Developer Xperimenta has offered Minima 2, a multi-instrument library for Kontakt, for free.
I know some of you will read the header and immediately think this is old news, and it is.
Minima 2 has been around for a couple of years, but there are a few reasons we are highlighting it now.
Firstly, it’s an oldie but a goodie, as Marty McFly might say.
Secondly, we looked at the original Minima by Xperimenta Project way back in 2021, but it seems we didn’t follow up on the sequel.
Finally, Native Instruments recently listed Minima 2 as one of the best free Kontakt libraries currently available.
With all of that in mind, it’s worth looking back for anyone who hasn’t yet found Minima 2.
Minima 2 requires the full version of Native Instruments Kontakt (6.6.1 or higher); it is not compatible with the free Kontakt Player.
Minima 2 is a collection of instruments spread across five categories: Keyboards, Synths, Percussions, Winds and Choir, and Strings.
Xperimenta designed Minima 2 for ease of use and immediacy, as reflected in its rather bare interface.
On the left, you have an ADR envelope; on the right, three adjustable FX that change depending on the current patch. The featured FX include reverb, distortion, formant, and delay.
Clicking the name of the loaded patch takes you to the instrument selection screen.
That’s about all there is to it, but the reason it’s still so high on people’s freebie list is that some of the sounds are absolutely beautiful.
If we start with the Strings Sul Tasto patch, you don’t need any additional controls; it’s ready to go as is. When we think of sul tasto, we think of words like airy, floating, ethereal, or pure. Xperimenta recorded a string quartet for this patch, and the sul tasto technique is spot-on; it’s less about tension and more about a dreamy atmosphere.
If you’re into cinematic sounds, you should also check out Audio Imperia’s Glade (FREE for Kontakt Player).
There are a few piano options taken from Xperimenta’s Preparato Piano, and there’s even a Rehearsal Piano, which should remind some of the typical, not-quite-in-tune, somewhat wonky, rehearsal room pianos.
Besides the Strings Sul Tasto, some of my favorites include the Detuned Strings, Harmonic Pad (lovely evolving texture), Amped Guitar, and, surprisingly, the Melodica; it has a very charming bluesy sound.
If you don’t have Minima 2 yet, and you’ve got the full version of Kontakt, it’s worth grabbing.
Xperimenta said they would add a new sound each month; I’m not sure if that’s ongoing anymore, paused, or gone for good, but whatever the case may be, the current offering is excellent.
Download: Minima 2 (FREE – full version of Kontakt 6.6.1 or higher required)
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Last Updated on November 10, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
