Native Instruments Komplete 26 adds weird new synths and experimental piano sounds

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FollowSee All NewsNative Instruments Komplete 26 adds weird new synths and experimental piano soundsThe music production suite comes in six flavors, ranging from $99 all the way up to $1,949. The music production suite comes in six flavors, ranging from $99 all the way up to $1,949. by Terrence O'Brien Terrence O'BrienWeekend EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

Technical Details

FollowSee All by Terrence O'BrienMay 6, 2026, 4:37 PM UTC If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. Komplete is a complete music production bundle even if you don’t spend $2,000.

Image: Native Instruments Terrence O'Brien Terrence O'BrienPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. FollowSee All by Terrence O'Brien is the Verge’s weekend editor. He has over 18 years of experience, including 10 years as managing editor at Engadget.

The latest version of Native Instruments’ Komplete music production bundle is here with 62 new additions, including the wonderfully weird Absynth 6. Komplete 26 comes in several flavors, starting with three $99 Select bundles: Beats, Band, and Electronic. Prices jump pretty steeply from there, with Standard costing $549, Ultimate costing $1,249, and the Collector’s Edition priced at an eye-watering $1,949.

Industry Implications

You save some money if you’re upgrading from Komplete 15 (and yes, they switched from sequential numbers to years for 2026), but upgrading the Collector’s Edition will still set you back $399. Komplete 26 Standard should satisfy all but the most demanding producers. Absynth 6 and Massive X cover most of your synth needs.

Kontakt 8 is the industry standard for sample-based instruments covering orchestras, drums, choirs, and more. It also has tools for sequencing and building chord progressions if you need a little creative inspiration. There’s also Guitar Rig 7 Pro for effects and amp simulations.

Plus, Komplete comes with mixing and mastering plugins from iZotope, including Ozone 12, Neutron 5, and Nectar 4. Upgrading from the Standard Bundle to the Ultimate or Collectors does get you new additions like Claire and Claire: Avant, a pair of sampled Steinway D grand piano instruments that cover both traditional acoustic tones and experimental textures. There’s also a host of additions, like LCO Producer Strings and Moments: Vocal Clouds, that are targeted at score work.

This advance offers important signals about the future of the sector, and the tech world is watching closely.