Battery 2.1

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: CNET Staff

Combining the ease of use of a traditional drum machine with the sound- sculpting prowess of a sampler, Native Instruments Battery 2.0 is one of the best software-percussion tools available. Built around a clean interface that has become the de facto standard for all products in Native Instruments' pro-audio line, Battery is approachable and simple to learn. Once you load sound into the matrix-style interface, the fun begins. Each sample cell has an enormous amount of sound-tweaking flexibility, boasting tools such as compressors, multimode filters, LFO, customizable envelopes, and resampling effects. Also included is a mapping editor for layering up to 128 sounds together. Other controls include tune, saturation, bit control, and hertz. We liked the free-form envelope controls, which make it a snap to custom-tailor sounds to your specs. Our only complaint with Battery is that it really can't do much without a sequencer or some other MIDI device to drive it. Thankfully, Battery interfaces with RTAS, VST, Audio Units, Core Audio, Core MIDI, Dxi, ASIO, and Direct Sound, giving you plenty of options for hooking up to other programs. With its multitude of features, we can easily recommend Battery to both newbie beatheads and old-school pros alike.

Publisher's description

From Native Instruments :

Battery 2 is the ultimate drum sampler for creating and fine-tuning all the percussive elements in any production. With its streamlined design for fast and intuitive control, generate perfect drums and percussion every time. From the smoothest grooves to the most rugged rhythms, Battery 2 is the professional choice.

The latest version offers an even more intuitive user interface with a larger, customizable matrix. Every sample cell is armed with a powerful compressor and multimode filter, an LFO, a freely assignable envelope, a mapping editor managing 128 sample layers per cell, a resampling effect, and an extended Loop section. Battery 2 also offers a first-class library of 3.5GB of drum and percussion samples, compatibility with many sample formats, and simplified file management.

More popular Audio Production & Recording Software downloads

1. 21,385 downloads 1. FL Studio
2. 12,738 downloads 2. GoldWave
3. 11,661 downloads 3. WavePad Sound Editor
4. 11,224 downloads 4. Audacity
5. 10,334 downloads 5. MP3 Cutter
6. See all Audio Production & Recording Software downloads

Get free trials and software from our premier partners

• Porsche Panamera

  Panamera. Four, uncompromised.®

  Learn More