Apart from the odd little update here and there, Native Instruments has been worryingly quiet with their products. I’m sure we DJs are all hoping there’s something big on the horizon, but in the meantime there’s a new bit of software called Native Access they’ve put out to beta testers. This bit of news actually almost completely flew under our radar when it first emerged, and the only reason I caught it was because I was checking out the NI Facebook page while Mark was writing this story a few weeks ago.
My thoughts
There isn’t really much to say, but it’s fairly widely accepted that NI’s current system, the Service Center, is a bit of a mess. Much like people might say about Traktor, The Service Center is a clunky, borderline user-hostile fudge, which feels like an extra layer of inconvenience, constantly demands to update itself and just plain looks dated. The new software, Native Access, is still in testing, with this call-out to get the public to help iron out some bugs.
I’m hoping we’ll see the application as a viable, central way to manage your NI software and licenses: De-register your software when you need to, and notifications for updates, for example. I’d imagine this would also pave the way for subscription payments for software (like it or hate it). Something akin to Adobe’s Creative Cloud, which seems to work pretty well. For now, the Native Access app doesn’t seem to do much more than the current system, but it is much more streamlined, more user friendly, and, yes… prettier. The app finally supports high resolution (ie Retina) screens.
Something that’s really worth noting on top of this is that the beta (and the Traktor beta) are running on a platform called Centrecode, designed to manage business enterprise beta testing. After the huge problems (both PR and actual) that happened over the last couple of years thanks to several buggy updates to Traktor, it’s good to know that NI has pulled its finger out and understood the need to improve their QA before releasing a product.
Your thoughts
Are you looking forward to a new system to keep your Native Instruments apps up to date?
You can get in on the beta over on the Native Instruments Native access beta signup page.
This has to signify Traktor Scratch Pro 3. It’s so long overdue.
NI has plenty of other products as well. They literally launched Komplete 11 yesterday. I wouldn’t read too much into this other than they’re finally doing something they should have five years ago.
or a Maschine update… the user base has been borderline revolting with the years of neglect on that side… just check out this open letter promising all manner of a new approach with more communication etc:
https://www.native-instruments.com/forum/threads/open-letter-to-the-maschine-community.270814/
But is it any faster? What really winds me up is the “speed” at which Service Center installs updated software. Soooooooo sssslllllllooooooowwwwww…
Actually, for me the NI center has worked just fine for what I need it for, updating SW. only issue is the Komplete bundles it can’t download and I need to get to the site itself.
I just don’t know what to expect here. If this is nothing more than moving the Service Center over to the web, then “yawn.” If this acts as a direct portal to NI so users can better integrate their software for what they want to do, then yay! If there’s one thing Native Instruments needs more of is interaction with their clients.
I uninstalled Traktor about a year ago and I’m not looking back.
I’ve never had issue with the service center, and actually very few problems with Traktor, although I only use controller and am very good at optimizing my PC.
Yes there are things Traktor (NI) could do different and all systems and problems are legitimate, but not everyone has issue.
It is just a major hairpuller and embarrassing situation for those who have issue playing live.
So the anger and disappointed customers make sure they are heard.
But really all software and phones and computers have flaws, Traktor isn’t any worse, just bad cause it’s live playing.
I signed up for the a beta and the testing and even a feature suggestions area are a big step, hope it is all considered important.
Just an idea. NI should hit me up, because I got tons of ideas for their Eco. I believe this could pave way for a new marketplace for NI. It is certainly needed considering the new NKS stuff.
My hope is that they can aggregate the currently fragmented world of devlopers that have created Kontkakt libraries that I haven’t found yet. A central place to buy and license things. Buying libraries for Machine, Kontakt, Massive and Reaktor could live here with some instrument tags and a decent category search .
I’d love to see existing 3rd party developers working with NI on Traktor as well. We could have DMX, Video, and controllerist addons in that marketplace that we could purchase.I’d welcome something like that.Native access could be that something. I got tons more ideas where that came from. :)