Is Kontakt worth $399?

[Rangler]

Are the instruments professional quality enough for production?

So far I've scoured the web for free instruments that are Mac compatible, which are nowhere near the amount Windows users get.

The most I spent on a plugin was for RX Elements and a LA-2A-style compressor. The $ starts adding up for these software.

[EvilDragon]

Well, the factory library has some usable stuff but it's a bit long in tooth... You basically get Kontakt so you could run other libraries, there is a myriad of them. Some of them are fine with the free Kontakt Player, for others, you need full Kontakt.

All depends what sort of instruments you need, so a bit more info about that would be helpful.

[Rangler]

Originally Posted by EvilDragon

Well, the factory library has some usable stuff but it's a bit long in tooth... You basically get Kontakt so you could run other libraries, there is a myriad of them. Some of them are fine with the free Kontakt Player, for others, you need full Kontakt.

All depends what sort of instruments you need, so a bit more info about that would be helpful.

I've started getting little gigs for producing pop music for girls learning to sing. Think Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.

I have some free orchestra instruments that I've found online, and some drums & synths.

For my own music, I like doing all analog with IRL guitars and synths.

[Pinknoise]

You dont have to buy full price. Install free Drummica in Kontakt and update from that for close to half price. Look around for free libraries see if there is anything you like. There is a lot of added value to Kontakt in the long run but if you only do electronics not so much.

[msundh]

No is isn't

[Rangler]

Originally Posted by Pinknoise

You dont have to buy full price. Install free Drummica in Kontakt and update from that for close to half price. Look around for free libraries see if there is anything you like. There is a lot of added value to Kontakt in the long run but if you only do electronics not so much.

So I download Drummica and Kontakt Player then upgrade for $99? Is that how it works?

[Pinknoise]

That low?? No I dont think so it will be more like 249$ or something.
There is a button or drop down menu on Drummica top left somewhere if I remember correctly. I had trouble finding it not obvious.

[Rangler]

Originally Posted by Pinknoise

That low?? No I dont think so it will be more like 249$ or something.
There is a button or drop down menu on Drummica top left somewhere if I remember correctly. I had trouble finding it not obvious.

Cool, thanks. $249 makes it kind of reasonable, I guess. I wonder if it's better marketing to just release it for free and get paid through licensing. They could make it killing that way, just like iPhone apps. But what do I know about business crapola.

[Pinknoise]

Originally Posted by Rangler

Cool, thanks. $249 makes is kind of reasonable, I guess. I wonder if it's better marketing to just release it for free and get paid through licensing. They could make it killing that way, just like iPhone apps. But what do I know about business crapola.

Its kinda weird I agree! Every plugin junkee knows the trick but newcomers how would they know! Also there are half price sales during the year.

[EpicSounds]

I got it for $125 two-three weeks ago with their half price upgrade sale. Just missed it dude

[Rangler]

Originally Posted by EpicSounds

I got it for $125 two-three weeks ago with their half price upgrade sale. Just missed it dude

So was it worth it?

[Tod]

Originally Posted by Rangler

So was it worth it?

The thing about Kontakt is that even though the library isn't the greatest, it still has a lot to offer. I've had Kontakt since Kontakt 2, and I still use parts of the library.

The thing about Kontakt is it's kind of a stepping stone and has many paths. It all depends on how you want to use it. It's definitely the best sampler on the market and has a great users base.

Back in 2005 some friends and I decided to put an orchestra library together. At that time it was Giga Studio I think that was the main sampler on the market. However, Kontakt 2 came out at the same time and we opted for Kontakt, and I'm so glad we did. It has become the most important piece of software I've ever owned. Heh heh, Reaper would come 2nd.

[zookthespook]

NI has been pushing most customers to buy komplete vs individual software. kontatk @399 usd in which case always feels steep . it is a one time burn if u buy komplete but as a producer it is worth it. Producers who like to indulge in diverse pallette of sounds would find NI products as bread and butter synths.i believe NI is an investment and worth every penny spent.

