Progress
How close KONTRA is to the original samplers, measured rather than claimed.
Sound against Kontakt
78 of 104 test plays sound the same in KONTRA as in Kontakt.
Each library plays the same 13 things in both: single notes low, middle and high at three strengths, a chord, fast repeats, a mod wheel sweep and a pedalled phrase. A play matches when loudness, tone in every third-octave band, start time, attack, release and left/right balance are all within about 1 dB and 5 ms. Measured 12 Nov 2026.
Analog Strings6 of 13
6 of 13 matchWhat differs in Analog Strings
- Low note, soft: 1.5 dB quieter around 125 Hz
- Low note, hard: 1.7 dB louder around 198 Hz
- Middle note, soft: 1.3 dB quieter around 125 Hz
- High note, soft: 1.2 dB louder around 250 Hz
- High note, medium: 1.2 dB louder around 1260 Hz
- Fast repeated notes: 1.3 dB quieter around 125 Hz
- Held note with a mod wheel sweep: 1.6 dB louder around 315 Hz
Afflatus Brass: 3 Trumpets Legato12 of 13
12 of 13 matchWhat differs in Afflatus Brass: 3 Trumpets Legato
- Fast repeated notes: 1.7 dB louder around 2000 Hz
Afflatus Brass: Solo French Horn Legato9 of 13
9 of 13 matchWhat differs in Afflatus Brass: Solo French Horn Legato
- Middle note, soft: 1.5 dB quieter in the first 60 ms
- High note, medium: 1.2 dB quieter around 2000 Hz
- Fast repeated notes: 1.8 dB quieter around 2000 Hz
- Phrase with the sustain pedal: 1.7 dB louder around 500 Hz
Pacific Ensemble Strings: 10 Cellos Legato10 of 13
10 of 13 matchWhat differs in Pacific Ensemble Strings: 10 Cellos Legato
- Low note, medium: 1.2 dB louder around 630 Hz
- Fast repeated notes: 4.8 dB louder around 630 Hz
- Phrase with the sustain pedal: 1.2 dB louder around 250 Hz, starts 66 ms early
Chorus: Women11 of 13
11 of 13 matchWhat differs in Chorus: Women
- Five-note chord: 6.2 dB quieter around 397 Hz
- Fast repeated notes: 1.6 dB quieter around 500 Hz
Areia: 16 Violins10 of 13
10 of 13 matchWhat differs in Areia: 16 Violins
- Fast repeated notes: 5.4 dB quieter around 250 Hz
- Held note with a mod wheel sweep: starts 11 ms early
- Phrase with the sustain pedal: starts 7 ms early
Dolce: 7 1st Violins Legato10 of 13
10 of 13 matchWhat differs in Dolce: 7 1st Violins Legato
- Five-note chord: 1.7 dB quieter in the first 60 ms
- Fast repeated notes: 2.0 dB quieter overall, 2.4 dB louder around 3175 Hz
- Phrase with the sustain pedal: 1.1 dB louder around 2000 Hz, starts 7 ms early
Una Corda: Felt10 of 13
10 of 13 matchWhat differs in Una Corda: Felt
- Five-note chord: 3.3 dB louder around 630 Hz
- Fast repeated notes: 1.7 dB quieter overall, 3.3 dB louder around 794 Hz
- Phrase with the sustain pedal: 3.6 dB quieter around 794 Hz, 1.8 dB louder in the release tail
Known problems
The open problems people have reported, newest first.