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Kontakt and Native Instruments libraries: tens of GB you can move to an external SSD

Sample libraries installed through Native Access are often the largest thing on a producer's Mac. Where they are, and how to relocate them without breaking them.

4 min read

A single orchestral or piano library can be 20 to 100 GB, and a Komplete bundle several hundred. They install through Native Access, and they do not have to live on your Mac's internal disk.

du -sh /Users/Shared/*Library* ~/Documents/Native\ Instruments 2>/dev/null
mdfind -name .nicnt | head   # library folders contain a .nicnt file

The install location is whatever was chosen when installing, so check Native Access's settings for the content folder.

Relocating a library

  1. Copy or move the library folder to an external SSD.
  2. In Native Access, find the product, open its menu and choose Relocate, then point it at the new folder.
  3. Open Kontakt and load an instrument to check it works.

Set the default content location in Native Access's settings to the external drive, so new libraries install there.

The drive matters

Sample libraries stream from disk as you play. Use an SSD, not a hard drive, or large instruments will stutter. See external SSD or hard drive.

Installer downloads

Native Access keeps downloaded installers in a downloads folder until it deletes them. If installs were interrupted, they can be left behind. Check the download location in its settings.

More: Mac storage for musicians, Logic and GarageBand sound libraries.

Related: Audio plugin formats taking up space on Mac.

Common questions

Where are Kontakt libraries stored on a Mac?

Wherever they were installed, set in Native Access's content location. Library folders contain a .nicnt file, which mdfind -name .nicnt can find.

Can I move Kontakt libraries to an external drive?

Yes. Move the folder, then use Relocate on that product in Native Access. Use an SSD so instruments stream smoothly.

Why do my Kontakt instruments stutter from an external drive?

Usually because the drive is a hard drive or on a slow connection. Libraries stream from disk and need an SSD.

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