How to use Kontakt in Cakewalk by Bandlab (2020)

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In this video I show you how to use Kontakt in Cakewalk by Bandlab in 2020! I also give a basics up explanation of how things work, and delve into more complex implementations.
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[@PeterDaltrey]

100% excellent Kontakt instruction tutorial. For the beginner this is like walking blindfold through a minefield with one leg tied behind your back. But your clear, concise instructions are a light in that darkness. Many of us would simply give up if we couldn`t find our way. Thank you.

[@claudeboisvert9875]

Mate, you are an astonishing teacher. And believe me, I am a history and geography french high school teacher in Québec (that's why my ortograph in english is bad). So, I know about teaching. I've been using Sonar 8.5 producer edition for 15 years and Cakewalk by BandLab for 2 months and I feel like a beginner. You are making me a better user of this incredible free DAW. Thanks, thank you, thanks a lot. You are a great teacher. I feel like I'm having a 10 000$ formation for free. You are amazing.

[@CreativeSauce]

Thank you so much for that wonderful compliment Claude! Very much appreciated.

[@striverfor7628]

Brilliant, thanks Mike! 1:00 The Goal 2:46 The Basics 3:12, 3:24 Don't copy this method. MIDI doesn't make any sound. 4:18 Add Kontakt plugin with the Synth Rack (Alt-9) 5:20 There's no sound so we need to connect it to audio in Cakewalk. 6:25 The MIDI track still has no sound so we have to connect the MIDI track to Kontakt 7:24 Common Methods. Add Kontakt with a MIDI Source and First Synth Audio Output 8:16 Getting them all in one block. Add Kontakt with Simple Instrument Track 9:45 Simple Instrument Tracks - lots of instances of them. But it uses up a lot of system resources - For every 3 instances of Kontakt we use about 1GB of memory. 11:15 2019 Method - Don't copy this He had a load of MIDI tracks relating to the MIDI element of the tracks. But it creates a lot of spaghetti with connections. 12:26 Preparation Have your Cakewalk up to date. Add an instance of Kontakt. Open Kontakt and double click to add empty instruments. Name each instrument. 13:58 Outputs view. Select Batch Functions > Clear output section... Save current output section state... > VST plugin. 15:15 2020 Method 15:35 Add Kontakt with Instrument Track Per Output, with Stereo Audio Outputs. Delete any of the many new tracks created which you don't need. 17:32 Change 2nd instrument's output to number 2. Do the same for further instruments and give them their own outputs. 18:30 Preferred 2020 Method For if you've got enough memory to spare. Using 3 instances of Kontakt, one instance for each category of instrument. Helps you keep organised, not totally necessary and it uses a little more resources but not as much as multiple simple instrument tracks.

[@mrmoa]

This may be my favorite KZbin channel. You are a natural teacher.

[@richardlalan7]

Holy smoke, this is actually so convoluted way to get sound out! Thanks for the instructions, but brutal!

[@timothyreynolds6255]

Once again, Mike, you made something complex understandable by showing not just "how to do it", but "why" and "options". Thanks!

[@jimkahn5107]

I've seen a couple of your videos now, and you do a great job of simplifying complicated subjects. Well done!

[@Thinkingshop]

Thank you for clearing this up as it makes Kontakt so much more useful in a Cakewalk Project. In 2021 you can control how many outputs Cakewalk creates in the dialog box on the bottom right. Uncheck max outputs and name your number. That alleviates the deletions. Brilliant work! Very Grateful.🙏🙂

[@danfahland6633]

Thanks Mike...for your crystal-clear explanations! Because of your videos, I'm using Cakewalk with a lot more confidence than I would have had otherwise. You've taken it from frustrating to fun!

[@mannytoo9630]

Thanks Mike for this very good tutorial. I was struggling with Kontakt into Cakewalk for several years and now I feel you gave me the right medecine to be in better shape. Your videos are very useful. Thanks again.

