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We have kept KOTO 13’s superior sound quality, meticulous performance reproduction, and rich articulations while building in the same advanced sound architecture found on KOTO 17 and KOTO 20. This includes the String Editor, which lets you tune all 13 strings independently to create original scales, and the Instrument Modeler, which gives you control over fingerpick characteristics, the string character, and picking noise components.

Providing you with the traditional sound of the 13-string koto as well as the ability to create your own original sounds, KOTO 13 Version 2 fits perfectly in more kinds of music than ever.

To help you come up with musical ideas faster, KOTO 13 Version 2 works seamlessly with the Groove Inspirations for KOTO 13 Vol. 1 MIDI pack ($49). The KOTO 13 Groove Bundle lets you get both products at a discount.

If you are a user of the NKI (Kontakt Full) version of KOTO 13, you can upgrade for $58.  For details, please see here.

KONTAKT users: Please note that you are not eligible for this upgrade offer unless you purchased KOTO 13 prior to August 4, 2021.

Main Features​

  • Stunningly realistic 13-string koto reproduction thanks to precise recording and scripting.
  • Up to eight velocity layers and four round-robin samples for natural sounding dynamics.
  • 26 koto articulations, all key switch selectable.
  • Five banks of quintessential koto phrases, all key switch selectable.
  • Plucking control function for full mastery over subtle, natural sounding plucked notes.
  • Performance mode maps each of the 13 strings to a white key for easy performance of real koto glissandos and phrases.
  • 28 classic koto scales transposable into any key.
  • User scale mode for creating custom scales for specific pieces.
  • Stellar tone colors captured in full 24-bit, 96 kHz fidelity (library contains 24-bit, 44.1 kHz samples).
  • Samples recorded with multiple microphones, and the Direct, Overhead, Room, and Stereo Mix sources can be mixed independently to create unique sounds.
  • 48 built-in convolution reverb settings with individual channel reverb mixing.
  • NKS ready and Kontakt Player compatible.

$260

$260  $195

Special sale price available until January 13, 2025.

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Product Specifications

  • Kontakt Player 6.6 and higher.
  • Native Access compatible
  • Data size：9.2 GB

User manual

Download

Pursuit of unprecedented reality

The koto can be used to perform innumerable musical pieces by tuning the 13 strings to different scales. KOTO 13 maps the tones of each scale directly to 13 adjacent white keys. This lets the performer play in the most realistic style possible. For example, you can play a glissando simply by sweeping your finger along the keys and create beautiful arpeggios with multiple-finger trills.

The koto is capable of a huge range of musical expressions. Although famous for showy glissandos, tremolo picking, pitch bends, and vibrato, the koto has many more delicate tone variations, such as the tonal differences created by playing with the thumb, index, or middle finger or even chirashizume pick scrapes.

KOTO 13 contains 26 articulations and six phrase banks, all of which are key switch and MIDI CC selectable.

Instrument Modeler reproduces sound variations from different fingerpicks and strings

The tonal characteristics of the koto vary a lot depending on the fingerpick and string thickness used. To faithfully reproduce these variations, we developed a new function called the Instrument Modeler.

With the Instrument Modeler, you can adjust individual parameters, including the fingerpick and string thickness (Thick, Normal, and Thin), the pitch and attack of note transients, and noise components. This functionality makes it possible to control the character of the sound any way you like, from a natural playing feel to very aggressive performances.

Alternate picking articulations and sustain pedal control for natural continuous-picking phrasing

The library comes with three alternate picking articulations to recreate the natural sound variations that occur while playing a succession of pick strokes. Alternate picking can be switched with key switches or the sustain pedal control. This function makes it easy to reproduce realistic tremolo picking.

With the sustain pedal control on, you can switch between normal picking with key on events and alternate picking with key off events.

String editor enables independent tuning adjustments for all 13 strings

KOTO 13 is packaged with 28 classic koto scales — such as Hira, Kumoi, Han Kumoi, Nakazora, Nogi, and Gaku — and features a user scale mode to create custom scales for specific pieces. A chromatic scale is also included to perform Western music with ease.
KOTO 13 supports 28 classic koto scales and a chromatic scale. An option is available to drop the first string tuning by an octave.

○28 scales
Hira, Rokuagari, Yonkuagari, Kumoi, Hon Kumoi, Han Kumoi, Kata Kumoi, Nakazora, Akebono, Han Nakazora, Gaku, Han Gaku, Nogi, Hanagumo, Iwato 1, Iwato 2, Han Iwato 1, Han Iwato 2, Natsuyama, Kokin, Shin Kokin, Hira Kinjuu, Nijuu Kumoi, Kumoi Kinjuu, Akino, Ryukyu, Soufuren, Shin Setsugekka

○Key transpositions
G / G# / A / A# / B / C / C# / D / D# / E

○User scale mode
This mode lets the performer customize and store intervals for each of the 13 strings. By creating scales for a particular song or original composition, the performer can incorporate the sound of the kotointo any piece of music.

