audio workstation.
While holding your buttons down, plug the unit in. After a few seconds you can let go of the buttons. At this point you should notice that the power light in the upper left hand corner of the controller is on.
If the power light does not come on, then you’ll have to troubleshoot. I initially got a defective unit, where the power light would not light up when plugging the unit in.
However no other lights on the controller should be lit up at this point. Indeed when using the controller in MIDI CC mode, none of the other lights will ever be on.
Launch the Korg Kontrol Editor
Next launch the Korg Kontrol Editor app, and it should immediately recognize your nanoKontrol2. You’ll know if it does, as it will have a picture of that particular model front and center in the app. With your mouse click this picture and then click the okay button.
If it doesn’t recognize it, and instead has a long graphic list of Korg midi controllers to scroll through, that’s likely a bad sign, but go ahead and scroll down to the nanoKontrol2 and select it, just in case. But you’re likely going to have to troubleshoot at that point. Again because the first unit I tried was defective and would not power on, the editor would not recognize it. The solution was just to exchange it for a working controller. So double check the power light is on, on your unit.
Troubleshooting tip: older Korg drivers expect the nanoKontrol2 to be in MIDI slots 0-9
With previous versions of the Korg driver, it expected the nanoKontrol2, or any other Korg MIDI controller, to reside in MIDI slots 0 through 9 in Windows. Otherwise your controller would not work, or possibly be recognized by the Kontrol Editor. So make sure you have the latest drivers installed, if you are having trouble with getting the Kontrol Editor to recognize your controller.
For more information on this limitation, please refer to the YouTube video entitled, Fixing Korg USB MIDI Driver Issues in Windows 10 and windows 11 in 2022 by Ian Dixon.
Edit your midi CC#’s for your faders
At this point you can assign specific midi CC#’s for each fader.
Generally, for orchestral sample libraries, your first three faders should be dynamics, expression, and vibrato, which are CC#’s 1, 11, and possibly 21.
Click the box that’s directly below the leftmost fader, and a window should open that allows you to change the midi CC number to whatever you’d like. I chose CC number 1 for mine, but you can choose whichever one that is comfortable for you.
Also in this window double check that the fader is enabled, so that it has the ability to send this midi data to your DAW, when operating it. As of the time of writing this article, which is the first quarter of 2024, all the faders that came on my unit were already enabled, and had pre-assigned MIDI controller numbers.
The rightmost fader was pre-assigned a midi CC number of 7, which controls volume in my DAW, and subsequently in Kontact. So I just left that one as is.
Apply and save your changes
To apply and save your changes in the Korg Kontrol Editor, click the ‘Communication’ tab in the top left-hand area of the editor’s window. A small drop-down sub-menu should pop up, from which you should pick the ‘write scene data’ option. A small warning box should appear that says “this operation will rewrite data on the nanoKontrol2 are you sure?” Go ahead and click ‘okay’ there. Once you have done so, you are controller should have the ability to send your assigned midi CC data.
It should also be noted that simply clicking the ‘File’ option from the upper left hand menu, and then clicking ‘save’ will not reassign the factory defaulted midi CC information on the faders to your preferences that you just dialed in. Ultimately, as previously stated, you have to use the ‘write scene data’ option to imprint your preferences into the controller.
Digital performer 11
Digital performer 11 should automatically recognize the midi CC data that your Korg nanoKontrol2 is now sending to your computer, as you move a fader. Hence you should be able to control your dynamics, expression, vibrato, etcetera, of your orchestral sample library using the controller at this point. You should also already be able to record automation of these parameters simply by arming a midi track, clicking record, and manipulating your faders at liberty.
Further assigning your transport controls to Digital Performer 11 goes beyond the scope of this article. But if you are interested in assigning these buttons, please read chapter 56, ‘Custom Consoles’, in the Digital Performer user guide. This starts on page 723 of the current manual as of the first quarter of 2024.
Using the nanoKontrol2 as an audio mixing controller in DP11
Korg has provided preset programming to use the nanoKontrol2 as an audio mixing surface for Digital Performer. However to use this functionality, you will be losing the ability to control midi CC data with your faders.
Using the nanoKontrol2 in this manner is again beyond the scope of this article; we are orchestral sample library users here. But the below graphic is what Korg provides as a means of programming your controller in such manner.
The first step is to unplug your unit, power up your PC, and in the same USB slot that you always use for your Nano control 2, plug it back in while holding the set and fast forward buttons. The rest of the steps, which you can read below, are performed inside Digital Performer.
Cubase
I’m not a Cubase user, but it’s likely this DAW responds in similar fashion to Digital Performer, and you should already be able to control your orchestral sample library with your nanoKontrol2.
However if you would further like to have transport control of Cubase with your controller, please refer to the YouTube video entitled, Korg nanoKontrol2 Setup – Full DAW and Midi CC Control, by Kristopher Fisher, specifically the section from 5 minutes 28 seconds in the video onward to its end.
Using the nanoKontrol2 as an audio mixing controller in Cubase
To use the nanoKontrol2 as an audio mixing controller in Cubase, unplug your unit, power up your PC, and in the same USB slot that you always use for your Nano control 2, plug it back in while holding the set and rewind buttons. The rest of the steps, which you can read below, are performed inside Digital Performer.
Again it should be re-emphasized that programming the controller in such fashion destroys its ability to be used as a midi CC controller for your orchestral sample libraries.
Next up
Thanks for checking out my article on how to set up the Korg nanoKontrol2 for orchestral sample libraries!
If your PC or DAW just doesn’t want to cooperate with the nanoKontrol2, please read my article, Midi Fader Controllers for Orchestral Sample Libraries. I’ve compiled a list of MIDI fader controllers that I think would be adequate for modern orchestral sample libraries. There I’ve also listed some compatibilities with different DAW’s, and posted links to user reported issues concerning compatibility.
And of course, Korg’s manual for the unit also has a small troubleshooting section.
Take care…