To the team at Native Instruments,
I write this not with anger, but with deep disappointment - and sadness. I’ve been a loyal user of your products for many years. Your instruments helped shape entire albums in my catalog, especially the rich and expressive sounds of Super 8, which I relied on as the foundational bass for an entire record. But now, I’ve come to a painful crossroad - one where I must seriously consider removing all Native Instruments products from my system, despite the role they’ve played in my work.
The Disappearance of Super 8
What pushed me here? You discontinued Super 8 - one of your better plugins - and replaced it with what you claim is an identical version embedded in Reaktor 6. Let me say it clearly: it is not the same. I’ve tried recreating the original presets - the ones I used across all the tracks on that album - and I cannot. The sound is different. The interface is different. The workflow is different. Your claim that it's the same instrument is simply not true.
A Wall of Silence
I reached out multiple times for support. At first, I received a human response - someone who seemed to care. But since then, things have changed. Now, you have a chatbot. A wall. I’ve been forced to repeat the same issue over and over, only to be pushed in circles, with no resolution and no real human contact. It feels like you’ve done everything you can to avoid dealing with us - the artists, the musicians, the loyal base that helped build your reputation.
Profit Over People
And what’s worse? You still sell these discontinued or unsupported tools. You still advertise legacy products, even when better and more affordable (sometimes free) alternatives exist - many of which are more transparent, more user-focused, and more honest in their support.
You’ve become a company that chases profits, not people. You leave longtime users stranded, asking them to repurchase instruments that don’t even run properly on current Apple Silicon machines. I own a Mac Mini M4 now - and your so-called replacement doesn’t work the way you claim. And yet, I’m being asked to buy it again?
This is exploitation. You built your empire on creativity - but now it feels like you're suffocating that same creativity with neglect, poor support, and overpriced repackaging.
A Final Goodbye
This summer, I’ll begin the process of removing every Native Instruments product from my workflow, except for Native Access, because sadly, some of the tools you absorbed (like iZotope) still depend on it. But make no mistake - I’ll no longer invest another cent into this ecosystem.
To anyone new to the world of music production: you don’t need Native Instruments. There are better, more human alternatives out there. Companies that still care. Tools that don’t gaslight you with half-solutions and broken promises.
This isn't how it had to be. But it’s where you've taken us.
Sincerely,
A longtime user you chose to ignore