Native Instruments Reaktor Spark Operation Manual

OPERATION MANUAL

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Native Instruments GmbH. The software described by this document is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written permission by Native Instruments GmbH, hereinafter referred to as Native Instruments. All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners.

KORE SOUND is a ® trademark of NATIVE INSTRUMENTS.

Users Guide written by Aleksander Rebane

Document version: 1.0.1 (12/2008)

Software version: 1.0.1

Special thanks to the Beta Test Team, who were invaluable not just in tracking down bugs, but in making this a better product.

Germany

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GmbH Schlesische Str. 28

D-10997 Berlin Germany

[e-mail] www.native-instruments.de

USA

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS North America, Inc. 5631 Hollywood Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90028 USA

[e-mail] www.native-instruments.com

MASSIVE was designed and developed entirely by Native Instruments GmbH. Solely the name Massive is a registered trademark of Massive Audio Inc, USA.

© Native Instruments GmbH, 2008. All rights reserved.

1. Welcome to REAKTOR SPARK!

Thank you very much for purchasing REAKTOR SPARK. On behalf of the entire NATIVE INSTRUMENTS team, we hope that this KORE SOUNDPACK will truly inspire you.

REAKTOR SPARK contains 200 new KORE SOUNDS®, based on a newly designed REAKTOR ensemble. These sounds have been designed to integrate seamlessly into your KORE SOUND database, making them easily accessible. Also, like the KORE 2/KORE PLAYER factory content, all KORE SOUNDPACKS utilize the KORE 2/KORE PLAYER’s Integrated Engines: You only need KORE 2 or KORE PLAYER to make full use of their sonic capabilities. Furthermore, the sounds have been equipped with dedicated Control

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Individual Sound Variations have been created for each KORE SOUND of this product,

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This manual will help you get started with your KORE SOUNDPACK. If you want to start immediately, proceed to the Installation and Activation section. Please read that chapter carefully and fully, as it explains all the steps required to integrate the KORE SOUNDPACK into KORE 2/KORE PLAYER. Following the Installation chapter is an explanation of how to use the KORE SOUNDS within KORE 2/KORE PLAYER. If you are already familiar with KORE 2/KORE PLAYER, this will be straightforward, but it might be worth a look nonetheless. Finally, the last section of this manual adds some more details regarding the sounds that come with REAKTOR SPARK.

GETTING STARTED – 4

2. What is REAKTOR SPARK?

REAKTOR SPARK puts a large collection of production-ready sounds for contemporary

PXVLF SURGXFWLRQ GLUHFWO\ XQGHU \RXU ƂQJHUWLSV REAKTOR SPARK has it all, from pad to OHDG VRXQGV IURP SHUFXVVLYH NH\ERDUGV WR ƃRDWLQJ VRXQGVFDSHV 7KH YDULHW\ EHFRPHV SRVVLEOH GXH WR WKH VSHFLƂFDOO\ GHVLJQHG REAKTOR ensemble SPARK, whose internal feedback structure gives the characteristic sonic touch to the Soundpack.

When loading a KORE SOUND from this collection, KORE 2/KORE PLAYER automatically

ORDGV LWV ,QWHJUDWHG (QJLQHV DQG DGMXVWV WKH VSHFLƂF VRXQG 7KLV DOO KDSSHQV DXWRPDWLFDOO\ with no additional adjustments necessary.

After loading the sound, you are ready to tweak it. The Control Pages and Sound Variations, preassigned for each KORE SOUND, enable you to adjust each sound to your production needs or simply morph from one sound world to another.

GETTING STARTED – 5

3. Installation and Activation

The following section explains how to install and activate REAKTOR SPARK. Although this process is straightforward, please take a minute to read these instructions, as doing so might prevent some common problems.

3.1 Installing REAKTOR SPARK

After downloading the KORE SOUNDPACK, unzip the compressed archive you received

IURP 1$7,9( ,167580(176 ,W FRQWDLQV WKLV GRFXPHQWDWLRQ DV D 3') ƂOH DV ZHOO DV DQ installer application.

