NI Reaktor, I forgot how awesome it is

[electro]

Whats the status of Reaktor? Its being discontinued at version 6?

[ghettosynth]

U/I updates went out of the window for "blocks." Which, for the most part, was just a standard for creating modules in a specific way.

Blocks still need all the UI updates etc, so it's not as if they are mutually exclusive.

If anything along with blocks the UI stuff also improved. Blocks UIs are generally way ahead of the earlier beige industrial look.

Personally I think Blocks, though a bit of a sideshow, was really helpful and made reaktor much more accessible for a number of people.

I think NI kinda failed a bit with the marketing of Reaktor. The library and user library are vast and very capable, but I think this aspect was always a bit underplayed, and reaktor was always seen as too complicated and only for making things from scratch.

Well, I wasn't very clear and I'm only speculating anyway, but I don't mean U/I updates for the app itself, I mean for creating U/Is with the app. The GUI elements/building process sorely need an update and have for a long time.

It's just my opinion, but, I think that Reactor IS only for making things from scratch, or, using the things that other people make from scratch. I don't mean down to the lowest level, but for most users, even dragging modules that are at a lower level than a typical modular system module is too low level.

I agree though that the library is a bit of a shit-show. This is where I think that they missed the boat. They should have turned the library into a marketplace. Allow devs to upload their creations and either sell them or give them away. Give them the ability to either lock their modules or components, or not, their choice, take a cut of their sales. Then build the market into the app, like Cherry Audio, so that consumers can immediately purchase new things that show up in the library.

You don't have to give devs the ability create VSTs with Reaktor, you can stay right there in the middle taking your cut for eternity.

I reached out to NI in the past to enquire about the process of selling locked plugins, it's far too arduous of a process and that is why there isn't very much in terms of third party products for Reaktor.

I don't know, I don't run a big company, so what do I know. I think that Reaktor had the most momentum as a builder for many people and NI pissed that away for a mediocre adoption among average musicians and users.

[_leras]

I don't know, I don't run a big company, so what do I know. I think that Reaktor had the most momentum as a builder for many people and NI pissed that away for a mediocre adoption among average musicians and users.

Well... tbf Reaktor 5 was released in 2005, just before Massive and the Sylenth captured the zeitgeist. It hasn't really updated much since then

These two synths were probably the start of VSTs really replacing things like the Virus.

Most people probably want synths more than synth building tools. So I expect that it hasn't been a huge money maker after that.

[ghettosynth]

I don't know, I don't run a big company, so what do I know. I think that Reaktor had the most momentum as a builder for many people and NI pissed that away for a mediocre adoption among average musicians and users.

Well... tbf Reaktor 5 was released in 2005, just before Massive and the Sylenth captured the zeitgeist. It hasn't really updated much since then

These two synths were probably the start of VSTs really replacing things like the Virus.

Most people probably want synths more than synth building tools. So I expect that it hasn't been a huge money maker after that.

Yes, absolutely. Of course most people want synths and not building tools. However, builders want building tools and are willing to make synths and effects of high quality for little reward. Microsoft used to sell their C compiler to end users and hobbyists for hundreds of dollars in 80s/90s money, now it's free for some of your data unless you want the big version, which most people don't need.

5.5 was a good update in the right direction, for the most part. I actually liked the old MDI, but, whatever, I can change with the times. They were on a great track for a while and I'm not even mad about the ideas behind blocks. Cycling 74 is still around, in some sense, the market is really clear on this, there is some money in these kinds of marketplaces.

So, yeah, I'm not saying that it doesn't make sense that it didn't blow up with the average user, I'm saying that it was/is a fantastic builder that has a dedicated community behind it. Develop the tool for them and let them build synths and effects. It certainly works better for Kontakt than it does for Reactor. I think that this is especially interesting now that NI doesn't really produce much in the way of new plugins.

For end users, the biggest thing that they needed to do is figure out how to do presets properly.

Anyway, it's just wishful thinking on my part.