[@robbrowning1937]

I've saved your entire Record, Mix, Release series into my Home Recording playlist, as well as many more of your videos. This is exactly what I need to be able to start gaining an understanding of all this... stuff. Very well done, thank you so much, from the greater Pittsburgh area.

[@MafiaSniper]

One of the most productive 20 minutes!

[@Tanoti]

Thanks again Mike for an awesome video, clear concise and with background as to why not to do something as well as what to do. You've saved me a ton of RAM when working on projects which is great as I'm about to start some orchestral pieces and those are probably going to have a LOT of tracks.

[@mattlumbmusic]

I just wanted to let you know that this video is still helping people in 2022 - I've just used it to properly set up Kontakt player in Cakewalk and you made everything so easy. Thank you for all your videos!

[@m.gentili]

Wow! Been scratching my head how to use pads of my controller with kontakt. You just solved my problem immediately. You are so good at this! Keep up the great work! Much appreciated!

[@geryscole7429]

God bless you! I am a newbie and learning a lot from you. Thanks a million!

[@craigshaw141]

Mike, thanks again for another incredible video. The info is spot on and equally important, the pace is not too quick, allowing the viewer time to actually absorb all this good stuff. Keep it up.

[@GeorgFreese]

I cannot thank you enough for all the work you do, Mike. These videos are life-savers!!! 😃😃😃

[@megorra]

This has helped me enormously as I use Kontakt quite a bit. Thank you for this video and all the Cakewalk ones. As an amateur/tinkering musician, your help has been invaluable :)

[@timsfun6653]

Great content as always Mike, thanks! Something to be aware of for folks trying this with newer Cakewalk/Kontakt. I did this in January 2024 with Cakewalk 2023.09 (Build 75) and Kontakt 7 and found that I needed to perform one additional step. When adjusting the outputs on the various Kontakt instruments being loaded for the song, I found it necessary to also adjust the midi input channel. Started with midi chan 1 and just incremented by one for each instrument, same as with the outputs. If I didn't do this all instruments were set to midi chan 1 and they all played at once during performance or playback. Love Mikes content and the way he explains this stuff has allowed me to learn to use a DAW in 2024!

[@happyron]

Finally the mysteries of Kontakt are revealed to me! thanks

[@ZincShed]

Many thanks Mike - I finally got Kontakt to work with Cakewalk after watching your video

[@sabothawk]

Awesome video -- loving how you so calmly stroll through connection problems that drive us content creators crazy: keep up the great work and thanks!

[@frankjkelly6987]

SO much chaff online, but you're the wheat, Mike! Not only clear and concise, but inspirational, too. I've used Cakewalk since it was a 'midi sequencer' (back in the Stone Age), but I've avoided Kontakt like a pandemic. No more!

[@michaeldavid7802]

Thorough and clearly explained, thank you!

[@StephSancia]

I mean ALL KUDOS to you Mike as you are thee VERY 1st person I've ever come across on the tube who has taken the time to explain the critical foundations of the whole DAW/MIDI production process and that's priceless IMHO with things further down the track. I'm COMPLETELY new to Music Production but am proficient with electronics and fashion design and with the latter if you DON'T understand just WHY you have to draft a dart or curve in a certain way with a clothing pattern then you'll rarely be able to be diverse with your own designs down the track. The same here with music, I need to reverse engineer ANYTHING to understand it in order to move forward and excel. I highly suspect that some producers do not have the foundations knowledge that you so graciously explain here but I stand to be corrected. Far too many "tutorials" are rushed, jumbled, confusing and frustrating. What you've presented here is TOP NOTCH and like I say thee very first channel I've come across to teach skills and understanding that are quite unique on these forums ✌️ I'll step down off my praise soap box ✌️ Thursday Greets Mike from Middle Earth 🙃

[@memorablemusicformedia1337]

This is the best video I've seen on the subject of Kontakt inside Cakewalk. Thank you!

[@CreativeSauce]

Thank you David!

