Native Instruments Komplete 26: The Biggest Bundle Yet, Featuring Absynth 6 and Over 180,000 Sounds
Komplete 26 Collector's Edition Adds 69 New Instruments, Effects, and Expansions
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Native Instruments Komplete 26: The Biggest Bundle Yet, Featuring Absynth 6 and Over 180,000 Sounds · Source: Native Instruments
Native Instruments has released Komplete 26, and it’s the most expansive version of the bundle to date. The Collector’s Edition grows by 69 new instruments, effects, and expansions, topping out at over 340 products and more than 180,000 sounds. The headline addition: Absynth 6, the return of NI’s legendary semi-modular synthesizer. But where is the “One more thing”?
NI Komplete 26: Key Facts
- Over 340 products and more than 180,000 sounds in the Collector’s Edition
- 69 new instruments, effects, and expansions compared to Komplete 25
- Absynth 6 returns as a reworked semi-modular synthesizer
- New instruments include Claire, Moments: Vocal Clouds, Marco Polo Drums, and more
- Mixing plugins from iZotope and Brainworx included for the first time
- Seamless integration with Kontrol keyboards, Maschine, and NKS partners
Komplete 26: Everything You Need to Know About the New Instruments, Effects, and Collector’s Edition
What’s New in Komplete 26?
Native Instruments keeps expanding the Komplete bundle with each release, and Komplete 26 is no different. The Collector’s Edition adds 69 new products and remains the most comprehensive package NI has ever put together. Existing owners can upgrade through NI’s update program, while newcomers get one of the most stacked bundles in music production software.
The biggest talking point is the return of Absynth 6. The semi-modular synthesizer had been absent from the NI lineup for years and is back as part of the bundle in updated form. Absynth built its reputation on organic, evolving textures and atmospheric sound design that sat well outside conventional synth territory. Version 6 picks up where that legacy left off.
New Instruments
Alongside Absynth 6, several new Kontakt instruments join the Collector’s Edition. Claire is a premium Italian concert grand sampled for composers and pianists who need a serious acoustic piano. Moments: Vocal Clouds delivers ethereal vocal textures aimed at cinematic and ambient production. Marco Polo Drums brings raw, characterful boom-bap drum sounds, while LCO Producer Strings from the London Contemporary Orchestra covers versatile, modern string work.
Also new is the Definitive Electric Keys Collection, adding Ember, Jade, Moonshell, and Teak: four carefully sampled vintage electric keyboards covering the classic Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer territory a lot of producers have been waiting for. On the cinematic side, the Scene series grows with Bloodplant, Lotus, Nightshade, and Willow, joined by the eerie atmospheres of Erosia and the historically rich Cremona Quartet Ensemble.
Mixing Plugins from iZotope and Brainworx
For the first time, the Collector’s Edition includes mixing and mastering plugins from third-party developers. iZotope contributes Neutron 5 Elements, Ozone 12 Elements, and Nectar 4 Elements for mixing, mastering, and vocal processing, plus the creative EXEQ effect. Brainworx adds bx masterdesk Pre, bx console AMEK 200, bx clipper, bx enhancer, bx glue, and bx XL V3, covering console emulation and mastering-grade limiting. Solid tools across the board that give the bundle real mixing depth.
Expansions and Play Series
Komplete 26 also brings 36 new Massive X and Maschine Expansions alongside the complete Leap series, covering genres like 80s New Wave, Afrobeats, Soul Choir, and Modern Latin. New Play Series instruments include Roux and Halo Vox. For producers who work genre-first and want ready-to-go material, there’s a lot to dig into here.
Verdict
On paper, Komplete 26 Collector’s Edition is the strongest version of the bundle NI has ever shipped. Over 340 products, 180,000-plus sounds, and the addition of iZotope and Brainworx plugins make it hard to argue with the value proposition for anyone coming in fresh. The return of Absynth 6 to the bundle is genuinely exciting, and the new instruments cover a lot of useful ground.
That said, there’s a question longtime Komplete owners have been asking for several versions now, and Komplete 26 doesn’t really answer it: where are the Komplete-exclusive new releases? There was a time when each new version came with new synths, effects, or instruments developed specifically for the bundle, things you couldn’t get anywhere else. That tradition has quietly faded. Most of what’s labeled “new” here is material that was already available elsewhere or licensed in from third parties.
None of that makes Komplete 26 a bad deal. But it does mark a shift in what the bundle represents. For anyone without a recent version, the value is still undeniable. If you already own an older version of Komplete, carefully review the upgrade details before making a purchase.
Prices and Availability
Native Instruments Komplete 26 is now available in the following versions: Select* (Beats, Electronic, or Band for €99.00 each), Standard* (€549.00), Ultimate* (€1,249.00), and Collector’s Edition* (€1,949.00). Upgrades from older versions are also available here at Thomann* at various prices (starting at €149.00).
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