Archive notice: This article was originally published on September 3, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The fourth generation consistently expands KONTAKT’s performance and versatility for music production, live performance and sound design with features such as the unique “Authentic Expression Technology”, efficient sample compression, an expanded sound library combined with a convenient new database, and much more.
Building on the most powerful sample engine on the market, KONTAKT 4 opens up the next level of sampling through innovative “Authentic Expression Technology” (AET), which can emulate the sonic behaviour of original instruments in a highly expressive way.
The technology enables continuous crossfading between the spectral characteristics of two samples, achieved through a phase-corrected convolution method based on FFT analysis. AET thereby bypasses the typical weaknesses of common velocity-layer techniques and gives additional realism especially to sounds such as strings, wind instruments and choirs. AET also allows the dynamic combination of the sonic characteristics of arbitrary sounds in real time, opening extensive new possibilities for creative sound design.
KONTAKT 4 also introduces exclusive new sample compression that allows musicians and producers to extract more performance from their computer setups. The new NCW format was developed specifically for KONTAKT and can reduce a sample’s space requirement by up to 50%, substantially easing the computer’s storage-space and bandwidth requirements. During playback in KONTAKT 4, the samples are unpacked into their original format with minimal computing requirements and without sonic changes. This can extend the typical performance limits of current computer systems and yield useful performance gains, especially with complex multitimbral arrangements and highly polyphonic instrument sounds.
KONTAKT’s high-quality sound library has been improved and expanded again for the fourth version. A major new addition is a complete chamber choir recorded exclusively for KONTAKT 4 and equipped with AET-based vocal morphing. Further additions include solo strings and a concert-hall organ from the renowned VSL library, as well as a carefully sampled Mellotron that complements the KONTAKT library’s extensive “Vintage” collection. A new collection of impulse responses also expands the utility of the powerful convolution effect integrated into KONTAKT. With more than 44 GB of sample material in total, KONTAKT 4 offers a comprehensive repertoire of acoustic and synthetic instrument sounds for all areas of modern music production.
To enable the most efficient possible use of the library, KONTAKT 4 also introduces a new sound browser with a substantially improved operating concept. Instruments, multis, samples and even effect presets can now be found easily, suited to the respective context, on the basis of unambiguous musical attributes.
Drag-and-drop assignment and the creation of arbitrary custom categories also make even extensive sound collections easier to handle.
Further improvements in KONTAKT 4 concern the Kontakt Script Processor (KSP), which now offers substantially expanded functionality thanks to new “Multi Scripts”. The new version also offers considerably expanded design options for “Performance View” panels, giving individual KONTAKT instruments improved usability and a more individual appearance.
KONTAKT 4 will be available from October at a recommended retail price of EUR 379 from authorised dealers and the NI Online Shop, and is also included in the new KOMPLETE 6 bundle. An update for owners of previous KONTAKT versions will be available for EUR 129.