Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $41
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$49
$150+
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Price History
Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Native Instruments Empire Breaks". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Capture the authentic vibe of the golden era of hip hop with Native Instruments Empire Breaks. This Kontakt Instrument is a sonic homage to the iconic beats that defined a generation, meticulously crafted to bring classic, sample-based drum sounds to your fingertips. Every kick, snare, and hi-hat has been recorded from vintage-style drum sessions, processed through legendary gear, and layered with multiple velocities to ensure each hit is rich and natural. Whether you're laying down a groove live or drawing from a collection of expertly curated patterns, Empire Breaks gives you the tools to infuse your tracks with that unmistakable boom-bap flavor.
The magic of Empire Breaks lies in its collaborative creation, combining traditional drum recording techniques with modern technology to deliver a truly unique sound palette. Dive into 480 editable groove patterns and use easy macro controls to tweak grit, groove, and swing, allowing you to craft beats that resonate with the nostalgia of the bodega-dwelling, boombox-blasting era. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned producer, this instrument from the Play Series invites you to explore and expand your creative boundaries.
Key Features:
- Classic hip-hop beats with punchy kicks, solid snares, and crispy hats.
- Recorded from original live drum breaks, re-sampled for 90s-style crunch and character.
- 480 customizable groove patterns, editable in any DAW with MIDI drag and drop.
Part of the Play Series, offering great-sounding presets and real-time control with an intuitive interface.
Requires FREE Kontakt Player or Kontakt.
Download size: 3.11 GB.
Product specs
| Software Type | Drum library |
| Platform | Mac, PC |
| Upgrade/Full | Full |
| Download/Boxed | Download |
| Bit Depth | 64-bit |
| Format | AAX, VST3, AU |
| Hardware Requirements - Mac | Intel Core i5 / Apple Silicon or higher, 4GB RAM or more recommended |
| Hardware Requirements - PC | Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5 or higher, 4GB RAM or more recommended |
| OS Requirements - Mac | macOS 11 or later, Kontakt Player required |
| OS Requirements - PC | Windows 10 or later, Kontakt Player required |
FAQs
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What is Native Instruments Empire Breaks designed for?
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Native Instruments Empire Breaks is designed as a virtual drum instrument for creating authentic, vintage-style breakbeats, suitable for genres like hip-hop, funk, and soul.
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Does Empire Breaks require any additional software to run?
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Yes, Empire Breaks requires the Kontakt Player, which is a free sampler plugin provided by Native Instruments.
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Is Empire Breaks compatible with my DAW?
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Empire Breaks is compatible with any DAW that supports AAX, VST3, or AU plugin formats, making it versatile for use with most popular music production software.
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Can I use Empire Breaks on both Mac and PC?
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Yes, Empire Breaks is compatible with both Mac and PC platforms, requiring macOS 11 or later for Mac and Windows 10 or later for PC.
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What are the system requirements for running Empire Breaks efficiently?
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Empire Breaks requires at least an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 4GB of RAM or more, ensuring smooth performance on both Mac and PC systems.
Videos
Native Instruments
Introducing EMPIRE BREAKS | Native Instruments
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Native Instruments Empire Breaks.
Features and functionality
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Empire Breaks allows MIDI drag-and-drop for pattern editing in any DAW, unlocking 480 editable groove patterns beyond its default non-editable state.
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Empire Breaks supports slicing loops in sampling mode, enabling assignment of individual sounds to each pad in a group for more flexible usage.
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Users can switch to KEYBOARD mode and adjust the octave to C-0 to play individual sounds via pads or a MIDI keyboard.
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Drum kits are accessible by playing lower octaves on MIDI controllers like Push2 and Komplete Kontrol keys, expanding the instrument's playability.
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User experience
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Users appreciate Empire Breaks primarily for its high-quality drum sounds, independent of the included patterns.
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While Empire Breaks doesn't offer straightforward access to individual kits, duplicating breaks and adjusting ADSR settings provide customization options.
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The product design focuses on traditional 'breaks', meaning individual kit manipulation isn't as intuitive, aligning with classic breakbeat sampling methods.
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Critic Reviews
Based on 0 Reviews and 0 Ratings
Genre Usage
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