To install REAKTOR SPARK, double-click the installer application and follow the instructions on the screen. The installer application automatically places the new KORE SOUND

FRQWHQW ƂOHV LQWR WKH IROGHUV WKDW KORE 2/KORE PLAYER expects them to be in. In the course of the installation procedure, the installer application will ask you to specify another

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All sounds coming with REAKTOR SPARK can be used directly within KORE 2 or KORE PLAYER, which use the Integrated Engines to actually load and play the sounds. If you own REAKTOR, you can also load the SPARK ensemble directly into Reaktor.

GETTING STARTED – 6

3.2 Activating REAKTOR SPARK

:KHQ LQVWDOODWLRQ LV ƂQLVKHG VWDUW WKH SERVICE CENTER that was installed with KORE 2/KORE PLAYER. It will connect your computer to the Internet and activate your REAKTOR SPARK installation. In order to activate your copy of REAKTOR SPARK, you have to perform the following steps within the SERVICE CENTER:

1.Log in: Enter your NATIVE INSTRUMENTS user account name and password on the initial page. This is the same account information you used in the NATIVE INSTRUMENTS Online Shop, where you bought your KORE SOUNDPACK, and for other NATIVE INSTRUMENTS product activations.

2.Select products: The Service Center detects all products that have not yet been activated and lists them. You can activate multiple products at once — for example, KORE 2/KORE PLAYER and your KORE SOUNDPACK, or several KORE SOUNDPACKS.

3.Activate: After proceeding to the next page, the Service Center connects to the NATIVE INSTRUMENTS server and activates your products.

4.'RZQORDG XSGDWHV :KHQ WKH VHUYHU KDV FRQƂUPHG WKH DFWLYDWLRQ WKH 6HUYLFH &HQWHU automatically displays the Update Manager with a list of all available updates for your installed products. Please make sure that you always use the latest version of your NATIVE INSTRUMENTS products to ensure proper functioning.

Now, you are ready to use REAKTOR SPARK. Please start KORE 2/KORE PLAYER in the standalone mode. This will trigger the database update process automatically and integrate the new KORE SOUNDS into KORE 2/KORE PLAYER’s database. The next chapter will explain how to use the new sounds in KORE 2/KORE PLAYER.

A c t i v a t i o n o f K O R E SOUNDPACKS is optional.

However, it will give you access to free updates.

Downloading updates is optional. After activation is complete, you can always quit the Service Center.

GETTING STARTED – 7

4. How to use REAKTOR SPARK

The following sections will give you a brief overview over some basic operations: you will learn how to search for sounds you have in mind and how to load and play KORE SOUNDS. For details about these topics please read the KORE 2/KORE PLAYER manual.

4.1 Finding a KORE SOUND

All REAKTOR SPARK KORE SOUNDS are directly integrated into KORE 2’s/KORE PLAYER’s database. They will show up in the Browser’s Search Results List alongside all the other

VRXQGV WKDW PDWFK \RXU VSHFLƂF VHDUFK FULWHULD IRU H[DPSOH D FRPELQDWLRQ RI $WWULEXWHV 7R UHVWULFW \RXU VHDUFK UHVXOWV WR \RXU VSHFLƂF SDFNőV VRXQGV VHOHFW WKH GHVLUHG SDFN LQ the SOUNDPACK column of the Attributes List. The Search Results List shows the entire content of this particular pack.

7KHUH LV DQRWKHU ZD\ WR UHVWULFW \RXU VHDUFK UHVXOWV WR \RXU VSHFLƂF SDFNőV VRXQGV VLPSO\ enter the KORE SOUNDPACK’s name into the QUICK SEARCH FIELD of the Browser, or even just a part of the name — for example, “spark”. The corresponding KORE SOUNDS automatically appear in the Search Results List.

