Native Instruments Kontakt Factory Library Documentation
Documentation
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Document authored by: Native Instruments GmbH
Document version: 1.0 (08/2011)
Special thanks to the Beta Test Team, who were invaluable not just in tracking down bugs,
but in making this a better product.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1 Overview ...................................................................................................................
1.1 General Structure of the Library .................................................................................................. 7
1.2 Options Page .............................................................................................................................. 14
1.3 Drum and Percussion Kit Layout ................................................................................................. 17
1.4 Keyswitches ................................................................................................................................ 22
1.1.1 Band .......................................................................................................................... 7
1.1.2 Choir .......................................................................................................................... 8
1.1.3 Orchestral .................................................................................................................. 9
1.1.4 Synth ......................................................................................................................... 10
1.1.5 Urban Beats .............................................................................................................. 11
1.1.6 Vintage ...................................................................................................................... 12
1.1.7 World ......................................................................................................................... 13
1.2.1 Keyrange .................................................................................................................... 14
1.2.2 Velocity ...................................................................................................................... 15
1.2.3 Pitch Bend ................................................................................................................. 16
1.2.4 Transpose .................................................................................................................. 16
1.2.5 Tuning ....................................................................................................................... 17
1.2.6 Randomize ................................................................................................................. 17
1.3.1 Drum and Percussion Performance Views .................................................................. 18
1.4.1 A Brief Introduction to Keyswitches ........................................................................... 22
1.4.2 Standard vs Dynamic Keyswitches ............................................................................ 22
2 The Instrument Collections ........................................................................................
2.1 Band ...........................................................................................................................................25
2.1.1 Master FX .................................................................................................................. 26
2.1.2 Horns ......................................................................................................................... 28
2.1.3 Acoustic Pianos ......................................................................................................... 30
7
25
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 4
Table of Contents
2.2 Choir ...........................................................................................................................................37
2.3 Orchestral ...................................................................................................................................44
2.4 Synth .......................................................................................................................................... 50
2.5 Urban Beats ............................................................................................................................... 54
2.6 Vintage ....................................................................................................................................... 60
2.7 World .......................................................................................................................................... 64
2.1.4 Electric Pianos ........................................................................................................... 32
2.1.5 Organs ....................................................................................................................... 33
2.1.6 Guitars and Basses ................................................................................................... 35
2.2.1 Common Features ...................................................................................................... 38
2.2.2 Keyswitch Instruments .............................................................................................. 40
2.2.3 Morph Instruments .................................................................................................... 42
2.2.4 Group Mix Instruments .............................................................................................. 43
2.3.1 Common Features ...................................................................................................... 45
2.3.2 Multi-Articulation Instruments .................................................................................. 46
2.3.3 Single Articulation Instruments ................................................................................. 48
2.4.1 Filter .......................................................................................................................... 51
2.4.2 Part Mix ..................................................................................................................... 52
2.4.3 Voicing ...................................................................................................................... 52
2.4.4 Envelope .................................................................................................................... 53
2.4.5 Master FX .................................................................................................................. 53
2.5.1 MIDI Mapping ............................................................................................................ 54
2.5.2 Performance Views .................................................................................................... 55
2.6.1 Included Instruments ................................................................................................ 60
2.6.2 Performance Views .................................................................................................... 62
2.7.1 Included Instruments ................................................................................................ 65
2.7.2 Performance Views .................................................................................................... 69
3 Credits ......................................................................................................................
71
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 5
Table of Contents
4 License Agreements ..................................................................................................
4.1 Native Instruments License Agreement ...................................................................................... 72
4.2 VSL Terms of License .................................................................................................................. 72
5 Appendix ..................................................................................................................
5.1 VSL KONTAKT Orchestra .............................................................................................................. 77
5.1.1 About the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra KONTAKT Edition .......................................... 77
5.1.2 Instrument Overview .................................................................................................. 77
5.1.3 Explanation of subfolders .......................................................................................... 79
5.1.4 Legato Tool ................................................................................................................ 80
5.1.5 Repetition Tool ........................................................................................................... 82
5.1.6 The Orchestra ............................................................................................................ 84
5.1.7 Instrument List .......................................................................................................... 85
72
77
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 6
General Structure of the Library
1 Overview
1.1 General Structure of the Library
The KONTAKT Factory Library is divided into seven Instrument collections:
▪ Band
▪ Choir
▪ Orchestral
▪ Synth
▪ Urban Beats
▪ Vintage
▪ World
This
manual will give you an insight into the different features available from each of the
individual collections. First of all, let us take a quick look at each of the collections.