[@WilliamGrout]

Thank you so much for your content. I know it takes a lot of work to put these together and you do a great job of just the nuts and bolts of creating a KZbin video. I am 61 and new to all of this digital music production. After exploring many different DAWs and not interested in spending much money just yet, Cakewalk is where I am going to focus for a while. Your videos are a huge help! Showing various ways to setup Kontakt was helpful to get a bigger picture of how things can be "wired up" in the program.

[@CreativeSauce]

Hi William, thanks for watching. Yes, I think Cakewalk is an awesome way to find out if this is something you will really get into. Many decide to stick with it as their main DAW, as its very powerful, others may decide on something else. I also use Studio ONE, and I'll be doing some videos on that soon.

[@timothygilman4848]

Mike another great video. Thanks for sharing this with all of us and its great to see how other people setup their work flow.

[@trombitamuvesz]

Mike I love your tutorials. Keep doing' like this. Many help and inspiration is coming to me by your videos. I appreciate your effort to do kind of this work. Thank you for this!

[@Dromeusik]

Until today I avoided to work with Kontakt, but NI's Noire has changed that. This video is the perfect primer to use Kontakt in CbB, just what I needed. Thanks a lot, Mike.

[@Git-M247]

Bro!! Soooo helpful, please keep the Cakewalk content coming. Love these vids 🔥

[@SonicVisualGR]

Great presentation ! The most logical way ! My eyes are now wide open ! Thank you !

[@CreativeSauce]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed!

[@ProjectAlci]

Bless you for explaining MIDI as "sheet music" for the computer to read (and make sound with)! I am autistic and possess (I think) perfect pitch. But I'm musically illiterate. I can't read or write sheets. I composed my first song at the age of about 7 with my mom writing down the notes I played on the piano. It was a smashing success, won school awards, and I was told I should be a composer. Fast-forward to now. I'm older, I have attempted to learn music theory, but... due to some life circumstances, my efforts came to a halt. I have recently gotten into Cakewalk and decided that, rather than strengthening my weaknesses to read traditional music, I'm going to utilize the strengths I was born with, my perfect pitch, and attempt and make music, digitally. I was VERY confused by the terms "MIDI" and "MIDI controller", so your explanation was beyond valuable.

[@jmalpartidajimenez]

This video allowed me to start my Kontakt relationship. Thanks a lot Mike! Greetings from Lima.

[@guitarjonn7103]

First time viewer, loved it. Really answered my questions very well. Well done sir, look fwd to seeing more.

[@ceezbgacom]

Once again, great timely delivery of info. Thanks.

[@CreativeSauce]

Good to hear Chris! Thanks for watching :)

[@salhiview6885]

loud and crystal clear . thank you so much.

[@valdon116]

You just solved a boat load of problems for me, thank you 😊

[@CreativeSauce]

Awesome!

[@jemmahooper7415]

Great walkthrough Mike. Love yer work! :)

[@filipesemmaisnada]

Great job as usual. Thanks, Mike!

[@philmountain2995]

Thanks Mike. Brilliant explanation.

[@moosey62]

This is GOLD. Thanks Mike.

[@BillCaninos]

Perfect ! Exactly what I was desparatly looking for

[@derrylgabel]

Perfect timing Mike! Love your videos

[@CreativeSauce]

Cheers Derryl!

[@michailluuko3909]

Yes, the method you've chosen is the most logical. Now there is the correspondence between Cakewalk tracks and Kontakt tracks that is a great boon to sound processing.) Well done Mike!

[@bjf131313]

What a fantastic video. I watch every one that you do and they are all so informative. Thank you.

[@CreativeSauce]

Oh cheers Barry - people like you are the best, very much appreciated!

[@URANOSFRIAS]

Dear Sr. you are absolutely great, your tutorials are the best. Thanks a lot for your time and gifted mind for making this really useful. Regards from Portugal.

