Welcome to STACKS

Abstract

Welcome to the Play Series STACKS online manual. Read this user guide and explore a time capsule of classic sounds from NI's rich sonic history.

As part of the KONTAKT Play Series, STACKS brings the building blocks of 2000s-era, sample-heavy hip hop, with a collection of leads, strings, horns, bass, and sounds influenced by crate digging culture. Old-school gems including electric keys, organs, glocks, strings, horns, live bass, and more, have been resampled and processed using tape decks and specialized hardware. The result is a collage of funk infused with lo-fi soul, pop lines, and organic left-field bass.

STACKS aims to balance intuitive, performance-focused control with nuanced sound design. The macros offer quick and dynamic control over the synth engine, enabling you to quickly shape presets and customize your own sounds. For those who wish to go deeper in sound design, you will find powerful sound editing tools and custom effects chains that offer further control and inspiration. STACKS also contains an analog-style sequencer that can produce chords, arpeggios and melodic, rhythmical patterns. Ultimately, these tools aim to provide you with inspiration for your own sound creation.

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