If you don’t want to limit the results to this KORE SOUNDPACK, but do want to have the display grouped by SOUNDPACKS, you can show the bank name within the Search Results List and sort the list according to this entry. To do so, right-click the Search Results List’s header row and activate the Bank entry in the upcoming context menu. This will show each KORE SOUND’s bank name in a new column of the Search Results List. Now click

WKH %DQN FROXPQőV KHDGHU WR VRUW WKH OLVW DFFRUGLQJ WR WKLV VSHFLƂFDWLRQ 7KLV ZLOO JURXS the results.

KORE 2 users: if the Soundpack column is not visible in the Attributes List, right-click on the Attributes List header and select the Soundpack entry in the upcoming con-

text menu.

GETTING STARTED – 8

4.2 Loading the KORE SOUND

4.2.1 Loading the KORE SOUND in KORE PLAYER

After you have located your KORE SOUND, load it by double-clicking its Search Results List entry. Alternatively, drag it onto KORE PLAYER’s Global Controller. Both actions replace

WKH FXUUHQWO\ ORDGHG .25( 6281' LI LW LV WKH ƂUVW .25( 6281' \RX DUH ORDGLQJ DIWHU start-up, it will replace an “empty” KORE SOUND.

When loaded, the KORE SOUND will automatically be displayed so that its Control Pages are directly mapped onto the Global Controller. For each KORE SOUND, a User Page has been pre-assigned, granting direct access to the KORE SOUND’s most important param-

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KORE SOUND, as well as the number of Control Pages. With the Global Controller, you also have immediate control of the KORE SOUND’s Sound Variations. Please refer to the KORE PLAYER manual for details about Control Pages and Sound Variations.

If you are using KORE PLAYER as a plug-in in a host environment, you can save the positions/states that you set on the eight knobs and eight buttons of the Control Page: saving the host’s project saves all settings of all incorporated plug-ins (among others, KORE PLAYER) and thus all changes you made to the loaded KORE SOUND.

4.2.2 Loading the KORE SOUND in KORE 2

After you have located your KORE SOUND, load it by double-clicking its Search Results List entry. Alternatively, drag it onto KORE 2’s Global Controller. Both actions will replace

WKH FXUUHQWO\ IRFXVHG .25( 6281' LI LW LV WKH ƂUVW .25( 6281' \RX ORDG DIWHU VWDUW up, it will replace an “empty” KORE SOUND. If you want to place the KORE SOUND into

D VSHFLƂF &KDQQHO ,QVHUW ZLWKLQ WKH (GLW $UHD LQVWHDG RI ORDGLQJ WKH .25( 6281' LQWR the focused one), you can also drag it directly into the Sound Matrix.

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SOUND. With the Global Controller, you also have immediate control of the KORE SOUND’s Sound Variations. Please refer to the KORE 2/KORE PLAYER manual for details about Control Pages and Sound Variations.

GETTING STARTED – 9

If you have the full version of the Integrated Engine installed, you can also open the engine itself. Just click the PLUG-IN EDITOR ICON within the Global Controller, or double-click the Channel Insert within the Sound Matrix. This will give you full access to all parameters of the KORE SOUND, exceeding the options in KORE 2’s Control Pages. Note that this will change the status of the KORE SOUND: After you have opened a KORE SOUND using its associated plug-in editor, it will always require the respective plug-in’s fully licensed version to be installed. (Of course, opening the KORE SOUND in the plug-in’s full version

GRHV QRW DOWHU WKH RULJLQDO .25( 6281' ƂOH EXW FUHDWHV D FRS\ WKDW \RX PLJKW ZDQW WR VDYH DV D VHSDUDWH ƂOH ODWHU ,I \RX GR QRW XVH WKH IXOO HGLWRU IRU HGLWLQJ D .25( 6281' but instead only use the Control Pages and the Sound Variations, the KORE SOUND will again be loadable without the full license available.

After you have tweaked the KORE SOUND to your liking, you can save it to the User Sounds content by dragging it back onto the Search Results List — just the opposite of the loading process. Within the Save List, you can edit the KORE SOUND’s name, enter your name as

WKH .25( 6281'őV DXWKRU DQG VR RQ :KHQ ƂQLVKHG FOLFN WKH DONE BUTTON to save the KORE SOUND to the database. It is now available for each project you are working on.

