The Ultimate List of FREE Kontakt Libraries in 2022
The Best Free Kontakt Libraries in 2022?
Using kontakt libraries and third party Kontakt instruments is a fantastic way to create and discover unique, high quality sounds.
One of the reasons Kontakt has remained so popular with producers is due to the enormous amount of user-created instruments available. Kontakt makes it incredibly easy to build your own sounds into a full sample library with MIDI functionality.
As a result, there are literally hundreds of Kontakt libraries out there in 2022, from singular percussive instruments to entire symphony orchestras.
However, most of these user-created libraries come with a price tag, which can range anywhere from $20 to a couple hundred dollars!
If you’re a beginner looking to dip your toes into the world of Kontakt instruments, or an experienced user expanding their Kontakt library, you’ll probably find yourself looking for high quality, FREE Kontakt libraries.
Thankfully, there are plenty of powerful, beautifully-sampled, free libraries out there, many of which are just as good as the premium products.
So without further ado, below is our ultimate list of the best FREE Kontakt libraries in 2022.
Please note: These are third-party Kontakt libraries, the official free collection of Kontakt instruments by Native Instruments is found in the Kontakt Start bundle.
Versilian Studios Chamber Orchestra 2 Community Edition
VSCO 2 Community Edition is an open-source orchestral sample library that is perfect for composers and producers looking for authentic, professional sounding, FREE orchestral sounds.
This orchestra was actually converted into a stunning, complete Kontakt library by BigCat (so make sure you download the .NKI version).
This beautifully designed sound library gives you endless sonic possibilities to create, explore and experiment with the sampled sounds of real musicians.
The sampled instruments include various woodwind instruments, brass instruments, keys, complete string sections and a huge variety of orchestral percussion sounds.
The free download comes with a staggering 3.2 GB of content and 3,152 sampled sounds, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive free Kontakt libraries out there.
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Output – Signal Free
Output are an acclaimed audio software development company with a fantastic range of instrument and effect plugins, as well as Kontakt libraries.
Signal Free is the free version of their incredibly popular Signal library: an expansive, rhythm-focused collection of instruments ideal for creating evolving, atmospheric sounds.
Even the free version remains extremely versatile, and can be used to create synth stabs, melodic, spacious piano tones and a huge range of ambient soundscapes.
Signal Free includes 4 sound sources and 25 unique instrument presets, and even boasts LFOs, step, arpeggiator and looper controls.
It’s worth noting there is no time limit when used in Kontakt (full version), but a 15 minute limit when used in Kontakt player free.
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ProjectSAM – The Free Orchestra
This free Kontakt library is an ideal choice for any producer looking to expand their cinematic sample collection.
ProjectsSAM’s “Free Orchestra” is a 1GB library of epic, orchestral sounds, including strings, brass clusters, symphonic percussion and ambient, dystopian pads.
The free download includes 14 high quality instrument presets (that were originally premium releases). The interface features envelope controls, filter, a preset-specific effect (e.g a “boom” control), and some interesting dynamic controls and options. Free Orchestra even lets you reverse the instrument within the Kontakt library.
Overall, this is a free Kontakt library that should definitely be on your radar.
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Sonuscore – Orchestra Chords / Sustained String Chords
Sonuscore have generously released 2 full symphonic orchestral libraries for free; Orchestra Chords and Sustained String Chords.
The sound quality here is particular impressive. The samples are rich, organic and authentic, rivalling the quality of many premium Kontakt instruments.
Here’s a short taster:
Both libraries feature a natural-sounding reverb control. Plus, both instruments allow you to use the mod wheel to alternate between sustain and tremolo string chords, giving you much more control over the dynamics of the orchestra. Highly recommend.
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Keep Forest – Ferrum (Free Version)
The next free Kontakt library on our list is actually a library I use on a pretty regular basis.
Ferrum – Free Edition is the freeware version of Keepforests’ epic “Ferrum” sample library. It includes a diverse collection of highly unique, immersive percussion sounds, including powerful snares, cavernous impacts and shimmering cymbals.
If you produce trailer music, or similar video projects, this free library is definitely worth checking out. It’s also fantastic for layering existing drum hits to create a more impactful, resonant sound.
One particularly interesting feature of Ferrum (free edition) is the on-board step sequencer. It can be used to modulate the filter, pan, and pitch for each note played, allowing you to build interesting rhythms and grooves.
As you’d expect, the full version has significantly more content included, but there’s still plenty to sink your teeth into with the free version.
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Palette – Primary Colors
Primary Colours is a free Kontakt library featuring strings, woodwinds and brass ensembles (this is the final orchestral library on this list I promise!)
This is a free 1.3GB sample collection of rich, organic orchestra tones with a very “natural” feel when played. The active instruments play together when their ranges overlap and drop out when they reach their limits, resulting in a seamless playing experience.
This “round robin” effect is illustrated below:
As with a lot of these free Kontakt instruments, it is a free version of the larger, premium product. So it does come with a limited set of articulations and a single microphone position, but it’s still definitely worth a download.
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Samplephonics – Ronroco
Ronroco is a stunning library of Ronroco loops and one-shots, packaged into a simple, intuitive Kontakt instrument.
It contains 1.2GB of high quality samples of this unique, somewhat obscure stringed instrument.
The samples were recorded at 80 Hertz Studios in Manchester, and it’s immediately clear that a lot of care and detail has gone into this sample library. The virtual Ronroco also contains playable picking grooves, textures – all with 5 mic positions and on-board mixer.
The official site (link below) allows you to preview the sound before downloading, if you (understandably) have no idea what a Ronroco sounds like.
