MAC TUTORIAL FOR CREATING CUSTOM MASTER LIBRARIES FOLDERS IN KONTAKT 5
(Revised for Master Folders, Thanks goes to, McMaster & SerendiPetey for Tips and Special Thanks goes to Cosima Schaefer-Rolffs, for the Original Tutorial)

MAC Only,Windows Version Here

Once you Learn how to make Master folders, individual folders are that much easier.
Read the Full tutorial before starting it(maybe a couple of times), so you get the ideal how everything flows.

Programs you will use and are included:
Plist Pro or Pref Setter (Choose your fire)(Plist Pro is used by default)
(plist pro is a 14 day, meanwhile perf setter is free)

Download Link: http://www27.zippyshare.com/v/58825698/file.html

Let's Begin, We are to going to build a Master Library example.​

Example: Creating a Spitfire Collection Master Folder:


Download & Extract the zip/rar to your default download folder and copy the folder inside the zip/rar to your desktop (but keep the zip/rar for backup purposes & keep the folder to add libraries later)

Throughout this tutorial Spitfire Collection will be called "Master Folder"!!!.

Name the .nkx and .nkc files "Spitfire Collection_info.nkx" and "Spitfire Collection_info.nkc"

Create a Folder Named Spitfire Collection, Copy the .nkx and .nkc Files to the Folder and move the folder to your Sample Harddrive.
Once all of this is in place, open the file com.native-instruments.custom_instrument.plist with PlistEdit Pro and change the ContentDir line, which describes the directory path to the Master Folder. The first item should match the name of the Hard Drive the Master is on, followed by a colon: the second item is the Master Folder Name, For Example:

Kontakt Libraries:Spitfire Collection

Kontakt Libraries, is the name of my Harddrive, Spitfire Collection the name of the Master folder where all your spitfire libraries will go!!!.

Once this has been edited, save the changes and close the file.

Now Rename:
com.native-instruments.custom_instrument.plist

to

com.native-instruments.Spitfire Collection.plist
(Pay Close Attention to this!!! Look at the difference)

Remember, always have the same name for all files(Spitfire Collection). ALL THE NAMES MUST MATCH.
(Tip: The .nkx/.nkc must till have _info at the end of the library name)

Moving On,

Note:You can either Use your own com.native-instruments.Content.plist file or the included one.

It's better for you to go to your Hard Drive's Preferences folder (Not your User Preferences folder) and retrieve the file from there, since it has all your pre-existing Libraries in it, and you can just simply add the new ones to it.(Best Method)
Start by dragging a copy to your desktop to edit. Open it with PlistEdit Pro and look at the k2lib0xxx numbers of each Libraries.
(This will be a great time to start a list to keep track of all k2lib0xxx numbers you will use!!!)

Go to the last Library in your .plist, click New Sibling and edit the Key column with a new k2lib0xxx number (keeping it under 1000 - do not duplicate an existing one, REMEMBERER!!! each Library must have its own k2lib number) and edit the Value column to reflect the exact name of your new Master Library Folder. Save the changes.

Example:
Key: k2lib0250
Value: Spitfire Collection

If you do use the included one, open the com.native-instruments.Content_ORIGINAL.plist. Click open the Root arrow and select the first item "Akoustik Piano" [Note: the items you see already are some of my Libraries. Go ahead and delete all those lines except the first one, and the last one (User Patches)], then change "Akoustik Piano" under menu item Value to Spitfire Collection. The Key (k2lib0xxx) must have a number between 0001 and 0999; they do not have to be sequential, Double check to make no other library is using that number but you cannot use 1000 or greater. Save the changes.
(Note: you will have to remove the "_ORIGINAL" part of the .plist file name once you are done). Like This: com.native-instruments.Content.plist

Now, take the two .plist files you've edited/created and drag them into your Hard Drive's Preferences folder (not the User Preferences folder). Authenticate to allow the changes to the folder, and select "Replace" to overwrite the existing copy of com.native-instruments.Content.plist file.

Now Open Kontakt 5, Click the Add Libray Tab. and find the location of the Master folder you have created and click okay, VIOLA!!!!

Creating your own Wallpaper

You'll need to make your own display image named wallpaper.png (.jpg and .gif will work too, but it must be named "wallpaper" to appear). The Standard dimensions of the "wallpaper" image should be 300 x 99 pixels, but i use 906 x 98 for Full Tab View when Stretching Kontakt Library window. You can either use Photoshop or Gimp, you have to pay for Photoshop if you don't have it, While Gimp is FREE!!!. Choose Any Link:

http://gimp.lisanet.de/Website/Download.html
https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/14597/gimp

In the Template for Wallpapers Folder there are 2 files:
The ultimate Template.psd - Photoshop File
wallpaper.xcf - Gimp File

Tip: Both these files can be read by either Programs

The ultimate Template file - Breaks down each step to complete a wallpaper from start to finish, the default size used is 576 x 98. If it's too overwheming I created a simpler one, see below

wallpaper.xcf - Is a simple template i created which just includes a black box that shows the maxium size to respect the Default kontakt View location(Trust me this gonna come in handy)to the rest of the image, Default size used is 906 x 98
Tip: In Gimp, zoom in @200% to work in a confortable range
Adding pictures i just google the library name, find a image i can work with or like right-click and save image as in a default Pictures folder i created, i suggest you do the same. Then drag the picture from the folder into Gimp(The program i use)and start tweaking, after I'm happy with a wallpaper i go to file and click Export and save the file as a wallpaper.png and save to my Master Library Folder(i do this multiple times to get the wallpaper to sit right in Kontakt.


Close all your folders and open Kontakt. Click Add Library and navigate to your new Library folder to add it to your list.