Alternatively, the KORE SOUND and all changes you made are also saved when you store the Performance of KORE 2. However, the KORE SOUND is not automatically added to the Browser’s database. The same happens if you are using KORE 2 as a plug-in: saving the host’s project saves all settings of all incorporated plug-ins (like KORE 2) and thus all changes you made to the loaded KORE SOUND.

If these terms are completely new to you, chapter 3.1 of the KORE 2 manual provides general

information, and chapter 3.1.4 covers the Control Page system and Sound Variations.

GETTING STARTED – 10

5. Content Description

7KH IROORZLQJ SDUDJUDSKV EULHƃ\ GHVFULEH WKH REAKTOR SPARK content. However, listening to the KORE SOUNDS tells much more than mere words. These descriptions will give you a starting point, but you’ll probably learn most about this KORE SOUNDPACK by using it!

The REAKTOR SPARK provides you with a diverse collection of dynamic and expressive sounds based on the new and innovative SPARK ensemble. These sounds can range from saucy synth leads to vibrant percussive sounds or play the role of quasi-chaotically evolving pads, but all of them have one thing in common: they readily respond to your individual way of playing. In either a studio environment or a live performance situation, the sounds included in the REAKTOR SPARK can be used in Rock, Jazz, Industrial, Psychedelic, Sound Tracks, and various electronic genres ranging from Electro to IDM… But the musical genre is actually not important: It’s all up to you!

The following sections describe how you can use these sounds in KORE or KORE PLAYER. If you also own REAKTOR, you can access SPARK’s control panel as well. The details about using SPARK are given within the “Using SPARK in REAKTOR” and “SPARK Control Reference” sections below.

GETTING STARTED – 11

5.1 The SPARK Ensemble

The SPARK Ensemble in REAKTOR

SPARK takes full advantage of the far-reaching capabilities of REAKTOR to generate dynamic, expressive, organic and dirty sounds. The main concept behind SPARK is to allow

GUDPDWLF UHDO WLPH LQƃXHQFH RQ WKH VRXQG VRXUFH /LNH D QDWXUDO LQVWUXPHQW LW QHHGV WR be played expressively in order to reach its full potential. SPARK’s secret lies in the way

LW XVHV YDULRXV IHHGEDFN ORRSV WR JHQHUDWH LWV RZQ LQSXW HQDEOLQJ \RX WR LQƃXHQFH WKH sound with relatively few, but carefully chosen parameters.

GETTING STARTED – 12

5.2 Using SPARK in KORE or KORE PLAYER

All REAKTOR SPARK sounds share the same control interface within KORE 2’s or KORE PLAYER’s Global Controller: the SPARK Synth Essentials Page, the SPARK Mix & FX Essentials Page, the SPARK More Synth & FX Page, and the SPARK Macro Controls & LFO Page.

5.2.1 SPARK Synth Essentials Page

The SPARK Synth Essentials Page provides access to the SPARK Ensemble’s most important parameters.

ŹOSC MIX: The OSC MIX KNOB determines the main characteristic of the sound source. It acts as a crossfader between the Pulse and Sine Oscillators for the mixed output signal. Turning OSC MIX to the right crossfades to the Sine signal, turning it to the left crossfades to the Pulse signal.

ŹL-B-H: Depending on the setting of the L-B-H KNOB RQH FDQ PL[ EHWZHHQ ƂOWHULQJ RXW different frequencies in relation to the cutoff frequency (determined by the CUTOFF KNOB). Turning the L-B-H KNOB to the left lets frequencies below the cutoff frequency pass, with the vertical setting of the knob causes frequencies within a certain distance from the cutoff frequency pass, and with the knob turned to the right, frequencies above the cutoff frequency are allowed to pass.

