Native Instruments Kontakt VST

New and improved features:
Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" compatibility

Fixes:
RTAS multi outputs fixed
"Crash on startup" issues fixed

Requirements
- Mac OS 10.4.x,
- G4 1.4 GHz or Intel Core Duo 1.66 GHz,
- 512 MB RAM

Improvements:
New CPU Profiling mode for analyzing CPU usage of an instrument
Performance improvements for Edit mode
Performance improvements for distortion, saturation and synth filters
Faster database search
Additional patches
New Kontakt 3 Library Manual
Kontakt Script Language Manual now includes 2.1 appendix
Localized versions of Kontakt 3 Manual and Setup Guide

Fixes:
Various cosmetic improvements
Crash with Cubase 4 and Spectrasonics fixed
Various library fixes
Various bug fixes

Requirements
OS 10.4.x, G4 1.4 GHz or Intel® Core Duo 1.66 GHz, 1 GB RAM

Format Change: Instruments, Multis, Banks saved in this version are not compatible to previous versions of Kontakt.
License Server compatibility.
Script knob automation: you can now automate script knobs just like any other knobs in Kontakt. Just drag and drop an automation ID from the browser's Automation tab onto a knob in your script. You can use a maximum of 16 automation IDs per script.
You can now send data from MIDI input and scripts to the MIDI output. Please check out the extended settings under "Send MIDI to outside world" in the Options dialog, Audio Engine tab.
New option on Load/Import tab: "Always re-write samples as WAV when Saving". This option allows to save every sample in WAV format e.g. when a patch was created from a REX file. When you save as a monolith, samples will always be converted to WAV. Please ignore the older option below: "Destination Sample Format".
New import formats: ASR-X and Emax II.
Several important bugs have been fixed.

Requirements
- Mac OS 10.4.x,
- G4 1.4 GHz or Intel Core Duo 1.66 GHz,
- 512 MB RAM

- Universal Binary
- Enhanced sliced loop handling with drag-and-drop, in-sync preview and more
- Import function now also reads Battery 3 kits/cells as well as DR-008, Pulsar STS and RGC SFZ
- Improved group management with load/save function, 128-voice groups, and new group presets
- New modulation, tuning and envelope functions
- Extended KSP engine with five new commands
...

Requirements
- Mac OS 10.4.x,
- G4 1.4 GHz or Intel Core Duo 1.66 GHz,
- 512 MB RAM

* Instruments reordering in rack

* Multisample import into one instrument

* New Send MIDI to Outside World option

* New piano banks

* KSP: Change_vol function support for while loops

* KSP: Display engine values and units in GUI

* 41 Bug fixes, the most important being

- Memory corruption crash
- Mono output in some VST hosts
- Mac: Eject button not working
- Mac: Monolith saving crash
- PC: Tone machine not analyzing new samples
- Bank quickload not working
- Bank max voices crash
- Delete instruments crash
- Browser hangs with certain samples
- Many more import bug fixes

Requirements
Minimum: Mac OS 10.2.6, G4 800 MHz, 512 MB RAM, DVD drive
Recommended: Mac OS 10.3 or higher, G5 1.8 GHz, 1.0 GB RAM, DVD drive

Performance Enhancements
- Shorter Loading Times: Loading times are now much faster, especially when using several banks with many instruments
- Less Memory Usage: RAM usage has been reduced for internal objects (everything but samples)
- Lower Processor Load: CPU load has been dramatically reduced in idle mode, especially when using several banks with many instruments
- Better Multi-Processor Support: Multi-processor support has been enhanced with better load balancing for group voices and insert effects and additional load balancing for instrument insert and send effects when using several instruments.

Usability Enhancements
- New sample Search: The sample search function has been greatly improved. It is now much easier to find missing samples. There are several ways to look for the files and Spotlight, on Mac OS X, has also been integrated, which helps to find files much faster.
- Batch re-save: If you have renamed or moved files or folders and subsequently lost the sample references of your KONTAKT instruments or multis, the batch re-save function helps restore your file references. Simply select a folder with the batch re-save and all instruments in this folder will automatically re-assign all samples to the instruments and re-save each instrument.

Compatibility
- BANDSTAND, AKOUSTIK PIANO, KONTAKT PLAYER 2:
KONTAKT 2.1 is now fully compatible to BANDSTAND, AKOUSTIK PIANO and KONTAKT PLAYER 2. The instruments of these products can be loaded, used, and edited in KONTAKT and are fully compatible with their original versions. After editing instruments, these can even be re-used in BANDSTAND or AKOUSTIK PIANO again.