[@williamcastle9719]

Man, you are a genius!! Thank you so much, mate :)

[@pianomanny1397]

Hello from NY! Thank you so much for covering this topic. I have the free version of Kontakt 6 with Cakewalk 2021-Build144. You made this so very understandable. I appreciate you taking the time for this. Bless you in your endeavours.

[@patoneill7276]

Great video from you as always - very helpful and explained very well.

[@ericgiova1663]

Other awesome video, 20 minutes, and, puuuf! doubts away. Impressive. I did have a ressources problem, thanks so much for this great content.

[@MrOnemoreknight0]

I'm a bit late finding this video, but what a great video. I have thought for ages there must be a way of loading instruments in to Kontakc and playing them separately but never been able to figure out how to do it. Once more Creative Sauce to the rescue! Cheers. Mike.

[@RonSM2112]

So much great instruction crammed into 20 minutes....brilliant! Subscribe button hit!

[@stevenjcasey]

Very helpful video. I just subscribed to see more. Thank you!

[@manuellinares7612]

Si me quedo con Cakewalk es por estos tutoriales... y la comunidad que has creado entorno al daw. saludos desde Canarias Gracias

[@billykellum]

Excellent video regarding Kontakt!!

[@marekrajewski7848]

More,more,more tutorials like that.Thanks a lot. 😊 👏

[@CreativeSauce]

I will try Marek - thanks for watching!

[@ernestoz.s.1581]

Thank you very much. It's a great trick for everyone!!!

[@luiszapiola355]

Perfect... just what i needed... love your channel :)

[@CreativeSauce]

Aw3some man, glad it's of use :)

[@marcuscurtismusic]

Mike your videos are awesome!

[@derrylgabel]

Love to see a video like this using Sample Tank 4 Max.

[@spookbones]

Excellent Mr CS.

[@sjwilli1972]

Thanks Again Mike that made a lot of sense this time round, been struggling with it. Maybe I will go buy an upgraded version of Kontakt now they should pay you for this stuff.

[@outdoorsinontario3037]

hey! Well done !!!!! This was super helpful!!11 Much Appreciated dude!!!

[@fredscaife6887]

Hi Mike, I thought I would have a go at Kontakt, so I downloaded the free version. I followed your instructions for the 2020 version but with the new version of CbB (Version: 2020.04 (Build 179)) in the "Insert Soft Synths Options" there is now the option to add the number of tracks you need for an instance of Kontakt (say 3 for strings, 3 for brass and so on). So you may not need to do the "Preparation" any more and have 32 tracks come up when you load an instance of Kontakt. I also tried this on a few other VSTi's but that didn't work except for a couple of drums synths, EZ Drummer and Session Drummer by Cakewalk. It may work on other drums, I don't know. Funny what you can find out when you've got time on your hands. Keep up the good work.

[@911truthfarmer]

This change is Yuuuge! Thanks for showing us Mike! Sub'd.

[@CreativeSauce]

Cheers Victor - glad it helped :)

[@benep9579]

Thanks Man! Another useful video 😊

[@EverBardo]

Would be really interested to see a video on pitch-bends and dynamic changes to pre-existing MIDI track with Kontakt in cakewalk.

[@royvdboorn]

Another great one Mike. Thank you

[@CreativeSauce]

Thank you Roy - my pleasure :)

[@gazangelus]

Great tutorial; keep up the good work 😎🔥

[@ernestdaniels1671]

Mike, this helped a great deal. I was using Kontakt and having to route my outputs every time I added an instrument based on what sound I thought I needed. This method, allows me to add from 1 up to 16 instruments on a separate channel in Cakewalk. I did notice, however, that after adding each instrument to Kontakt, that I have to change the Midi out on each instrument, but I don't mind at all This is great and it will always be ready for use. Maybe I will save Track Templates with different instruments for various genres of music like, Orchestral, Jazz, Pop, R&B and so on....

[@CreativeSauce]

Good idea Ernest!

[@kruiser8989]

Excellent and very informative

[@RaymondSandoval]

Bravo Mike. Just started watching your videos on youtube. They're great! Thank you... been needing this sort of approach to learning about what the heck i'm doing out here in the MIDI zone. LOL... Thanks to you, I'm finding out. Gracias Muchos !

