Pip: KK-ACCESS — where the intersection of accessibility and music technology is less a crossroads and more a very busy junction with no audible crossing signal.
Mara: chrisankin has been busy, and this episode covers a good spread: new sound sets and NKS releases, DAW integration for Reaper users, and a library update for Lineage Strings.
Pip: Plenty of ground then. Let's start with the new releases — sound sets, NKS libraries, and a full Kontakt review.
Kontakt And NKS: New Releases Reviewed
Mara: The centrepiece here is Envoy Analog Percussion by Emergence Audio — a rhythmic Kontakt library built on their brand-new Cadence engine, designed to generate evolving, non-repeating analog patterns for cinematic and experimental music.
Pip: The review sets up the engine's ambition plainly, noting that the Flux controls mean "whatever you may do is non-destructive, as simply switching it off returns you to an uneffected state."
Mara: So the upshot is you can push the randomisation and modulation quite aggressively without fear of losing your starting point — a genuinely useful safety net when you're deep in experimentation.
Pip: There is, however, a significant caveat for blind and visually impaired users: step programming isn't accessible via NKS, DAW parameters, or screen readers. The review is candid about that.
Mara: It is. But it also notes 38 pages of NKS mapping, 273 snapshot presets, and the ability to use Envoy in oneshot mode — so there's still meaningful creative access through the existing presets and parameter controls.
Pip: Envoy at launch is $149, heading to $199 — which for 600 analog sources, each with ten round robins, is at least a lot of percussion for your dollar. Or indeed your elephant in the room.
Mara: On the sound-set side, Plughugger's new Focus collection for u-he Diva is aimed squarely at film and TV scoring, and it does include NKS presets with pre-hear sounds for Komplete Kontrol. There's an introductory price of 9.99 euros until 13th September using the code FOCUS.
Pip: And a hint that the next Plughugger release — for Omnisphere 3 — should also include NKS presets, following some recent positive collaboration. Worth watching.
Mara: Freelance Soundlabs' September NKS news covers new support libraries for Air Music Fabric Vintage Synths Vol 2 — available as separate libraries or a bundle — and for reFX Rippler, with full preset browsing, sound previews, and detailed controller maps for both. And Ocean Swift are running a late summer sale through 22nd September, with NKS preset packs across a wide range of instruments at significantly reduced prices.
Pip: From analog percussion engines to preset bundles on sale — the NKS ecosystem stays busy. Speaking of staying connected to your hardware, there's a specific win for Reaper users worth flagging.
Komplete Kontrol And Reaper: DAW Integration
Mara: The post on Reaper Kontrol points Reaper users — on Windows or Mac — toward a dedicated driver that brings proper Komplete Kontrol DAW integration to the application. The post describes it as something that will "enhance your workflow within the DAW."
Pip: The driver is the work of Jamie Teh, and a walkthrough video and download page are both linked directly. Compact post, clear recommendation — sometimes that's exactly what's needed.
Mara: And if your strings library has just had a significant update, you'll want to know about that too.
Lineage Strings Gets Its First Major Update
Mara: Project Sam have released version 1.1 of Lineage Strings — the first substantial update since the library launched in July. The post flags it as worth updating via Native Access for the improvements it brings.
Pip: There's also a limited return to the launch price, giving a 15% discount on the usual retail — so the timing is good for anyone who's been sitting on the fence.
Mara: A comprehensive walkthrough of the new features is linked, and the original KK-ACCESS review of Lineage Strings is there for anyone wanting the full accessibility picture before deciding.
Pip: Accessible sequencing, NKS coverage across more instruments, and a strings library that keeps improving — the direction of travel is encouraging.
Mara: There's more to come. We'll be back when the next wave lands.
KK-ACCESS 