ŹCUTOFF 6HWV WKH FXWRII IUHTXHQF\ RI WKH ƂOWHU PL[ GHWHUPLQHG E\ WKH L-B-H KNOB.

ŹRESO: Sets the enhancement of the frequencies around the cutoff frequency set with

the CUTOFF KNOB.

ŹFEEDBACK: Turning the FEEDBACK KNOB only slightly can already change the sound very drastically. The result can be self-oscillating sounds with a pitch that is only dependent

GETTING STARTED – 13

on the cutoff frequency (determined by the CUTOFF KNOB), or sounds resembling acoustic feedbacks of microphones, speakers, or guitar amps.

Ź2ND H: Lets you change the harmonic content of the signal by wave-shaping. At zero the shaping curves are symmetric, creating mainly odd harmonics. With larger values the curve gets increasingly asymmetric and the amount of the 2nd and other even harmonics is increased.

ŹTIME: The TIME KNOB VHWV WKH GHOD\ WLPH RI WKH YRLFH GHOD\ ,W KDV D ELJ LQƃXHQFH RQ which frequencies will be excited in the feedback path by the application of a delay. You can use the delay also in the signal that is routed to the Effects section, just mix it with the other output signals by using the DEL + F KNOB in the SPARK Mix & FX Essentials Page to get a coloring or chorusing effect.

ŹFREQ SH: All frequencies entering the frequency shifter are shifted by the value set by the FREQ SH KNOB. This usually results in an inharmonic or phasing sound.

ŹFS MIX: The effect of the frequency shifter controlled by the FREQ SH KNOB can be turned on and off with the FS MIX BUTTON.

ŹSYNC: This controls the hard synchronization of the Pulse oscillator to the feedback signal.

5.2.2 SPARK Mix & FX Essentials Page

The SPARK Mix & FX Essentials Page holds a set of effects and mix controls.

ŹSINE: Determines the amount of the Sine Oscillator signal that gets mixed into the ef- fects chain input. This signal is modulated by the oscillator amplitude envelope.

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Mix & Essentials Page controlling mixer can vary between different REAKTOR SPARK KORE SOUNDS. The

GHƂQLWLRQV JLYHQ KHUH DUH IRU SDUDPHWHUV that are frequently assigned to these knobs.

GETTING STARTED – 14

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CUTOFF KNOB in the SPARK Synth Essentials Page.

ŹBP2 'HWHUPLQHV WKH DPRXQW RI VLJQDO IURP WKH SROH EDQGSDVV ƂOWHU WKDW JHWV PL[HG into the effects chain input. In case there is a HP2 Knob instead, it determines the

DPRXQW RI VLJQDO IURP WKH SROH KLJKSDVV ƂOWHU WKDW JHWV PL[HG LQWR WKH HIIHFWV FKDLQ LQSXW 7KH FXWRII IUHTXHQF\ RI WKLV ƂOWHU LV GHWHUPLQHG E\ WKH CUTOFF KNOB in the SPARK Synth Essentials Page.

ŹSHAPER: Determines the amount of signal from the wave-shaper that gets mixed into the effects chain input. Use this to add the higher harmonics created in the waveshaper to the mix.

ŹREVERB: Acts as a crossfader between the wet and dry signal of the reverb unit in the effects chain.

ŹDELAY: Acts as a crossfader between the wet and dry signal of the Mod Delay unit in the effects chain.

ŹTIME: Use this knob to set the delay time in the Modulation Delay unit in the effects chain.

ŹSYNC: Activate the SYNC BUTTON to synchronize the delay time of the Modu Delay unit

WR WKH WHPSR VSHFLƂHG E\ KORE or KORE PLAYER.

ŹDEL+F: Determines the amount of signal from the frequency shifter effect that gets mixed into the effects section.

5.2.3 SPARK More Synth & FX Page

7KH 63$5. 0RUH 6\QWK ); 3DJH KROGV FRQWUROV WKDW OHW \RX ƂQH WXQH \RXU V\QWK DQG HIIHFWV VHWWLQJV

GETTING STARTED – 15