How to Use NI Sample Libraries

Most Native Instruments sample libraries (e.g. Playbox, the Symphony Series, or pianos like Noire) are designed to be used with the Kontakt Sampler.

In case you do not own the full version of Kontakt, there is a free Kontakt Player version that allows you to use all the features of a Kontakt-based Instrument. You can find a comparison chart of these two products here.

This article explains the first steps to follow when you want to use a NI sample library based on Kontakt. Click to expand these steps:

1. Finding Out if your Sample Library Requires Kontakt
To find out if your product requires Kontakt to run, go to the corresponding product page in our webshop and scroll down to the AT A GLANCE section. Here you can see if your sample library has to be used with Kontakt.
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2. Downloading and Installing Kontakt (Player)

You can install Kontakt Player (or the full version of Kontakt) with our download and activation tool Native Access. To learn more about using Native Access, please see this article.

You find Kontakt (Player) in Library > All > Kontakt.
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3. Downloading and Installing your Sample Library

You can download your NI Kontakt libraries with Native Access. To learn more about using Native Access, please see this article.

You find your libraries in Library > All > Kontakt.
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4. Loading your Sample Library in Kontakt

In this chapter, we describe getting started with Kontakt 7 Player and the new Library Browser.

Note: If using Kontakt 6 Player (or earlier), please see the "Kontakt 6 and Earlier" chapter in this article.

  1. Open Kontakt (Player) standalone. By default the location of your standalone application is here:
    • macOS: Macintosh HD > Applications > Native Instruments > Kontakt
    • Windows: C: > Program Files > Native Instruments > Kontakt
  2. Configure the Audio and MIDI Settings for Kontakt (Player). More info:
    - Read this article to configure the Audio settings in Kontakt,
    - and this article to configure MIDI.
  3. Toggle the view by clicking the Browser icon in Kontakt's header to ensure that the Library Browser is enabled.
    K_7_BROWSER_TAB.png
  4. The Library Browser displays all KONTAKT libraries that are installed. Scroll through the browser and click the picture icon for your library. This will display a list of instrument presets on the right.
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  5. Clicking once on a preset will activate a preview. Double-clicking the preset will load the instrument.
5. Loading Kontakt Libraries in your DAW

Important note: Before proceeding with Kontakt in your DAW, you must start Kontakt in standalone mode at least once in order for Kontakt to properly build its database. Please see the previous chapter above to open Kontakt in standalone mode.

To use your library in a DAW, you must first load Kontakt (Player) as a plug-in and then load the library from the Kontakt (Player) plug-in. The browser works the same way as shown in the previous chapter. 

The only difference between the standalone and plug-in versions of Kontakt are the Audio and MIDI settings: When using Kontakt in your DAW, all Audio and MIDI settings are configured in your DAW's Preferences, and not within the Kontakt plug-in.

More Info and Resources

You can search our Knowledge Base to find more information about using NI plug-ins in your DAW. Type in the name of your DAW (e.g. Ableton Live, Logic, etc.) into the search field to find relevant details.

You can find more information on using the Kontakt 7 (Player) in the User Manual. Manuals for the individual Kontakt can be found on the corresponding product pages on our webshop.