Onboard speaker audio in Komplete Kontrol & Reaktor, but not Kontakt?!

enigmachrysalis
enigmachrysalis Member Posts: 12 Newcomer
in Kontakt

So I think I know why this is happening based on my own troubleshooting, but I don't know how to fix it. HP Envy 360, Windows 11, Pro Tools, Kontakt 7/8… just skip to the questions at bottom for the TLDR if you don't want the novel…

I am not using a MIDI controller in this scenario, just the on screen keyboard (or physical keyboard where applicable.)

At first I was hearing no sound at all in the app, so I inserted it as a plug in on a Pro Tools track, and Kontakt 7 and 8 operated just fine. I had resigned to wait for my MIDI controller to see if the problem persists but in the meantime I encountered a potential solution.

I had downloaded some ensembles from the Reaktor user library and experienced the same bug in the standalone app. However, there is a separate menu item for Audio & MIDI settings outside of the Preferences. On the Routing tab I noticed that for "Reaktor 1 & 2" it read "Unplugged Headphone L & R" respectively. When I plugged in my headphones the 'Unplugged' part disappeared and there was sound! I was also able to use the physical keyboard in Reaktor.

I re-arranged the order so that the L/R speaker were the 1st two outputs and sound again! It's aggravating that the headphones are set by default, but easy enough to swap.

At this point I realized the driver had to be set at "WASAPI (Shared Mode)" as the exclusive mode at any sample rate and latency setting caused noise and over-modulation.

I repeated this same output switcheroo in Komplete Kontrol under Edit > Preferences > Audio and again, there was audio in whichever device was listed under for KK Out 1L & 1R (speakers still port 3 & 4)

Finally, I tried my headphones with Kontakt 7 & 8, and I could hear now! So I presumed I just had to make that same change but… there is no output menu that I can find that lets you switch the outputs.

1) Is there a menu item I am missing or another procedure altogether that will enable Kontakt to play audio from the speaker output of my laptop?

2) is there a way to set the default to speaker output (right now it still shows as port 3 & 4)?

3) is there a way to play with the physical keyboard in Kontakt or KK?

Tagged:

Answers

  • Sunborn
    Sunborn NKS User Library Mod Posts: 3,655 mod
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/45276/onboard-speaker-audio-in-komplete-kontrol-reaktor-but-not-kontakt

    Hello,

    before we deal with your issue, a piece of advice, if i may:

    It seems you spend a good amount of money for your studio, however you forgot the most crucial step of all! A decent audio card. Your computer's audio chip, it is the worst possible choice. No real quality and no options. This should be the "starting point" of every new musician.

    I suggest, until you can get a decent audio card, to use a "virtual mixer" with ASIO driver support.
    I recommend the excellent and free VB Audio Voicemeeter (only because i use it myself, its Pro version, Potato).

  • Sunborn
    Sunborn NKS User Library Mod Posts: 3,655 mod
    edited May 19
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/45276/onboard-speaker-audio-in-komplete-kontrol-reaktor-but-not-kontakt

    About your questions:

    1) Is there a menu item I am missing or another procedure altogether that will enable Kontakt to play audio from the speaker output of my laptop?

    There is only one basic option, here:

    Clipboard_05-19-2025_01.png

    After that, you can deal with individual Kontakt channels, here (you need to enable "Classic View" for this!):

    εικόνα.png

    2) is there a way to set the default to speaker output (right now it still shows as port 3 & 4)?

    With a real audio card, yes, absolutely. In your system, most probably no. Because Windows sees your headphones as "primary" device and i don't know if this can change…. You should check at your Control Panel —> Sound to see if you can change the "default" device.

    Clipboard_05-19-2025_01.png

    3) is there a way to play with the physical keyboard in Kontakt or KK?

    Yes, if you enable the option.

    Clipboard_05-19-2025_01.png
  • PoorFellow
    PoorFellow Moderator Posts: 6,853 mod
    edited May 19

    3) is there a way to play with the physical keyboard in Kontakt or KK?

    You can also use this combination :

    FreePiano with loopMidi :

    1 : Download and unzip FreePiano

    2 : Download and install loopMidi

    3 : Restart computer

    4 : Start loopMidi if not started and make sure that you have a Midi port added

    5 : Start FreePiano

    6 : In FreePiano choose loopMidi port as instrument , and if you want turn on background input for the PC keyboard to work also when FreePiano is not in foreground.

    7 : Start Kontakt/KK

    8 : In Kontakt/KK Midi options turn on loopMidi port

    9 : Enjoy

  • enigmachrysalis
    enigmachrysalis Member Posts: 12 Newcomer

    @Sunborn thank you for your advice! I realize my PC setup is not ideal, and I have been looking to upgrade. Really this is just a workaround as most of the time I will be sending the audio to studio monitors by way of the audio interface. In the meantime I will clock the Voicemeeter app, and check my default output device. I appreciate all your help re: keyboard playback as well.

    @PoorFellow thank you for the recommendation! I'll look at that a both those programs and report back if I manage to mangle the setup 😅

Back To Top

Categories