- Plug-in compatibility - RTAS:
KONTAKT 2.1 is now compatible to ProTools 6.9 and 7 (7.0 and 7.1) with enhanced performance. For the best performance results, it is recommended to use the latest version of ProTools.

- Import formats:
With SampleCell and BeatCreator, a further two formats have been added to the list of import formats. Kurzweil, Gigastudio 3 and Ensoniq formats were added with version 2.0.1.

Performance and Minimized View
- Performance View
Every instrument can now have its own, individual and customizable graphic background (skin). You can also add your own top-level parameter control with the KSP Script engine and bring it to the front.
This allows the most important control elements to be accessed without having to go into the edit mode of the instrument.

- Minimzed View:
An additional minimized view of KONTAKT 2 can be activated, offering a simpler view of one instrument at a time. Left and right arrow buttons allow easy switching between all loaded instruments.

Audio Quality
- HQI - High Quality Interpolation Mode
When transposing audio signals, occasionally aliasing effects become audible. The new HQI – High Quality Interpolation mode allows the transposition of audio over a few octaves without any audible artifacts. 3 different modes are available: "standard", "high" and "perfect".

New Effects
- Limiter
The new limiter can be used to maximize an audio signal with a compression ratio of infinity:one. It can be inserted as a group effect, instrument insert effect or output mixer effect.

- Pro Compressor
The compressor effect has a new "Pro" mode, offering a high quality algorithm for audio signal compression.

- Pseudo Stereo
The Stereo Modeler Effect now includes a pseudo stereo effect, which can be used on Mono signals in order to create a stereo effect.

Improvements and Fixes
KONTAKT 2.1 comes with many smaller optimizations and fixes. A detailed list will be available with the update readme information.

Requirements
Minimum: Mac OS 10.2.6, G4 800 MHz, 512 MB RAM, DVD drive
Recommended: Mac OS 10.3 or higher, G5 1.8 GHz, 1.0 GB RAM, DVD drive

User Interface:
- New design, enhanced user convenience and many additional functions
- Multiple Undo/Redo including an undo history
- Mapping and loop editors can be opened as separate, individual windows (stand-alone mode)
- Keyboard shortcuts for an efficient workflow
- Master section including global tempo settings, master tune and tuning tone, metronome
- A keyboard that can be toggled on and off

Import and Compatibility
- Universal Import: Compatible with some 25 library formats and 5 sample formats
- New and compact bank module allowing quick loading, playing and editing of up to 128 sample instruments. Instruments can be switched via Program Change

Surround Sound:
- Up to 16 channel surround sound (all formats)
- Innovative surround sound panner with a flexible output configuration
- Imports WAV/AIFF surround samples (1-16 channels)
- Surround optimized effects
- Convenient mixer for the multi-channel output configuration of individual instruments (see output section)

Audio Engine:
- New, high-performance audio engine with unlimited voices and 64 fold multi-timbrality per instance
- RAM-saving "Sample Purge" function, allowing samples not being used in the arrangement to be removed from the RAM
- Multiprocessor and AltiVec support ensuring top performance

Custom Modules, Filters and Effects:
- KONTAKT Script Processor: Program individual modules using a simple script language. Create ingenious instruments with the scripts already included in the library; for example exotic instrument simulations, authentic piano pedal simulators, chord generators, arpeggiators, dynamic tuners and much more. Up to 5 script processors simultaneously per instrument are possible.
- Convolution effect delivering authentic, real-life reverb and special effects. Includes a wide selection of impulse responses from real concert halls, echo chambers and more. Other impulse responses can also be imported.
- Two additional synthesizer filters: PRO-53 filter (classic analog) and the 4-Stage Ladder filter (modelled on one of the most popular 3 oscillator synthesizers).
- New multi-effect modules (located in the group insert, insert effect and send effect sections) allow a particularly easy and space-saving combination of up to 8 effects per module. Effects can be arranged in any order desired and multiple instances of the same effect are also possible.