1.1.1 Band
Overview
The Clavinet from the Band collection.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 7
General Structure of the Library
The band collection contains many of the instruments you would expect to find in any
of band ensemble, whether jazz, funk, soul or rock. As well as the fundamental
style
rhythm section instruments (drums, bass and guitars) you will also find a selection of
acoustic and electric pianos, electric organs, saxophones and brass (both solo and ensembles).
1.1.2 Choir
Overview
The Alto Vowels from the Choir collection.
choir was specifically recorded for the KONTAKT Library. It is based on a chamber
The
choir comprising of female sopranos and altos, and male tenors and basses. The Choir collection contains a variety of vowels, with patches allowing you to morph between them using dynamic keyswitches or the mod wheel. The Performance View features (PV button in
the Instrument header) make it possible to create a sound ranging from an intimate baroque chorale to a bombastic cinematic soundtrack.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 8
1.1.3 Orchestral
Overview
General Structure of the Library
The Cello Ensemble from the Orchestral collection.
orchestral collection contains many articulations of all of the important orchestral in-
The
struments. The KONTAKT script allows you to dynamically switch between playing styles
for many of the included instruments.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 9
1.1.4 Synth
Overview
General Structure of the Library
The 700 Dirt Bass from the Synth collection.
collection contains all of the contemporary styles of synthesized instruments you
This
could want. The new Performance View for this collection allows you to mix two sample
sets and combine them with filters and effects to produce the sound you need.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 10
1.1.5 Urban Beats
Overview
General Structure of the Library
The Urban Beats Instrument.
Urban Beats is full of pre-made and sliced loops exclusive to KONTAKT. The new Per-
The
formance Views allow you to play the Slices, mix the included loops, produce your own
beats, and even dynamically apply effects using your MIDI keyboard.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 11
1.1.6 Vintage
Overview
General Structure of the Library
The Vintage collection.
collection contains all the old style electronic gear. Drum machines, string machines,
This
analogue and digital synths and even toys are all included here. The Instruments here are
intended to be authentic and thus contain some of the flaws (and thus also the character)
of their original counterparts.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 12
1.1.7 World
Overview
General Structure of the Library
The World collection.
World collection contains Instruments from a variety of different musical cultures —
The
useful for adding an exotic edge to your tracks.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 13
1.2 Options Page
Overview
Options Page
An example Options page from the Vintage collection.
Every
Instrument in the KONTAKT Library contains an Options page that allows you to adjust certain MIDI performance parameters like velocity curves and keyrange. The Options
page is accessed by clicking on the Options tab at the bottom of the KONTAKT Instrument.
1.2.1 Keyrange
The Key Range section of the Options page.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 14
Overview
Options Page
The Key
Range section of the Options page acts like a MIDI filter. Any note below the Min
value and above the Max value will be ignored by the Instrument. This can be useful for
building a split keyboard Instrument, allowing you to play, for example, a solo flute on the
right hand and an accompanying piano on the left hand.
The Learn button allows you to set the Min and Max values simply by pressing the MIDI
keys you wish to assign them to.
How to use the Learn function:
1.
Press the Learn button once.
2. Press the desired Min value note on your MIDI keyboard.
3. Press the desired Max value note, after which the Learn function will automatically
deactivate itself.
If you wish to clear the key range values, you can simply click the Learn button twice without playing any keys and the Min and Max values will return to their default settings.
1.2.2 Velocity
The Velocity section of the Options page.
the Velocity section of the page you can easily set the curve of you MIDI velocity re-
In
sponse, the minimum and maximum values for the velocity range, and the velocity to volume amount.
▪
Applying a value curve to MIDI velocity is as simple as clicking on the desired Velocity
Curve button.
▪
The Min and Max values act as a limiter to the incoming MIDI values. If you play a
MIDI note with a velocity below the Min value, the velocity will be set to the Min value.
Likewise, if you play a note with a velocity above the Max value, the velocity of that
note will be automatically reset to the Max value.
▪
The Velocity to Volume knob (Vel > Vol) controls how much the incoming velocity data
affects the volume of the Instrument. In most real instruments, the softer you play,
the lower the volume of the instrument. So, with this function you are able to mimic
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 15
this same effect. However, since many Instruments in the KONTAKT Library feature
multiple
velocity layers, each with their own volume settings, it may be necessary to
limit the Velocity to Volume setting.
