Native Instruments Faces Preliminary Insolvency: What It Means for Music Producers and Plugin Users?

Native Instruments, one of the most influential names in music production software and audio plugins, has reportedly entered preliminary insolvency proceedings, according to documentation cited by Create Digital Music. A preliminary insolvency administrator has been appointed to manage the process, focusing on company restructuring and potential asset sales.

A Major Name in Music Technology

The German music technology company is best known for iconic products such as Maschine, Massive, Traktor, and Kontakt—tools that have played a major role in shaping modern music production, sound design, and DJ workflows.

However, the past decade has been a period of major transition for Native Instruments. Between 2019 and 2020, the company faced internal challenges, including staff layoffs, organizational restructuring, and criticism from former employees.

Leadership Changes and New Ownership

In 2020, co-founder and CEO Daniel Haver and Chief Innovation Officer and President Mate Galic stepped down from their leadership positions. This marked the beginning of a new chapter for the company’s management and long-term strategy.

Since 2021, investment firm Francisco Partners has held a majority stake in Native Instruments, overseeing its business direction and expansion efforts.

Acquisitions: iZotope and Plugin Alliance

During this period, Native Instruments also expanded its ecosystem by acquiring two major audio software brands:

- iZotope, widely known for industry-standard tools like Ozone and RX

- Plugin Alliance, home to professional mixing and mastering plugins, including Brainworx

These acquisitions positioned Native Instruments as a powerhouse in music production, mixing, mastering, and post-production software.

What Does This Mean for Users?

At the time of writing, it remains unclear how the insolvency proceedings will affect Native Instruments customers, products, or employees. There is also uncertainty around the future support of related brands such as iZotope, Plugin Alliance, and Brainworx.

This situation is especially important for producers, DJs, and engineers who rely on Native Instruments tools every day, including:

-Kontakt sample libraries

-RX audio repair and post-production tools

-Traktor DJ software

-The Maschine production ecosystem

Many users are understandably concerned about future updates, licensing, and long-term compatibility.

Recent Developments: The Return of Absynth

Interestingly, Native Instruments recently brought back its classic soft synth Absynth, a favorite among sound designers for atmospheric and experimental sounds. MusicRadar’s Andy Price described the comeback as “a spectacular, unexpected return that goes straight to the modern sound designer’s heart.”

The revival of Absynth shows that, despite current challenges, Native Instruments has continued to invest in its creative software lineup.

Looking Ahead

We’ll continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more details emerge about the future of Native Instruments and its audio plugin ecosystem. Given the company’s long history, globally respected tools, and strong user base, many in the music technology community are hoping for a positive and sustainable outcome.