Created with Galaxy Instruments and officially supported by Nils Frahm, Vertikal captures the extraordinary sound of his custom-built vertical concert grand at Saal 3, Berlin.
Native Instruments has unveiled Vertikal, a new piano instrument for Kontakt 8 that brings the sound of an extraordinary, custom-built vertical concert grand to musicians, composers and producers worldwide. Developed in collaboration with Galaxy Instruments and officially supported by acclaimed musician and composer Nils Frahm, Vertikal captures an instrument that few musicians will ever get the opportunity to play.
Standing 4.5 metres tall, the vertical concert grand was developed in dialogue with Frahm and Piano Day. Featuring strings up to 3.9 metres long, the instrument has a distinctive physical design, a massive resonant body and an exceptional dynamic range. Its sound is characterised by deep resonance, long sustain and complex overtones that continue to evolve long after a note is played.
A piano with a story to tell
Vertikal was recorded at Saal 3, Nils Frahm’s personal studio at Berlin’s historic Funkhaus. Originally built as a chamber music hall, Saal 3 became Frahm’s creative base in 2016. The recording captures not just the piano’s unique character but also the acoustic identity of the room in which it lives.
For Frahm, the project is about making a rare musical experience accessible to a wider community. He describes the virtual instrument as a way of turning something deeply personal to Saal 3 into a shared experience.
The sampling and development were handled by Galaxy Instruments, the team known for virtual piano libraries such as Noire, Una Corda and Claire. Their experience in capturing distinctive acoustic instruments helped translate the vertical grand’s character into a playable Kontakt library.
From intimate piano tones to evolving soundscapes
Vertikal includes pure and prepared felt versions, with an additional felt-plus-cotton variation. These tonal options allow musicians to move between clear, direct piano sounds and softer, more intimate textures.
One of its biggest creative highlights is the reimagined Particles 2.0 engine. Building on the original note-cloud concept, the updated engine transforms piano performances into evolving patterns, atmospheric textures and rhythmic soundscapes.
The engine introduces reproducible Rhythm Mode patterns, directly playable sound sources, expanded tonal and percussive textures, detailed particle and cloud envelopes, and independent pan and timbre controls. A new Motion system adds LFOs and performance modulation through the mod wheel and polyphonic aftertouch. A redesigned four-slot effects engine offers further possibilities for shaping the sound.
Designed for modern music creation
Whether used for songwriting, film scoring, ambient composition or experimental production, Vertikal offers a distinctive acoustic foundation with plenty of room for creative exploration.
The instrument is NKS-ready and works with Kontakt 8 as well as the free Kontakt 8 Player, making its unique sound accessible to a broad range of music creators.
Available from November 5, 2026, Vertikal is priced at $149 USD / €149 EUR.
With Vertikal, Native Instruments and Galaxy Instruments bring a rare instrument, a remarkable recording space and Nils Frahm’s creative world into the hands of musicians everywhere.
