- There aren't many examples of music software that can survive for ten years without a major version upgrade and still stay relevant with an engaged user base. Version 5 of Native Instruments Reaktor managed the feat quite well due to a number of factors, namely the combination of a robust library of user creations and a steady stream of impressive commercial instruments designed for the platform. Products like Monark, Razor, Skanner XT, Prism and the excellent Molekular kept the world of Reaktor feeling fresh and provided repeated opportunities for producers to make the jump into designing their own instruments. The wait for a new version was still a topic of conversation for many, but that all ended this past September when Native Instruments announced Reaktor 6. Among its many updates was a new modular instrument format called Blocks.
Many of the changes focused on improving the visual aesthetic and workflow of the patching environment. The properties view and browser both received major attention, with the latter following the recent browser standards set by other Native Instruments products like Maschine and Komplete Kontrol. The structure view also received a number of helpful visual updates. The most obvious is the new color scheme, which I found to be much more attractive. (If you're partial to the old colors, you have the option to switch back.) Instruments and macros now have two possible view options in the structure view: Compact, the same view as in previous versions, and Flexible, a larger option allowing for more descriptive naming of ports and modules. Renaming modules is much easier now as well, as it no longer has to be done via the properties view—simply double click the module name in the structure view to change it.
There are some important changes hiding beneath the surface as well. Within the Primary patching area, the biggest change is probably the Table Framework, which is essentially just a new way for Reaktor 6 to handle sample data. This allows you to do things like drag-and-drop a sample from the browser into Reaktor and make that sample data available to any macro or core module in your ensemble. Table Framework data is stored with snapshots as well, which makes it much more convenient to associate audio samples with Reaktor presets. Within Core (the lower level programming area), the biggest change is that there is no more distinction between event or audio cells, which means you can use audio rate signals for control, a feature useful for all kinds of advanced synthesis. Within Core cells, there are a few helpful new tools, like Bundles, which let you group together multiple streams of data, and Scoped Buses, which let you transmit data wirelessly in a manner similar to Max's send and receive objects. While many Reaktor users may never use these new features, they will benefit indirectly from the ensemble creations made possible as a result.
The change that will have all Reaktor 6 users celebrating is the introduction of Blocks, a new category of high-level Reaktor instruments inspired by the red-hot world of Eurorack modular synths. These are loaded from the updated browser, and Reaktor has a dedicated Panel view where you can place and reorder Blocks modules as well as adjust parameters via impressive 3D-modeled knobs, faders and buttons. The connections necessary to send signals from one Block to another are made within the standard Structure view, and Reaktor 6 gives you the ability to view both the Panel and Structure views simultaneously in a split-view mode. As mentioned earlier, there is no distinction between audio and control signals, so experimentation is both easy and encouraged in the Blocks world. Nearly every Blocks module has a pair of modulation inputs, and you can assign the signal to parameters in varying amounts via the front Panel view. To do this, you click the A or B icons on the panel to show the modulation depth sliders for each parameter, and then adjust the sliders with your mouse. This thoughtful design greatly reduces the need for attenuators and mixer modules, and since it is common to all Blocks modules, it quickly becomes second nature.
Reaktor 6 ships with a bunch of Blocks modules to get you started, organized into eight categories. Some of these are Blocks based on existing NI instruments, like Monark, Driver and Rounds. Others, like the Bento Box modules, include a full set of the components necessary to build a powerful modular synthesizer. As expected, there is also a Util category containing the nuts-and-bolts utility modules like signal mixers, which are both necessary and useful for more advanced Blocks patching. To complement the factory library Blocks, Native Instruments has provided the templates and documentation for users to create their own. The community has taken advantage of this opportunity, and there are already over 160 Blocks entries in the community. Some of these are breathtaking collections of Blocks generously offered for free by their creators, notable examples of which include the offerings by Michael Hetrick and Sandy Small. It's safe to say that Reaktor 6 users have a sudden wealth of options when it comes to creating modular patches, and it can only get better from here.
There's a lot to like about Reaktor 6. The new lower price, the updated UI and workflow, the enhanced sample and synthesis capabilities and of course the addition of Blocks all make a compelling case for anyone considering an upgrade or a first-time purchase. In my tests, I only encountered two issues. First is the CPU usage—it can be pretty hefty for some modules, so it's safe to say that many producers using Blocks will have to make use of their DAW's bounce/freeze capabilities. The second issue was an odd glitch I observed where the sound of a patch would change drastically when dragging a Blocks module into the Structure view, even before making any connections to the new module. Hopefully that gets addressed in an update. Despite these small complaints, Reaktor 6 is an easy recommendation. No matter where you are on the spectrum of tech savvy, there's something for you here.
Ratings:
Sound: 4.7
Cost: 4.8
Versatility: 4.9
Ease of use: 4.5