Several Issues With Kontakt 8

necolie
necolie Member Posts: 4 Newcomer
in Kontakt

I recently upgraded to Kontakt 8, and I’ve found the while transition very frustrating.

My main concern is the amount of work I had to do to find my legacy products. I was able to install and locate them in Native Access 2, but in Kontakt 8 they were only appearing in Classic View. I was eventually able to get them to show up in Default View by importing them as separate libraries, but I don’t think that should be necessary.

Secondly, why are some features missing from Default View? I am used to sending multiple outputs from Kontakt so I can mix instruments independently without having to use multiple instances or Kontakt. It just seems like an oversight to make this only available in Classic View.

My third issue is both a pet peeve as well as a practical issue. Why can you not view individual libraries as separate libraries in Default View? I have many distinct libraries that all get put in the same “Kontakt” brand category, which makes it hard to find the libraries I’m looking for. As I mentioned earlier, one of my legacy products (Komolete Elements R2) did not even show up at all in Default View.

I love the functionality and the sound of Kontakt instruments, but the usability of Kontakt 8 feels really rough. I’m considering just going back to Kontakt 7 and giving up on it completely.

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Comments

  • DunedinDragon
    DunedinDragon Member Posts: 947 Guru

    It sounds like the issue may be related Kontakt 8 being VST3 oriented. It can work with VST2, but it's really based on the new models which are much more robust as there's more information and organization contained in them.

    I agree the workflow is very different, but I'm adjusting to it the more I use it as it has some very clear advantages and capabilities that were not really possible in older versions. But that's just the nature of new software no matter where it comes from.

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 2,284 Expert

    @DunedinDragon

    "It sounds like the issue may be related Kontakt 8 being VST3 oriented. It can work with VST2, but it's really based on the new models which are much more robust as there's more information and organization contained in them"

    No VST2 for K8.

    @necolie

    "My main concern is the amount of work I had to do to find my legacy products. I was able to install and locate them in Native Access 2, but in Kontakt 8 they were only appearing in Classic View. I was eventually able to get them to show up in Default View by importing them as separate libraries, but I don’t think that should be necessary"

    I do not understand this - maybe a screen cap would help OR maybe let us know what "legacy products" actually means?

    VP

  • DunedinDragon
    DunedinDragon Member Posts: 947 Guru

    @Vocalpoint

    No VST2 for K8.

    I was assuming he was talking about loading them as Quick-Load files. I have no problem loading/using old VST2 (.NKI) files from vendors like 8DIO that way.

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 2,284 Expert
    edited November 18
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/192066#Comment_192066

    Possibly. I have no idea what the OP is talking about - espeically the part about "legacy" libraries. If he is talking any Kontakt library that loads via the Files menu (vs any modern K library managed by Native Access) - none of these will ever "show up" anywhere - regardless of what version of Kontakt you upgrade to.

    The way he phrased that first complaint - sounded to me like he was expecting some Kontakt 5 era Zero-G "Files" based instrument to magically show up in the new K8 Library View - complete with fancy graphics, preset previews etc.

    These libraries have never had anything special about them and K8 won't change that.

    VP

  • necolie
    necolie Member Posts: 4 Newcomer

    I should clarify. Legacy products are Native Instrument libraries that they have discontinued. They are old and not supported anymore. However, I have a few that I really enjoy using. You have to go into Native Access settings to show them in your library tab, and you cannot install them from directly from Native Access.

  • necolie
    necolie Member Posts: 4 Newcomer

    Also, these legacy products are not file based. They would appear in Kontakt 7 as normal libraries, but they do not in Kontakt 8.

    I will admit most of my complaints are that I find the program not very user friendly. There are workarounds to every one of these problems (for now). My concern with workarounds though, is that they are often temporary solutions. Maybe I’m being dramatic, but I don’t feel like I should have to switch to Classic View for things to work.

    I’m curious what other people are doing when using multiple instruments in Kontakt 8. Are they switching to Classic View to send multiple outs? Or are they just using multiple instances of Kontakt? Maybe I’m in the small minority that wants different instruments to be sent to different outputs.

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 2,284 Expert
    edited November 18

    "Also, these legacy products are not file based. They would appear in Kontakt 7 as normal libraries, but they do not in Kontakt 8."

    Do you have any real world examples of what these are? And a screencap from your vantage point?

    I have K7 here and do not know what you mean. ALL my purchased libraries that are managed by Native Access - show up.

    I have been with NI since 2002 - and NONE of my long since discontinued product is even accessible in NA - let alone installable to any version of Kontakt.

    VP

  • necolie
    necolie Member Posts: 4 Newcomer

    I’ll try to post some screenshots later this evening. As far as the discontinued libraries go, there is a setting in Native Access that says “show Legacy Products.” I have the old installation disks, so I was able to install and locate them using Native Access. The issue is that they did not show up in Kontakt 8’s Default View. They only show up in Classic View. Granted, these are 10 year old libraries. But I payed for them and gosh darn it, I want to use them lol.

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 2,284 Expert
    edited November 18
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/192091#Comment_192091

    Ah. I get it now. I have a few like this when I switch on that toggle.

    I remember throwing my old Akoustic Piano back into service last year. I was surprised to be able to locate it and use it - but was not expecting it to act (UI) wise like an instrument that came out in 2024.

    All of these are long since retired and unsupported - meaning they would never have been tested or updated to have any modern capabilities to interface with Kontakt 8.

    I would just be happy to load these old timers in any way possible.

    VP


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