Native Instruments' Intakt Rhythmic Loop Sampler

New sample manipulation software from Native Instruments offers to slice, dice and stretch your loops. We investigate and try to come out of the experience Intakt...

Installation is easy but you must register the program within 30 days or it will stop working, and you must register to get updates and support. If you don't mind giving the company personal details then that's fine but being forced to do so to use a relatively inexpensive piece of software in an age when personal data is such an issue is barely acceptable.

The program installs a stand-alone version plus various plug-in formats including VST, DXi, RTAS and Audio Unit. The advantages of running Intakt as a plug-in include integration with your host sequencer, synchronisation with sequencer tracks, and the ability to automate parameters. As a VST plug-in, for example, Intakt outputs audio through the VST mixer which can be used during mixdown. Of course, you can apply other effects and plug-ins to the outputs should you wish.

Core sample

At Intakt's basic level is the Sample but, perhaps a little confusingly, this is also sometimes referred to as a Zone.

The program has one main window divided into four horizontal sections - Source Edit, Modulation, Effects and Keyboard.

Source Edit is the core of the program and in the middle is the Loop Editor which displays a waveform of the sample currently undergoing manipulation. You can set Start and End points here, create loop points and move them around the sample, and make the loop play forwards as is usual or play forwards then reverse.

The Instrument Amp section is used to change various aspects of the sample including volume, pan position, tuning and velocity. The settings only affect the selected sample so you can apply different settings to different samples which makes the system very versatile.

You can play and edit a sample in three modes - Sampler, Beat Machine and Time Machine. Sampler modes works like a 'standard' sampler where part of the sample can be looped to create a 'sustain' section. Playback can be assigned to keys on the keyboard and with Tracking enabled the pitch will change according to the key pressed although this function also changes the duration.

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