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.
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.
A huge choice of sound
What’s new in Kontakt 8?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The go-to for pros
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.
I love the ease of use and quality of the sounds in this software, definitely worth the investment!
I have been blown away by the versatility and sound quality of this software – definitely worth the investment.
I love how easy it is to customize sounds with this software, but I wish it wasn’t so pricey.
I was blown away by the incredible sound quality and vast library of instruments available, definitely worth the investment!
The software is a game-changer for my music production setup; the interface is user-friendly and the sound quality is top-notch. Would highly recommend to any musician or producer out there!