NKS: How can I change the saved instrument category and preset banks?

Maven303

I've converted a lot of my VSTi presets to NKS in maschine mk3, created the images, but I still can't figure out how to categorize them based on the type of VSTi, and how to sort them into banks.

P.S. I also find it annoying to have to switch between user/factory all the time; Any way to unify them into a single group?

Any help is appreciated

Kymeia

NI don't allow the bank name field to be edited but there is a free app that does this

https://www.doobox.co.uk/apps/mac/nksf_preset_banker.html?fbclid=IwAR3LmqZrLEqMNINlpx99EacUCCxfvfa-ZRPthZRbwszcwfhLaF3fZ12lShg

I'm hoping they eventually will as they say they are planning to update NKS editing in the nearish future

Categories are in the categories.json in NI resources/dist_database - the syntax is outlined in this guide

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ptzo36xbwgbhszhk3vgkw/Creating-NKS-templates.txt?rlkey=xfh4qmwcrslr5lqzxn4va09pc&dl=0

Kymeia

NI don't allow the bank name field to be edited but there is a free app that does this

https://www.doobox.co.uk/apps/mac/nksf_preset_banker.html?fbclid=IwAR3LmqZrLEqMNINlpx99EacUCCxfvfa-ZRPthZRbwszcwfhLaF3fZ12lShg

I'm hoping they eventually will as they say they are planning to update NKS editing in the nearish future

Categories are in the categories.json in NI resources/dist_database - the syntax is outlined in this guide

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ptzo36xbwgbhszhk3vgkw/Creating-NKS-templates.txt?rlkey=xfh4qmwcrslr5lqzxn4va09pc&dl=0

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/141713#Comment_141713

Thank you Kymeia , is it just me or is it not free anymore ? (ref. : page) I couldn't spot free , also no Windows version and Mac is MacOS 13.5 Ventura or newer required.

Maven303

Thanks, but like PoorFellow said, this is not free and is Mac only, so no way to use it. Is there another way to get banks to register?

Also, I changed the categories section as shown, but it's still in "other" category for some reason...

Kymeia

It’s meant to be free unless you want the pro feature, vendor editing. I paid for that personally

On Windows try Preset Magician

https://bunker8.com/download-preset-magician-for-creating-nks-presets/

What’s the plugin anyway, it may be one already converted?

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/141808#Comment_141808

Thank you !

Maven303

I use presetmagician. However, I see no way to add banks to already saved presets I converted myself, because presetmagician only registers NKS files it created itself. It also has the categories section which doesn't do anything to the plugin category inside Maschine for some reason. It also doesn't support vst3 plugins

Sunborn

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/141944#Comment_141944

You need to use a little script tool for this:

https://github.com/jhorology/gulp-bitwig-rewrite-meta

but, since you are on Windows, you have to use the modified version that reworked by Mercury and contributed by me and 1-2 other members... it is really easy, imagine that just a year and a half ago i had no idea about scripts at all :-)

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ulf40cicmwzurgi/AACyWrNkQVEZ9x7MwatdB1vfa/Shared%20Folders/Mercury%20NKS%20Folder/Tutorials?dl=0&preview=Creating+NKS+libraries+detailed+tutorial+v.1.3+(2024)_Mercury.pdf&subfolder_nav_tracking=1

Also, if you join our conversation you will find a lot more useful info :-)

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/332/nks-user-library

Kymeia

As this discussion shows this would all be so much easier if NI just opened up bank creation in KK and Maschine - I have been arguing this since I first got hold of Komplete Kontrol and have never understood the blind spot NI have towards enabling bank creation for users - not just in NKS hosts but also still Massive X. This is a basic organisational need and also essential for sound designers wishing to author their own content.

I suspect, cynically, this arose initially from NI wanting to control NKS production and keep it in house but it's a self defeating strategy and I hope NI are coming to realise this. For example the inability to create banks in Massive X has had a chilling effect on the whole third party sound design sector, this is why there are so few third party banks for Massive X and no doubt at some point NI will say 'but no one is using it' but this is their own fault.

btw to Windows users - if you want I would be happy to do the bank naming using the Doobox tool on my Mac - NKS is cross platform and the nice thing about it is it just needs the NKS so will work even if I don't have that plugin on my system - just DM me

Sunborn

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/141992#Comment_141992

"NI wanting to control NKS production and keep it in house but it's a self defeating strategy"

Very well said!

It is a foolish, beyond logic "strategy", and without a purpose, since we are doing it anyway. The only "purpose" is just to annoy some of their most devoted users, who by doing this, they improve and promote the whole NKS case, which is a superb idea and an excellent format and, if they treat it open-minded and not narrow-minded, it can dominate the entire music production scene (and market!).

Maven303

I know NI's been pretty bad with support, so it's nice to see so many enthusiastic users helping each other out. This seems like a great community.

Thank you all for the comprehensive guide and help.