Sometimes we want to include realistic sounding instruments in our tracks. However, recording a real instrument or buying sample libraries can turn out quite pricey. Luckily there are plenty of free Kontakt libraries from which we chose our top 10.
The Alpine Project. This website is entirely dedicated to free orchestral libraries. I think it’s the best. In order for a collection to appear in Kontakt’s Libraries tab with the graphic, the developer of the library has to pay Native Instruments a fee for the privilege. The developer and end user get some perks from this deal as well, but suffice it to say that the price point many developers sell at. Acoustic Guitar by Pettinhouse Audio. This guitar sounds very realistic thanks to its release and fret.
You will need: Full version of Kontakt [only number 2 works with Kontakt Player]
1. Acoustic Guitar by Pettinhouse Audio
This guitar sounds very realistic thanks to its release and fret noises. Probably my favourite free library.
2. Flutes: Persian Ney & Shakukachi from Kontakt Factory Selection
These two flutes included in Kontakt's free selection of instruments can add lots of oriental flavour to your track. Velocity curve control and beautiful effects included.
Ekali used it in his remix of Jack U's 'Mind' - passed it through some distortion and used 'a couple manual unison tricks' (found on reddit). Probably used also some tremolo and transposition modulation after that.
Download (scroll down to 'Kontakt Factory Selection')
3. Amore Grand Piano by Precisionsound
A very nice grand piano with Pedal sustain support.
Ever wondered what VST instruments are the most popular? Find it out here.
4. MSLP Grand Piano Soft
A beautiful and intimate grand piano. The background noise adds a lot of mood to the sound. Perfect for a sad outro for a song.
Download (From this enormous list by Bigcat Instruments - check it out)
Btw, check out this article with the top 10 VST synthesizers!
5. 'Street Bumper' Electric Piano
A very nice E Piano with Tremolo, and plenty of other nice effects. Velocity curve & Attack/Release controls included.
Download (Bigcat Instruments)
6. 'Skerratt London' Upright Piano
A beautiful upright piano to add melancholy or oldschool vibe.
Download (Bigcat Instruments)
Check out this article with 5 free VST Piano Plugins!
7. MSLP Vibraphone
Very nice vibes with ADSR controls. Might need a little panning work, but the samples sound great.
Download (Bigcat Instruments)
8. SSO Concert Harp
Another element to spice up your production in an oriental style.
Download (Bigcat Instruments)
9. Sweet Melodic Choir
Great sounding male basses and female sopranos. Adds a mystical vibe to anything. Tweak your decay knob to shorten the ridiculously long samples.
Download (Bigcat Instruments)
Thanks for checking out our top 9! What are your favourite Kontakt libraries? Share them under our Facebook post so others can benefit.
Download List:
Plus: Great list of libraries by Bigcat Instruments
Good luck with your production. See you in the next articles!
About the Author: K-Pizza
I’m k-pizza, a music maker who likes to share his experiences with other producers. I’m regularly going to show up with music and content at PML.
Listen: https://souncloud.com/k-pizza
Looking for more free stuff? We give away lots of free Ableton templates, MIDI files, presets & racks. Check out our freebies section!
In this article I’m going to list 5 great sources of free Kontakt instruments. These libraries will not only work in orchestral scoring - you can easily use them in electronic music or any other genre. I hope you’ll find something you like!
1. The Alpine Project
This website is entirely dedicated to free orchestral libraries. I think it’s the best orchestral library out there right now. Bear in mind that the patches are not velocity sensitive - for dynamics, you’re going to have to work the modwheel.
„Alpine Project” libraries are split into 3 categories - brass, strings and woodwinds.
The brass section responds very nicely to modwheel movements. The option to turn off legato is great - this way you can play multiple notes at once. My favourite patches here are the trombones and trumpets.
The string section is divided into 4 parts, like in a real orchestra. Unfortunately there’s no „ensemble” patch with all 4 in one, but if you really need that - this freebie does that. My main complaint is that all of these patches are monophonic - meaning that you can’t play more than one note at once.
All the woodwind patches have two versions, I like the ones labeled as „Try”. Some patches sound a bit unnatural at times, but some sound great. My favourite patches are the saxophone and the clarinets.
Demo: Brass - Horns, Strings - Violin & Bass, Woodwinds - Saxophone & Bass Clarinet
Ever wondered what VST instruments are the most popular? Find it out here.
Best Kontakt Libraries For Trap
2. Pettinhouse Audio
This site offers 5 stunning guitar libraries. There’s a beautiful acoustic guitar, electric guitar (labeled DG), classical guitar, jazz guitar and a bass. You can also find some hammond organ patches on the site.
Here’s a demo of the guitars: Acoustic, Classical, Electric & Bass, Jazz
3. Hugo Kant
This guy made a few awesome libraries and shared them for free on his website. There’s a little collection of world instruments, a rhodes piano, a bass guitar and a vibraphone.
Here’s a demo of the world instruments: Nanga, Banjo, Zither
4. Ivy Audio
On this website you’ll find 4 professional sample libraries - a grand piano, a vocalist, a trombone and a drum kit.
„Piano in 162” is a professional sampled grand piano, ready to use in a track. It includes two mic positions and sounds really great.
Btw, an alternative free grand piano is the 'Amore Grand Piano' by Precisionsound.
Looking for more free pianos? Check out this article with top 5 free VST pianos.
„Clare Solo” is a solo vocalist patch. It sounds great in legato but allows unison as well. It’s very realistic and sounds professional. The modwheel response and reverb are also awesome features.
The „Carpenter Trombone” is very cinematic. Make sure to use the modwheel!
„Scott Drums” is a pretty standard drum kit. There’s some effects built in too, you can edit each sound individually.
Looking to improve your chord progressions? Check out this tip.
5. Bigcat Instruments
This is a blog run by Joe Stevens, a free sample library enthusiast. He’s got hundreds of free sounds, so I checked all of them and picked my favourites.
Natural Concert Guitar,Acoustic Nylon Guitar, Steel Guitar
Acoustic Bass, Pick Bass
Church Organ, Drawbar Organ, Percussive organ
Upright Piano 1
Upright Piano 2
Sanza,
Toy Piano,
Thanks for checking out this list, I hope you found something useful!
k-pizza
I’m a music maker who likes to share his experiences with other producers.
Kontakt Add Library For Mac
I regularly show up with tutorials, articles & project files at PML.
Kontakt Libraries For Mac Osx
Skype lessons with me: http://bit.ly/pml_s_one2one