Native Instruments has introduced Vertikal, a virtual piano instrument developed in collaboration with composer and electronic musician Nils Frahm.

The Kontakt library captures the sound of Frahm’s unusual 4.5-meter (14.7-foot) vertical piano, combining detailed acoustic sampling with generative sound-design capabilities.

The instrument was recorded in Saal 3, Frahm’s Berlin studio, capturing both the piano’s distinctive acoustic properties and the room’s natural reverberation. Designed by a specialist piano builder, the instrument features strings measuring approximately 3.9 meters (12.7 feet), giving it an extended resonance and unusually deep bass response.

Rather than simply offering another sampled acoustic piano, Vertikal provides two different interpretations of the instrument, alongside an updated version of Native Instruments’ Particles generative sound engine. The result combines conventional piano performance with tools for creating evolving textures, rhythmic patterns, and experimental soundscapes.

Capturing Nils Frahm’s Monumental Piano:

Vertikal is based on an instrument that is considerably taller than a conventional upright piano. At 4.5 meters tall, the piano is played from a balcony near the top of the room in which it is installed.

Its unusually long strings contribute to an extended resonance and low-frequency response. According to Native Instruments, the instrument is particularly effective when played softly, producing a deep and intimate sound rather than simply relying on its physical size for a powerful output.

The recordings were made in Saal 3, capturing the acoustic character of the space alongside the piano itself. This provides the library with a specific acoustic identity that goes beyond the sound of an isolated instrument recording.

Two Piano Instruments: Pure And Felt:

Vertikal includes two distinct instrument variations, allowing users to move between different interpretations of the same piano.

• Pure provides a warm, clear, and expressive piano sound, with a wide dynamic range, deep bass response, natural resonance, and a defined attack. It is intended to capture the instrument’s more direct acoustic character.
• Felt offers a softer and more muted sound, with a gentler attack and darker, more atmospheric tonal character. Its intimate quality makes it suitable for quieter piano passages and ambient-oriented compositions.

Both instruments are provided as separate Kontakt instruments, allowing users to select the character appropriate to their compositions.

Particles 2.0 Generative Sound Engine:

A major component of Vertikal is Particles 2.0, an updated version of the generative sound engine previously introduced in Native Instruments’ Noire piano library.

Particles transforms played performances into evolving layers of sound. As users play, the engine generates additional notes that vary within adjustable ranges of pitch, timing, dynamics, and stereo position. The result is a continuously changing cloud of notes that can develop from relatively simple piano performances.

The updated engine introduces several additional modes and sound-design capabilities.

• Rhythm Mode creates repeatable, tempo-synchronized patterns with adjustable step counts and individual step velocities. This provides a more structured approach to generative sequencing, allowing users to create rhythmic patterns that remain synchronized with their DAW projects.
• Play Mode makes the Particles sound sources directly playable from a MIDI keyboard, providing an alternative to generating material exclusively from the underlying piano performance.

The engine also includes four assignable effects slots, with a selection of presets and individually adjustable parameters. Effects can be incorporated into the evolving sound using the Motion system.

Motion adds LFO-based modulation and performance control through the mod wheel and polyphonic aftertouch. These sources can introduce continuous movement and real-time expression throughout the engine.

Particles 2.0 also provides multiple tonal, percussive, and textural sound sources. Each of its two sound sources has independent Pan and Timbre controls, allowing users to position and shape them separately.

Features:

• Virtual instrument based on Nils Frahm’s 4.5-meter (14.7-foot) vertical piano.
• Recorded in Nils Frahm’s Berlin studio in Saal 3.
• Sampling captures the piano’s acoustic character and the room’s natural resonance.
• Strings measuring approximately 3.9 meters (12.7 feet), providing extended resonance and bass response.
• Two separate Kontakt instruments: Vertikal Pure and Vertikal Felt.
• Pure instrument with a warm, clear sound, wide dynamic range, deep bass, natural resonance, and defined attack.
• Felt instrument with a softer, muted sound, gentler attack, and darker tonal character.
• Particles 2.0 generative sound engine for creating evolving musical layers.
• Generative note variations based on adjustable pitch, timing, dynamics, and stereo position.
• Rhythm Mode for creating repeatable, tempo-synchronized patterns.
• Adjustable sequence lengths and individual step velocities in Rhythm Mode.
• Play Mode for directly performing Particles sound sources from a MIDI keyboard.
• Four assignable effects slots with selectable presets and adjustable parameters.
• Motion modulation system with LFOs and performance modulation.
• Mod wheel and polyphonic aftertouch support for real-time sound manipulation.
• Multiple tonal, percussive, and textural sound sources.
• Independent Pan and Timbre controls for the two Particles sound sources.
• More than 150 snapshots and more than 100 Particles presets.
• Developed in collaboration with Galaxy Instruments.

Pricing & Availability:

Native Instruments Vertikal is available as a downloadable Kontakt instrument for $149. The library includes two Kontakt instruments, Vertikal Pure and Vertikal Felt, more than 150 snapshots, and over 100 Particles presets.