[@recklesflam1ngo968]

Same here lol, I thought it'd be quick and relatively easy to setup cakewalk and konkakt instruments but NOPE.

[@davidlum2001]

Thank you. It helped a lot.

[@wilcokleingunnewiek44]

Good video, make's things understandeble, thanxs

[@SouthCreake1]

Excellent video! Thank you. I've just bought Kontact and other Native Instruments Plug ins and this has helped me tremendously. Do the other NI instruments work in a similar way?

[@STOLGUITARS]

Fantastic Mike TY did not know !

[@angusmcbean752]

thanks for another great video. Can you also do this with the standalone spitfire vst?

[@seblanglois3422]

Thank you sooo much for this!

[@dan27music]

Thank you for this.

[@sjwilli1972]

awesome mine is set up slightly differently but it works some how? Thanks thanks Thanks.

[@mavriv]

Thank you so much. This is a lot of help.

[@CreativeSauce]

Awesome cheers Eric!

[@Zilverwolv]

Very helpfull tutorial!

[@rafaelpalomo5201]

Thanks a lot for this excelente video.

[@MG-br5vc]

Thanks Mike... just "saved my life"... ;-)

[@darrenpatrick2609]

Awesome tutorial, this has simplified my workflow immensely but I have been trying to overcome one obstacle. My instruments have pre defined patterns and if I try to record them I just get a solid line in the piano roll Is there a way to view and edit the actual midi notes that are being played?

[@Donk1003]

Hi Mike, great job. I like your videos about Cakewalk. Do you know a way to safe the settings i.e. for Metronome adjustments (types of clicks), so Cakewalk everytime starts with these adjustments? Thanks for your advice.

[@rickallan3363]

Very Nice. I wonder if your could do a video about the Aria Player which is a similar device.

[@EvgenyIbragimov]

Thanks a lot!!!! can i use the same LABS plugins?

[@maartenmateusen8057]

Really good explenation

[@johncannon9607]

Very helpful thanks

[@ktib74]

Wonderful video, wonderful channel! :)

[@CreativeSauce]

Thank you, you're very kind.

[@marcusc.nordin5624]

Great video! The only problem I find doing it this way is that if you want to freeze one of your tracks, all instruments in that Kontakt instance will freeze.

[@bobbyabbott1510]

Great vid. Thank you. I just purchased the NI S-49 keyboard. Do you have a vid that explains how to track real time into Cakewalk? So far, I can play the keyboard via Komplete Kontrol stand-alone, but unsuccessful via a Cakewalk Kontakt instance.

[@normg2242]

Thanks for the great tutorial! One thing I'm still trying to figure out - do kontakt plug-ins use more memory than other plugins?

[@ERICPIANOCUMBIAMBERO]

Amazing! I have trouble recording audio tracks. For some reason my Korg M3 doesn't play through the interface, but plays through Kontakt. If I create an audio track it won't play, but if I create an instrument track it plays using kontakt. I really need to use the sounds from the M3 itself. How can I do that 100% of the time?

[@joseperri.medusa]

Thank you very much for this excellent tutorial. I have a korg C1 electric piano that does not allow you to change MIDI channels in flight. Could you tell me how to do the channel change perhaps using a keyboard key and a plugin in cakewalk? greetings joseph

[@jamieharvie3506]

Hi Mike . Big thumbs up from me too- this was really helpful. Any chance you could do some more on Cakewalk and Kontakt / Komplete Kontrol etc. - how to use MIDI keyboards in general and the NI A and Series in particular. I know the full integration with A series isn't there yet, - but it would be really helpful to see how to set up to get the basics working. Playing in MIDI parts and automation etc. Everything I've found on the web assumes the basics are already working! Thanks in advance and hope. Look forward to your next video.

[@user-lu5tu2ti8n]

great! big thanks!