These numbers are quite low! Simply running your operating system, a DAW, and Kontakt – with no samples – can eat up well over 1gb, leaving precious little for samples. RAM: The official NI recommendation for RAM is 4 gigabytes, with a minimum of 2gb. Note that even a very small sample library can be CPU-intensive due to scripting or high polyphony!īelow: A single, high-polyphony, CPU-intensive instrument being played in Kontakt on an Intel Core i7 processor! Running at lower latencies (more on this later) causes the processor to work even harder.

Why It Matters: When your CPU is overworked, it becomes unable to process audio in real-time, and the result is unpleasant pops, crackles, glitches or slowdowns in playback.

An Intel Core i3/5/7 processor (2008-2009) is therefore more of a realistic minimum. However, most modern Kontakt libraries are more demanding, with advanced scripts, built-in FX, etc. If you’re using basic instruments with low polyphony, this is probably sufficient. Setting aside the operating system, consider your available CPU (processing power), RAM (memory), hard drive space, and your audio interface.ĬPU: Native Instruments recommends a Core 2 Duo processor at a minimum, released in 2006. That being said, before we delve into Kontakt and your DAW, it’s important to take stock of the machine you’re running it on. Whether you’re on Windows or Mac OSX, Kontakt is a fairly efficient piece of software, refined through years of development and updates. Welcome to Part 2 of our Kontakt Workflow series! This post will focus on ways you can get Kontakt running more smoothly in your DAW and operating system of choice.

Allura Volume 1: Ethereal Vocal Phrases.

Reforged: Cinematic Metallic Sound Design.

Juggernaut: Cinematic Electronic Scoring Tools.

Cosmos: Atmospheric Rhythms and Textures.

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