Native Instruments introduced major innovations for the company's Komplete Kontrol keyboard portfolio during a dedicated event at Musikmesse in Frankfurt. The company announced the inclusion of the new Komplete Select instruments and effects suite, a significant update to the Komplete Kontrol software, and the Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) – a new format allowing deep integration of third-party plug-ins. They say that this move represents the next stage in Native Instruments' long-standing mission to design forward-thinking, integrated software/hardware solutions for musicians and producers.
"Integration for us ultimately means to make a technical setup act and feel like a true musical instrument, " says Mate Galic, CTO of Native Instruments, "and we have put a lot of thought into Native Kontrol Standard to enable this crucial quality for the widest possible range of software instruments on the market."
With the introduction of the Komplete Kontrol S-Series keyboards last year, Native Instruments established a new level of integration for software instruments. Building on the success of this platform, the company is now expanding on this exclusive technology. The addition of VST support this summer will open up the Komplete Kontrol software to third-party plug-ins. At the same time, Native Instruments will introduce the brand-new Native Kontrol Standard (NKS). Going beyond the limitations of current formats, NKS allows plug-in developers to integrate their products at the same deep level as Komplete Instruments. This will include full parameter mapping, Komplete Browser support, access to exclusive Komplete Kontrol technology such as the Light Guide, and more. A comprehensive development kit, provided by NI, will open up the NKS framework to third-party developers. NI is already working with major software instrument manufacturers, as well as the wider development community, to ensure that the leading software instruments use NKS to provide the deepest integration possible with the Komplete Kontrol system.
With the release of Komplete Select in May, all Komplete Kontrol S-Series keyboards will include a premium selection of Komplete 10 Instruments and Effects. All registered owners of Komplete Kontrol S-Series keyboards will also receive the Komplete Select package. Among the included instruments are NI's best-selling Massive synth, the new sampled piano instrument The Gentleman, the true-to-life analog emulation Monark synth, and the first-of-its-kind acoustic/electric drum laboratory Drumlab, providing a production-ready system out of the box. With the inclusion of the Komplete Kontrol software in Komplete Select, all single Komplete Instruments can now be controlled from an S-Series keyboard. Owners now also qualify for special upgrade pricing to NI's Komplete 10 and Komplete 10 Ultimate instrument and effect suites.
The Komplete Kontrol software also delivers its first update. Komplete Kontrol 1.1 will expand the software with a host of powerful features upon its release in May. Numerous improvements include the ability to route and record MIDI sequences created with Komplete Kontrol's Smart Play functions freely within a DAW environment, as well as sending MIDI to outboard gear. An improved preset management system allows quick saving and recall of user presets from within the Komplete Kontrol software. New Touch Kontrol functionality allows users to control more of the software directly from the keyboard, providing a more immersive hardware experience without having to look at a computer screen. Furthermore, 2015 will also see an addition to the S-Series keyboard portfolio, proving Native Instruments' ongoing commitment to developing the system.
Komplete Select includes Massive, Prism, Scarbee Mark I, Solid Bus Comp, Drumlab, The Gentleman, Vintage Organs, Monark, Retro Machines, West Africa.
Komplete Select is included in all Komplete Kontrol S-Series keyboards, and is also available free to all registered Komplete Kontrol owners. Owners will receive a download link and serial number via e-mail upon software registration. Similarly, registered Maschine users will also receive Komplete Select as a free download, opening their Maschine-based productions to a vast range of new sound.
The Komplete Kontrol 1.1 software update is available as a free download from Service Center.
Additional information on Komplete Kontrol is available at: www.native-instruments.com/thefutureofkompletekontrol
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