How to tell if 3rd party instruments are Intel or Apple Silicon? - Part 2

Jar-El · 2025-04-27T18:33:57+00:00

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tl;dr - I still don't know how to tell the ISA for these instruments

In my initial post I got 2 answers, but for some unknown reason I cannot reply to those in my original thread, hence this new thread. Note I can reply in another thread I made about not being able to reply :-)

One reply referred me to the PlugInfo app, which I already have. It is a great app, but it only works on top level plug-ins, like Kontakt 8. While Kontakt 8 is not only a plug-in but a host for various Native Instrument and 3rd party instruments, unfortunately PlugInfo does not analyze those.

The other reply I'll quote (quote also does not work in my original thread):

"By third party instruments do you mean the actual players like Kontakt/Reaktor or the Kontakt/Maschine instrument libraries like pianos, strings and other expansions? On the whole the expansions are independent of the plugins that run them so will work on both Intel and Silicon based Macs."

My answer:

By 3rd party instrument I mean e.g. Scarbee Classic EP-88 - these are listed in Native Access and Kompakt 8 under the instruments tab, or menu, so I called them instruments (what you call expansions). Yes instruments are independent from Kontakt, but they must contain executable code, which is either intel, AS, or universal.

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Jar-El

Just looked at the KSP doc, and it does appear that Kontakt can supply effects through the scripting language, so I guess no code needed, problem solved…

Thanks to everyone for their answers!

All comments

Kymeia

No they are just sample libraries - OS is largely irrelevant, as long as Kontakt can run it will load the library

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/44757/how-to-tell-if-3rd-party-instruments-are-intel-or-apple-silicon-part-2

By 3rd party instrument I mean e.g. Scarbee Classic EP-88 - these are listed in Native Access and Kompakt 8 under the instruments tab, or menu, so I called them instruments (what you call expansions). Yes instruments are independent from Kontakt, but they must contain executable code, which is either intel, AS, or universal.

As already written by Kymeia then instruments such as e.g. Scarbee Classic EP-88 are not a VSTi but a Kontakt instruments also called Kontakt libraries . You should discern between the two. The VSTi are independent constructions where the Kontakt instruments rely on Kontakt for execution and you should assume that if you are using the correct Kontakt version for the Kontakt instrument and the Kontakt version also is compatible with the OS then the Kontakt libraries/instruments compatible with that Kontakt version generally is supposed to work.

If you do not trust this assessment then you need to ask N.I. Kontakt Support

In case that you need guidance contacting support : How to contact NI Support and How to get in touch with our Customer Care

Jar-El

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/223801#Comment_223801

I thought I made clear that I understand Kontakt to be a plug-in, which would be either VSTi, AU, or AAX format, and Scarbee is not a VSTi, it is a NI instrument, so it acts as a plug-in to Kontakt which in turn acts as its host. Of course the two files are independent, however - the instrument file contains both UI and audio processing, otherwise how could a 3rd party plug-in present its own UI and effects? To do that, it needs not only resources and data, but executable code. The executable code on a Mac will need to use either Intel or Apple Silicon ISA. I also understand that even if intel, it could run under Rosetta, but of course that is not optimal.

Kymeia

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/223813#Comment_223813

Scarbee (and any Kontakt library) doesn't act as a 'plugin' to anything, these are sample libraries. No executable code.

PoorFellow

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/223813#Comment_223813

so it acts as a plug-in to Kontakt

To the best of my knowledge then no , Kontakt can not host plugins of any kind. The Komplete Kontrol app can but that's another thing entirely.

PoorFellow

Kontakt acts more like a combined sampler and script host , ref. :

Mario Krušelj, a.k.a. EvilDragon talks creativity, KONTAKT scripting, and more

Welcome to KSP , additional KSP resources.

Jar-El

Perhaps people are confused by my use of the term "plug-in", thinking of it as only applying to a VSTi. It can also be used in a more general sense to describe a software architecture concept - another word might be library, or in NI's parlance, an instrument. In other words, from the operating system's perspective, Kontakt is a plug-in, like Keyscape, while from Kontakt's perspective, Scarbee is a plug-in, like Spitfire Studio Strings.

The point is, the instrument needs to execute some code. Yes, Kontakt is the host, and it does the audio interfacing to the operating system. But for example with Scarbee, there are effects, like chorusing. So, the Scarbee instrument will have to process its sample data to simulate a chorus effect, before it hands the sample data off to Kontakt. That processing can only be done by code, which in turn will require an ISA.

Kymeia

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/223820#Comment_223820

No Kontakt has its own effects. Kontakt is doing the processing, not the Scarbee sample library.

Kymeia

To show how independent Kontakt libraries are from the OS, most of my legacy Kontakt libraries are in a directory on a SSD that was copied over from another external Hard drive that I used when I was still on Windows. Everything works regardless.

Jar-El

Just looked at the KSP doc, and it does appear that Kontakt can supply effects through the scripting language, so I guess no code needed, problem solved…

Thanks to everyone for their answers!

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