How to Convert Gigastudio Samples

Use Kontakt 4 to convert Gigastudio samples to Kontakt format.

Gigastudio was the first software sampler to stream samples directly from a computer's hard disk. Professional composers made it the industry standard sampler, but it gradually faded in popularity. The company discontinued Gigastudio in 2008. Though many users still have sizable collections of Gigastudio samples, Gigastudio conversion is an imperfect science that frequently involves converting proprietary programming architecture that other samplers do not directly support. Kontakt 4 by Native Instruments, arguably the most popular sampler as of the summer of 2011, offers native conversion of Gigastudio samples.

Things You'll Need

• Gigastudio sample files
• Native Instruments Kontakt 4 Sampler

Instructions

1. Launch Kontakt 4.

2. Browse Kontakt's upper (container) pane and highlight the desired Gigastudio file to display the list of Gigastudio instruments the file contains. Look for the list in the lower pane, the Kontakt objects pane.

3. Double-click on the Gigastudio instrument you wish to convert, or drag and drop it from the Objects Pane to the Kontakt Instrument Rack.

4. Save the file from within Kontakt to give the file an ".nki" extension and convert it from Gigastudio to Kontakt format.

References

• "Sound on Sound"; Tascam Gigastudio Power Tips; Martin Walker; September 2002
• Music Radar; Tascam Axes Gigastudio; Ben Rogerson; July 2008