It’s like buying a Big Mac and a drink, you might as well get the ‘meal’ with fries for the same price. First because they want to sell you a controller keyboard or a Maschine, and second the pricing is co-dependent.
I think you have to separate the hardware buying decision from the software, which is tough in the case of NI. My interest in KK13 was mainly the sound libraries and instruments.
Meanwhile I'm clunking away on my old CASIO PX100 which not only hits the deck hard but returns hard as well.and no PB or MOD wheel. I'm still at a loss with what I'm going to do about a keyboard. MASSIVE X Expansions contain 150 presets each for our flagship synth, designed by pro designers who have mined its complex architecture for undiscovered. Best way to describe it is - if fingers were feet, then its like walking in thick mud. Really disappointed with the NI 88 keybed as well as Arturia Theyr'e touted as light, soft and pianolike but to me theyre nothing like that but action feels really sluggish. There is some really great quality stuff. Wont be using some of it, but I knew that anyway. 2021 Ableton Live 11 / Logic Pro X / GarageBand 10 / Cubase Pro 11.
Since I was seriously considering purchasing anyway, decided I'd make use of the opportunity that did come up, so picked up the K13 Collectors Edition. KORG Gadget is the best all-in-one music production software and plugin collection. I knew NI had specials but didn't know much more than that and didn't expect one any time soon. I guess it depends on what genre you're going for, but I'm really considering carefully if I need to get anything else. In my view Logic has plenty of great stuff and certainly adequate to make really good recordings. I'd recommend looking there about integration as people have commented on that. Spent quite a bit of time on NI forums seeing what people are saying in general. If you like pads, well, they dont have them on this keyboard. I couldn't really try it out properly as the shop only had Garageband. I want to go with an 88 keyboard and unfortunately the NI S88 didn't suit me at all, but when I tried it I saw how it was very well implemented with its software, with 2 hi resolution displays. Always stock Logic, so I'm pretty new to 3rd party and it was only because I'm looking for a keyboard controller that the software got my attention. I'm a long time Logic user but never had any 3rd party stuff. Native Instruments Komplete 11 Ultimate - Hard Drive Only (No license) USB3 HDD. I've been looking at the Collecters edition, where they say it *almost* has everything they've ever done. FM8 Patches Pack 60,000+ Ableton Cubase Logic Pro Studio Bitwig Tools. Not sure which tier you're thinking of but I've been thinking along the same lines as you.