Reviewed: Reaktor 2.0 by Native Instruments

Modules appear in the "structure" window. This is the main spot. This is where all the various modules interconnect any way you like so you can easily see the signal flow and in turn understand how everything you tweak upstream affects everything downstream in a very logical way. Spock would be pleased. So will you after a while when you come to really understand the elements of sound synthesis and a whole new vocabulary opens up to you. Use it. Create. It's the one thing in this world that you can be sure no one else is doing the same way at the same time as you and nothing defines you like an original creation. And you thought it was only about the music.

"Structure" Window (Click for a larger image)

You select whatever modules you want from drop down menus and they appear in the structure window. You then drag them to wherever you want them and link them together with virtual cables that go from port to port with just a couple of mouse clicks. Choose VCF, VCA, ADSR, MODS, OSC, Samples, delays, summing amps, EQ's and much more. Want to re-order your modules or change that kudzu sample into a 50% pulse square wave? Go ahead, just click and drag. Save a snapshot of your sound as it is and then alter any parameters you want and hear the effect right away. Keep it or change it back, on and on ad infinitum. Empowering, isn't it?

There are toolbars along the top of your screen that give you instant access to your instrument and ensemble parameters and operations much like the toolbar in your favorite word processor. The "Ensemble" window is the end of the food chain as it were. This is where you store the complete state of your sound for later reference. It gives you a top-down view of the entire environment including instruments, sound sources, mixers, inputs and outputs. It can be a single instrument or an "ensemble" of several instruments all at once, hence the name. Catchy, huh? Those wacky Germans, they crack me up every time.

Did I mention that Reaktor 2.0 is also a full fledged sampler as well as a killer synthesis engine? Just substitute samples you get from any other sources or recorded right there for oscillators and you're off and programming. Are you getting the bigger picture here? The potential is simply astounding and NI has done a fine job in making such a powerful application accessible to anyone willing to take the time to learn the basics.

Your different instrument panels use representations of real knobs and sliders, buttons and switches for your tweaking pleasure. The graphic design of these panels and windows aren't as cute as some others I've seen, but they are very easy to read and understand and use, and that's what's really important. There is a CPU load meter included too so you can monitor how hard you're working your computer. This is a good thing, especially for those of you with a computer older than last week.

Reaktor 2.0 is really a combination of two earlier products from NI: Generator (synthesis) and Transformator (Sampling). (Wait a minute...wasn't Transformator the alien home planet in Vonnegut's epic novel Slaughterhouse 5?). Reaktor lets you create macros of operations to save and drop into whatever you're creating at the time. This keeps you from having to re-invent the wheel, as it were. Once you create say, a great modulation path, you can save it as a macro and drop it into something else later on without having to start from scratch. This is also a good thing. There is also FM synthesis for both of you who really miss the good old DX7 programming days. But seriously, FM (frequency modulation - modulating one oscillator with another) is really a misunderstood and powerful synthesis tool that has been a pleasure to rediscover here in Reaktor. Wendy Carlos, look out!

In Transformator there are two different ensembles optimized for different types of sampled sounds. "Impaktor" is best for percussive sounds and "Simulator" is best for acoustic instruments. Are you getting the naming pattern here? Everything ends in "or" and there's never a "c" where a "k" will do. Those cut-ups! You've also got Loopo, Plasma, Diletant, Diktaphon, Vibrator and Simulant, all structures for sample editing and playback. There is even a 16 note sequencer module included like in days of yore, great for your homage to early Tangerine Dream or that Buggles remake you're been itchin' to do. It's best used for repeating patterns or basslines but hey, who am I to limit your artistic vision? Now for some caveats because that's also my job.

The Mac interface needs some work, specifically some windows don't scroll as they are supposed to. You can still get around but you may be limited to 2 scrolling options instead of 3 - not a huge deal but indicitave of the obvious Windows pedigree. The manual is very good except for one detail, again only for us Mac users. Other than the installation overview the Macintosh is never again mentioned throughout the book. All the illustrations (and there are many so all you guitar players shouldn't worry so much) show PC windows and detail PC mouse operations. Again, not a big deal, the windows look very similar on both platforms. But if you don't already know that using the "control" key with your Mac mouse button is the same as using the right hand button on a PC mouse, your indoctrination to this program will be remarkably short and frustrating. They never mention it anywhere. On the plus side, both the Mac and Windows versions of Reaktor are included on the same disk for no extra charge. This is a very good thing. I hope the other software developers are watching this and taking notes.

The stability of the program is good, I've had only one major crash in a few days of use, a testament to both NI and Apple's OS. A demo of this program is available at their web site (www.native-instruments.com). I suggest you invest some download time and give it a go. It's interesting, musical, well written, imaginative and fun. Retail price is $469. So what are you waiting for?

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