Native Instruments KONTAKT 2.1

Native Instruments KONTAKT 2.1

native_instruments_kontakt2.jpg (51455 bytes)

The powerful flagship sampler has undergone an update. Version 2.1 is now available for free download to registered KONTAKT 2 users HERE.

Performance and Usability:

Several enhancements have been made to the performance and usability. Here are the major improvements:

Performance Enhancements

Shorter Loading Times: Loading times are now much faster, especially when using several banks with many instruments
Less Memory Usage: RAM usage has been reduced for internal objects (everything but samples)
Lower Processor Load: CPU load has been dramatically reduced in idle mode, especially when using several banks with many instruments
Better Multi-Processor Support: Multi-processor support has been enhanced with better load balancing for group voices and insert effects and additional load balancing for instrument insert and send effects when using several instruments.

Usability Enhancements

New sample Search: The sample search function has been greatly improved. It is now much easier to find missing samples. There are several ways to look for the files and Spotlight, on Mac OS X, has also been integrated, which helps to find files much faster.
Batch re-save: IIf you have renamed or moved files or folders and subsequently lost the sample references of your KONTAKT instruments or multis, the batch re-save function helps restore your file references. Simply select a folder with the batch re-save and all instruments in this folder will automatically re-assign all samples to the instruments and re-save each instrument.

Compatibility

BANDSTAND, AKOUSTIK PIANO, KONTAKT PLAYER 2:
KONTAKT 2.1 is now fully compatible to BANDSTAND, AKOUSTIK PIANO and KONTAKT PLAYER 2. The instruments of these products can be loaded, used, and edited in KONTAKT and are fully compatible with their original versions. After editing instruments, these can even be re-used in BANDSTAND or AKOUSTIK PIANO again.

Plug-in compatibility - RTAS:
KONTAKT 2.1 is now compatible to ProTools 6.9 and 7 (7.0 and 7.1) with enhanced performance. For the best performance results, it is recommended to use the latest version of ProTools.

Import formats:
With SampleCell and BeatCreator, a further two formats have been added to the list of import formats. Kurzweil, Gigastudio 3 and Ensoniq formats were added with version 2.0.1.

Performance and Minimized View

Performance View
Every instrument can now have its own, individual and customizable graphic background (skin). You can also add your own top-level parameter control with the KSP Script engine and bring it to the front.

This allows the most important control elements to be accessed without having to go into the edit mode of the instrument.

Minimzed View:
An additional minimized view of KONTAKT 2 can be activated, offering a simpler view of one instrument at a time. Left and right arrow buttons allow easy switching between all loaded instruments.

Audio Quality

HQI - High Quality Interpolation Mode

When transposing audio signals, occasionally aliasing effects become audible. The new HQI – High Quality Interpolation mode allows the transposition of audio over a few octaves without any audible artifacts. 3 different modes are available: “standard”, “high” and “perfect”. The following are two examples that illustrate the difference between “standard” and “perfect” mode. In these examples, a pulse sample is being played at its original pitch (C2) and then transposed 2 octaves higher (C4) and 4 octaves higher (C6).

Sound Example 1: Pulse Standard .wav (1 MB)
Sound Example 2: Pulse High Quality .wav (1 MB)

native_instruments_kontakt2-1ss01.jpg (10782 bytes)
Left view shows standard quality. Right view shows high quality interpolation.

New Effects

Limiter
The new limiter can be used to maximize an audio signal with a compression ratio of infinity:one. It can be inserted as a group effect, instrument insert effect or output mixer effect.

Pro Compressor
The compressor effect has a new "Pro" mode, offering a high quality algorithm for audio signal compression.

Pseudo Stereo
The Stereo Modeler Effect now includes a pseudo stereo effect, which can be used on Mono signals in order to create a stereo effect.

Improvements and Fixes

KONTAKT 2.1 comes with many smaller optimizations and fixes. A detailed list will be available with the update readme information.