When using multiple libraries or triggering dense MIDI playback in Kontakt, you may encounter a situation where sounds progressively stop playing. This behavior is commonly caused by polyphony limits in Kontakt, which restrict the number of voices that can be played simultaneously. The following will help troubleshoot and resolve this issue to ensure smooth playback.
What is Polyphony in Kontakt?
Polyphony refers to the maximum number of simultaneous voices Kontakt can play. Each triggered sample (e.g., a snare hit, cymbal crash) can use multiple voices at once depending on how many mics were used to capture that particular sample. If the number of active voices exceeds the polyphony limit set, the Kontakt engine will start dropping older voices to accommodate new ones, leading to missing or disappearing sounds.
Monitoring Polyphony Count
- Open Kontakt and ensure the Info View is enabled in the instrument header.
- Locate the Voices Count and Maximum Voices display.
- Play back your MIDI sequence or trigger sounds manually.
- Observe the voice count during playback. If the Voices Count consistently approaches or exceeds the Maximum Voices, polyphony is likely causing the issue.
Increase Polyphony Settings
- Open the NKI (instrument) in Kontakt.
- Locate the "Max:" field in the instrument header, displayed next to the voice count in Info View.
- Increase the Maximum Voices value to allow more simultaneous voices (e.g., double the default number).
- Play back your MIDI sequence again and monitor the voice count to ensure it no longer exceeds the new maximum.