Note: User scales cannot be transposed.

Multi-microphone samples in
full 24-bit / 96 kHz high resolution

The koto was performed by Miki Maruta for the recording sessions. The recordings took place over several days at a Pastoral Sound Studio in Tokyo, and we took extra care to capture the natural reverberation and full timbre of the instrument in the room. As a result, KOTO 13 reproduces Maruta’s perfect tone coloration and plucking expressiveness with all of her superlative musical technique.

Samples were recorded in three stereo microphone positions — Direct, Overhead, and Room — plus a Stereo Mix. Full mixing control is available, with individual Volume, Pan, Reverb Send, and EQ adjustments for each channel. KOTO 13 also comes with a quality convolution reverb for excellent in- instrument sound creation. The parallel output bus outputs microphone channels to individual DAW tracks for finer mixing sessions.
Note: When the Stereo Mix channel is active, multiple microphones are canceled to conserve memory.

MIDI Groove Browser

KOTO 13 features the incredibly useful Groove Browser, that lets you quickly find MIDI grooves and drag & drop grooves directly into your DAW.

You can adjust the grooves’ velocity, swing, playback tempo, and other parameters directly from KONTAKT / KOMPLETE KONTROL.

The library comes standard with 20 MIDI grooves, including traditional songs and short phrases that showcase what the instrument is capable of. When combined with the soon-to-be-released Groove Inspirations MIDI pack, the Groove Browser gives you access to an extensive phrase bank.

NKS & Native Access ready

KOTO 13 is NKS compatible so it can be used with Kontakt Player, Kontakt Full (Ver. 6.6 or newer), and Komplete Kontrol.

When KOTO 13 is linked with a Komplete Kontrol keyboard or other NKS-compatible hardware, you can quickly preview tones and make full use of the hardware’s knobs and controllers.

Product Specifications

FormatFree KONTAKT PLAYER version 6.6 and higher, or KONTAKT version 6.6 and higher.
Data size~9.2 GB NCW format (equivalent to 10.84 GB in wav format)
System RequirementsSee the Native Instruments website for the latest system requirements for KONTAKT and KONTAKT PLAYER.
User manualOnline Manual

Performer

Miki Maruta

While proficient in an array of musical categories, from classical Japanese music to contemporary compositions, Miki Maruta has always pursued the koto’s natural voice. This approach, together with her willing adaptability and inclusive emotional sensitivity, has contributed to her success in collaborating with artists across genres and borders.

After passing the demanding NHK Japanese music audition, she went on to teach at Wesleyan University in the United States as a visiting instructor in music from 1990 to 1992. In 1994, Miki Maruta was selected for an internship in the performing arts at the Agency for Cultural Affairs and in 2009, she performed with Terry Riley and the Kronos Quartet at Carnegie Hall in New York.

She has released a solo album Tori no yo ni (Like a Bird) on King Records and been featured on numerous artists’ CD releases. She even appeared in a TV ad for Ayataka green tea. Miki Maruta has published many popular arrangements of koto music played on a five-note scale.

Miki Maruta studied under Tadao Sawai and Kazue Sawai and graduated from the Takasaki College of Music with top honors. She is currently a professor at Sawai Koto Academy and a part-time lecturer at Mie University.

Related Products

Product Specifications

FormatFree KONTAKT PLAYER version 6.6 and higher, or KONTAKT version 6.6 and higher.
Data size~9.2 GB NCW format (equivalent to 10.84 GB in wav format)
System RequirementsSee the Native Instruments website for the latest system requirements for KONTAKT and KONTAKT PLAYER.
User manualOnline Manual

Performers

Miki Maruta

While proficient in an array of musical categories, from classical Japanese music to contemporary compositions, Miki Maruta has always pursued the koto’s natural voice. This approach, together with her willing adaptability and inclusive emotional sensitivity, has contributed to her success in collaborating with artists across genres and borders.

After passing the demanding NHK Japanese music audition, she went on to teach at Wesleyan University in the United States as a visiting instructor in music from 1990 to 1992. In 1994, Miki Maruta was selected for an internship in the performing arts at the Agency for Cultural Affairs and in 2009, she performed with Terry Riley and the Kronos Quartet at Carnegie Hall in New York.

She has released a solo album Tori no yo ni (Like a Bird) on King Records and been featured on numerous artists’ CD releases. She even appeared in a TV ad for Ayataka green tea. Miki Maruta has published many popular arrangements of koto music played on a five-note scale.

Miki Maruta studied under Tadao Sawai and Kazue Sawai and graduated from the Takasaki College of Music with top honors. She is currently a professor at Sawai Koto Academy and a part-time lecturer at Mie University.

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