Kompletely Amazing: NI's Komplete 2 Bundle

Ah, some good news indeed. NI (Native Instruments) has released the KOMPLETE 2 Bundle, but with a twist. Instead of dealing with the issue of authorizing each plug-in separately (something I didn’t care much for), it now comes packaged on 2 DVD’s - with just one master serial number. NI KOMPLETE 2 includes ABSYNTH 2, REAKTOR 4, B4 Organ, FM7, PRO-53, KONTAKT 1.5, KOMPAKT, INTAKT, BATTERY, VOKATOR und SPEKTRAL DELAY. ‘Easy install’ will install all 11 pieces of software, along with the RTAS, VST, AU components and sample libraries. Of course you could choose to install each one individually (Custom Install) or skip some, but I just did the whole package at once.

Above: Lots of magic in one little box.

Since I had already registered my previous versions on the NI website, the entire install AND online authorization process took only minutes. This is a dramatic change from the former method, and kudos to NI for making things so simple. Another small but simple positive is having one manual; now when I look up techniques or questions I can turn to one book instead of many, in addition to keeping my single serial number taped to the cover for easy access. Rockin' with the B4 This bundle is called ‘Komplete’ for a good reason. Simply put, it is a powerful all-around tool for anyone who creates music or sound. The B4 Organ rocks, plain and simple. Like all of the NI synth based software, it can either operate in stand-alone mode (ASIO, DirectSound, MME, SoundManager) or as a Plug-in (VST 2.0, Dxi, Mas, Direct Connect, RTAS) for both PC and Mac platforms. For those who haven’t heard it yet, go download a demo! My favorite is to play with the Control View section in the back (back of software?) of the unit. There’s such goodies as a slow/fast Leslie rotation switch, Microphone Balance, Pan, Angle and Distance, Tube Amp and Rotator options, and drawbars for the Pedal Keyboard, Lower and Upper Manual Sections, among others. Since I use the B4 as a plug-in within Pro Tools, I like to place an Altiverb or Waves IR-1 ‘studio’ Impulse Response right after it. Just play with the wet/dry amount to get some really killer results.

Above: Native Instruments B4 screenshot

Sounds Prophetic The PRO-53 is an update of the PRO-52, based upon the classic Sequential Circuits Prophet-5. The PRO-53 however, has unlimited polyphony, full Midi automation and MIDI SYNC to quantize the LFO’s. Aside of the thick, nasty synth sounds this baby gets, I really enjoy playing with the excellent Delay section, which takes the sound to another level. As simple to use as it gets, the section can quickly be turned ON and SYNC’ed using TIME, SPREAD, DEPTH, RATE, FEEDBACK, LO CUT, HI CUT, INV and WET controls. I especially like using the PRO-53 on remixes, as it cuts through like few others.

Above: NI Pro-53. This is one of those screenshots that makes the software look like an actual keyboard. You'll see several more of these below. Try not to be annoyed. We warned you.

DX-cellent Next is the FM7, which I actually had never used before. Well, my loss indeed, as this thing sounds great. Based upon the classic DX-7, the FM-7 uses FM synthesis at 32-bit resolution with 64-voice polyphony. My personal favorite is the "Easy" page - for guys like me who don’t go too deep into synthesis, but want options quickly. There is a great RESET button that gets you back to where you started with one click. I wish all soft synth manufacturers had this, as I found myself using it constantly. It’s also very easy to navigate this unit with the useful BANK/PRESET window.

Above: NI FM-7. Like the DX-7 you had back in the day, but much flatter.

Vokator and Spectral Delay-lay-lay-lay... The sound designer in me liked the next two installs: the VOKATOR and SPEKTRAL DELAY. As the manual taught me (RTFM folks!), the term Vocoder was derived from "Voice Coder", used to encode language for the military. The VOKATOR utilizes the phase vocoder principal, continuously analyzing the frequency spectrum of the two input channels, combining both in various unique ways to create things I’ve never heard before. Using what’s called the Input Manager, you can route Live, Playback, OSC SYNTH, or WAVE SYNTH signal into the mix. For example, the WAVE SYNTH section can load samples and mangle them. I loaded some drum loops (VOKATOR has internal sample rate conversion) and whacked out the sound with some spectral modulations. Whoa……

Above: NI Vokator

The SPEKTRAL DELAY converts its audio signal into Frequency Domain, letting you transform the sound with as many as 1024 frequency bands. It converts it back into the Time Domain so computers can actually play the sound. Note that each band can have its own delay-feedback network…imagine those patch cables in the analog world! Sample Your Brains Out Both KONTAKT and BATTERY are sample-based software plug ins. Kontakt can import AIFF, WAV, SDII, BATTERY, AKAI S-1000-3000, SF2 and GIGASAMPLER formats from 8 to 32 bits. The cool thing about KONTAKT is you can construct your own sampling environment; Taking elements of a sampler such as loop and sample mapping and combining it with synthesis filters, modulation and envelopes, you get some wild sounds! Also, as far as samplers go, this is extremely easy to use. It’s quickly become my first reach sampler in my setup. Battery is a 32-bit resolution percussion sampler that can also run stand alone or as a plug-in. With the huge sound library and ability to read most sample formats, it’s no wonder there is so much buzz on this software. Kompakt is a combination synth, sampler and signal processor. You can create virtual racks, tweak filters, drop samples, and save each setup as your own personal rack. Kompakt can load up to eight samples and group them as one instrument, what’s known as a ‘Multi’. Note that each of these instruments has its own filter, amp, envelopes, LFOs and effects. You can edit them individually or as a group. Layout is simple, as there is the Multi area, Instrument, Modulation, Effects and keyboard section. I just loaded some of the presets and started tweaking. This thing rocks, big time! Until you tweak yourself, you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Above: Native Instruments Kontakt

Get Loopy with Intakt INTAKT is called the ‘little brother’ of KONTAKT and KOMPAKT. A cool feature is the ability to import .NKI instruments files from KONTAKT and KOMPAKT – that way everything is already mapped out for you. Of course you could use your standard, AIFF, WAV, SDII, EXS or REX files. INTAKT also has filters, envelopes, effects, etc, and is broken out into Source Edit, Modulation, Effect and the Keyboard area. I was playing this sampler ‘live’ using my Pro Tools setup and an Oxygen 8. I can’t wait to really dig deep into this tool.

Above: NI Intakt

And Everything Else... REAKTOR 4, which is a bit hard to explain, is aptly called an "audio processing system". It’s a modular plug-in that combines elements of synthesis, sampling and effects processing to create, well…almost anything. There are these cool Hybrid modules that automatically reconfigure themselves as either audio or event modules, depending on their wiring. This is the kind of plug in you can choose to either go "deep" with, or just start plugging things in and mess around to see what happens, which is usually something wild.

Above: NI Reaktor

Drunk on Absynth Last but not least is Absynth 2. The new version adds sampling (both granular and traditional), 6 additional filter types and tempo sync, as well as providing Pro Tools support. This soft synth is one of the best I’ve heard and its new features make it a sound designers dream. I just wish more people would show up at my door with products that sound this good.

Above: NI Absynth