Plugin comparison
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which sampler to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
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Contenders
Kontakt 8 is Native Instruments' software sampler platform for hosting and building virtual instruments, available as a plugin or standalone app.
The Attic 3 is Soniccouture's Kontakt library of 24 rare synths, sampled on every key, with about 600 presets. $250 from Soniccouture.
Technical matrix
| Signal | Kontakt 8 | Soniccouture The Attic 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 | $250 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.7 | — |
| Formats | Standalone, VST3, AU (macOS), AAX | VST3, AU, AAX |
| macOS formats (64-bit) | Standalone, VST3, AU, AAX | — |
| Windows formats (64-bit) | Standalone, VST3, AAX | — |
| Factory Library 2 | 40 GB ready-to-use instrument toolset included | — |
| CPU / RAM | Intel Core i5 or equivalent / Apple Silicon; 4 GB RAM (6 GB recommended) | — |
| Disk space | 2 GB free; 52 GB for complete installation | — |
| Free Player version | Kontakt 8 Player hosts NI and third-party Kontakt instruments at no cost | — |
| Type | — | Kontakt rare-synth library |
| Instruments | — | 24, six new in Attic 3 |
| New in v3 | — | Yamaha CS-15, Voyetra 8, Elka Rhapsody 610, Split-8, CZ-101, Tubon |
| Sampling | — | Every key, 24-bit, 48 kHz |
| Size | — | About 24 GB |
| Presets | — | About 600, including Ian Boddy |
| Player | — | Kontakt or Kontakt Player 7.10 or later, or Kontakt 8 |
| NKS | — | Yes |
| System | — | Windows 10+, macOS 12+, 4 GB RAM |
| Price | — | $250 regular, Attic 2 upgrade $79 / €79 |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.