Native Instruments has announced Kontakt 3, the latest version of its software sampler. This new version is centered around a highly sophisticated next-generation instrument library, while also adding a wide range of new functions and refinements in all areas of the software.
NI claims that the new instrument library in Kontakt 3 goes far beyond what samplers have offered so far in terms of universal musical value. Over 1000 highly expressive and ready-to-play instruments enable Kontakt 3 to fill nearly every imaginable musical role and application "out of the box". The library consists of six themed collections titled "Band", "Orchestral", "Synth", "Urban Beats", "Vintage" and "World", all based on over 33 GB of high-quality source material that takes full advantage of the sound shaping capabilities of the Kontakt engine.
To unlock the full creative potential of the sample material, every single instrument in each collection of the Kontakt 3 library is outfitted with a specialized "Performance View" panel that puts all essential sound parameters at the user's fingertips for quick and convenient control. Drum kits even include their own programmable step sequencer, world instruments offer sophisticated tuning scale options, synthesizers come with arpeggiators and detailed voicing controls. This advanced functionality is based on Kontakt's unique KSP scripting technology.
The comprehensive sound design capabilities of Kontakt are further extended in the new version through the addition of innovative Zone Envelopes. These highly flexible free-form envelopes are directly applied on the waveform, and add a deep yet intuitive new aspect to the powerful modulation features of Kontakt. A new sample editor now also enables direct editing of waveforms for audio trimming, cutting and similar tasks directly within Kontakt 3. Handling of loops and musical phrases greatly benefits from an improved wave editor, which offers superior slice detection, a flexible beat grid feature and the option to export sliced loops as MIDI files via Drag&Drop at any time.
The ease-of-use and efficiency of Kontakt 3 is profoundly increased on every level, both through a substantial general user interface overhaul as well as through various feature additions. This includes a new "Instrument Navigator" and "Monitor Tab", a "Modulation Quick-Jump" feature, and an enhanced mapping editor that makes creating and editing sound easier. The user interface is further augmented with a new integrated help panel that provides explanations and hints for nearly all functions and controls right within the software, making it easier to fully take advantage of the vast functionality that Kontakt 3 offers.
Other improvements in Kontakt 3 include several new effect algorithms, additional supported sample formats, substantially faster loading times and much more.
Kontakt 3 is also fully compatible with KORE, the advanced host system from Native Instruments.
Pricing and availability
Kontakt 3 will be available in October for a suggested retail price of $449 / €399. An update for owners of Kontakt 2 will be offered at $149 / €129.
Kontakt 3 Library Information
The Kontakt 3 library is a unique resource of highly usable sounds. It contains more than 1000 instruments sampled in high quality and conditioned for maximum usability. The library is organized in six individual instruments collections, each with its own distinctive flavour. Every collection has its own performance view with a consistent set of controls reflecting the specific creative possibilities of the respective instrument. These controls are not only related to sound design, but also include performance features such as harmonizers or a selection of tuning scales, and grant direct access to the most important effects parameters. All controls within the performance views are preassigned in compliance with the General MIDI 2 standard, allowing owners of most external MIDI controllers to maximize Kontakt's accessibility right out of the box.
Band Collection
The Band Collection assembles an assortment of sounds directed towards all types of modern pop music production. Responding to high demand in Kontakt's user base, it contains a comprehensive range of brass sections and solo instruments, with performance effects optimized for Funk & Soul related genres. A high-quality selection of pianos has been distilled from Native Instruments' renowned Akoustik Piano and Elektrik Piano software instruments. The Band Collection also contains a carefully sampled vintage Hammond C3 organ as well as four new guitar instruments complete with selectable pickup positions and amplifier settings as performance parameters. The updated assortment of highly realistic drum kits is now combined with a performance-oriented drum computer, instantly contextualizing the sounds of each kit with 12 production-ready patterns. The drum computer and all preset patterns of a kit are easily editable from within the performance view.
Vintage Collection
This collection focuses on aged electronic hardware instruments, both analog and early digital. All devices were sampled in the most direct way possible to allow for maximum transparency. In addition to several revered hardware synthesizers, the Vintage Collection includes a unique assortment of electronic keyboards from the 1970's, various musical toys, and a faithful recreation of a vintage string synthesizer including its original performance features. To achieve the most realistic experience in playing the sounds of monophonic hardware synthesizers, a new legato mode was implemented, suppressing the retriggering of envelopes when playing overlapping notes.
World Collection
Gathering ethnic instruments from all over the planet, the World Collection gives users of Kontakt the opportunity to include extraordinary acoustic instruments from a variety of different cultures in their music. Instruments such as the bag pipe, different flutes, string instruments, accordions, and metallophones were not only extensively sampled, but their original playing style has also been adapted to the MIDI keyboard thanks to Kontakt's versatile performance features. The World Collection additionally contains various percussion instruments and sampled loops of their respective musical contexts.
Synth Collection
Complementing the Vintage Collection of aged and accomplished electronic sounds, the Synth Collection lays its focus on the modern sound possible with today's synthesizers. Many instruments make use of layers that are editable separately via their performance view. Additionally, an assortment of contemporary electronic drum kits is included complete with matching patterns from the integrated drum computer.
Urban Beats Collection
This collection allows users of Kontakt to easily put together up-to-date productions in the various styles of urban "black" music. A selection of more than 50 performance suites includes fully arranged loops, each with a number of variations. Every loop is also available in separate parts of individual sounds, giving the users full flexibility in rearranging or recontextualizing their material.
Orchestral Collection
Consisting of essential instruments from the renowned Vienna Symphonic Library™, the Orchestral Collection in the Kontakt 3 library offers helpful performance features such as a harmonizer for typical string arrangements, quick switching between harmonizer and legato modes, and faithful performance articulations for percussion instruments. In addition to the VSL instruments, further high-quality percussion and keyboard instruments are included with this collection.
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