Comprehensive Guide To Free Kontakt Libraries And Sample Packs For Music Producers

Free sample libraries for Native Instruments' Kontakt software have become increasingly popular among music producers, composers, and sound designers. These libraries provide professional-quality sounds without the cost of premium products, making them accessible to beginners and professionals alike. This guide explores the various free Kontakt libraries available, their features, compatibility, and how to obtain them.

Native Instruments' Free Offerings

Native Instruments, the developer of Kontakt, offers several free resources through their Komplete Start bundle and other promotional releases. These free offerings provide a solid foundation for music production across multiple genres.

Komplete Start Bundle

Komplete Start is a freely downloadable bundle that includes virtual instruments and audio effects compatible with VST, AU, and AAX plugin formats on both PC and Mac. The bundle contains:

• Six virtual synthesizers
• Nine sample-based instruments
• Two effects
• Over 1,500 audio loops
• The freeware Player editions of Kontakt and Reaktor

The sample-based instruments in Komplete Start include the Band and World sound packs for Kontakt Player, which provide classic guitar, bass, ethnic percussion, and drum tones useful for any music composer. The bundle also includes presets from premium sound libraries such as Analog Dreams, Ethereal Earth, and Hybrid Keys, offering users a taste of more comprehensive libraries.

Kontakt Factory Selection

As part of Komplete Start, Native Instruments provides the Kontakt Factory Selection, a valuable starter kit of acoustic and electronic instruments. Among these instruments is the African percussion patch, which has been noted for its usefulness in building percussive loops. This collection serves as an introduction to Kontakt's capabilities and includes a variety of sounds suitable for different musical styles.

Twenty-Five

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Native Instruments released Twenty-Five, an epic free Kontakt library featuring 150 unique presets sampled from the company's most iconic products, including FM8, Absynth, and Massive. This library offers producers access to the signature sounds that have made Native Instruments instruments industry standards over the years.

Free Kontakt Libraries from Third-Party Developers

Several third-party developers offer free Kontakt libraries, often as promotional items or demonstrations of their premium products. These libraries vary in size, complexity, and specialization, catering to different musical needs and production styles.

Wavesfactory Libraries

Wavesfactory provides a collection of free Kontakt libraries available through their website. Users can access these libraries by entering their email address to receive download links. Among their offerings are:

• Typewriter: A library featuring a Royal typewriter, meticulously sampled using 4 mic positions at Calmaestudis recording studios in Mallorca. It includes 3 velocity layers, 10 round robin samples, key and paper noises, hits, rolls, note-on and note-off samples, and one-shots.

• Freelodica: (Details partially mentioned in the source)

Wavesfactory emphasizes that their libraries are built with care and attention to detail, demonstrating that great quality doesn't have to be expensive. They encourage users to explore their free offerings and consider their premium Kontakt libraries if they find the free samples align with their creative vision.

ProjectSAM's Free Orchestra

ProjectSAM offers The Free Orchestra, a cinematic sound library containing over 1 GB of high-quality samples handpicked from the company's best-selling orchestra libraries. This updated version is fully compatible with the free Kontakt Player plugin by Native Instruments, meaning users can access professional-quality orchestra samples without purchasing the full version of Kontakt.

The library features a wide range of orchestra sounds, including string staccatos, brass clusters, and symphonic percussion. It contains all twelve original presets and two newly added ones from the Symphobia 4 library, along with a collection of new multis—layered presets that utilize the included sounds to create new and inspiring instrument patches.

Soniccouture's Free Selection

Soniccouture offers six free Kontakt libraries in their Free Stuff section:

• Choir Horns
• RMI Rocksichord
• Thunder Drum
• Music Boxes
• Tube Drum
• Tape Choir

To access these libraries, users must sign up for a free Soniccouture account, after which they receive the serial numbers required for library activation in Native Access. Each library features a customized interface for fine-tuning and manipulating the sampled sounds.

Soniccouture's free libraries focus on unusual sound sources, providing musical but original and distinctive sounds. They serve as an excellent way for producers to expand their sonic arsenal with unique and inspiring timbres.

The Tape Choir library, inspired by the tape-based proto-sampling of 10cc's "I'm Not in Love," offers a Mellotron-esque instrument based on samples of three male vocalists singing notes in unison. This creates an organic yet uncanny choir sound perfect for angelic pads and ephemeral textures.

Cinesamples' Free Instruments

Cinesamples provides five free Kontakt libraries:

• Kalimba
• Toy xylophone
• Tongue drum
• Piano
• Psaltery

While these libraries may not include advanced user interfaces, they deliver high-quality sounds suitable for various applications. The kalimba and xylophone are particularly good for laid-back music and indie tracks, while the piano accents and psaltery work well for cinematic tracks, especially those requiring a spooky atmosphere.

