POWER TIP
Reaktor is a visual programming environment dedicated to creating audio processors, tools and instruments. It can run standalone or as a plugin, with practically no functional differences between the two modes. Many of Native Instruments’ synths, effects and sound expansions are built on Reaktor technology, and there’s also a free Reaktor Player that allows you to build modular synths using Reaktor Blocks, and to load synths and effects created by NI and their development partners.
> Polyphony
Wrappers
Reaktor polyphony can be a bit confusing at first. Ensembles and Instruments have a voice count, whilst modules can either be monophonic, indicated by a single crotchet symbol in their bottomright corner, or polyphonic, indicated by a stacked pair of crotchets. Polyphonic signals cannot be connected directly to monophonic modules, so we patch in Audio Voice Combiner modules to collapse multi-voice polyphonic signals into single-voice monophonic ones when needed.
Ensembles are the top level entity in Reaktor. They are the outer wrapper for all of the different modules and connections that comprise an effect or instrument, and an instance of Reaktor can host only one ensemble at a time. There are a number of other wrapper modules available too, the most important being Instruments, Macros and Core Cells.
Instruments are very similar to Ensembles in that they create their own GUI panel, and define visual settings that affect any modules they contain (note that the word “Instrument” is used as in “tool” or “device”, and doesn’t imply Instrument modules are intended only for building synths). Macros are essentially just a container for other modules, and display any visual elements they contain within their parent Instrument or Ensemble’s panel.
Levels
To explain Core Cells we need first to talk about Reaktor’s three editing levels: Blocks, Primary and Core. Blocks are fully self-contained Instruments that conform to NI’s Reaktor Blocks standard. That standard ensures easy intercompatibility with all other Blocks, and this allows you to quickly assemble any combination and signal flow that you like, much like working with a hardware modular system.
Reaktor’s Primary level contains all of the essential modules and tools you need to create practically any effect, processor or synth. Some Primary modules perform very basic tasks, such as applying mathematical operations to incoming values; others, such as oscillators, are more complex in their makeup and function.
Primary also includes a built-in library of predefined Macros, most of which include GUI elements and so provide another quick way to assemble effects and synths.