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{{Short description|German software company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Native Instruments, GmbH
| logo = Native Instruments logo 2023.svg
| logo_size = 250px
| type = [[GmbH]]
| industry = {{Unbulleted list|[[Music technology]]|[[Music software]]|Music equipment|[[Professional audio]]}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|1996}} in [[Berlin]], Germany
| founders = {{Unbulleted list|Stephan Schmitt|Volker Hinz}}
| hq_location_city = [[Berlin]]
| hq_location_country = Germany
| products = {{plainlist |
* [[Akoustik Piano]]
* [[Guitar Rig]]
* [[Kontakt (software)|Kontakt]]
* [[Maschine]]
* [[Reaktor]]
* [[Traktor]]
}}
| revenue = {{Unbulleted list|{{Decrease}}{{nbsp}}79,900,000 Euro}}{{nbsp}}million
| revenue_year = 2021
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Constantin Köhncke (CEO)|Robert Linke (President)<ref name="futuremusic.com/">{{cite web|url=https://futuremusic.com/2020/08/12/constantin-koehncke-named-chief-executive-officer-of-native-instruments/ |title=Constantin Koehncke Named Chief Executive Officer Of Native Instruments |date=12 August 2020 |publisher=futuremusic.com |access-date=2020-10-25}}</ref>}}
| num_employees = 500
| parent = {{Unbulleted list|[[Francisco Partners]]|Soundwide<ref name="Soundwide">{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Rachel |title=Soundwide named as parent brand of Native Instruments, iZotope, Plugin Alliance, Brainworx and Sound Stacks |url=https://musictech.com/news/gear/soundwide-native-instruments-izotope-brainworx-plugin-alliance/ |access-date=12 May 2022 |work=MusicTech}}</ref> (2022 – 2023)}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.native-instruments.com/}}
| footnotes = <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8006903/native-instruments-raises-59-million-emh-partners|title=Native Instruments Raises $59 Million From EMH Partners |magazine=Billboard |access-date=2018-01-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.northdata.com/NATIVE+INSTRUMENTS+GmbH,+Berlin/Amtsgericht+Charlottenburg+%28Berlin%29+HRB+72458+B |title=NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GMBH, Berlin, Germany }}</ref>
}}

'''Native Instruments''' is a German company that develops, manufactures, and supplies [[music software]] and hardware for [[Music technology (electronic and digital)|music production]], [[sound design]], performance, and [[DJ]]ing. The company's corporate headquarters and main development facilities are located in [[Berlin]], with additional offices in [[Los Angeles]], [[Tokyo]], [[London]], [[Paris]], and [[Shenzhen]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=139319|title=Native Instruments GmbH: Private Company Information |publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|access-date=2018-04-05}}</ref>

== History ==
Native Instruments as a company was founded in 1999 in [[Berlin]], Germany, where its headquarters are still located.<ref name=":0" /> Founders Stephan Schmitt and Volker Hinz began using the name Native Instruments in 1996, when they developed Generator, a [[Modular synthesizer|modular synth]] software package (which would later form the foundations for their ongoing product, [[Reaktor]]).<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct06/articles/nifeature.htm/|title=10 Years of Native Instruments|date=October 2006|work=Sound on Sound}}</ref>

Following the release of Generator, the company's employees expanded to include Bernd Roggendorf (later a founder of [[Ableton]]) and Daniel Haver, who later became Native Instruments' CEO.<ref name=":1" />

In 1999, Native Instruments expanded its staff count and moved to its current building in [[Berlin]]'s [[Kreuzberg]] district.<ref name=":1" />

In 2000, the company began creating products for the [[Disc jockey|DJ]] community, beginning with the first version of their [[Traktor]] software.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://djtechtools.com/2011/02/11/the-history-of-traktor/|title=The Evolution of Traktor - DJ TechTools|date=2011-02-11|work=DJ TechTools|access-date=2018-06-20}}</ref> In 2002, they expanded further to include [[software sampler]]s, in the form of ongoing products Kontakt and Battery.<ref name=":1" />

In September 2004, the company began a partnership with the [[Disc jockey|DJ]] hardware manufacturing company [[Stanton Magnetics]] and with [[online music store]] [[Beatport]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerdjsummit.com/press_releases/2004_09_25_stanton.htm |title=Stanton, Native Instruments, & Beatport Join forces for a new era in Digital DJing |publisher=computerdjsummit.com |access-date=2017-09-25}}</ref> 2004 also saw the release of their guitar [[amplifier]] and [[Effects unit|effects pedal]] emulation software, [[Guitar Rig]]. In 2006, Native Instruments restructured into 3 divisions: instruments, DJ, and guitar.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/in-pictures-15-years-of-native-instruments-507457|title=In pictures: 15 years of Native Instruments|work=MusicRadar|access-date=2018-04-05}}</ref>

In March 2017, Native Instruments acquired remix-licensing startup MetaPop.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://musically.com/2017/03/28/native-instruments-buys-remix-licensing-startup-metapop/ |title=Native Instruments buys remix-licensing startup MetaPop|work=MusicAlly |date=2017-03-28}}</ref>

In January 2020, a [[works council]] was elected that represents the employees of the Berlin office.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-01|title=Vier neue Betriebsräte|url=https://www.igmetall.de/service/publikationen-und-studien/metallzeitung/metallzeitung-ausgabe-april-2020/vier-neue-betriebsraete|access-date=2021-02-19|website=[[IG Metall]] Zeitung|language=de}}</ref>

In January 2021, it was reported that private investment firm, [[Francisco Partners]] acquired a majority stake in Native Instruments.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-22|title=Native Instruments acquired by investment firm Francisco Partners|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/music-technology-company-native-instruments-acquired-by-investment-firm-francisco-partners/|access-date=2021-02-05|website=Music Business Worldwide|language=en-US}}</ref>

Aside from its German offices in [[Berlin]] and [[Langenfeld, Rhineland|Langenfeld]], Native Instruments now also has offices in [[Los Angeles]], [[Tokyo]], [[London]], [[Paris]], and [[Shenzhen]].<ref name=":0" />

In April 2022, Native instruments briefly became a subsidiary brand of Soundwide,<ref name="Soundwide" /> a parent company created with the backing of Francisco Partners and EMH Partners.