Additional Free Kontakt Libraries

Several other developers offer free Kontakt libraries worth exploring:

• Ferrum – Free Edition by Keepforest
• EMP Mark II by Sonokinetic
• Hurdy Gurdy by Sonokinetic
• Diamond Jazz Trio by Strezov Sampling
• Tokyo Strings by Impact Soundworks
• Arcane by Embertone
• LO.VE Piano by VSTBuzz
• PRISM Drums – Lite Edition by AVA Music Group
• DrumMic'a by Sennheiser

Each of these libraries brings unique sounds and capabilities to the user's toolkit, often serving as introductions to the developer's premium offerings.

Specialized Free Kontakt Libraries

Beyond general-purpose instruments, several specialized free Kontakt libraries cater to specific production needs and creative applications.

Choir and Vocal Libraries

Vocal sample libraries are particularly valuable for composers, and several free options are available:

• Jacob Collier Audience Choir: This library brings performances to life with audience samples captured from 22 different cities during Jacob Collier's Djesse world tour. It features an instant harmony function with a chord generator, a Vowel Morph pad for blending different vowel types, and the ability to conduct a custom choir by recording motions in real time. It works with the free Kontakt Player.

• Ancient Voices by Embertone: An uncomplicated male choir library with polyphonic and legato modes, Dynamics control, and settings for Close and Stage mics and Reverb level. While limited to a two-octave range, it delivers top-notch sound quality and quick usability. Note that this library requires the full version of Kontakt.

8Dio's Free ASMR Library

8Dio offers Free ASMR, a unique library featuring ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) samples designed to create tingling sensations when heard with headphones. This collaborative project includes:

• Over 3.88GB of content
• ASMR samples from over 200 sound designers
• Living creatures, instruments, whispers, rhythmic loops, and one-shot instruments
• Advanced UI with 4-part XY Effects Engine
• Custom CHAOS Effects

The library aims to add a new dimension to compositions, allowing producers to drive listeners through sensations beyond traditional hearing. It requires Kontakt 5.8.1 Full Retail (or later) and is not compatible with the free Kontakt Player.

Compatibility Considerations

When working with free Kontakt libraries, it's essential to understand compatibility requirements:

Kontakt Player vs. Full Kontakt

Some libraries work with the free Kontakt Player, while others require the full version of Kontakt:

• Kontakt Player Compatible:

  • ProjectSAM's Free Orchestra
  • Soniccouture's Tape Choir
  • Native Instruments' offerings (Komplete Start, Kontakt Factory Selection, Twenty-Five)
  • Jacob Collier Audience Choir

• Full Kontakt Required:

  • 8Dio's Free ASMR
  • Embertone's Ancient Voices

Most third-party libraries indicate their compatibility requirements on their download pages or in their documentation. When in doubt, users should check the specific library's system requirements before downloading.

Plugin Formats

Most free Kontakt libraries are available in multiple plugin formats:

• VST (Virtual Studio Technology)
• AU (Audio Units)
• AAX (Avid Audio Extension)
• RTAS (Real Time AudioSuite)

This cross-platform compatibility ensures that users can access these libraries in most major digital audio workstations on both PC and Mac systems.

How to Access and Install Free Kontakt Libraries

The process for obtaining free Kontakt libraries varies by developer, but generally follows these steps:

1. Visit the developer's website or designated download page
2. Provide an email address (if required)
3. Create an account (if required)
4. Add the library to your cart and proceed to checkout (even if the price is $0)
5. Complete the download process
6. Install the library following the developer's instructions
7. Activate the library using Native Access or the developer's proprietary system (if required)

For libraries included in Komplete Start, users can add the bundle to their Native Instruments account and download it through Native Access. The process involves creating a Native Instruments account, adding the product to the account, and then downloading and installing it through the Native Access application.

Conclusion

Free Kontakt libraries offer an excellent entry point into professional sound design and music production. From Native Instruments' comprehensive Komplete Start bundle to specialized offerings like ProjectSAM's Free Orchestra and 8Dio's Free ASMR, producers have access to a wealth of high-quality sounds without financial investment.

When selecting free libraries, users should consider their specific needs, compatibility requirements, and whether the library works with Kontakt Player or requires the full version of Kontakt. By exploring the diverse range of free options available, producers can build a versatile sound library suitable for various musical styles and production techniques.

As the digital music production landscape continues to evolve, free Kontakt libraries remain valuable resources for both beginners and experienced producers, offering professional-grade tools that inspire creativity and enhance musical projects.

Sources

1. Wavesfactory Free Kontakt Libraries
2. ProjectSAM's Free Orchestra
3. Free Kontakt Libraries Overview
4. Native Instruments Blog
5. 8Dio Free ASMR
6. Native Instruments Komplete Start