KONTAKT 8 POWERS PRO TOOLS SAMPLE-BASED INSTRUMENTS

Avid and Native Instruments have joined forces to deliver a powerful new package for music creators: Kontakt will serve as the core platform for discovering and playing samples and instruments in Pro Tools.

This partnership brings unmatched sound design capabilities, transforming how Pro Tools’ producers, musicians, and composers can create. By including Kontakt with Pro Tools, it’s easier than ever for users to access the world’s largest instrument platform, beat writer’s block, and spend more time in flow.

A GAME-CHANGING BUNDLE WITH PRO TOOLS 2024.10

Pro Tools users can now access Kontakt 8 Player and an expansive range of sounds and creative tools. Here’s what’s included when you upgrade to Pro Tools 2024.10:

• Kontakt 8 Player: Offers access to an expansive ecosystem of instruments, effects, and loops. It runs Pro Tools Factory Essentials instrument library, all Native Instruments’ Kontakt instruments, and over a thousand instruments from third-party developers.
• Pro Tools Factory Essentials instrument library: Use Kontakt Player to access Avid’s first instrument. Included with every edition of Pro Tools, Factory Essential Library provides an extensive collection of high-quality sounds right out of the box.
• Hybrid Keys and Soul Sessions instruments: Pro Tools customers with active subscriptions and perpetual upgrade plans will also receive Native Instruments Hybrid Keys, and active Pro Tools Studio and Ultimate customers will additionally get Native Instruments Soul Sessions.
• Quick audio-to-sample workflow integration: Turn any audio clip into the starting point for a creative sampling journey with Leap—an ultra-fast and playful way to play and manipulate loops and one-shots. Simply drag-and-drop any audio directly from the Pro Tools timeline to get started.

Seamless download and activation via Native Access and Avid Link and your Avid Account make setup effortless.

For existing Kontakt users, note that AAX plugin migration is now supported from Kontakt 6/7 to Kontakt 8. This will allow users to update to the latest version of Kontakt without replacing every instrument in existing sessions.

Once Kontakt 8 is installed via Native Access, remove Kontakt 6/7 from the following plugin directories:

• Mac
  • Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support/Avid/Audio/Plug-Ins
• Windows
  • C:\Program Files\Common Files\Avid\Audio\Plug-Ins

All instances of Kontakt 6 and 7 in existing Pro Tools sessions, including templates and track presets, will be automatically updated to Kontakt 8. If Kontakt 6, 7, and 8 remain in the plugin folder, the originally saved version will be retained.

EXPLORE A WORLD OF SOUND WITH KONTAKT 8 PLAYER

Kontakt 8 Player is the streamlined version of Kontakt 8 that gives you access to a vast library of sounds and instruments as well as creative tools. Here’s what you can expect:

• Kontakt 8 Player: Kontakt 8 Player allows you to use an extensive range of Native Instruments’ instruments, plus thousands of instruments from other leading developers.
• Jam with loops: The Leap engine allows real-time manipulation of samples and loops, making it easy to transform sounds. The Lo-fi Vibes Leap Expansion is included to get you started.
• Beat writer’s block: The new Chords and Phrases tools are designed to spark creativity with editable chord progressions and melodic ideas.
• Start creating instantly: Kontakt 8 Player also includes Piano Uno, a lightweight piano that lets you start creating immediately, even without downloading additional instruments.

We’re excited to introduce the Pro Tools Komplete Collection—a curated selection of instruments, effects, and sounds from the Komplete library available exclusively through Avid for $99. This collection includes:

• Kontakt Factory Selection 2: An extensive sample library featuring a wide range of instruments, from orchestral to modern sounds.
• Butch Vig Drums: Punchy, rock-inspired drum sounds crafted by renowned producer Butch Vig.
• Massive X: A powerful synthesizer offering deep, rich sounds and limitless modulation possibilities.
• Guitar Rig 7 LE: A versatile amp and effects modeling tool for creating authentic guitar tones.
• Raum: A high-quality reverb effect that adds space and depth to your tracks.
• Ozone 11 Elements: A mastering suite designed to polish your mixes with professional-grade presets and controls.
• Neutron 5 Elements: An intelligent mixing tool offering dynamic equalization, compression, and more.
• Audiolens: An audio referencing tool that helps you match your mix to any reference track.
• bx_enhancer: A sonic enhancer that brings clarity, presence, and depth to your sound.