And last, but not least:

Backup your original com.native-instrument.Content.plist file before editing
Always edit the files outside their respective directories, then move them into their corresponding folder after you're done editing.
Keep Fresh Copies of the .nkc, .nkx, and com.native-instruments.custom_instrument.plist files for adding New Libraries.

For your Reference:
If you are going to use my pre-made Master folders all you have to do is Now is:

Open the file com.native-instruments.custom_instrument.plist with PlistEdit Pro and change the ContentDir line, which describes the directory path to the Master Folder. The first item should match the name of the Hard Drive the Master is on, followed by a colon: the second item is the Master Folder Name, For Example:

Kontakt Libraries:Spitfire Collection

Kontakt Libraries, is the name of my Harddrive, Spitfire Collection the name of the Master folder where all your spitfire libraries will go!!!.

Once this has been edited, save the changes and close the file.
Rename:
com.native-instruments.custom_instrument.plist

to

com.native-instruments.to the Master folder name.plist

Now Open Kontakt 5, Click the Add Libray Tab. and find the location of the Master folder you have created and click okay, VIOLA!!!!



Done!!!!!

 

This Must be an Excellent Tutorial..Why you ask???

Well it has been downloaded 83 Times and not a single problem reported yet

Knock On Wood, if any arise lol. Cheers

Just an Update!!!!

+1 for the person who voted "Who am I & Why am I Here!!!" EPIC *yes*

 

Here an addon to you tutorial:

Create yourself nkc and nkx files with Terminal

cat /dev/null > "/Users/"username here"/Desktop/"Master Folder name here"_info.nkx"

cat /dev/null > "/Users/"username here"/Desktop/"Master Folder name here"_info.nkc"


"username here" = the name of your Users folder (i.e: Belalugosi) whitout the quotes

"Master Folder name here" = the name of the Master folder you are going to create, whitout the quotes

​

 

Hi,

I am following the steps above. My plist is completely empty I see no entries whatsoever in it ....
I am using Kontakt 5.3

Any guidance would be appreciated

 

I don't know what trouble your having Please give me more info???

Have you added libraries in kontakt, each library has a .plist associated with it
then all their info is stored in the:
com.native-instruments.Content.plist File

 

Yes I have libraries in kontakt. They reside on an external drive if that makes a difference
When I open the com.native-instruments.Content.plist File it does not have any of the k2lib entries...

Thanks

 

what program are you using to view the .plist and are your libraries loaded in kontakt?
it would be impossible to use them because kontakt wouldn't be able to locate them

and remember the com.native-instruments.Content.plist file is located in your Hard Drive's Preferences folder

 

I use PlistEditPro and yes my libraries are loaded in Kontakt. But I have them on an external drive
I was able to show all the instruments in the master library i needed (after almost giving on the tutorial) using by making a nicnt file. Does the nkx method do something different?

 

Okay that's why, there still should be at least one library there but yah the .nicnt & nkx works the same way, but the .nkx is 100% compatible with libraries in kontakt. The .nicnt sometimes have issue and have the user scrambling around town to get it fix when the .nkx format just works .In which is my prefer method of custom libraries

 

This is all very interesting and all and thanks for the tutorial, but I think I'll just leave it alone.

 

Ohh c'mon you don't like a challenge lol

 

I must have missed this, yet another excellent tutorial. Thank you for taking the time.

 

Thanks you for this tutorial, it worked perfectly for the Spitfire Collection but i can't get it working for a 8Dio Collection. i followed the same steps but when i try to add the 8Dio Collection, it load long time and finally, no tabs appears

i checked again every step and all is good : names of .nkc and .nkx files, location on instrument.plist file, key entry with k2lib number and value in Content.plist file (using prefsetter), home made wallpaper.png,

Really don't understand since it worked well with Spitifire Collection

Edit: I ve just tried to make another Master Tab for my Choirs libraries and it doesn't appears too. i'might do something wrong but can't figure when/where happens the mistake

 

Hello Twist, we meet again lol
are you using fresh .nkx/.nkc with every new library and what k2lib codes are you using???

 

Yes ô Master

i'm using fresh .nkc and .nkx you provided to us each time i want to make a new master tab by copying it to the desktop and then, edit it.

i used 0601 number for Spitfire Collection and then, as they seems to be available, i used 0602 for 8Dio Collection and 0603 for Choirs Collection but as it didn't work, i tried then to use 0700 and 0800 but no tabs appears yet

Precision: i use my own Content.plist file found in my preferences folders, not the original you provided. i copy it to my desktop, edit it and then bring it back to the preferences folder

 

okay so i guess you have a pretty good idea how everything works by now, are you sure when your making the plist you add the : this plist is what makes the wallpaper show in kontakt

 

Do you mean in the column "Value" (=location) of the line "ContentDir" from the "com.native-instruments.8Dio Collection.plist" and "com.native-instruments.Choirs.plist" files ?

i think yes, it looks like this:

RESOURCES A:Librairies Kontakt :Biblio:8Dio Collection
RESOURCES A:Librairies Kontakt :Biblio:Choirs

as for the working Spitfire Colletion tab:

RESOURCES A:Librairies Kontakt :Biblio:Spitfire Collection

 

Look at your spitfire library files and reference them to your new library files and see if everything matches (even the year and time)if it all looks good i'll send you files to try and see what went wrong

 

Sorry but i don't understand :

should i look inside the content.plist ?

or

instrument_info.plist ? (= Spitfire Collection.plist) and compare it to the albion.plist, Sable.plist etc... ?

or .nkc and .nkx files ?

 

All of the above... every file location for the library look for a fault(like for example the date of the all .nkx's should be 12/22/2010 12.45pm)