For over two decades, Native Instruments’ Kontakt has remained a cornerstone in the world of software samplers, and with the release of Kontakt 8, it continues to set the bar for innovation in music production. Designed to meet the needs of electronic musicians, producers, and beat makers, Kontakt 8 introduces a suite of cutting-edge features that elevate its functionality to new heights.

Among its standout updates are advanced music creation tools, streamlined loop creation workflows, and the powerful hybrid instrument, offering unprecedented sonic versatility. The expanded factory library provides an even broader range of sounds, while enhanced hardware integration ensures seamless control. Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) integration has been further optimized for faster browsing and a more intuitive user experience, making the navigation of vast instrument collections effortless.

For those involved in sound design, Kontakt 8’s improved instrument-building tools offer greater flexibility and precision, enabling even more intricate customizations. Longtime users will appreciate the thoughtful performance enhancements, while newcomers will find themselves inspired by the limitless creative possibilities that Kontakt 8 unlocks.

Whether you’re crafting intricate soundscapes or building immersive sample libraries, Kontakt 8 is a powerful tool that pushes the boundaries of what a sampler can achieve.

The pinnacle of sampling technology

Sampling technology has come a long way since hardware samplers first started to emerge onto the scene in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Kontakt 8 represents the current pinnacle of sampling technology, offering endless ways to transform sampled sounds into gorgeously rendered instruments. Kontakt 8 raises the bar yet again, providing you with new Chords and Phrases tools that enable straightforward MIDI content creation, as well as randomization features for expedited melody and sequence generation. Leap provides you with lightning-fast loop and sample manipulation, and it includes 12 genre-targeted Leap Expansions: Afrobeats, Latin Trap, Platinum Pop, Progressive Trance, Soul Gold, and more. Beyond that, you get a new Conflux hybrid instrument that combines samples with wavetable, FM, and ring modulation oscillators, putting a whole new universe of real-time sound manipulation at your fingertips. Finally, Kontakt 8 boasts deeper NKS integration with hundreds of instruments, equipping you with quick browsing, previewing, and hands-on control over your virtual instruments.

Brimming with inspiring sounds and presets

The Kontakt 8 Factory Library 2 includes over 900 instruments, covering everything from pianos, strings, brass, and other acoustic instruments to vintage synthesizers, drum machines, and much more. Plus, Kontakt 8 allows you to tap into a worldwide community of cutting-edge sound designers, with countless third-party sound sets developed in and optimized for Kontakt.

Deep editing and sound design tools

Beyond its stunning collection of Factory sounds and nearly limitless options of expanded sound sets, Kontakt 8 provides you with an improved selection of tools for building your own instruments. This can be as simple as dropping in a single sample or as complex as building a bespoke sample-based instrument from the ground up using Kontakt 8’s comprehensive set of editing tools, modulators, time-stretching algorithms, and effects. The only limit to Kontakt 8’s sound design capabilities is your imagination — create the instrument of your dreams with Kontakt 8!

Seamless hardware integration for hands-on control

Kontakt 8 seamlessly integrates with Native Instruments’ and Maschine and Kontrol S-Series MIDI keyboards, transforming your DAW into a music production and performance powerhouse. Using Komplete Kontrol with a dedicated hardware controller, you can keep your eyes off your computer screen and on your keyboard or Maschine to browse and modify sounds and presets and get hands-on when designing sounds and performing.