While Kontakt 8 Player is a powerful tool on its own, upgrading to the full version of Kontakt 8 unlocks advanced features for those seeking more control and flexibility in sound design. Here’s what you’ll gain with the full version:

• Expand your instrument collection: The full version of Kontakt comes packed with an expansive Factory Library that includes over 100 playable instruments, covering everything from acoustic to electronic sounds. You’ll also get premium libraries like the renowned Orchestral Tools collection and Hybrid Keys.
• Build your own instruments: Kontakt is the go-to platform for instrument developers worldwide, thanks to its powerful feature set. The full version adds real-time wavetable, frequency modulation, and ring modulation oscillators, giving you deeper control to create truly unique sounds.
• Sound like nothing else: Conflux, a revolutionary instrument for experimental sound design, allows you to blend organic and synthetic samples, adding dynamic movement with cutting-edge modulation tools.
• Take loop manipulation to the next level: Upgrading to the full version unlocks 12 additional Leap Expansions, each tailored to specific genres and styles, from Lo-fi Vibes to Acoustic Drums, offering even more ways to manipulate loops and breathe new life into your sample library.

For an even more powerful creative experience, upgrading to Komplete 15 is the ultimate music creation solution for producers and musicians. Komplete 15 includes the full version of Kontakt 8, along with an expansive suite of instruments and effects that give you unlimited creative control. Here’s what Komplete 15 has to offer:

• Over 120 instruments and effects: From cutting-edge synthesizers like Massive X and FM8 to iconic instruments such as Piano Colors and Abbey Road Drummer, Komplete 15 offers a vast selection of instruments for every genre and style.
• Complete sound design toolkit: Dive deep into sound creation with powerful tools like Reaktor 6, which allows you to build your own instruments and effects, and Battery 4, a modern drum sampler packed with kits for every sound palette.
• Expansive sample libraries: Access thousands of professionally sampled sounds, including Kontakt Factory Library, orchestral suites from Symphony Essentials, cinematic instruments like Action Strikes, and much more.
• Genre-specific expansions: Stay inspired with an extensive range of expansion packs covering everything from electronic, cinematic, and orchestral music to niche genres like Afrobeats and Latin Trap.
• Comprehensive effects suite: Enhance your mixes with effects like Guitar Rig 7, Raum for reverb, and mastering tools like Ozone 11 Elements for a professional polish.

Whether you're expanding your instrument collection, experimenting with cutting-edge synthesis, or diving into advanced sound design, Komplete 15 offers an unparalleled upgrade path for any music producer.

THE FUTURE SOUNDS GREAT

This partnership between Avid and Native Instruments is just the beginning. Selected Avid instruments will soon be available for everyone on native-instruments.com, and following the success of previous innovations, like the ARA integration with iZotope's RX, which included a custom Spectral Editor for Pro Tools, there are many more exciting releases on the horizon.

AVAILABILITY

Native Instruments Kontakt 8 Player and the Pro Tools Factory Essentials instrument library is available to all Pro Tools customers on version 2024.10 or later software. Pro Tools customers with active subscriptions and perpetual upgrade plans will also receive the NI Hybrid Keys instrument, and active Pro Tools Studio and Ultimate customers will additionally get NI Soul Sessions. You can download the Native Access installer and instrument redemption codes through Avid Link or from your Avid Account. Watch this video on how to redeem Kontakt 8 Player, instruments, and other content in the Pro Tools 2024.10 release.