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Shreddage 3 – Stratus FREE
If you’re looking for a heavy, distorted electric guitar Kontakt library, Shreddage 3’s free version should definitely be on your radar.
The library comes with a interesting range of on-board controls, so you can really personalise the guitar tone. This free Kontakt library is particularly powerful as it allows you to add realistic “performance” nuances such as hammer-on, slider, tremolo, vibrato and even palm muting. You can even edit the “picking mode” of the player.
Plus, Shreddage 3 Stratus Free has a “poly input” mode, allows you to transform MIDI chords into natural, strummed electric guitar chords.
You can also choose between 30 different amp cabs. The newly released version of Shreddage 3 Free features a console mixer and a brand new effects rack. Definitely worth checking this one out.
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Embertone – Ancient Voices
“Party like it’s 1399!”
Ancient Voices is a simple, beautifully sampled, true-legato, all-male virtual choir. It is an ideal Kontakt library for producers looking to add some medieval-sounding, atmospheric vocal tones to their tracks.
The engine features legato / poly modes, a dynamics control, close & stage microphone options and an additional reverb control.
For such a simplistic Kontakt instrument, the sound quality is surprisingly impressive. The samples have a very ominous, dark character, so they’d also be fantastic for video game / movie trailer audio.
It’s worth mentioning Embertone have several other free Kontakt libraries on their site, including wind instruments and several percussion libraries (click the link below and navigate to “freebies”).
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Embertone – Arcane
Another incredibly unique, free Kontakt library from Embertone is their mysterious puzzle game / instrument combo: Arcane.
This library is truly one of a kind, as you only gain access to the sounds after completing levels in a built-in puzzle game. In Embertones words:
“Arcane centers around a séance, through which you must appease the evil Kontakt spirits. In order to progress and unlock the mysteries within, there are riddles and challenges to solve. Within this innovative product you’ll find a diverse assortment of sounds, and also an unforgettable experience inside Kontakt.”
After completing the game, you get access to 2500+ recorded sounds and over 2GB of content, including (spoilers!) evolving atmospheric pads and violins.
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WavesFactory – Kontakt Collection
WavesFactory currently offer a superb collection of simple, stripped-back Kontakt instruments, from old grandfather clocks to old tape drums.
The collection currently includes:
Typewriter: A royal typewriter, with 3 velocity layers, keys sounds, paper noises, hits and rolls.
Freelodica: A sample library based of a melodica, with 2 microphone positions with stereo and width controls. Envelope, key-noise and air volume controls also available.
Music box: A collection of sounds from a beautiful sounding old music box for Kontakt.
Old Tape Drums: Ludwig Vistalite drum-kit recorded in mono into a cassette tape. Includes tape hiss, tape speed and cassette sound effects for play, stop, pause, rewind and fast forward.
Clock: A collection of clock sounds recorded from an old wall clock.
1850 Pipe Organ: Pipe organ from the 1850s recorded in Arta’s church (Mallorca).
Whispers: Creepy male/female whispering library using filtered white noise to produce the sound of different vocals.
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Soniccouture – Free Kontakt Library Selection
Soniccouture is currently offering a modest selection of free Kontakt libraries in the “Free Stuff” section of their site.
The products available in this free section are constantly rotating, so the instruments available completely depends on when you visit the site. Current / previous libraries include: Hammersmith Free, Tape Choir, Music Boxes, Tube Drum, Rocksichord & more.
Each instruments comes with an impressive range of controls, including filter, envelope and reverb parameters.
All the Soniccouture Kontakt instruments are incredibly unique, so they offer a great way to add new, inspiring sounds to your Kontakt collection.
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Precision Sound – Amore Grand Piano
This next free Kontakt library is a gorgeous Yamaha grand piano, closely mic’ed in full stereo quality.
The interface features controls for decay, EQ, IR reverb, Delay and Keyboard response. This is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a lightweight, professional-sounding lush virtual piano.
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Cinematique Instruments – KLANG Series
KLANG series is a collection of 5 free Kontakt instruments from Cinematique Instruments.
Each instruments has the same layout; 3 large controls (dependant on the instrument) as well as reverb, delay and 2 master FX switches.
This series includes:
Plucked Overdrive: A unique, muted Fender Jazzmaster guitar pluck.
Stack Of Woods: Marimba fragments and sampled wood / branches sounds.
Lost in Thoughts: A JUNO 60 Saw String pad with a wonderful reverse texture and an endless sounding grain pad.
Drown: Two separate wobbling and drowning pads.
Spiel Uher: An old Uher Tape Machine with options to control length, tone and a LoFi effect.
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Hidden Path Audio – Orchestral Rise Builder
Hidden Path Audio have kindly released a FREE orchestral “Rise Builder” for Kontakt.
This library was meticulously recorded in a traditional scoring stage environment and focuses on suspenseful, orchestral crescendos and pitched build-ups (NOT sustained notes).
The library is laid out in mapped keyboard sections of long, medium, and short risers, each containing full orchestra, strings only (arco and trem), brass only, and woodwinds only regions. The cinematic string build-ups are a personal favourite.
One downside of this free Kontakt library is the distinct lack of customization and control of the sound. There are no velocity, reverb controls etc, but it’s still an excellent, free addition to any producers orchestral sample collection.
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Sun.io – Drones
This free Kontakt library is a collection of 43 mesmorising, handcrafted drone sounds. Each sounds has a dark, resonant, cinematic feel, and would be perfect for movie scoring and other video-focused projects.
The interface is simple and stripped-back, allowing quick access to EQ, gain, tune and some extra effects such as “scream” and a flanger.
Our Rating
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