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In pictures: 15 years of Native Instruments

News
By Native Instruments published 20 October 2011

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The story so far

The story so far

In honour of its incredible contribution to computer music making, we thought it would be appropriate to celebrate 15 years of Native Instruments with a pictorial guide to its product history, courtesy of NI itself.

NI started way back in 1997 as a software company, but is now also one of the biggest global brands in digital DJing and makes superb studio and DJ hardware, too.

Click through the gallery to take a trip down memory lane and revisit NI's landmark products, and reminisce on how vintage software sounded so much better...

Page 1 of 49
Page 1 of 49
Generator

Generator

This modular software synthesizer started it all.

Page 2 of 49
Page 2 of 49
Generator 1.5

Generator 1.5

Version 1.5 supported the new DirectX format, allowing it to use any audio interface.

Page 3 of 49
Page 3 of 49
Reaktor 2

Reaktor 2

Under the new name Reaktor, creative sampling and granular synthesis were introduced.

Page 4 of 49
Page 4 of 49
Pro-5

Pro-5

This software version of an iconic analogue synthesizer was another pioneering instrument.

Page 5 of 49
Page 5 of 49
B4 Organ

B4 Organ

This emulation of the famous Hammond organ was a universal success - even outside of the electronic music domain.

Page 6 of 49
Page 6 of 49
Spektral Delay

Spektral Delay

Based on FFT processing, Spektral Delay was able to create previously unheard special effects.

Page 7 of 49
Page 7 of 49
Traktor

Traktor

The first version of Traktor started the digital DJ revolution at a time when MP3 files were just becoming popular.

Page 8 of 49
Page 8 of 49
Battery

Battery

As a dedicated drum and percussion sampler, Battery quickly became one of the most popular NI instruments.

Page 9 of 49
Page 9 of 49
Absynth

Absynth

With its complex soundscapes, Absynth redefined people‘s expectations about software synthesizers.

Page 10 of 49
Page 10 of 49
FM7

FM7

This absolutely faithful emulation of one of the most popular digital synthesizers took the music world by storm.

Page 11 of 49
Page 11 of 49
Reaktor 3

Reaktor 3

The expanded GUI design options in Reaktor 3 made it possible to create much more distinctive and intuitive instruments.

Page 12 of 49
Page 12 of 49
Kontakt

Kontakt

Kontakt marked Native Instruments‘ entry into the sampler domain, which was still dominated by hardware at the time.

Page 13 of 49
Page 13 of 49
Traktor 2

Traktor 2

The second generation of Traktor introduced the crucial looping feature, as well as 'scratch macros' which didn‘t stand the test of time.

Page 14 of 49
Page 14 of 49
Traktor Final Scratch

Traktor Final Scratch

This collaboration with Stanton established the 'Digital Vinyl System', which would change DJing in the years to come.

Page 15 of 49
Page 15 of 49
Vokator

Vokator

This versatile FFT-based effects processor took the classic vocoder concept to a new level.

Page 16 of 49
Page 16 of 49
Absynth 2

Absynth 2

The second version of Absynth added support for Windows - cross-platform compatibility was not yet a given back then.

Page 17 of 49
Page 17 of 49
Komplete

Komplete

The first Native Instruments collection came in a big and bulky box, and with a price tag to match.

Page 18 of 49
Page 18 of 49
Guitar Rig

Guitar Rig

With its authentic tube sound and flexible 'virtual rack', Guitar Rig debuted as the first truly versatile software guitar studio.

Page 19 of 49
Page 19 of 49
Komplete 2

Komplete 2

The second version of the instrument collection also came at a new price point and became a runaway success.

Page 20 of 49
Page 20 of 49
Xpress Keyboards

Xpress Keyboards

With easy-to-use versions of the B4, FM7 and Pro-53 instruments, this trio was the first NI offering for an entry-level audience.

Page 21 of 49
Page 21 of 49
B4D controller

B4D controller

This rugged drawbar controller allowed musicians to get hands-on with the B4 organ.

Page 22 of 49
Page 22 of 49
Battery 2

Battery 2

With a sample library of nearly 4GB, Battery 2 set a new standard for content and was available on DVD only.

Page 23 of 49
Page 23 of 49
Kontakt 2

Kontakt 2

Version 2 introduced KSP scripting, a crucial feature that finally enabled truly expressive sample-based instruments.

Page 24 of 49
Page 24 of 49
Reaktor 5

Reaktor 5

With its new 'Core' programming layer, the fifth version of Reaktor opened the doors to virtually unlimited signal processing.

Page 25 of 49
Page 25 of 49
Akoustik Piano

Akoustik Piano

Four classic pianos were recreated in this collection - one of the first acoustic emulations from Native Instruments.

