Native Instruments is one of the biggest names in the music production game these days. It produces some of the best software instruments and sound libraries for producers and sound designers along with a fleet of great hardware including everything from Traktor DJ controllers to the KOMPLETE keyboards and its drum pad oriented Maschine gear. All three of those product lineups are getting refreshed hardware today, but NI is also introducing completely overhauled versions of some of its most popular and groundbreaking instrument software as well as its behemoth KOMPLETE bundle.
It’s a big day for anyone who makes music on a computer, never mind those of us that are already heavily invested in the Native Instruments eco-system.
KOMPLETE KONTROL Keyboards:
On top of the new KOMPLETE KONTROL S-SERIES S88 keyboard, which is more of the same goodness with more real estate (full review on previous generation right here), we are also getting a brand new A-SERIES lineup. MIDI keyboards are usually the best way to ease new producers into making music and NI is going for its most affordable lineup of controllers yet.
Starting at $149 for the A25-Key model, they certainly aren’t cheap, but are some of the most accessible ways to jump into NI hardware and its incredible software environment yet. They feature “full integration with 600+ NKS Instruments and FX from 75 partners”. Here’s mode details on the new A-SERIES lineup:
Get hands-on with all of your instruments and effects from a smart, streamlined keyboard at an affordable price. Find, tweak, and capture your sounds, perform on a best-in-class keybed, and express yourself with the included collection of pro-grade instruments.
- KOMPLETE KONTROL A25
- Pricing: $149 (MAP)
- Dimensions: 488 x 257 x 89 mm / 19.2” x 10.1” x 3.5”
- Weight: 2.4 kg / 5.3 lbs
- KOMPLETE KONTROL A49
- Pricing: $199 (MAP)
- Dimensions: 820 x 257 x 89 mm / 32.3” x 10.1” x 3.5”
- Weight: 4 kg / 8.8 lbs
- KOMPLETE KONTROL A61
- Pricing: $249 (MAP)
- Dimensions: 984 x 257 x 89 mm / 38.7” x 10.1” x 3.5”
- Weight: 4.7 kg / 10.4 lbs
All of them will be available on October 23rd, 2018.
Software:
Personally, the most exciting part of the announcement today is the new KOMPLETE 12 bundle and more specifically, Massive X and Kontakt 6. While details are a bit thin, we couldn’t be more excited for these two.
Massive has been a staple software synth in many producer’s arsenals for as long as 10 years now and it is finally getting a complete overhaul with Massive X. You might even suggest that it largely defined the EDM genre we are mostly over now. According to Native Instruments it “sets the new standard for contemporary synthesis, and is a must-have for all modern producers.” You can expect a full review of the new Massive coming down the pipeline as soon as possible. It will be available from February 2019 and “All KOMPLETE 12, KOMPLETE 12 ULTIMATE, and KOMPLETE 12 ULTIMATE Collector’s Edition owners will see it added to their collections for free.”
As for Kontakt 6, NI’s huge sampler instrument hub, it will receive 3 new library instruments, a new wavetable module, a series of additional effects like Replika XT and loads of enhancements for Kontakt Instrument makers. The platform has been fantastic at supporting third-party instrument makers and it sounds like that’s just going to get even better here. It is coming available October 1st, 2018 for $399 (also included in the Komplete bundle below).
The new generation of the industry-leading software sampler offers new instruments in the library, and a wealth of enhancements for builders, including a wavetable oscillator module, new effects, and dedicated Creator Tools. Kontakt is the foundation of pro audio – and whether you’re playing instruments in Kontakt, writing scores, designing sounds, or building your own instruments, Kontakt 6 will greatly enhance how you do it. The latest generation of the world’s leading sampler offers an extended instrument library, a wavetable oscillator, new effects, and dedicated Creator Tools.
KOMPLETE 12 will be available “in four differently-sized packages: KOMPLETE 12, SELECT, ULTIMATE, and the new Collector’s Edition – a fifteenth anniversary celebration that packs 150 instruments, effects, and Expansions on to a silver aluminium HDD.” It will include all the software mentioned above and a whole lot more. This is an automatic purchase for me as it is in my opinion, the absolute best collection of instruments on the planet and it is much cheaper to bundle them all up like this.
KOMPLETE 12 will be available October 1st, 2018 starting from $199 and running up to $1,599 for the Collector’s Edition.
DJ Gear/Maschine:
On top of all that, we are also getting a pair of new DJ controllers with the TRAKTOR S4 MK3 and the TRAKTOR KONTROL S2 MK3, along with the MK3 MASCHINE MIKRO. The new DJ gear will supported by a refreshed version of the company’s flagship DJ software: TRAKTOR PRO 3. That will be available come October 18th with the full feature set unveiled just before that on September 25th.
- TRAKTOR S4 MK3: 4-CHANNEL DJ SYSTEM WITH HAPTIC DRIVE
- Portable all-in-one DJ solution
- Motorized jog wheels with haptic feedback
- Seamless integration with included TRAKTOR PRO 3 software
- Available November 1, 2018 for $899 USD
- TRAKTOR KONTROL S2 MK3: 2-CHANNEL PLAY-ANYWHERE DJ SYSTEM
- Upsized jog wheels for precision scratching and beat matching across two channels
- Plug-and-play with full version of flagship TRAKTOR PRO 3
- New Mixer FX for one-touch control over DJ-tool effects and filters
- Available fall 2018 for $299 USD
- MASCHINE MIKRO MK3
- MASCHINE MIKRO is the perfect first step for music producers already using a DAW to get hands on with their creative process
- tap out beats and melodies, and quickly build up loops and track ideas
- Compact, music production instrument that integrates powerful
- software with tactile, responsive hardware
- Four ways to input sound using the 16 pads – drum in pad mode
- play melodies in Keyboard mode, create chord progressions in Chord mode, and program in a classic step-sequencer style from Step mode
- Available September 18, 2018 for $249 USD
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