Freelance Soundlabs NKS News February 2024

Hello  

Now Available: GForce Axxess NKS Library

https://freelancesoundlabs.com/nks/axxess

This NKS library covers all factory content and also includes presets from expansions that were freely available from Gforce during the initial launch of the synth: Cinematic, Electronica, Hip-Hop, Pop. All presets are fully tagged and include sound previews along with artwork (including artwork for the MK3 keyboard) and a full controller map.

Now Available: Korg Modwave / Opsix / Wavestate NKS Libraries

https://freelancesoundlabs.com/nks/modwave

https://freelancesoundlabs.com/nks/opsix

https://freelancesoundlabs.com/nks/wavestate

NKS Libraries for Korg Opsix, Modwave and Wavestate. All presets in each instrument available for browsing, fully tagged with detailed controller maps covering most of the instruments controls, sound previews and artwork files (including MK3 artwork)

Update Available: Arturia Analog Lab V NKS Library

https://freelancesoundlabs.com/nks/analoglabv

Update available for this NKS library which fixes over 1000 sound previews that were silent or corrupt.

Download this update from your user download area here:

https://freelancesoundlabs.com/index.php/component/k2/item/334

After download simply replace the existing NKS library folder with the updated one. For MK3 keyboard owners, artwork is also included so copy/merge the image folder with the existing image folder (refer to PDF for instructions)

Note: This update applies only to the VST3 library version. A new updated library is in the works for the latest "Analog Lab Pro" update which works with the current AL5 library, but will need some significant time to create the newer files and update the library so this update will suffice until I can find the time to update the rest of the library.

Now Available: Cherry Audio Pro Soloist / Synth Stack 4

https://freelancesoundlabs.com/nks/prosoloist

Latest Pro Soloist synth from Cherry Audio. This Dual Layer synth is more in-depth that you would first think and being a dual layer, there are a lot of controls available. I have tried to map as much as possible without going overboard so this should offer some in-depth control from the hardware but if you find a key parameter that was overlooked, please let me know.  

https://freelancesoundlabs.com/nks/synthstack4

The latest Synth Stack 4 bundle includes NKS libraries for all 22 of the Cherry Audio plugins (excluding Voltage Modular) with all presets in all instruments tagged and browsable from both Komplete Kontrol and Maschine with in-depth controller mappings.

Upgrade offers are available for users of previous synth stack releases but if you have individual Cherry Audio NKS libraries and want to upgrade to the full synth stack bundle, just Contact Me (reply via this email) and I will let you know your personal upgrade path. 

Now Available: UVI 8-Bit Synth, Glass Orchestra, HX-20, ICRAM Prepared Piano 2

https://freelancesoundlabs.com/nks/8bitsynth

https://freelancesoundlabs.com/nks/glassorchestra

https://freelancesoundlabs.com/nks/hx-20

https://freelancesoundlabs.com/nks/preparedpiano2

I had started work on a number of UVI libraries last year but placed this work on hold for a while but have been asked for improved versions of some NKS libraries so I am focusing on UVI libraries this month starting with these.

An issue with UVI instruments when it comes to updating or changing existing NKS files is it is not a simple case of just "adding more controls" to a template as each control has to be "mapped" for host automation before the NKS files is saved so this essentially required me starting from scratch, not to mention there is a limitation of 128 controls that can be mapped, not something I enjoy doing, so further UVI libraries will very much depend on how popular these ones are.

All libraries are Falcon/Workstation compatible and also migratable between VST2 and VST3. All tested between Mac/PC without any issues and in regards to the Glass Orchestra library, I discovered an issue where many presets would not save the host automation mapping resulting in all NKS controls becoming non-functional for a number of presets. I have addressed this problem manually but it's something I find with many of their libraries, and a reason UVI libraries are a bit of a pain to make.

8-Bit Synth I had already covered a few years ago as part of the Toy Suite so I have simply carried the mappings over to the standalone version of the library. 

I will be working on covering a few other UVI libraries this month so if there is a library from UVI that you want to see completed, let me know.

Now Available: reFX Nexus 4 NKS Library 

https://freelancesoundlabs.com/nks/nexus

Back in 2018 I developed support for Nexus 2 and then worked with reFX to help bring support to Nexus 3 which was being included with the Nexus installer for a few years before being removed due to lack of demand and what the developer cites as too much work to maintain for the demand so for Nexus 4 it was dropped. I have taken this library management task back on and have had to redo the full library to update it for the latest Nexus and also VST3 compatibility. Now also includes artwork for MK3 keyboards.

There are upgrade paths for users who had the previous factory and complete builds and for anyone needing custom selections of expansions just use the links on the page to email me a request or ask me any questions (related to the topic) you like as there are simply too many expansions to list for individual download. I am trying to find the right balance between cost and covering the huge amount of time needed to manage these ones.

It should be noted that all expansions listed for the factory bank and all banks from the 2018 collection list should be compatible with both Nexus 3 and Nexus 4 however since I only have N4 and cannot roll back to N3 to test again I cannot 100% confirm this so please test the demo first and see if that works if you have not updated to Nexus 4 and need NKS support.

For the expansions listed under the 2023 list, these may not work and many are Nexus 4 only expansions but if you need some test files let me know.

This was quite a lot of work and a lot of attention into tagging has been done with hopefully more down the track. I do plan to potentially add more future expansions including the few that were released since I started this update but this depends on the demand, if there isn't sufficient demand I will likely not progress much further.

VST2 / VST3 Library Compatibility Status List

Check this list for the latest VST3 library compatibility updates, what libraries support VST3 and what has been updated from VST2 to VST3:

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/1256/#Comment_1256

Library Artwork Updates for MK3 Keyboard

For those that may have missed the memos about this, be aware that the MK3 keyboard has some new image asset requirements for the display of artwork on its screen which needs to be updated in every past library. All libraries released and updated from November of last year will have this artwork included. Libraries before November of last year are slowly being updated and you can download just the required image files for these from a shared Google Drive here: 

plugins/system/oyl/src/Redirect.php?oyl=ZjuB5QAB6c5RU7JoItZ3WVdznKeHQSEjUM%2BcHgW96EaYoCVl6wHp9xpXK2bvRuoJl1q6kiHNKqtVeTpvub%2FzoDvlWv4r%2F%2BgnBKWE%2FEXSqihRsfxr90cKUh3XIq%2BFah7b

So far, libraries that have all been updated include Arturia, Cherry Audio, GForce, IK Multimedia and Spectrasonics. Work will continue on UVI and Korg libraries this month. 

Donations

While you are under no obligation to donate, purchasing our libraries and supporting the work is thanks enough we do very much appreciate donations as there are a lot of costs and time needed to maintain such a large number of libraries and it is only due to the support of users that this is even possible.

Update News / Facebook / Forum

The forum thread for all discussions related to any Freelance Soundlabs NKS library can be found Here: 

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/305/release-freelance-soundlabs-3rd-party-nks-libraries-for-komplete-kontrol-maschine#latest

You can also follow my Facebook page for the latest news and releases:

https://www.facebook.com/freelancesoundlabs

I post about all the latest releases and updates on these channels as things are done so if you are keen to know immediately when updates and releases are available then please follow these channels. I typically send this update email at the start of each month. 

Feedback / Requests / Questions? 

If you have any issues with any libraries, feedback about how useful/not useful these libraries are or any instruments/plugins to request NKS for simply reply to this email with your suggestions as the more we receive on certain products, the more likely they will be considered tho we cant invest in them all. I typically reply to every email but can occasionally miss one so don't hesitate to get in contact again.