This manual is for Kit Maker 3. Using Kit Maker 2? See the legacy Kit Maker 2 manual.

The Basics #

Kit Maker turns folders of samples into ready-to-play drum kits for your DAW or hardware.

1. Import. Drag a folder (or several) onto the import panel, or click the Importer button inside the Import panel, under the Large Files and Keywords buttons. There are two: Sample Pack Importer in Sample Pack Mode and Maschine Importer in Maschine Mode.
2. Choose your mode. Sample Pack Mode for sample packs, or Maschine Mode for official Native Instruments Maschine Expansions.
3. Pick your formats. Turn on one or more output formats for the DAW or device you’re making kits for.
4. Make Kits. Kit Maker sorts the samples, fills the pads and exports.

The bottom row of the main screen has the Preferences gear, Quick Guide, Manual and Help buttons.

Despite the name, Sample Pack Mode also handles MPC Expansions, Samples From Mars packs and kit folders.

You can process several Maschine Expansions at once, or several sample packs at once, but not both kinds together in the same run.

Where Your Kits Go #

When a run finishes, Kit Maker shows the Summary Page and tells you where each format’s kits were saved. Most formats go to the Kit Maker Kits folder on your Desktop. A few go straight into their app’s own folder instead, such as Ableton Live, Logic Pro and Bitwig. You can change these locations under Folder Paths.

After a run, an overlay titled Where Your Kits Went lists one row per format with the output folder and short instructions. Each row has a don’t-show-again checkbox.

The folder icon in the bottom-right of the main screen (tooltip: Reveal Kit Folders) shows your kits any time. Click it to see every location, or double-click to open the last folder used.

For formats that need a transfer step (Ableton Move & Note, Ableton Note (Folders), Deluge, Serato, MPC Sample and Koala), Kit Maker saves a How to Transfer.txt next to the kits with the steps for that device.

Tutorial and Quick Guide #

The first time you open Kit Maker, a short tutorial walks you through the main screen. The Quick Guide (in the Help menu and on the main screen’s bottom row) is the short version of this manual. To run the walkthrough again, open the Quick Guide, go to Help & Support and click Replay the Tutorial.

Updates #

The current Kit Maker version is shown in the top-right corner of the app. Hover it for a tooltip, or click it to open the update dialog. A green down-arrow appears beside it when an update is waiting. You can also check from Help > Check for Updates.