July 2025 – a community update from our Chief Product & Technology Officer

Maciej Repetowski · July 14

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/234074#Comment_234074

None taken, I was half joking. You were being judgmental a bit, though.

Of course I tweak presets. I like macros - quick way of doing basic changes to a patch. I think my idea about a Player is different than many, we will see what NI is going to come up with.

MLARS · July 14

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/234087#Comment_234087

People complaining about Player mode feels a bit petty IMO.

To me player mode is just another phase in the production when the sound design is complete (whether you picked a premade preset or made your own preset) and you have decided what parameters to control with macros and the the focus is on the performance in your session - compare this to video production software like DaVinci Resolve where the software is divided into different workspaces (Media manager, Cut & Editing, FX, Color Grading, Audio and Delivery) depicting different phases of the video production.

Possible with modern flagship synths we could likely see similar development with bigger GUI pages based where each phase in production has been clearly identified (Preset & project manager, Sound Design, Mixer & FX, Play mode & MIDI CC etc)

chk071 · July 14

"People complaining about the need for a Player mode feels a bit petty IMO."

And… who exactly complained about the need for a Player mode? You not only twisted statements around, but, you also implied that there are many people who need a Player mode.

Goes to show how little people try to understand each other these days.

MLARS · July 14

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/234093#Comment_234093

You just excused your tone from being judgmental, do with it what you will.

I like Player mode - for me it makes sense to split up a flagship synth in multiple workspace pages depending on your phase in the production.

You seem to not like it. That is fine too.

chk071 · July 14

I don't like that they spend development ressources on that, while leaving things like automation and MIDI learn untouched, which are essential things in computer audio.

I hope that was clear enough now, so that nobody has to read and interpret what they think I said into my statements now. Because, that gets a bit tiring, to be honest.

Paul B · July 14

Some people criticising a thing that does not yet exist, based on their perception—itself based on nothing but vapours—of what it will be.

But we don't know what the player view will be.

And the argument "I don't want it so it can't be of interest or use to anyone": one of the reasons I quit beta testing Ableton Live was I got tired of seeing comments from people who were certain a particular new feature wasn't wanted by anyone (spoiler: they were, in every instance that I saw, wrong). It tied with "this major update that I am pretending is a minor update should have been free".

Finally, the OP said this is phase 1 of changes for Massive X. It may be that other improvements you want to see are still coming.

Prioritisation within the product and development team is a tricky business—in my experience there is almost never enough time to do everything, and whatever you choose to prioritise you will upset people who wanted something else. Prioritise Traktor and someone will say "but Reaktor". Prioritise Kontakt and someone will say "what about Massive X"? Prioritise Massive X and Reaktor and someone will say "why don't you care about Traktor?"

Kymeia · July 14

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/234067#Comment_234067

Not necessarily - a player view doesn't necessarily mean the same but less - it could also add alternative but easier ways of interacting with the sound (eg FM8 managed that very well with its Easy view)

Jim McGuinn · July 14

Any sort of hint about upcoming Traktor improvements, tweaks or new features would help alleviate the feeling it's once again low priority for NI.

I appreciate we can't have updates and fixes monthly (or even quarterly) but for us Traktor users and long time supporters, a little recognition would go a long way.

Simon_NI · July 14

@Ashley @maniacintosh81 @Scott Frost @Jim McGuinn @Alex Partyz @KarimS @Andy Post @Jim McGuinn and others…..

This is actually a pretty big year for Traktor as I've said in previous posts. But some of the things we're working on are things we can't announce until closer to the time. I know that's frustrating, but hopefully in the end you'll understand why we can't say much at this point.

I actually had some points about Traktor in my original draft, but took them out. But given the feedback, let me say a little more.

We have new Traktor hardware launching later this year.
We're working on a way to help new DJs get started with Traktor.
We're working to make it easier to use Traktor with gear from other vendors.

And on top of that, the dedicated team are working on the foundations of Traktor that will enable many more modern features to be added in time — but that critical foundational work means fewer UI updates for a while.

Simon_NI · July 14

@killer7

One of the challenges with Maschine 3 software on Maschine Plus is that the processor in the hardware is pretty old and that limits what can reasonably be done on the device.

We've been working to see if we can get a newer, lighter stem separation implementation working on the Plus - but that's proving tough so far. But I agree, having on-device stem separation would open up many new workflow possibilities.

Simon_NI · July 14

@PK The DJ I didn't use AI at all to write this post. I think it's important you folks get to hear from me personally and directly, not from AI.

Simon_NI · July 14

@Vagus @Vocalpoint and others.

Komplete Kontrol is something we are planning to ship and update to in the future. I very much understand the frustrations that v3 lost some features vs v2 due to a major technical upgrade the team had to do to modernise the app so we could maintain it long into the future.

I can't say today when those updates will come as the team that maintains KK is the same as that currently working on the Maschine v3 and Maschine Plus updates which are also much-wanted by the community.

One challenge we've had in the past in these forums is when we say X is going to happen, but it happens later that expected because of a change in our development capacity, or something is harder than expected, or we have something else unexpected to deal with. I understand the desire to know more about what's coming - but I also want to try and avoid overpromising and underdelivering.

I hope you can see from our announcement of the NKS Hardware Partners program that we have very much not given up on NKS — far from it. We're working on software that will let 3rd party NKS devices integrate deeply with both Komplete Kontrol and also directly with Kontakt.

MLARS · July 14

Beside from new Traktor hardware and software I do hope we get a new M32 or M37 Komplete Kontrol MIDI controller soon.

M-series Komplete Kontrol
The previous M32 became five years old in Q1 this year so it is due for an update. There have been hints fro NI it is in the works, likely a Q3 (around September) release.

On my wishlist for the next M-series keyboard:
- 37 keys version
- 3,5 mm CV, Gate and Clock ports to make it DAWless and Eurorack friendly
- Sequencer and Lightguide to compete with Arturia Keystep on external hardware control, while it still can run Komplete Kontrol and Kontakt in the box (with a computer attached)
- Similar internal tech as the bigger MK3 siblings
- Wireless Bluetooth MIDI and battery addon.

Future X-series Komplete Kontrol
Just a hunch, but finger crossed we get a smaller X-series Komplete Kontrol with expressive MPE controls to pair with upcoming NI synth products and third party MPE software.

I have a gut feeling it has at least been discussed or prototyped if not in production already.

Simon_NI · July 14

Also, for those folks bemoaning my lack of response, sorry, I'm trying to get to as many of your questions as I can.

This post was originally supposed to go out a week earlier, but we had to delay it a week, and that meant it fell in a week where I had a product leads offsite and some PTO booked, so I'm a little behind on catching up with the thread. Please don't take it as anything other than my schedule being a bit busier than usual.

PK The DJ · July 14

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/234145#Comment_234145

Thanks Simon

BTW @Scoops, that text you copied from Trustpilot WAS created by AI - That same wording is used on multiple Trustpilot reviews, and Trustpilot even states under those summaries that they're created by AI.

July 2025 – a community update from our Chief Product & Technology Officer

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