Native Instruments made a splash in 1996 with the release of the Native Instruments Generator, a piece of synthesizer software that ran on a home computer in real-time. Now, in 2011, Native Instruments are pioneers of the digital musical creation scene. Their Traktor and Guitar Rig equipment has become essential in the production process of many professional recording artists, producers and DJs. Pieces from their Traktor range can be found in the set ups of the worlds best DJs, including DJ Craze, James Zabiela, David Morales and Carl Cox to name but a few. If you are a recording artist or DJ then it is worth checking out what Native Instruments have to offer, their gear is now indispensable to my set up!
You can see how much effort Native Instruments put into their products when I tell you that the Traktor Kontrol S4 has been in the making for 10 years. Ten years of research and hard work has gone in to this all-in-one package that is ideal for DJs on the move. Included is a premium-quality 4 channel DJ mixer, a 24 bit/96 kHz soundcard, a controller and the software included is the Traktor Pro S4. Ideal for gigging DJs, the Traktor S4 is ready to go straight out of the box, just plug it in and get playing.
A serious recording artist needs some serious recording equipment. The Guitar Rig Kontrol 4 is an essential part of the Native Instruments range for guitarists looking to record their music. It is made up of the Rig Kontrol 3 and comes bundled with Guitar Rig Kontrol PRO. There is great synergy between the two pieces of equipment which makes for a very powerful recording tool. The Guitar Rig Kontrol PRO software gives you great flexibility with your tunes, it features 25 cabinets, 14 guitar and bass amps and 48 effects, all emulated with amazing detail and clarity. The simple drag-and-drop format makes it extremely easy for newbies to get started. Experienced users can delve deeper into this powerful tool and reap the full benefit of the Guitar Rig Kontrol 4.The Rig Kontrol foot pedal can add effects to your guitar as well as working as a MIDI interface and MIDI controller. Just plug in, follow the simple instructions and you are ready to record.
Traktor, Guitar Rig, Maschine, Generator… digital music equipment names can become confusing with these various psuedo-technical terms flying about! It is important to know what is what, after all, a DJ does not want to come home with a guitar effects pedal instead of a mixer because he got a couple of words mixed up. An expert dealer is the best place to buy your digital music equipment from, they will know their Native Instruments equipment inside out and will help you find the gear you require to fit your musical needs. Be sure to look for a specialist dealer who can offer free shipping, some large items can end up adding a considerable amount on top of the price of your kit. For those of you readers in the UK check out Sounds Live Shop who offer free shipping on most items as long as you live within the UK.
Musical tastes and genres are constantly changing and so is the rate of technology – it is now up to Native Instruments to keep their finger on the pulse to deliver what the people want. The Traktor Kontrol S4 and the Guitar Rig Kontrol 4 show that Native Instruments definitely do have their fingers firmly on the pulse and are headed in the right direction leaving all other companies struggling to keep up. My advice to Native Instruments, to quote Curtis Mayfield, Keep on keeping on!
