Hi there,

I'm just seeking some advice on these. I have a studio-like desktop where I store full versions of libraries, but these days am finding myself using a laptop more and more.

What are these libraries like for using to create mockups etc? Any pros/cons? In using a laptop, the smaller size obviously makes them more appealing to not have to lug around external hard drives etc along with the laptop.

Do they work the same as the main libraries (though I assume how lower bit rate samples, edited tails of samples, limited mic positions and so on)?

Any advice before I look to grab from the sister site would be hugely appreciated!

Cheers in advance

 

Anyone?

 

My best advice is try for yourself. What works for someone may not work for you.

 

Last edited: Jul 30, 2021

Well it is the same library, but just with the main most useful mic position instead of a bazillion of them

 

This is perfect and the info I was looking for. In that case, I will give them a go and the drive space saving is huge, and hopefully won't realise too much difference when using a laptop for mockups (before being transposed onto my main desktop where the full libraries can replace them if necessary.

Huge thanks to both of you for this! Much appreciated!

 

Means you got your Best Answer?

 

Hi, I'm relatively new here so hopefully, there's no rule against reviving an old post, I just didn't see a point in asking this in a separate thread when this already exists.

How do you guys handle samples packaged into ncx containers? From what I know isn't that a Native Instruments exclusive thing that they don't let you create with normal Kontakt? I might be missing something obvious here but if anyone could throw me a hint as to how to repack into nkx after editing that would be great!

 

Hey rollerball! Have you been busy lately? It's been a while since I've seen new rollerball's Lite Version, and your tutorials.

 

Hey! Yes, I've been quite busy with some things lately, but I finally have some time now. I'll try and get the tutorial in the coming few days hopefully.

 

That’s great!

 

wow! I am so much looking forward to this rollerball! Thanks in advance and for all your efforts! <3

 

I can make a tutorial but I waited because rollerbar said he is making one, and I don't want to waste his effort.
If, If he doesn't make it eventually, pm me and I will make it.

 

I've begun working on a python script that more or less handles the majority of the work for the user. Does anyone have any thoughts on possible changes or improvements or any additional features I can add?


1. User must manually use inNKX to convert nkx to ncw files. I don't think there's a way around this, unfortunately. If you know of a way to automate, please let me know.
2. User inputs config options into script. These include
2.a: Setting the root directory of the samples they wish to minimize
2.b: Setting the microphone positions they wish to delete
2.c: Setting the whitelist for files they wish to ignore. Any non ncw file is automatically included in this whitelist
3. The script then first checks if the file is in the whitelist. If not it then checks if it's in the microphone deletion list. If so it replaces the file with a ~100byte empty ncw file. This is done instead of deleting the file so the user doesn't have to manually edit the nki to remove the empty zones. Finally it converts the remaining samples from 24bit to 16bit.
4. The user must finally manually repack the ncw files into nkx.

Pros of this method:
Requires < 2GB overhead space, unlike batch collect samples which require you to have up to 2x the library space in additional storage. The only overhead you will need is converting nkx to ncw, which you can do one at a time.
Requires 0 resaving of patches or manual work on that end.

Cons:
Files aren't truly deleted, so you don't gain perfect size reduction.
If the mic is enabled it'll still play the empty file which can cause some additional CPU usage.

Everything works pretty well so far, I just need to finalize and create a simple UI as well as package it into an executable. The tool will be windows only

Any thoughts?

 

It would be very helpful if you make a complete video tutorial

 

Yes I will probably try and do that. It may take me a bit more time since I have been busy with a few other things. The GUI certainly won't be out for a bit, but I can probably clean the script up a little and just release it as a command-line thing.

I will try and do this sometime next week or so.

I've also been thinking of a few new features and one that I figured I could probably aim to add in the future would be something like mic merge (Like how Orchestral Tools does it)

Of course the issue is remapping patches with those so I think if you make a mic merge it would have to replace a mic signal, but considering that the applications main use in the first place is to save space I assume most people will already have deleted a mic signal or so.

This won't be included in the first release and probably won't be done for a while.

 

When the script is complete and ready for use, can you please explain what inNKX is, where to get it, and how to use it to pack and unpack, because I just had a go and it's quite difficult to understand.

 

Yes will do. inNKX is actually quite simple to use once you get a few ideas sorted out.
Bob Dule made a nice video that you can look at in the meantime though:

You can skip the first part about making nicnt files. That is unrelated

 

Greetings! After making you all wait so much, the tutorial is finally here!

Please go to this thread: TUTORIAL: How To Make Lite Versions of KONTAKT Libraries