Problems with Kontakt and Sonar

[Dave Maffris]

Having recently switched form CbB to Sonar, I now find that Kontakt displays no longer function correctly. Particularly in Kontakt 7--the interface is tiny and unreadable, with white space all around it. Also, I cannot pull up the rack view that I normally use (not the default view of newer Kontakt versions). Kontakt 6 displays ok, although there are issues with scrolling thru every instrument in the rack, no matter how I fill the screen I cannot scroll to the bottom. So it's making the software I use the most nearly unuseable. I can load kontakt 6 or 7 into CbB and it's fine, but I've fully transitioned to Sonar again and would like to stick with it for the updates, support, etc. I have tried to play with the DPI plug in awareness settings, but this has no effect--I am running a 4K wide screen curved monitor at it's native resolution. WIndows 11 computer. I'm out of ideas, so hoping someone who knows or has encountered this issue can help. I even tried refreshing Kontakt 7, considering updating to Kontakt 8, but waiting for a better price on full Komplete upgrade. If this continues, I may have to finally abandon Cakewalk after 30 years of intensive use--and still the only DAW I've ever tried (I have tried quite a few) that I really find useable for me. Thanks in advance for any ideas you can contribute.

[Steve Moddelmog]

In Kontakt, click on "View" (next to "File" and "Library" at the top) and then "Zoom" to whatever percentage (greater than 100%) makes things readable for you.

[Steve Moddelmog]

You might also want to go to Windows settings - "System/Display" and make sure you are using the recommended Scale.  Mine is 250%, and if I use, say 100%, everything in Windows is tiny.  If I highlight the Scale control, I can see that 250% is "Recommended" and that is, in fact, what looks best on my screen for all programs.

[Pathfinder]

On 10/17/2025 at 10:34 AM, Dave Maffris said:

Having recently switched form CbB to Sonar, I now find that Kontakt displays no longer function correctly. Particularly in Kontakt 7--the interface is tiny and unreadable, with white space all around it. Also, I cannot pull up the rack view that I normally use (not the default view of newer Kontakt versions). Kontakt 6 displays ok, although there are issues with scrolling thru every instrument in the rack, no matter how I fill the screen I cannot scroll to the bottom. So it's making the software I use the most nearly unuseable. I can load kontakt 6 or 7 into CbB and it's fine, but I've fully transitioned to Sonar again and would like to stick with it for the updates, support, etc. I have tried to play with the DPI plug in awareness settings, but this has no effect--I am running a 4K wide screen curved monitor at it's native resolution. WIndows 11 computer. I'm out of ideas, so hoping someone who knows or has encountered this issue can help. I even tried refreshing Kontakt 7, considering updating to Kontakt 8, but waiting for a better price on full Komplete upgrade. If this continues, I may have to finally abandon Cakewalk after 30 years of intensive use--and still the only DAW I've ever tried (I have tried quite a few) that I really find useable for me. Thanks in advance for any ideas you can contribute.

It's NOT Sonar.....

[Glenn Stanton]

i have to say, Kontakt 8 is a good upgrade. i was reluctant at first, but then a couple of libraries i wanted only ran on K8, so i installed the trial version, and voila, everything in K7 was there (and faster). a few updates later and it's stable so i bought the upgrade (cry once...) and then removed K7. 

as a couple of folks noted - check your display settings. Kontakt never had a very large UI (possibly the #1 thing i don't like) but on my screen with the display enlarged to counter the pixel density, it's all good.

Edited Saturday at 07:46 PM by Glenn Stanton

[Pathfinder]

On 10/18/2025 at 3:45 PM, Glenn Stanton said:

i have to say, Kontakt 8 is a good upgrade. i was reluctant at first, but then a couple of libraries i wanted only ran on K8, so i installed the trial version, and voila, everything in K7 was there (and faster). a few updates later and it's stable so i bought the upgrade (cry once...) and then removed K7. 

as a couple of folks noted - check your display settings. Kontakt never had a very large UI (possibly the #1 thing i don't like) but on my screen with the display enlarged to counter the pixel density, it's all good.

Hey Glenn
Do you lose anything if you uninstall 7? I think I still have 5&6 installed also.

Thanks

[Dave Maffris]

I am attaching several screenshots and additional information. It will be easier than trying to explain. I will add that when using Kontakt 7 within Sonar the "view" button doesn't give me the drop down options, and until today wasn't even giving me the rack view vs. default view. I have also checked Kontakt in standalone mode, and no issues are present there or in CbB.  Here are the screenshots: I hope this helps. It's apparent that any sizing attempts I make just affects the white space within the larger window, not the Kontakt UI itself (when in Sonar) and it doesn't seem to matter if I'm using DPI awareness or not. My system display settings are at the recommended default for the Monitor, which is a 4K curved screen I've had for some time now without issues. Drivers are up to date, etc. No other video issues exist in the computer at this time and no other plug-ins other than Kontakt 7 (within Sonar) have this issue.

Thanks.

 

[Glenn Stanton]

18 hours ago, Pathfinder said:

Do you lose anything if you uninstall 7? I think I still have 5&6 installed also.

nope. all my config and libraries are intact. as a note - all my content is on my 😧 drive and all program bits on the 😄 drive

[Glenn Stanton]

i don't have K7 installed anymore but K8 seems to properly size etc in Sonar. so maybe it is something not getting communicated to K7 or used by it...