In January 2023, Soundwide laid off 8% of its workforce, citing "challenging market conditions" as the reason.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MusicRadar |date=2023-01-30 |title=Native Instruments and iZotope's parent company Soundwide lays off 8% of staff |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/soundwide-layoffs-ni-izotope |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=MusicRadar |language=en}}</ref> In June of the same year, the Soundwide name was retired and substituted with Native Instruments' own branding, citing [[Brand awareness|familiarity concerns]] as what led to the change.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogerson |first=Ben |date=2023-06-14 |title=iZotope, Brainworx and Plugin Alliance are now part of Native Instruments, which means that Soundwide is no more |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/izotope-brainworx-plugin-alliance-native-instruments |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=MusicRadar |language=en}}</ref>

==Products==

[[File:Absynth4.jpg|thumb|Absynth 4]]

=== Software ===

Software produced by Native Instruments includes the following:

* [[Reaktor]]: A visual programming environment based on modules and wires.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.native-instruments.com/fileadmin/ni_media/downloads/manuals/REAKTOR_6_Getting_Started_English_122016.pdf|title=Reaktor 6 – Getting Started|website=Native Instruments|access-date=15 February 2020}}</ref> Several of Native Instruments products were built using Reaktor, including Monark – NI's emulation of the Moog Model D. In addition to the company's own offerings, it also hosts a large collection of community creations on the Reaktor User Library.
* [[Kontakt (software)|Kontakt]]: A [[software sampler]] with support for users to program their own [[Software synthesizer#Software instrument|virtual instruments]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ni-kontakt-5|title=NI Kontakt 5 {{!}}|website=Sound on Sound|access-date=2018-04-05}}</ref>
* [[Guitar Rig]]: A modular [[software effect processor]], focused on [[amplifier]] and [[Effects unit|effects pedal]] emulation for guitar.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/guitars/native-instruments-guitar-rig-5-pro-505095|title=Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5 Pro review|work=MusicRadar|access-date=2018-04-05}}</ref>
* Multiple [[software synthesizer]]s, such as [[NI Massive|Massive]] ([[wavetable synthesis|wavetable]]-based),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/native-instruments-massive|title=Native Instruments Massive {{!}}|website=Sound on Sound|access-date=2018-04-05}}</ref> Absynth ([[Modular synthesizer#Semi-modular synthesizers|semi-modular]]),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/native-instruments-absynth-5|title=Native Instruments Absynth 5 {{!}}|website=Sound on Sound|access-date=2018-04-05}}</ref> and FM8 ([[Frequency modulation synthesis|frequency-modulation]]-based).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/fm8.php|title=Native Instruments FM8 {{!}} Vintage Synth Explorer|website=www.vintagesynth.com|access-date=2018-04-05}}</ref>
* [[Traktor]]: Digital [[Disc jockey|DJ]] and [[vinyl emulation software]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/dj/native-instruments-traktor-pro-2-427583|title=Native Instruments Traktor Pro 2 review|work=MusicRadar|access-date=2018-04-05}}</ref>
Native instruments also produce a number of other [[Sample library|sample libraries]], [[Software synthesizer#Software instrument|virtual instruments]] and [[Effects unit|effects processing]] [[Audio plug-in|plug-ins]], many of which function through the architecture of Reaktor or Kontakt. Some of these software items are also grouped together in their Komplete software bundle.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.emusician.com/gear/review-native-instruments|title=Review: Native Instruments Komplete 11 Ultimate|work=EMusician|access-date=2018-04-05}}</ref>

The company also develops the Native Kontrol Standard (NKS), a [[Audio plug-in|plug-in]] extension which allows integration with Kontrol and Maschine products (both hardware and software).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/native-kontrol-standard/|title=Native Kontrol Standard - inSync|date=2015-11-05|work=inSync|access-date=2018-04-05}}</ref>

=== Hardware ===

[[File:NI Traktor Kontrol S4 MK2 Controller Top.jpg|alt=Traktor Kontrol S4 MK2 DJ Controller|thumb|Traktor Kontrol S4 MK2 DJ Controller]]
Native instruments also produce music hardware, such as:
* [[Maschine]]: A system with integrated software for creating [[drum beat]]s.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.factmag.com/2017/09/07/native-instruments-maschine-mk3-komplete-kontrol-mk2/|title=Native Instruments unveils brand new Maschine and Komplete Kontrol hardware|date=2017-09-07|work=FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.|access-date=2018-04-05}}</ref>
* Kontrol: A series of [[MIDI controller]]s, [[audio interface]]s and [[DJ controller]]s with software instrument support.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/reviews/13751|title=Review: Native Instruments - Traktor Kontrol X1 MK2|work=Resident Advisor|access-date=2018-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/audio-interfaces/komplete-audio-1-audio-2/|title = Komplete Audio 1 / Audio 2 : Audio Interfaces | Komplete}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.native-instruments.com/}}
* [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/daniel-haver Daniel Haver Interview] at [[NAMM Oral History Program|NAMM Oral History Collection]] (2021)

{{Native Instruments}}

[[Category:Native Instruments| ]]
[[Category:Software companies of Germany]]
[[Category:Privately held companies of Germany]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Audio software companies]]

Native Instruments - Revision history

imported>The Midnite Wolf: added Category:Audio software companies using HotCat