Native Instruments announced the Battery 1.3 update, which bringsthe drum sampler to Mac OS X and Pro Tools users on OS X; a Windows XPversion will follow soon. Battery 1.3 now supports Audio Units, RTAS,VST, and stand-alone operation with CoreMIDI and CoreAudio.
The update is immediately available to all registered users as a $29direct download. The update is also available on CD for $49.
For more information, visit www.ni-battery.com.
In other company news, Kontakt 1.5 is now available, which bringsnew and improved features, Mac OS X compatibility and new importcapabilities.
Using an advanced peak-detection algorithm, Kontakt 1.5’s newlydeveloped Beat Machine divides any percussive loop into individualhits. Drum loops can be synched to the host sequencer without loss insound quality. The individual slices can also be mapped on the keyboardand played as individual hits, while each slice can even have its ownfilter and effect settings. A MIDI file can be imported into the hostsequencer to directly edit or rearrange each loop into breaks, fillsand new grooves. The loop editor shows the individual slice markers inthe loop and allows the markers to be set, deleted and moved. Theautomatic slicing algorithm can be fine tuned with the Sensitivityknob. Kontakt 1.5 also supports the REX-1 and 2 sample formats to loadpresliced loops.
Kontakt 1.5’s time-stretching and pitch-shifting engine has beenfurther developed and improved, resulting in the Time Machine II, whichis available in addition to the original Time Machine from KONTAKT 1.2.The integrated “Transient Copy” technology allows for an authenticreproduction of a sample’s attack phase. Another feature is the abilityto time-stretch loops to automatically fit the tempo of the hostsequencer.
In addition to the MIDI automation in Version 1.2, KONTAKT 1.5 alsosupports VST automation. Nearly all control element movements can bedrawn as automation curves in the sequencer and be remote controlled.Because Kontakt is semi-modular, a VST automation number can beassigned to any Kontakt control element.
Kontakt 1.5 is available as a special time-limited offer for $29(direct download) and $49 (boxed version) until December 4, 2003, afterwhich it will cost $49 (direct download) and $69 (boxed version).Customers who purchased Kontakt after August 1, 2003, (online or from adealer) can download the update for free if Mac OS X/RTAS support isn’talready included.
More information can be found at www.ni-kontakt.com.
