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HandHeldSound Software Activation Instructions

Getting started

IMPORTANT: All HandHeldSound sound libraries require the FULL retail version of Native Instruments Kontakt v 5.1 or higher. The sound libraries will not work with the free version, Kontakt Player and will not use the Native Access app.

In this guide, we will show you how to activate, download, and install your new HandHeldSound virtual instrument. Follow the instructions below to get started.

  1. Download the Pulse Downloader application
  2. Activate HandHeldSound virtual instruments
  3. Add your HandHeldSound sound library to Kontakt

Download the Pulse Downloader application

The first step in the registration process is to create an account with HandHeldSound and download the Pulse Downloader application, where you will download, activate, and install your virtual instrument.

  1. Go to the Pulse Downloader homepage, and click your OS to begin the Pulse download.
  2. Navigate to your Downloads folder, and launch the installer.
  3. Log in with your HandHeldSound account credentials. If you don’t have one yet, click Register.
    • Please enter a valid email address as the Pulse software servers use that for product links and download confirmations.
Pulse Download Page

Click the image to download the Pulse Downloader app

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Activate HandHeldSound virtual instruments

Once the account has been created, the next step in the process is to enter the Redemption/Serial Key you received from your Sweetwater Sales Engineer. Please note that a valid internet connection is required, as the Pulse and HandHeldSound servers manage the Pulse software downloads and activations. Follow these steps to activate your virtual instrument. 

  1. Click Add a product, then copy and paste the Redemption/Serial Key from the Software Activation email you received from your Sweetwater Sales Engineer.
  2. Click Redeem
Add Serial key in Pulse

Click Add a Product to activate your sound library using the Pulse Downloader application

Install the virtual instrument libraries

TIP: The HandHeldSound sound libraries are large, so It’s best to store them on either an external drive or a separate internal drive. Installing libraries to the same hard drive as your operating system will decrease performance (slow things down) and take up a lot of space!

  1. Navigate to the Library section of the Pulse Downloader app, locate your product, then click Download & Install.
    • If you checked the Install Now box, you just need follow step 2.
  2. Choose the folder where you’d like the sound library to be installed. 

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Add your HandHeldSound sound library to Kontakt

The final step in the process is to add your HandHeldSound sound library to Native Instruments Kontakt. The process is straightforward, as Pulse does most of the work for you. Follow these steps to install and add your HandHeldSound sound libraries.

  1. Launch the standalone version of Kontakt.
  2. Click the Manage Libraries button, then click Database.
  3. Click Add, select the location you installed your HandHeldSound sound libraries, then click Close.
  4. Click the Refresh button (located to the left of Manage Libraries), then let it scan.
    • Be patient, as the scan may take a long time depending on how many other Kontakt libraries you have installed.
Load sound library in Kontakt

Loading a sound library in Kontakt

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