Couple interface questions...

Hi, I don't know if I've missed the answers to these problems, so please enlighten me if there is a solution (I'm using Cubase SX 2):

1) When I double-click a sample to create a new instrument, the volume control on the right side of the instrument AND in the amplifier are set to -6.0db. Is there any way to change this so that all newly created instruments start with the volumes at 0.0db?

2) Is there any way to rearrange instruments vertically in an instance of Kontakt, either by clicking and dragging, or by any other method?

Thanks in advance...

 

Hi

First off, make an instrument with the overall volume levels you're happy with. Maybe even include a HDSR envelope, mabe filter settings and an LFO.

Then, erase your sample data and save your instrument.

You could load this and then place your samples in here, or if you're happy with this template, save it in program files, Native Instruments, Kontact, Default, Kontakt_def.nki.

This will then become your default instrument.

As for your second question, yes it is possible, but could you please be more specific, what exactly do you want to do?

Dave.

 

Thanks for the quick reply Dave.

As for question 1, I did as you said. Made an empty instrument, put the volumes at 0.0db, then saved it as the default instrument Kontakt_def.nki in the appropriate directory. Loading the default instrument is fine, with volumes at 0.0dB, but when I double click a sample in the browser to create a new instrument, the volumes are still at -6.0dB. Is there anything I'm doing wrong?

As for question 2, to be more specific, let's say I double-click 3 different samples in the browser, and it creates 3 new instruments in the rack:

Instrument A
Instrument B
Instrument C

Is it possible to rearrange the order so that the rack looks like this:

Instrument C
Instrument A
Instrument B

For as long as I've had Kontakt, I've never been able to figure that one out. Any help would be appreciated.

 

ksk

Regards question 1.

Open your new instrument.

I find it easier to drag your sample(s) from the browser to 'new' your instrument.
Create new instrument, EDIT, MAPPING EDITOR.

Drag the sample with your mouse to the key you want, whilst still holding down the mouse in the mapping editor, drag from the bottom of the key to the top of the mapping editor. This automoatically spaces the samples, per note, per 2 notes etc, try it and see. Works best when you're creating multisample instruments.

As for question 2, no it's not possible at the moment.

If all three instruments (sample sets) were assigned within one instrument as seperate groups, it's fairly straight forward to re-order your groups. But as of yet on a per instrument level, it's not presently possible.

Hope that helps,

Dave.

 

Hey thanks again.

I understand what you mean about dragging the samples and creating a multi-instrument. I was just hoping that there would be an option to double-click a sample in the browser and have the resulting instrument be at 0.0dB volume, as I tend to work quicker in that manner. Would you happen to know the reasoning for having the volumes at -6.0dB when double clicking a sample to create a new instrument?

As for question #2, I was hoping that that would not be the case. Hopefully NI will add that feature in the future, but thanks for clarifying.

 

I think the reason for Question #1 is so you don't clip the Kontakt audio engine when adding many instruments. Personally, I would've preffered it if they'd left that up to us - especially since I find it hard to clip Kontakt! Not a very popular feature, this one.

Question #2: I've been begging for this for over a year...I'm sure they'll get around to it one day...sigh...

 

The -6dB feature is in all fairness, a sensible overhead.
Should you find yourself using many instruments and sending them out of the same output, it's quite easy to clip that output. It's not nice to listen to. Also, at the end of a mix, it's easier to turn things up than to have to compensate by turning everything else down.

Whilst it is indeed inconvenient to have to re-create a multi just to re-order your instruments, there are a couple of work-arounds.

1, Having saved your instrument, you can load it over an exisitng instrument slot in your multi. This has the advantage of remembering your midi channel for that instrument slot in your multi.

2, In SX, just move your channel in the arrange page.

Not ideal, but...

Dave.

 

What you guys said makes sense about the -6.0dB. It's probably because I do things differently that it becomes a problem.

I usually end up giving each sample it's own instrument, rather than loading several samples into one, mainly so that I can give each sample it's own output channel in Cubase SX. This way I can add plugins that I have in Cubase separately for each sample, and I never have to worry about clipping in the Kontakt audio engine since the audio isn't going to go above 0.0dB in any instrument. Because of this, I sometimes need to rearrange the instruments in Kontakt, mainly for organizational reasons.

I'm pretty happy with Kontakt overall, but it would just make me that much happier to have an option to set the default volume control, and to rearrange the instruments. I hope the devs are reading this

I appreciate the workarounds Dave, and I may end up changing the way I work...

 

YES!! YES!! PLEASE ADD INSTRUMENT ARRANGEMENT!!

 

Yes, from the manual, about "Multi Pages"

"...can also be used for organization...you can put each group [ie; percussion instruments, string instruments etc.] on its own Multi page to simplify editing."

Too bad I already loaded all my instruments onto the first Multi page - I'm supposing from this I can't move them to different pages either? Guess I have to be more organized next time! haha