Native Instruments Kontakt 8 Features:

• The industry-leading virtual instrument platform and sample-based sound designer
• Overhauled Factory 2 Library with over 900 instruments and sounds
• New Chords and Phrases tools enable straightforward MIDI content creation
• Randomization features allow for expedited melody and sequence generation
• Leap provides lightning-fast loop and sample manipulation
• 12 genre-targeted Leap Expansions: Afrobeats, Latin Trap, Platinum Pop, Progressive Trance, Soul Gold, and more
• Conflux hybrid instrument that combines samples with wavetable, FM, and ring modulation oscillators
• Deeper NKS integration with hundreds of instruments enables quick browsing, previewing, and hands-on control
• Import sounds from licensed 3rd-party developers and independent sound designers
• Create sample-based instruments with an improved selection of editing tools, effects, and scripts
• Seamless hardware integration with Maschine and S-Series keyboard controllers

The virtual instrument platform reinvented

Imagine any sound – Kontakt lets you find it, create it, and transform it. The latest edition of our revolutionary sampling platform combines a brand-new set of intelligent tools with countless sound design options, redefining how you generate ideas and make music.

 

What’s new in Kontakt 8

 

Kontakt 8 audio demos

 

 

A huge choice of sound

Kontakt hosts the world’s largest range of virtual instruments. With thousands of libraries, it’s the gateway to quality sound from Native Instruments, our official partners, and scores of indie developers. Plus, everything is completely tweakable, so you can make any sound your own.

 

What’s new in Kontakt 8?

Our most feature-packed release yet is here to transform the way you generate, modulate, and playback sound. Plus, it’s packed with performance updates so you can work faster than ever.

 

Smash writer’s block

Tools add a completely new layer of creative features to get the ideas flowing. And they work with any Kontakt instrument, old and new. For our first drop, we’re launching MIDI content and randomization features with Chords and Phrases, designed to spark new ideas and get you in the zone fast.

Fast and fun loop control

Leap is an ultra-fast and playful way to play and manipulate loops. Spark fresh ideas, sprinkle in expressive performance effects, or just jam. Breathe new life into your sample collection or try something totally fresh with our new Leap Expansions series, starting with 12 curated packs for specific genres and styles.

 

Watch Leap in action

Sound like nothing else

Conflux is the first in a new breed of Kontakt instruments for experimental sound design. Layer organic and synthetic samples and add dynamic movement to static sounds in real time, with original PPG wavetables and techniques like FM, Phase Modulation, and Ring Modulation.

 

Watch Conflux in action

Get going with hundreds of included instruments

Kontakt’s Factory Library comes packed with over hundreds of meticulously sampled instruments. Get started with a huge playable and tweakable selection of acoustic and electronic options, including the renowned collection from Orchestral Tools, plus Hybrid Keys.

Dream it, build it

All your favorite Kontakt instruments are built right here. The powerful feature set makes Kontakt the first choice for instrument developers worldwide, and it just got even bigger with enhanced synth capabilities, including real-time wavetable, frequency modulation, and ring modulation oscillators.

Save on even more sound

Kontakt 8 comes included with our Komplete 15 production bundle, in the Standard tier and above. It’s a huge saving on an unparalleled range of plugins. And there’s endless creative possibilities to be had with Kontakt’s creative tools applied to heavy hitters like Noire, Stradivari Violin, Vocal Colors, and much more.

Explore Komplete 15

 

What’s the difference between Kontakt and Kontakt Player?

 

Kontakt 8 Player

Just looking to use Kontakt instruments? Kontakt Player is the free version that runs all NI Kontakt instruments and many more officially licensed options from third-party developers (make sure to check the compatibility before you buy). Get it now in the Komplete Start bundle.

Free download

 

Kontakt 8

The full version of Kontakt offers all the powerful creation tools and a gateway to a trove of unique virtual instruments. There’s the Kontakt Factory Library plus thousands of options from indie instrument developers.

Buy now

The go-to for pros

You’ve heard Kontakt at the top of the charts, in Oscar-winning scores, and on the soundtracks of major TV shows. It’s the favorite of so many composers, producers, and sound designers for its unmatched sound quality, deep manipulation feature set, and incredible attention to detail.

Seamless integration

Kontakt works in harmony with all major DAWs and Native Instruments hardware. For the best possible experience, S-Series MK3 keyboards bring Kontakt to life with an immersive direct connection that makes virtual instruments feel real.

Explore S-Series keyboards