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Reaktor

$449 / €379

Reaktor has an average user rating of 3.67 from 12 reviews

Rate & Review Reaktor

User Reviews by KVR Members for Reaktor

Reaktor

Reviewed By Jace-BeOS [all]
December 19th, 2005
Version reviewed: 5 on Windows

Reaktor 5 was my first real introduction to the abyss that is Native Instruments' Reaktor product. If you are interested in designing sound creation machines without working with actual hardware (wiring, PCboards, components) then this is the tool for you. If you can imagine it, you can probably build it with Reaktor. If you're not interested in building your own synths, this is also a fantastic platform for playing with pre-made synths. Reaktor comes with about 15 to 20 premade "pieces of kit" to play with. They're all unique and show consideration for visual and ease of use design as well as functionality. Then, on top of that, there is the user library of 2000+ Reaktor creations.

If you are curious about building synths from scratch and have been interested in, but not so pleased with the results of, SynthEdit, Reaktor may be the tool for you. Unlike SynthEdit, the prefabs (called ensembles) sound amazing and you could spend hours just playing those. Also, the sound quality found in Reaktor is leaps and bounds better than SynthEdit. My only gripe between the two where SynthEdit wins is that you can build stand alone VSTs with SynthEdit. Surely some great sounding synths have come from SynthEdit; i'm not bashing SE at all, but i do think that the sound quality of Reaktor is far and away beyond that which is easily accomplished in SE. i really would like if Reaktor allowed you to build standalone VSTs, but that's just my desire for minimalization with interface windows in my hosts.

Reaktor is a DEEP product. You don't have to go deep with it if you don't want to. Use it just as a player of other people's constructions if you like. But if you REALLY want to explore, Reaktor gives you lightyears of space to work with.

The documentation is pretty good, considering how complex this product can be. i haven't built anything from scratch myself, but i am eager to learn and Reaktor doesn't leave you scratching your head as to how and why it works. The manuals cover all the components in at least a useful and functional way.

The new features are nice. Having fully customizable UI design is great for making ensembles "feel" unique from each other. i've toyed with previous versions and it's nice to have different UI looks as part of the overall experience. One of the new features is called Core components and i wont even try to talk about them here. If you're a very serious synth designer, you'll love it.

If you only ever buy one soft synth, buy Reaktor. As a previous reviewer stated, Reaktor is like having the box of parts that Native Instruments uses to build their products. You can play forever or you can build forever. If you do choose to buy more than one soft synth, buy the rest of Native Instruments' stuff. All NI products are great. (no, i don't work for them)
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Comments & Discussion for Native Instruments Reaktor

Discussion
Discussion: Active
ryanmallen
ryanmallen
9 December 2014 at 10:21pm

Heavyocity has just released two new Reaktor instruments (BitRate II and MonoBoy) developed in conjunction with Icebreaker Audio.

BitRate II is a retro drum synth with sound engines covering chipsounds, FM synthesis, lofi sampling, and glitchy circuit bending. The drums can be triggered via MIDI or from the internal sequencer.

MonoBoy is a melodic counterpart for BitRate II. MonoBoy uses similar sound engines, but in an interface more suited to melodic playing.

The BitRate II Bundle (BitRate and MonoBoy) ships with a total of 140 preset snapshots including a variety of sounds from kits and beats to synths and samples, and is available as a two week limited-time offer of $29.

BitRate II Key Features:

- 5 drum slots into which you can load any one of 4 sound engines.

- 4 lo-fi digital sound engines: Chip, FM, Sampler, Glitch.

- The ability to sample from the audio input into a custom-built sample engine.

- A built-in sequencer with 2 modulation sequences per drum.

- Per-track sequence length, allowing for complex poly-rhythms.

- EQ, Compressor, and Speaker Simulator master effects.

MonoBoy Key Features:

- 3 sound generator modes, including a unique DM sampler.

- Easy-to-use arpeggiator and Voice Controls.

- 2 Modulation sequences.

- A master FX section that includes the one-of-a-kind Bit Delay effect.

Powered by Native Instruments Reaktor 5.9 full software version.

You can watch a quick demo of it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwSJO0xs0qw.

Available for download at heavyocity.com.

Deist
Deist
31 March 2016 at 3:09pm

Those damn companies and devs who make their products install exactly the way THEY want (and of course it ends being the worst possible way for the user)... Like THEY're supposed to be the ones making the calls on YOUR computer.

Fuck them! Fuck Native.
For that single reason and glorious mark of disdain and disrespect towards their (potential) customers, I for one am NEVER gonna buy a single product from them.

My loss, you say?
Think again. (^_-)

Hirezaudio
Hirezaudio
31 March 2016 at 4:06pm

I don't know if I am going so far as not to use Native Instrument products but I will agree their installation interface leaves a lot to be desired.

pthelo
pthelo
30 August 2017 at 11:53pm

The new Native Instruments installer, 'Native Access" is much smoother and easier to work with than the former installer/manager. Check it out! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. https://www.native-instruments.com/en/specials/native-access/.

opa-brause
opa-brause
21 February 2018 at 8:50am

besides reaktor 5 got traktor, which by the way needed 2 weeks to be registered properly, I am not sure if ni just want to sell their products but do not take care much for their older products and they own quiet a lot of usefull old progs.

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