Browser:
- Powerful Multi-Browser with dozens of convenient functions:
1. File Browser: covering the entire hard drive and includes an import context menu
2. Database/Favorites Browser: for frequently used folders in the following caregories: samples, instruments, multi-instruments, banks (128 instruments). A powerful search feature is also included
3. Module Browser: browse, select, drag and drop effects, filters, internal and external modulators as needed. Detailed module descriptions are also displayed.
4. Automation Management: Manages MIDI and host automation

Mapping, Looping and Group Management :
- Enhanced loop editor with simplified loop slicing functionality. Multi-channel compatibility allowing surround samples with up to 16 channels to be displayed.
- REX/Apple loops including slice information are supported.
- An even more helpful mapping editor with an additional list view
- New group editor allowing sample groups to be assigned and organised easily. Group settings can be copied onto other groups and into other instruments.

Output Configuration
- Global Mixer controlling the volume of all instruments and allocation of output channels. Up to 4 additional Aux Effects per output configuration

New Instrument Library
- KONTAKT 2 includes a comprehensive sample library overflowing with top-quality instruments: a selection of orchestra instruments taken from the exceptional Vienna Symphonic Library, an excellent grand piano, authentic electric pianos, acoustic instruments, electronic as well as acoustic drum kits, drum and instrument loops and a whole lot more. Furthermore, the library also contains several instruments that make specific use of the revolutionary KONTAKT Script processor. For example, guitar and orchestra instruments that emulate particular playing styles with unprecedented precision.

Requirements
Minimum: Mac OS 10.2.6, G4 800 MHz, 512 MB RAM, DVD drive
Recommended: Mac OS 10.3 or higher, G5 1.8 GHz, 1.0 GB RAM, DVD drive

- Double click resets amount router fader
- AKAI import
- EXS sound name is the filename
- DFD improvements
- bugs fixed

Requirements
Kontakt 1.5

New Functions:

- Sync Loops to Song Tempo: Beat Machine
KONTAKT 1.5 integrates a newly developed Beat Machine, which makes it possible to take finished loops and divide them into individual slices. With Beat Machine drum loops can be perfectly synced to the host sequencer – without losing any of the sound. KONTAKT 1.5 also supports the REXTM sample format for loading already sliced loops.

- Time Stretching: Time Machine II
The Time Machine for real time pitch shifting and time stretching has been further developed and improved for KONTAKT 1.5. The result is Time Machine II, which in version 1.5 is available in addition to the original Time Machine from KONTAKT 1.2. Time Machine II offers better sound quality when time stretching and pitch shifting samples. The integrated "Transient Copy" technology allows for a much more authentic reproduction of a sample's attack phase, which isn't only advantageous when working with drum loops. The sonic behavior of the Time Machine II can be individually configured and adjusted for different output material.

- Tempo Synchronization of Loops
Another especially high-performance feature of Time Machine II is the ability to use time stretching to sync drum loops to the tempo of the host sequencer. In this way loops with different original tempos can be inserted into any song arrangement.

- Accelerated Sample Analysis
Before the Time Machine goes into action all loaded samples undergo an exact analysis. This analysis happens considerably faster than in the original Time Machine – with a fast CPU the per-sample analysis takes less time than the length of the sample itself.

- Convenient Plug-In Integration: VST Automation
In addition to the MIDI automation in version 1.2, KONTAKT 1.5 now also supports VST automation. This allows for much more convenient integration with VST-compatible host sequencers. Nearly all control element movements can be drawn as automation curves in the sequencer and remote-controlled. Since KONTAKT is semi-modular, a VST automation number can be quickly and easily assigned to any KONTAKT control element.

- New Import Formats:
KONTAKT 1.5 further expands its compatibility to professional sample formats: the new version can now import REX , EXS MK II and Samplecell (Digidesign) as well. Version 1.5 can also load the libraries of KOMPAKT and INTAKT.

- Drag and Drop From Finder and Desktop
Extended drag and drop functionality further enhances the workflow with KONTAKT. Drag and drop support is now no longer limited to the KONTAKT browser: files and instruments can also be dragged and loaded directly into KONTAKT from the desktop, from folders and from the finder or file explorer.

- Locking Zones
A convenient feature has been added to the mapping editor: zones can be locked to prevent them from being accidentally shifted.

-Fine-Control of Master Tuning
The master tuning in the options dialog can now be altered in detailed steps of +/- 200 cent – perfect for individual voices.

- Solo Latch, Solo In Place
With Solo Latch and Solo in Place in the options dialog you can set the behavior of the solo buttons in the individual KONTAKT racks. With Solo Latch several instruments can be switched to solo at once, while Solo In Place lets only one instrument be switched to solo at time.