1.2.3 Pitch Bend
The PB Range section of the Options page.
the PB Range section, you can set the range of your Pitch Bend control. This can be set
In
anywhere between a fraction of a tone, to a full octave. Most Instruments have the range
already set, but if you feel you wish to adjust these values, it is easily done with these two
controls Down and Up.
1.2.4 Transpose
Overview
Options Page
The Transpose section of the Options page.
The
transpose controls alter the incoming MIDI so that you may change the tonal range of
an Instrument on your keyboard, without altering the pitch of the samples. This can be
useful in certain performance cases (for example, quickly transposing the key of a song
without needing to relearn the part), or can be used in combination with the key range
controls to further adjust keyboard splits, allowing you to play two Instruments in the same
octave range without having to play the exact same notes.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 16
1.2.5 Tuning
The Tuning section of the Options page.
section of the Options page allows you to adjust the scale in which you are playing. It
This
offers a variety of different tuning options as well as the ability to select the key of the
scale (as many scales rely on tuning in unequal intervals from the main pitch).
1.2.6 Randomize
Overview
Options Page
The Randomize section of the Options page.
This
section allows you to randomize certain attributes of each note as you play the Instrument. There is a master On/Off switch that allows you to activate or deactivate the randomization features. Each of the four knobs (Volume, Velocity, Pan and Pitch) then allows you to set
the amount of randomization for each of the four attributes. The random values are generated with each note on message (ie. every time you press a key), so this effect will not act
like a random LFO, nor will it be triggered continuously with looped samples.
1.3 Drum and Percussion Kit Layout
In
the Band, Synth and Vintage Collections, the layouts for the drum Instruments are very
similar, but in each case differ in performance style from the other melodic instruments.
The MIDI keyboard mapping for the drums in these collections all adhere to the same basic template:
▪ Individual drum hits are on MIDI notes C1-B2.
▪ Drum loops and patterns are on MIDI notes C3-B3.
▪ Some Instruments offer tuned percussion in the octave C0-B0.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 17
Drum and Percussion Kit Layout
Each of the individual drum hits can be independently edited from the Performance View.
You can select a drum instrument for editing by three different methods:
▪ Selecting the instrument from the list in the drop-down menu.
▪
Turning on Select by MIDI and pressing the MIDI key of the instrument you wish to edit.
▪
Use the NOTE knob to cycle through the instruments by their MIDI note assignments.
the exception of the Master FX, all of the parameters on the drum instruments Per-
With
formance View are edited on a per instrument level. This makes it very easy to tune and
pan the parts of the drum kit separately.
1.3.1 Drum and Percussion Performance Views
Overview
An example Performance View from the Synth collection.
the Synth and Vintage collections share the same Drum Performance View controls.
Both
The Band Collection shares a lot of the same features, with only one exception: the filter.
This is replaced with an articulation engine that allows you to apply certain playing techniques to the drums like flams and release strokes.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 18
Overview
Drum and Percussion Kit Layout
An example Performance View from the Band Drums.
Instrument
▪
this section you are able to select the instrument you wish to edit using the INSTRU-
In
MENT menu, the NOTE knob or by MIDI note if the SEL BY MIDI control is active.
▪
The second row of controls offers mix control of LEVEL and PAN, as well as a TUNE control and a SOUND knob, which morphs between a variety of preset EQ settings.
Sends
Again working on a per instrument basis, this section allows you to send a duplicate of the
instrument signal to the REVERB and DELAY master effects, working much like the auxiliary
send on a mixing console.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 19
Drum and Percussion Kit Layout
Volume Envelope
basic AHD envelope is provided for each of the drum instruments. Each control in this
A
section adjusts the time range of each of the envelope phases. This can be useful for
tightening up a snare by shortening the Hold and Decay times to remove the tail of the
sound.
Master FX
There are three master effects for the Band, Synth and Vintage drums. Each of these effects can be accessed by clicking on the effect tabs with the corresponding name. The effects can be switched on and off by clicking on the LEDs to the left of these tabs.
Reverb
The REVERB tab of the MASTER FX section.
reverb effect makes use of KONTAKT's convolution effect and all the impulse respons-
The
es provided in KONTAKT.
▪ The top drop-down menu selects the impulse response category and the lower menu
selects the impulse response itself.
▪
The overall volume of the reverb effect can be controlled with the RETURN/AMOUNT knob.
Overview
Delay
The DELAY tab of the MASTER FX section.
The delay effect provides you with a nice echo for whatever signals you send to it.