[Held]

Screenshot 2023-11-27 at 2.32.33 PM.png
https://www.toyboxaudio.com

Is the synth pack the only one which has polyphonic modules?

The Tangle pack does as well. It's really great and makes Reaktor much more usable in my opinion.

The Atomic Pack doesn't mention anything about polyphony, so it probably doesn't. But I didn't buy it, so I can't say for sure.

[kropotkin303]

I like Reaktor a lot and love exploring it. I have an old 32bit tablet and am trying to install Reaktor and older NI stuff on it, but having found the last 32 bit version of Native Access I am struggling to login to my account. Shame really as there are some great Reaktor ensembles that I think would run on this old machine.

[EnGee]

Screenshot 2023-11-27 at 2.32.33 PM.png
https://www.toyboxaudio.com

Is the synth pack the only one which has polyphonic modules?

The Tangle pack does as well. It's really great and makes Reaktor much more usable in my opinion.

The Atomic Pack doesn't mention anything about polyphony, so it probably doesn't. But I didn't buy it, so I can't say for sure.

I got the synth and atomic packs. Haven't checked everything yet, but the few presets are very generic and not inspiring. Maybe they act as tutorial presets only! First impression is that I liked the synth pack more, but still prefer the one by NI more.
I might get the Tangle pack soon. Thank you

[DrFolder]

I use multiple instances of Reaktor on everything I do. Blocks is very handy to me when building a track. I find it perfect to layer sounds exactly the way I want. As an example I can quickly create a mono kick drum and route to the exact output I need and from there I can layer the sound and add whatever element is needed. I also do this with VCV, but I prefer the Reaktor interface and I think it sounds really good.

[_leras]

So, yeah, I'm not saying that it doesn't make sense that it didn't blow up with the average user, I'm saying that it was/is a fantastic builder that has a dedicated community behind it. Develop the tool for them and let them build synths and effects. It certainly works better for Kontakt than it does for Reactor. I think that this is especially interesting now that NI doesn't really produce much in the way of new plugins.

For end users, the biggest thing that they needed to do is figure out how to do presets properly.

Anyway, it's just wishful thinking on my part.

Well you're not alone. Reaktor is great, but more updates would have been great. I'm glad it got to where it did though.

Some of the reaktor instruments from NI are just fantastic, but it's even really quite hard to find an up to date list of them.

Razor, polyplex, space master, form etc, but I also go back to some of the very basic early synths, they have some sonic qualities I really like.



Tbf a lot of the earlier ensembles and FX have been replaced by stand alone plug ins in komplete.

[bungle]

For end users, the biggest thing that they needed to do is figure out how to do presets properly.

Not really, the biggest thing they needed to do was to work out how to report latency to the host, which they never did, never intend to do, and makes Reaktor useless in any situation where an ensemble adds latency because PDC does not work.

[gentleclockdivider]

Not really, the biggest thing they needed to do was to work out how to report latency to the host, which they never did, never intend to do, and makes Reaktor useless in any situation where an ensemble adds latency because PDC does not work.

that's just user error , but I am sure you will come up with a competent reply
Just untick 'use static processing buffers 'if your host allows

[darkydisco]

This is gonna be a real long shot, but does anyone have the original Sinebeats ensemble?

[HOTF]

This is gonna be a real long shot, but does anyone have the original Sinebeats ensemble?

The closest thing i have found to the original is https://www.native-instruments.com/en/r ... show/2817/ . I think the original is out there on the internet archive but people in the comments you to enter a few line of codes to make them work https://archive.org/details/Ensembles

[ToneCarver]

This is gonna be a real long shot, but does anyone have the original Sinebeats ensemble?

If you have a "Legacy Library.zip" file in your "Reaktor Factory Library" folder, then SineBeats.ens should be in the zip file under the "Legacy Library Reaktor 3/Premium/Synths - Sequenced" folder.

[darkydisco]

Thanks gentlemen.