Kontakt Features:
The Sampler
Kontakt was designed by Native Instruments to be the most powerful
sampler ever created. Kontakt fuses an innovative design with
an advanced sampling engine. The result is an inspiringly fast
and intuitively flexible sampler with exceptional sound quality.
In addition to supporting all the standard sample playback
and manipulation abilities of its hardware and software predecessors,
Kontakt adds several technologies to give sampling a new dimension.
Realtime time-stretching and resynthesis, graphical breakpoint
envelopes, an integrated loop editor, analog-modelled filters,
visually displayed modulation, and breathtaking efficiency create
a sampler with the power to realize the most ingenious ideas.
An outstanding sample library containing more than three gigabytes
of sounds in various styles and categories is also included.
Architecture and Engine
Kontakt's advanced design and dynamic resource allocation ensure
that its audio engine is always running at optimal efficiency,
for up to 256 stereo voices per instance on a standard computer.
The semi-modular architecture of Kontakt's audio engine corresponds
exactly to its on-screen layout. Filters, effects, and modulations
can easily be added with one click. If an audio-process is not
active, it is neither displayed on the screen nor calculated
by the CPU.
Unlike a conventional sampler, where pitch and length are always
linked, Kontakt's integrated granular resynthesis engine frees
you to compose with pitch and timestretch independently. Kontakt
can play back each sample in one of 3 modes: classic mode, Time
Machine mode, and Tone Machine mode. The Time Machine allows
real-time manipulation of length, pitch, and formant. The Tone
Machines imprints a playable pitch onto the sample and maintains
the same length across the keyboard.
The comprehensive filter section offers 14 varieties from analog
lowpass and highpass to exotic sound-design filters. A broad
range of insert and send effects, including EQs, waveshapers,
delays, and reverbs, are available to position the instruments
in the mix. All effects are inherent parts of the instrument,
regardless of how many instruments are playing at once.
Modulation
Even a noise sample in Kontakt's hands is no static thing. Nearly
all of Kontakt's parameters can be dynamically modulated by
LFOs, breakpoint envelopes, step-sequencers, or via MIDI velocity
or controller. Naturally, all time-based modulation can be synced
to song tempo. Nothing is hidden behind the scenes, since all
modulation is shown graphically. For instance, if a filter cutoff
is modulated by a step-sequencer, the filter cutoff knob will
display its modulation movements in addition to its current
value. Despite the power of Kontakt's modulation abilities,
there is no need for a complex modulation matrix, as only the
active modulations are shown.
Efficient Workflow
Kontakt's elegant user interface takes just seconds to learn,
yet is exceptionally flexible during the creative process. An
integrated file-browser supporting drag and drop makes it quick
to set up multi-samples. Samples can be trimmed and looped within
the main sampler window. The built-in graphical loop-editor
features seamless looping with a sophisticated autocorrelation
algorithm and supports up to eight loops per sample.
Content
More than 3 gigabytes of top-quality samples are included, ranging
from acoustic pianos, drums and percussion, basses and guitars,
to vintage instruments. The library, produced by YellowTools¬
and Native Instruments, makes extensive use of Kontakt's dynamic
modulation abilities for patches that are truly alive. Kontakt
ships with 5 sample CDs, with each CD focusing on a different
musical category. Kontakt can also import AKAI CDs and many
other common formats for immediate access to an immense library.
Integration
Kontakt supports every professional native interface to seamlessly
fit into all computer-based studios. Kontakt can be used as
a plug-in with VST¬ 2.0, DXiœ, DirectConnectœ,
and MASœ. In the studio or during a live performance, Kontakt
can be used with less latency than a hardware sampler with ASIOœ,
offering 32 outputs and up to 256 stereo voices. |