▪
The TIME control adjusts the time between echoes.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 20
Overview
Drum and Percussion Kit Layout
▪
The FEEDBACK
knob controls the amount of the signal that is fed from the delay's out-
put back into the input (in basic terms, it controls the number of echoes).
▪
The RETURN/AMOUNT knob controls the overall volume of the effect.
EQ
The EQ tab of the MASTER FX section.
Clicking on the EQ tab offers control over a fixed 3-band EQ for the main drum mix.
Filter
The FILTER section.
Only
available in the Synth and Vintage Collections, this section offers control over a per
instrument lowpass filter. It is important to note that the Velocity Sensitivity (VEL SENS) is
an additive modulation control. So, if you set the Cutoff (CUTOFF) to its minimum value,
and the Velocity Sensitivity to the maximum value, you will have total control over the filter cutoff value with the velocity of your MIDI keyboard or sequencer.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 21
Articulations
The ARTICULATION knob.
place of the filter for the Band Collection, this section allows you to apply a drum per-
In
formance technique to the selected drum instrument (for example, flam or ruff). The articulation type is selected from the ARTICULATION knob. Each articulation then has up to two
different control parameters to allow fine tuning of the effect.
1.4 Keyswitches
Both
the Choir and the Orchestral Collections are making extensive use of keyswitches.
This section will describe the concepts behind the way they are used in these specific Collections.
Overview
Keyswitches
1.4.1 A Brief Introduction to Keyswitches
This
term is usually used to describe keys, ie MIDI notes, which are not used to trigger
specific samples, but to control the behavior of an Instrument in a different way. For example, in the Choir Collection there are certain keys on the lower range of the keyboard
that control which vowel is sung by the choir, while in the Orchestral Collection there are
keys that control the type of articulation (staccato, sforzando, etc) performed by the musicians. Under the hood, in both cases, the keyswitches are actually used to select a different sample set to be triggered by the rest of the keyboard.
1.4.2 Standard vs Dynamic Keyswitches
Both the Choir and the Orchestral Collections use two different types of keyswitches:
▪ Standard keyswitches indicated by red colored keys.
▪ Dynamic keyswitches indicated by cyan colored keys.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 22
Keyswitch coloring on KONTAKT's virtual keyboard (blue is used for the Instrument playing range)
The best way to describe the difference between them would be by using an example: Having loaded any of the keyswitch controlled Instruments of the Choir Collection, you will
have access to an Instrument that, by default, sounds like a choir singing an “a” sound.
Standard Keyswitches
Using the standard keyswitches you can change the default “a” vowel to any other of the
available vowels. So, if you press the key switch for “o” (F0 by default), the next time you
will play within the main playing range the choir will be singing the vowel “o”. And you do
not have to keep it pressed — the choir will keep singing this vowel until you press a different keyswitch. In addition, if you use a keyswitch while holding some notes, the change
between vowels will not be immediate. It is only the notes played after the use of the keyswitch that will be affected by it.
Overview
Keyswitches
Dynamic Keyswitches
On the other hand, the dynamic keyswitches can be used for on the fly changes. A dynamic keyswitch affects the notes that are already sounding when it is pressed. There are two
dedicated controls that adjust how the change between sample sets is implemented and
what happens when the dynamic keyswitch is released:
▪ Dynamic Fade knob: Controls the length of the crossfade between the two sample sets.
▪ Dynamic Release switch: When on, the original sample will be retriggered as soon as
the dynamic keyswitch is released. When off, releasing the dynamic keyswitch will
leave the currently selected sample set playing.
Mapping
Each one of the instruments that are using both standard and dynamic keyswitches comes
with its own assignments, depending on the main Instrument playing range. However, after loading the Instrument, the user is free to remap them using KONTAKT's Performance
View:
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 23
The articulation menu of the Orchetral Collection (part of its Performance View).
The Key column is editable by the user, either by clicking and dragging or by double clicking and typing. The value entered in this column is the note for the standard keyswitch of
each articulation. The dynamic keyswitches are always automatically mapped an octave
lower than the standard ones.
Overview
Keyswitches
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 24
The Instrument Collections
2 The Instrument Collections
2.1 Band
As
stated in the overview section, this collection covers all acoustic and electro-acoustic
instruments for genres like rock, funk, jazz, hip-hop etc. A quick overview over this collection:
Name Short Description
Horns Various solo and section horns
Acoustic Pianos 1 grand , 1 upright and 1 variation
Electric Pianos Clavinet, Mark I, Mark II, Wurly and variations
Organ Various drawbar settings from an authentic Hammond C3
Guitar Various electric guitars, and one nylon strung guitar
Bass 3 electric and 2 upright basses
Drum Kits 13 kits from purely acoustic to mixed electro-acoustic
Band
Each one of the Instruments has a Performance View that is designed for that specific type
instrument. However there are some elements of the Performance Views that are shared
of
throughout the whole Band Collection, excluding the drum kits. Here is how the Performance View of the guitar Instruments looks like:
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 25
The Instrument Collections
An example of the Band Collection Performance View layout.
