#32

I got an idea for synthesizer with particular interconnected controls, bunch of sine waves and bandpass filters, and so on. Inspired by Lyra-8, Meng Qi Wing Pinger and such. So finally I took a delve into Reaktor proper, and started my first own ensemble outside Blocks interface. I’m only at primary level of course, but it’s surprisingly straightforward so far. Reading some of the documentation and looking around in the software even Core doesn’t look that intimidating. I really should have gotten into this earlier, but I guess a good idea for a project goes a long way when it comes to learning stuff.

4 Likes
#33

Something I’ve been tinkering with is shaping the oscillator output. I wanted to try and add more analog “ripple” that you’d see from a real synth to the stock Primary oscillator.

Basically it’s a comparator that triggers a very short envelope, which is connected to an oscillator running at twice the pitch of the first oscillator.

image

That yields this:

image
image853×264 12.7 KB

The difference is subtle, and perhaps not worth the overhead. Still, something to toy with.

3 Likes
#34

It’s a really great ecosystem to build up a synth. For some reason I gel with it better than Max/MSP.

Primary can be a bit intimidating. At first glance there is not much difference, but there’s a lot under the hood. I’m just starting to delve deeper into it.

I just found out today that there is a bulit-in virtual keyboard in Reaktor. :man_facepalming: This would have been so handy for all the time I spent working on ensembles on my laptop and away from my desktop / MIDI controller. I use Reaper which also has a similar feature, but building in the standalone Reaktor application is so much better.

It turns your computer keyboard from Z to M into a two octave input.

image

1 Like
#35

NI has one of these software managers you have to install. This usually stops me from getting software. How irritating is this one?

#36

I don’t find it intrusive at all.

5 Likes
#37

Regarding the mess that NI softwares can be / have been, I find it’s very relaxing to have the NI access thing now. It’s rare that a company have such a bloated ecosystem that these softs are useful but for NI it definitely is. It’s not perfect but it’s simple enough that I never think about it.

6 Likes
#38

I agree. I would be annoyed if I only had Reaktor or any other single plugin and nothing else, but as Komplete 12 owner I’m for once glad for the hub. It doesn’t bother me, works well, generally doesn’t suddenly forget my login info etc. which I can’t say about all the other software hubs. For managing a lot of plugins it’s ace, and with Slate Everything Bundle I actually wish it had a central installation/manager program.

2 Likes
#39

I’ve personally taken a hard line against any manager software or hardware licensing (I’m looking at you, ilok), but NI is the one exception. And I have to say, theirs is pretty darn good. Makes updating and installing a snap. No issues with it at all.

2 Likes
#40

I finally had the time and energy to finish up the synth I mentioned earlier, 4 voice drone synth, and make a little Youtube demo too. Super happy with how this turned out and I’ve already used it on couple of tracks I’m working on. First entry on User Library.

Link to User Library: https://www.native-instruments.com/en/reaktor-community/reaktor-user-library/entry/show/13511/
Youtube: https://youtu.be/C6YSeDEonvE

2 Likes
#41

Well, to take it a little further I must say that I only use one Native Instrument product (Reaktor), and I’ve never been annoyed by Native Access.

(edit) …Or maybe two products to be honest, as I use both Reaktor 5 and Reaktor 6 !
:sweat_smile:

1 Like
#42

Love the sound of this (albeit on my phone speaker).

Definitely going to have a play once the sun has gone down sufficiently to justify me sitting inside on my laptop :grin:)

1 Like
#43

Is there something that 5 does that 6 can’t? I also have both, but never thought to keep using 5 after I got 6…

#44

I think I’ve you’ve already got DAW projects that use 5, there’s no easy way to replace instances with 6 ( I could well be wrong though).

1 Like
#45

This is part of the answer.

Also, almost every single day I use two computers (for various reasons) to work on the same Ableton Live 9 Projects that include many Reaktor instances.
The Projects are shared between the two computers using DropBox.

When loading a Project that was last opened on the other computer, I have to locate the Reaktor Ensembles that were previously saved with the Project, as proposed by the following window.

Picture 1

With Reaktor 5, I have to show the path only once for all Ensembles, thanks to this second window.

Picture 2

Unfortunately, the second window does not appear when using Reaktor 6.

This means that I would have to locate between 20 and 40 Ensembles separately (depending on the Project) each time I open a Project that was last opened on the other computer (several times a day).

One day, I read the user manual and searched the forums for a solution to this problem, without success.
Until today I didn’t ask Native Instruments about it, as I’m fine with Reaktor 5 most of the time (I only use Reaktor 6 to see how builders have implemented such and such function, to find inspiration or a solution to a specific problem).

And, honestly, I’d prefer to continue using Reaktor 5 as long as possible.
I’m comfortable with the interface and do not need the extra features offered by Reaktor 6.

Anyway, if anyone has a trick for showing the path only once when using multiple instances of Reaktor 6 in Live 9, I’d be happy to know, as it would be useful to me from time to time when I reverse engineer a Reaktor 6 Ensemble.
It’s quite possible that there is an extremely simple solution that I completely overlooked !
:slightly_smiling_face:

1 Like
#46

I agree it’s a major annoyance with R6, I have sort of the same process and it’s just very problematic to have to deal with this each and everytime. I think we can fairly say that in general, NI’s softwares file management systems (metadata, folder structure coherence from one program to the next, importation, etc.) is close to catastrophic. It feels like they’re just crumbling under the weight of their own scattered gigantic mess of softwares coded with no coherent idea in mind.

Part of why NI access is such a breath of fresh air regarding their ecosystem. (it’s also kind of misleading since it can lead you believe the softwares share a common set of tools that transpose from one to another and they absolutely definitely don’t)

1 Like
#47

Wow, that’s a massive failure in R6! I had no idea, only using it on one machine…

Good to know about that. I do share the occasional Live projects with my two collaborators, so we’ll have to watch out for such weirdness…

Thanks!

1 Like
#48

This is great! I like the way the Spread controls work. Very nice job.

1 Like
#50

6.4 is out now, it adds front-patching capabilities to User Blocks and allows you to add them to Racks. Apparently you can also browse / search the blocks easier now, too. (I haven’t tried it yet.) Some new drum modules from NI as well.

I like that Blocks are still getting more support. VCV Rack is fun but I always end up coming back to Reaktor.

11 Likes
#51

Inspired by the wonderful Serge Resonant EQ and filter banks in general and test equipment passive bypass filters I set on to make something that would help highlighting interesting content in noise and drones, and creating depth and movement in stereo field and our came catchily named Sequenced Triple Bandpass Stereo Audio Processor. As the name would suggest it’s an effect processor based on three independent resonant stereo bandpass filters, one of which has it’s own 5-step sequencers for both left and right channel. I really like the sound how it works, but I light tweak scalings and such in the future when I have more experience with it. Feedback would be nice if any od you end up trying it out.

Reaktor User Library: https://www.native-instruments.com/en/reaktor-community/reaktor-user-library/entry/show/13821/

Youtube demo: https://youtu.be/2pp7_8RscWQ

7 Likes
#52

STBSAP? Trips off the tongue beautifully! :wink:

This looks superb - I shall investigate and explore as soon as I get a chance!

3 Likes