User/ Factory set-up in Komplete Kontrol

Thomba · May 22

I have mapped most of my relevant Synths. Also including some of the content provided by the forum members. Thank you for that.

In Komplete Kontrol by Native Instruments, there are two separate sections: one for NKS instruments and another for user-defined templates. While switching between these two categories isn't a major inconvenience, it can still be somewhat cumbersome during the creative process.

Is there a way to store or organize user content differently so that everything appears under a single overarching category? This would streamline navigation and make the workflow more efficient.

Thank you in advance!

Vagus · May 23

There is. But pease keep a backup of your user library, in case that instrument gets updated.

PIck any old library that hasn't been updated in a while.

Copy your user library into instruments folder of that old library. Add a folder- user library for instance, and then copy your stuff into there.

When you want to add more from your user library, just go to options, chose the library in the libraries tab, and then rescan. They'll now appear in your factory library.

Vagus · May 23

There is. But pease keep a backup of your user library, in case that instrument gets updated.

PIck any old library that hasn't been updated in a while.

Copy your user library into instruments folder of that old library. Add a folder- user library for instance, and then copy your stuff into there.

When you want to add more from your user library, just go to options, chose the library in the libraries tab, and then rescan. They'll now appear in your factory library.

MLARS · May 23

I have in another recent post asked @Matthew_NI to explore how library UX (user and factory) can be improved. Adding some additional thoughts here:

Factory and User library presets currently being separated on a Komplete Kontrol instrument
Solution: Developers should add improved filter functions to the library sidebar where you can turn off factory/user separation, where it combines user and factory preset into one list - that way you don't have to move presets in finder. Should be a simple thing to implement.
Currently the library sidebar on Komplete Kontrol, Maschine, Guitar Rig and Reaktor may look a bit different (Guitar Rig 7 have color tags for instance, some others dont)
Solution: This should be cross developed for similar UX on all relevant products and should be a priority (it has been neglected for years). Add for instance more filters and more optional properties for presets on all relevant products.
The UX around storing files is not super easy for users and tend to expect you sync it with a cloud service on Mac or PC. If you favorite content like a Factory preset it does not seem to sync to an NI server - compare this to Arturia Analog Lab where if you "heart/like" a factory Arturia preset it seem to carry over to your secondary laptop (test computer).
Solution: I think we should have NI Cloud sync on Factory NKS preset (favorite/flagging/tagging) and better genereal guidance on how to store and manage user presets to keep library UX competitive compared to other platforms. Release a video about user presets and how to manage and back them up if they are not integrated in a cloud solution.
The optional properties to add to a factory or user preset is very limited compared to Arturia and should be expanded. Currently most product still only have "Favorite".
Solution: Add color tags (exist on Guitar rig already), add text tags (does not exist, great for project/song planning, would personally love this), current favorite (star) could be improved to a rating system (1-3 stars). Make sure at least factory presets properties are synced on NI cloud and your NI account so my tagged presets carry over to another computer.

@Matthew_NI is any of this progressing anywhere on the current development plans?

Thomba · May 23

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/227611#Comment_227611

Thanks - I find Komplete Kontrol okish useful. But there is much more potential that they are still not exploring and expanding. The mapping function is very basic and slightly frustrating. In so many other NI software solutions they have things in place that should be added to Komplete Kontrol. You have mentioned the Guitar Rig stuff. Well, in Kontakt you can add various sounds together, can use the new tool functions etc. (acually - it is questionable why both Komplete Kontrol and Kontakt is really needed in the end) etc.

So - quite a frustrating situation.

MLARS · May 23

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/227614#Comment_227614

Komplete Kontrol runs Reaktor instruments (Monark, Prism etc) and third party NKS supported instruments like Arturia synths. It also can run effects in a effect chain with NKS support. I still use it for first and third party synths. It can also run Kontakt instrument but with Kontakt 8 you no longer have to (it now works with Komplete Keyboards MK3 on it's own).

Kontakt cannot run Reaktor instruments and third party products like synths and is a sample player first (even though it has a lot of synth processing tools).

Currently I dont think we can drop Komplete Kontrol for that reason.

Thomba · May 23

Hi - I know that. But still it is the same solution to different tasks. I kind of almost stopped using Kontakt, because in the end Komplete Kontrol (especially in the edit view for Kontakt) provides the same solution - and I can if I want to skip directly from a Kontakt content to an Arturia content (if that is what I wish to do). So in the end - the bespoke Kontakt software does not offer me more solutions, rather less.

And I was actually more referring to the fact, that somehow NI seems to be struggelling with developer manpower. So focus would help. But then, not my company :-)

Thanks anyway, Thom

MLARS · May 23

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/227621#Comment_227621

When you open a sample library instrument in Komplete Kontrol today you are still opening Kontakt, and when you open up Monark in Komplete Kontrol you open up Reaktor. Komplete Kontrol does not have this functionality in itself and is basically a control layer for Kontakt and Reaktor instruments and third party products.

Kontakt is a beast on it's own because of the user base - in it's more advance form it is a composer and sound design product. There are users who has DAW templates with hundreds upon hundres of Kontakt instances where there never has been a history of using Komplete Kontrol in orchestral templates which is likely why Kontakt 8 now works without Komplete Kontrol.

A more unified library UX solution between products will likely still be the role for Komplete Kontrol where you audition, catalogue, design/tweak and plan your projects, similar to Arturia Analog lab. Hopefully the library UX improves in Komplete Kontrol, agree it needs improvements, for instance better filters, tagging and preset cloud save/sync.

Yes, many customers who has used NI products for years can see a slow down in clear frontend GUI/UX improvements (even though many fixes may be happening on the backend).

I truly hope we see a recovery here.

Yes, thanks, for the chat.