This page is available in English only
Leap and Tools Software Development Kits
Anaheim, CA – January 22, 2025 – Native Instruments is proud to announce the launch of the Leap and Tools Software Development Kits at NAMM 2025, empowering sound designers and instrument developers to release their own Tools and Leap Expansions within the Kontakt 8 ecosystem. The announcement marks a significant milestone in music production innovation, as Native Instruments opens new pathways for creativity and collaboration.
Kontakt has long been a trusted tool for producers, composers, and performers worldwide. With the release of Kontakt 8, Native Instruments introduced Leap — an intuitive, high-performance playground for triggering, twisting, and transforming loops and samples. Leap brings Kontakt’s deep sampling capabilities to the forefront, making it an essential tool for every stage of music creation, from initial ideas to final touches.
Leap Expansions, curated sets of ready-to-play loops and samples, are fast becoming a staple for quick inspiration. Now, with the introduction of the Leap Software Development Kit (SDK), sound designers can join the Leap ecosystem and craft their own expansions without needing to write any code. The Leap SDK provides all the tools required to:
● Curate and arrange samples.
● Configure macros and FX.
● Integrate seamlessly with the Kontakt 8 browser.
● Release Expansions for the global music production community.
“Leap opens up a fast, fun, and creative approach to working with loops and samples. With the Leap SDK, we can’t wait to see — and hear — how sound designers around the world bring their own unique voices to this powerful platform,” says Tim Adnitt, Vice President, Product Management at Native Instruments.
Leap SDK: No-code creation of Leap Expansions
Kontakt has long been a trusted tool for producers, composers, and performers worldwide. With the release of Kontakt 8, Native Instruments introduced Leap — an intuitive, high-performance playground for triggering, twisting, and transforming loops and samples. Leap brings Kontakt’s deep sampling capabilities to the forefront, making it an essential tool for every stage of music creation, from initial ideas to final touches.
Leap Expansions, curated sets of ready-to-play loops and samples, are fast becoming a staple for quick inspiration. Now, with the introduction of the Leap Software Development Kit (SDK), sound designers can join the Leap ecosystem and craft their own expansions without needing to write any code. The Leap SDK provides all the tools required to:
● Curate and arrange samples.
● Configure macros and FX.
● Integrate seamlessly with the Kontakt 8 browser.
● Release Expansions for the global music production community.
“Leap opens up a fast, fun, and creative approach to working with loops and samples. With the Leap SDK, we can’t wait to see — and hear — how sound designers around the world bring their own unique voices to this powerful platform,” says Tim Adnitt, Vice President, Product Management at Native Instruments.
Presskit

Tools SDK: Expanding the possibilities of Kontakt instruments
With Kontakt 8, Native Instruments also introduced Tools, an innovative layer designed to inspire creativity with any Kontakt instrument, old or new. The first Tools — Chords and Phrases — provide producers and composers with intuitive ways to build melodies, hooks, and harmonic progressions effortlessly.
Now, the new Tools Software Development Kit (SDK) allows instrument developers to expand on this innovation, enabling them to create and release their own unique Tools. With the Tools SDK, developers can:
● Design features that spark creativity across all Kontakt instruments.
● Build entirely new workflows for music production and composition.
● Contribute to an ever-growing library of inspiring tools for producers, songwriters, and composers.
“The Tools SDK is an important addition for instrument developers, opening up Kontakt 8 to a new realm of possibilities. We can’t wait to see the groundbreaking innovations that developers will bring to life,” says Tim Adnitt, Vice President, Product Management at Native Instruments.
Find out more about Leap and Tools SDK
For more information or to sign up for the Leap and Tools SDK, contact the Native Instruments Partnering Team at 3rd-party-developers@native-instruments.com