Not many really good new UL Reaktor Ensembles

[HeavensOnEarth]

Once there was this really gorgeous barmaid working in a fancy club, and she played drums. So I got two Pringles cans, cut them different lengths, took them in to her, and tapped the bottom metal different lengths in to make different sounds. She grabbed them, oh boy she loved them. She took them down to a friend's house in Malibu, they loved them too and made a Pringle's comercial, with the kids all tapping away happpily on the bottom, she was so happy! All one needs is something that makes sound and a little joy. Of course it's fun to have the fancy things too, but if one can't do it with a Pringle's can, will an expensive drumset be any better????

[ew]

I think I'm going to do some "Reaktor only" tracks.

You should- I've done a bunch of them over the years. This is one of my favorites...

ew

[Jesse J]

Reaktor is amazing and the content of the UL is even more amazing! Soundwise, it's superb. Technically, fine, but sure things could get better. The 5.5 update was really a nice update to the general useability.

The only grief I find with the whole Reaktor "experience" is that the user library voting is broken and the interaction between users is dated when it comes to the possibilities of modern day social media..

NI should really update the UL and bring it up to date, let people communicate, collaborate, brainstorm and share content better, using youtube, soundcloud, etc.. post iterations/modifications/versions related to the original, additional presets etc. Possibly integrate notifications/downloading of new versions of ensambles/instruments (and their presets/samplebanks) into reaktor itself etc etc. Modernize!

I wouldn't even think a micropayment system would be bad. I can imagine paying 0.79€ for some really great content/ensable/presets, even if I think Reaktor content should be free per se.

[ew]

A redo of the UL's been on the to do list for quite a while. When it'll happen and what it will involve I can't say.

ew

[HeavensOnEarth]

Thank you ew, very informative )

'the UL'
is commonspeak in Reaktor community. It refers to a set of Reaktor files hosted in a database on Native Instruments' website.

Those are really nice ideas for a new site. I don't beleive there is anything preventing customers from downloading files and making it themselves.

[whyterabbyt]

I don't beleive there is anything preventing customers from downloading files and making it themselves.

yes, there is. its called 'copyright law'

[ew]

I don't beleive there is anything preventing customers from downloading files and making it themselves.

yes, there is. its called 'copyright law'

Indeed. If someone were to clone the library, they better have permission from everybody whose ensembles they're planning on having in it.

@ Ernest- you should remember this coming up in the forum a few years ago; someone had at first offered a DVD subscription to the library, and when we said no, wrote a Python script to download the entire UL, which he then posted in the forum. Not only did this earn him a ban from the forum, he also had a "friendly" visit from the legal team...

ew

[HeavensOnEarth]

Hi ew. No, I didn't know that happened.

I hope it doesn't happen again. Thanks for letting us all know.

[HeavensOnEarth]

I thought about this qustion some more, as people are interested in Reaktor and want something new.

Logically, the best new ensembles are the ones which Native Instruments sells itself rather than just put in its own free library. The people working at Native Instruments know not only the internals and capabilities of Reaktor, but also its future plans. No one else has that information. So, to stay abreast of the newest ideas possible, the best thing to do, logically, is to buy the ensembles which the vendor makes itself as separate commercial products.

[HeavensOnEarth]

Looking through this thread, some ensembles called something like Spark and Razor have received general, enthusiastic comments, but nothing in specific.

Thank you for permitting me the time to think about it properly. I'm sorry this answser requires spending more money, I understand some of the other people writing here don't have the funds for it, and could be disappointed with this answer. Perhaps some other buyers would like to speak about the commercial ensembles from NI for Reaktor for others' benefit?

Have fun with music every one)

[Jesse J]

I thought about this qustion some more, as people are interested in Reaktor and want something new.

Logically, the best new ensembles are the ones which Native Instruments sells itself rather than just put in its own free library.

"Best" is quite subjective. The User Library is packed with gems, the more experience/knowledge in the field you have, the more you will appreciate the library. You can search for a certain tool or approximation of a vintage synth/equipment for a certain task and lo and behold, you find it there. That's what is fantastic with Reaktor. And then you can customize that specific tool further to your very own needs..

I can understand it's confusing and overwhelming both with the vast library and the steepish learning curve of Reaktor itself for someone who wants to produce their first hit and need a "best" dubstep (or whatever the taste of the day is) synth with all the bulk sounds for that genre. But everyone starts somewhere and thus I feel the examples/learning/sharing aspect of the UL should be improved on.

[HeavensOnEarth]

Well that's true too. The extra cost ones are helpful when one wants to learn how to make something, or do something unusual. Most people don't buy the extra ensembles because there's so many in the user libraray anyway to sate normal curiosity. For a pro musician or instrument designer, there could be very few people out there with the extra ones not in the company's library.

Phil Durrant listens to every single ensemble, and has been since 2004 or earlier. He's a good person to ask.

For me, it's back to the Pringle cans for a while though. Designing with Reaktor filters was bad for my tinnitis, and they still ring, so I play with less dangerous experimental sounds these days )

[Jesse J]

Designing with Reaktor filters was bad for my tinnitis, and they still ring, so I play with less dangerous experimental sounds these days )

Have you tried Magnesium supplements? Helped me personally and I got rid of my tinnitus. Supposedly there is two kinds of tinnitus, physical damage and lack of minerals, go figure.

As with every software based filter I've heard, I always like the real analog hardware ones in my modular better...

[HeavensOnEarth]

Is that what the doctor's said? Must be new thougt of some kind--They never told me about Magnesium. Thanks for the advice.

When auditioning Reaktor ensembles contributed by users I haven't before, I use a 2-step method for self protection: first, I put everything through an external limiter, preferably a hardware one, or UAD-1 if possible; and second, when the limiter's not available, I put the PC-to-speaker connection in a loop around my foot, so I can yank it out the jack with a quick kick if necessary upon unexpected feedback. That saved me--and my neigbors--a number of times.

[whyterabbyt]

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