Page 26 of 49
Page 26 of 49
Traktor DJ Studio 3

Traktor DJ Studio 3

The third generation of Traktor offered four decks instead of the usual two, greatly expanding the creative options for DJs.

Page 27 of 49
Page 27 of 49
Guitar Rig 2

Guitar Rig 2

The revised guitar studio also included the most complex NI hardware yet - a versatile foot controller with audio interface.

Page 28 of 49
Page 28 of 49
Kore

Kore

With its simplified interface and matching hardware controller, Kore provided a central front-end for software instruments.

Page 29 of 49
Page 29 of 49
Audio Kontrol 1

Audio Kontrol 1

This affordable USB interface for studio production marked Native Instruments‘ entry into the audio interface market.

Page 30 of 49
Page 30 of 49
Massive

Massive

With a high-resolution audio engine and advanced wavetable synthesis, Massive was introduced as a 'next-generation synthesizer'.

Page 31 of 49
Page 31 of 49
Traktor Scratch

Traktor Scratch

Based on Traktor and a specially designed DJ interface, Traktor Scratch set the foundation for the NI DVS family.

Page 32 of 49
Page 32 of 49
Komplete 5

Komplete 5

The fifth version of Komplete added major updates to Guitar Rig and Kontakt, and became the most successful version yet.

Page 33 of 49
Page 33 of 49
Kore 2

Kore 2

The second generation of Kore put a focus on live performance and sound design, with sophisticated layering and morphing features.

Page 34 of 49
Page 34 of 49
Traktor Pro

Traktor Pro

As a substantial reimagination of the Traktor concept, the 'Pro' generation was designed to provide a more immediate and intuitive DJing workflow.

Page 35 of 49
Page 35 of 49
Maschine

Maschine

Combining the flexibility of software with classic drum machine concepts, this groove production system established itself in record time.

Page 36 of 49
Page 36 of 49
The Finger

The Finger

This unique keyboard-controlled effects processor was derived from the custom live setup of electronic artist Tim Exile.

Page 37 of 49
Page 37 of 49
Audio 2 DJ

Audio 2 DJ

The compact DJ interface delivered professional audio characteristics in a pocket-sized format, a major engineering feat.

Page 38 of 49
Page 38 of 49
Kontakt 4

Kontakt 4

With its 'Authentic Expression Technology', Kontakt 4 introduced a further crucial feature for the realistic emulation of acoustic sounds.

Page 39 of 49
Page 39 of 49
Abbey Road 70s Drums

Abbey Road 70s Drums

Produced with the legendary British studios, this instrument recreates the distinctive drum sounds of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.

Page 40 of 49
Page 40 of 49
Kontrol X1

Kontrol X1

The Kontrol X1 marked the debut of NI in the DJ controller segment, and developed into a bestseller immediately after release.

Page 41 of 49
Page 41 of 49
Alicia's keys

Alicia's keys

Sampling specialist Thomas Scarbee spent months in the studio of the soul superstar to recreate her personal piano as a software instrument.

Page 42 of 49
Page 42 of 49
Komplete 7

Komplete 7

With 24 instruments and over 90GB of content, Komplete 7 expanded its scope and value significantly.

Page 43 of 49
Page 43 of 49
Kontrol S4

Kontrol S4

The long-awaited integrated Traktor system also marked a new level of sophistication for Native Instruments‘ hardware design and development.

Page 44 of 49
Page 44 of 49
Traktor Pro 2

Traktor Pro 2

Traktor Pro 2 expanded the feature set once more, with high-precision waveforms, sample decks and a user interface optimized for club use.

...

Page 45 of 49
Page 45 of 49
Komplete 8 Ultimate

Komplete 8 Ultimate

Due to popular demand, Komplete 8 Ultimate for the first time bundles the full assortment of NI's instruments and effects range on one dedicated external hard drive, representing 50 individual products.

Page 46 of 49
Page 46 of 49
Kontrol S2

Kontrol S2

As the compact version of the Kontrol S4 DJ system, the S2 provides a '2+1' setup with two decks plus sample decks with a smaller footprint and lower price.

Page 47 of 49
Page 47 of 49
iMaschine

iMaschine

iMaschine is Native Instruments' first software for the iOS platform, and allows the user to sketch out grooves on the go and edit the results in the regular Maschine software.

Page 48 of 49
Page 48 of 49
Maschine Mikro

Maschine Mikro

By combining the full-featured Maschine software with a more compact controller, Maschine Mikro has dropped the tactile groove creation approach to an entry-level price.

Page 49 of 49
Page 49 of 49
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