BackStage Pass for Kontakt is a collection of top notch pianos, keyboards, pads, strings, and synth sounds, crafted from the ground up to be the foundation of a world-class keyboard rig.

Originally developed in MainStage for live keyboard players, BackStage Pass for Kontakt is perfectly suited for use in the studio, and easily accessible in any DAW, whether Mac or Windows.

BackStage Pass is based on the keyboard collection & custom sounds developed by industry veteran Jim Daneker - longtime Musical Director, keyboard player and producer for CCM icon Michael W. Smith. It’s the perfect foundation for any keyboard rig, and represents over 3 decades of expertise and hard work.

• Native Instruments Kontakt 6.4.2 or later (full retail version, not the free “Player” version) for Mac or Windows

• 16 GB free space on an SSD (solid state drive) for sample streaming

• BackStage Pass for Kontakt is $129 and includes all the samples and core patches from the original MainStage/Logic version (except the Hammond B3) - but rebuilt from scratch for Kontakt. Also includes:

• Smitty’s Piano: an iconic digital model that debuted in the 90s and is still widely used today for its big, bold, sound. Nothing cuts through a live mix like this monster piano. This is the signature piano used on tour by Michael W. Smith for over 20 years, never available in sampled form until now.

• Blair Masters Legacy Grand: an exquisite Yamaha acoustic with MIDI pickups allowed the precise capture of this studio standard by top Nashville session ace Blair Masters - currently on tour with Garth Brooks. This version of Blair’s piano is exceptionally warm and intimate, ideal for softer, contemplative pieces.

• Performance Strings:  a sample library unto itself, this is actually 3 separate live string sections recorded on world-class stages: a full symphonic section, a medium-size section, and a small violin/viola section with more intense vibrato. These patches can be played separately, but they’re designed to work together in one custom-mapped “Multi” that dynamically crossfades based on your controllers.  This allows you to convincingly emulate a live string section in an unprecedented way. Unlike massive string libraries aimed at media composers, this is designed for live use, so it’s easy on resources despite being extremely detailed and highly playable.

• 40 Pads & Soundscapes:  a collection of gorgeous custom pads sampled from a wide variety of synth hardware, including 80’s style MIDI stacks. Software can create some great pads, but there’s something magic about the textures you can get from real, classic synths sampled through top-notch preamps and outboard gear. Some of these pads can be heard on the biggest worship albums of the last 2 decades, and the collection includes “Leviathan” - a massive layered analog pad that has shaken many stadiums and arenas around the world. Best of all, these pads can be mixed and matched to create all sorts of custom soundscapes of your own!

• Also Includes custom “Nonlin” reverb sample from the AMS RMX16 - part of an upcoming separate expansion, for adding that crucial ingredient to 80s synth sounds

BackStage Pass for Kontakt takes a much different approach than the original version for MainStage. This is because there’s no way to recreate the MainStage experience in another app, and Kontakt serves a totally different purpose.

While MainStage is meant for live performance - with complex layered sounds, advanced on-screen controls, etc. - Kontakt is meant for much simpler use inside a DAW, where you use one sound at a time per track and add your own effects.

Think of the Kontakt version as “just the sounds”, while the MainStage version adds all the live performance features: the elaborate interface, iPad control, “Atmosphere” scripting, Hammond B3 model, and integrated library with Logic.

However, both versions contain the same core sounds, with one exception: the BackStage Pass B3 remains exclusive to the MainStage/Logic version since it uses their B3 & Leslie modeling plugins, which aren’t available for Kontakt.

The Kontakt version does have one advantage: it includes various patch options that use Kontakt’s internal effects, including custom piano impulse responses for even better piano sounds!

Absolutely! There is a $39 “loyalty” crossgrade for those who purchased a license for the MainStage version. The crossgrade requires an existing MainStage version installation & samples; inquire about your crossgrade HERE

See the videos below! Those were made with the MainStage version, but all the sounds are included in the Kontakt version except for the Hammond B3. What you hear is what you get!

Yes! Simply get in touch here and let me know what you want!