Performance View is comprised of three main sections: Instrument Controls, Instru-
The
ment FX (or Performance for the horn Instruments) and Master FX. The first two sections
are tailored specifically for each one of the Instruments, while the Master FX section provides the same options for all Instruments.
Band
2.1.1 Master FX
This
section is comprised of three effect types, the controls for which are accessed by
clicking on the corresponding tab. You can turn the effects on and off by clicking on the
orange LEDs on the left side of their names.
Reverb
The REVERB controls of the MASTER FX section.
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 26
The Instrument Collections
Through this tab you have control over the convolution effect module that is used in all the
Instruments.
▪ There
are two drop-down menus through which you can choose the category of impulse
and the impulse itself, respectively. Most of the impulses are of various types of reverbs, either of real spaces or based on popular reverb units. One of the categories is
a special one, featuring impulses of guitar cabinets.
▪
The AMOUNT knob provides control over the reverb send level.
Cabinet
The CABINET tab of the MASTER FX section.
Through this tab you have control over a speaker cabinet emulation.
▪ You
▪
The cabinet emulator is patched as an insert effect.
can select the desired cabinet type using the drop-down menu. There is a wide
range of options, including guitar, bass and Leslie cabinets.
The AIR knob controls the level of early reflections in the room response. This simulates the distance of the microphone to the farthest wall, adding space to the sound.
Band
Equalizer
The EQ tab of the MASTER FX section.
The EQ
from -12dB to +12dB. The frequency and bandwidth settings have been fine tuned for
each instrument.
tab provides control over the gain of a fixed 3-band-EQ processor. The gain range is
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 27
2.1.2 Horns
This
category can be broken down to two subcategories: solo instruments and instrument
sections. The differences between the two lie on the Instrument Controls section:
Instrument Controls (Solo Instruments)
The Instrument Collections
Band
A Band Collection solo horn's Performance View.
▪
The SOLO
switch does not just turn the Instrument to monophonic mode, but also enables the Unisono-Portamento script, which intelligently triggers the right samples for
realistic legato performances.
▪
The KEY NOISE knob (only available on the saxophone Instruments) controls the level of
the samples of the noise produced by the instrument's keys when played by the musician's fingers.
▪
The RELEASE knob controls the level of the release samples.
▪
The SOUND knob morphs through 10 preset EQ settings (turn all the way to the left for
a neutral setting).
Instrument Controls (Instrument Sections)
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 28
The Instrument Collections
A Band Collection horn section's Performance View.
▪
The SPREAD
switch doubles up the voices triggered by each note and spreads them
both in pitch and in the stereo field.
▪
The LEARN KS switch and the ARTICULATION knob are connected to each other. All the
horn sections of the Band Collection have been recorded in 4 different articulations:
sustain, short, crescendo and fall. You can jump through the different articulations either by using the ARTICULATION knob, or by using the pre-assigned keyswitches:
◦ C0 for sustain
◦ C♯0 for short
◦ D0 for crescendo and
◦ D♯0 for fall
Band
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 29
The Instrument Collections
Band
▪
The LEARN
KS switch is there if you want to change those assignments. Just turn the
switch on, and play the note you want to assign to the currently selected articulation.
The switch will turn itself off and the new assignment will be reflected on the virtual
On-Screen Keyboard:
▪
The SOUND
knob morphs through 10 preset EQ settings (turn all the way to the left for
a neutral setting).
Performance
▪
The CHORD switch enables the chord function of the built-in harmonizer. You can select the desired chord using the CHORD knob. The exact notes that are going to be triggered are relying upon the Key and Scale settings.
▪
The KEY and SCALE knobs constrain the performance to the selected scale of the selected key. All other incoming notes will be automatically transposed to the next higher
note that is a part of the selected scale. Turn the SCALE knob off for a chromatic scale
(no effect). The scale constraint functionality also affects the notes of the chords produced using the Chord controls.
2.1.3 Acoustic Pianos
There
right and a variation of the upright.
are three acoustic pianos available in the Band Collection: a concert grand, an up-
KONTAKT Factory Library - Documentation - 30
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