[ivansc]

I bought in at version 3 of Kontakt. I also have a couple of their own libraries but I mostly bought it for access to thing like Chris Hein Horns and really off-the-wall stuff like the Front Porch Tuba.
And I too waited for one of their mega sales, as I do with every update.

One thing you could do is what I did, download the free Kontat player including the free library which is a decent sample of the full thing. Play with it for a while and see how you like it.
The one downside to that is that instruments that are not officially registered with NI by their developers will only work in demo mode in the player. It is not cheap to register a library with NI, so many developers of really good instrument rely on you having the full version, where their stuff WILL work without interruptions.

[stratman]

Originally Posted by zookthespook

NI has been pushing most customers to buy komplete vs individual software. kontatk @399 usd in which case always feels steep . it is a one time burn if u buy komplete but as a producer it is worth it. Producers who like to indulge in diverse pallette of sounds would find NI products as bread and butter synths.i believe NI is an investment and worth every penny spent.

I'd agree that (depending on your needs and if you can stretch to it) it makes sense to go for Komplete which includes Kontakt plus a lot more for your money.

[EpicSounds]

yes because
- can load any kontakt library, not just the "Powered by Kontakt" licensed ones
- can make my own libraries to sell
- can do things with layers and groups that is not possible with Reaper's sampler

[mikeroephonics]

It depends on what kinds of sounds you want to use. If you want super-realistic sounds such as acoustic instruments (orchestral, guitars, choirs), then it's really nice but you may need to look outside the Kontakt factory library to get what you want/need.

I bought Kontakt for $199 when it was half off about 5-ish years ago. NI usually has a big sale at least once a year, so you may wish to wait it out if you end up wanting to get it.

I primarily use Kontakt for playing my older Vienna Symphonic Library 'Horizon Series' sample libraries because Tascam abandoned GigaStudio a scant 3 years after they acquired NemeSys (Thanks, Tascam!) Additionally, I can confidently recommend the company Sonic Couture who make REALLY nice native Kontakt sample libraries.

It really comes down to what sounds you want to use and perhaps waiting it out for another NI sale.

[spintonik]

I would not pay USD 399 from Kontakt - especially as sounds are getting old and free player works well enough with all sound sets.

However, IMHO Complete -kits, with Kontakt included, are great value for money.

If I were you, I would add USD 200 and get Komplete - get 44 additional products, with very broad selection of sounds. It'll save you in long term, as you can use those included instruments instead of buying a 3rd party library, about USD 49 each.

Myself, I own Maschine, I love the additional extras that came with it.

-Mikko

[Pinknoise]

Originally Posted by spintonik

I would not pay USD 399 from Kontakt - especially as sounds are getting old and free player works well enough with all sound sets.

However, IMHO Complete -kits, with Kontakt included, are great value for money.

If I were you, I would add USD 200 and get Komplete - get 44 additional products, with very broad selection of sounds. It'll save you in long term, as you can use those included instruments instead of buying a 3rd party library, about USD 49 each.

Myself, I own Maschine, I love the additional extras that came with it.

-Mikko

That and also, even if you just buy Kontakt like I did at 50% off, you can still wait for a 50% off upgrade to Komplete.

[Softsynth]

I'm another one here that bought Kontakt 5 in the 50% off Summer sale as a reduced price "crossgrade" (NI marketing term) from Sennheiser's freebie Drum Mica.
That combination made it £104 boxed and delivered in UK. I understand US users even got it for around $99 in Summer/Drum Mica sale, this was in 2014 though.

I wouldn't buy large sample programs if they are not physical product. My 2mbit broadband isn't remotely up to it, and I like physical product anyway.

If you cannot find it in 50% off sales then another option is to look for slightly old versions of Komplete (8-9-10) on eBay, rather than paying full whack for Kontakt5 alone.

[G-Sun]

Just like having an sm57, the Kontakt vsti is sort of mandatory if you're in the studio-business for some time.
Oh.. I don't have an sm57