I have Battery 2 here and had a few issues with install and am in contact with NI about it. (My word they are slow). So does anyone have a recommendation for a software single shot sampler in similar vane to Battery. Most of my old soft synths installed without fuss but this is proving difficult thus far. (Hopefully when NI sort my accounts email out Reaktor etc. will be easy to sort out too, Pro-53 seemed not to have the messy and overly complex authorization process as these other 2 bits)

I recently set up a little system with Cubase 6.5 so I can work on some music with the Mrs.

cheers

SafeandSound Mastering
Online mastering studio

Battery 3.

Battery 2 is so old they've changed the installation and authorisation several times since then. It's also almost certainly unsupported on any current computer platform.

Go for Battery 3, I have used the Battery series for ages and it is a great tool.

Battery 2 does not open up properly on my Intel Mac. It intalls fine, shows up in the licence centre fine, but when I open it, the program says 'installation error'. So I have to keep my G5 for legacy projects.

Let us know what NI say. I couldn't be bothered to email them, although when I have before they have been pretty good.

--------------------
http://soundcloud.com/richie-royale
http://www.mixcrate.com/richieroyale

Quote SafeandSound Mastering:

---

I recently set up a little system with Cubase 6.5 so I can work on some music with the Mrs.

---

Doesn't Groove Agent One (in Cubase) already do exactly what you want? If you want something more basic, there should be an old legacy one (can't remember the name - LM7 or some such) on the Cubase install disk somewhere.

I've tried to use Groove Agent, but I didn't like it.

--------------------
http://soundcloud.com/richie-royale
http://www.mixcrate.com/richieroyale

I know this isn't answering your question but I always used to use Battery 3 until I discovered how much easier and liberating it is to simply import drum samples directly into Cubase's arrange window and create patterns by copy / pasting with snap set to quantize mode. This way when it comes to mixing, everything is automatically on a separate audio track so there's no need to route different cells to different outputs and then enable them in the VST panel etc. Also, every time you want to load a new sample you just have to open 'media bay' which is the best way of finding, organizing and auditioning samples instead of the browser in Battery which doesn't even have an index search. Honestly, I'd recommend at least giving this ago!

I use that method as well, but Battery allows new sounds to made easily with the pitch functions and the various other sound mangling options.

The copy and paste method is good for some types of drums, but not that usable for fills, because it is hard to amend velocity and tone.

--------------------
http://soundcloud.com/richie-royale
http://www.mixcrate.com/richieroyale

Does it neeeed to be a 'drum' sampler per say, can it just be a sampler that can do single shot?

Following on from the 'liberation' theme, I've used the old free shortcircuit sampler for drums very successfully before now... Its free, not too heavy on resource, no activation hassles and has lots of options for sound mangling! Although I have not tried it on anything post win xp.

But now I just use independence free

(The free theme is mostly because I'm tight!!!)

Stu.

Quote Richie Royale:

---

I've tried to use Groove Agent, but I didn't like it.

---

Groove Agent, or Groove Agent One? Just checking as despite the name they're rather different things.

Btw, +1 to using the arrange page. And you can do pitch and time on there just as easily as on a sampler, of course.

The bundled Groove Agent One. I'm not sure how much of a difference there is between the one that comes with Cubase and the one that is available for purchase separately. Groove Agent One is a usable drum playback tool and it can import samples (via drag and drop I think possibly via the Mediabay as well), but I've been using Battery for so long that I didn't find it offered anything I couldn't do already.

--------------------
http://soundcloud.com/richie-royale
http://www.mixcrate.com/richieroyale

yeah... point being that the OP isn't getting on with Battery and needs a simple drum sampler... and he's already got Cubase 6.5. Hence the suggestion. It's not the ultimate sample by any means, but it might mean he doesn't have to shell out for something if he gets on with it as he already has it in his DAW!

I tried Groove Agent ONE for bit, it's not too bad and the drag and drop functionality is definitely a +1 on Battery. The only thing it didn't have which I needed is the ability to change sample start positions as I have a lot of drum samples which have slight gaps at the start. Otherwise a very decent no frills plug-in. I really wish Cubase came with a free keytracking sampler where you could drag and drop samples too - that would be really useful.

Thanks chaps, yes I did spot the groove Agent thingymajig, checked it out a bit but thought it was a bundled preset player, will check out the loading options. Simplicity is key really I may end up working on something that are 'not my cup of tea' so keeping it stress free and straight forward would be great. Will check those options. I just missed the €50 upgrade which I guess I should have jumped on. Oh Well... thanks will check stuff out.

Glad I stuck with a familiar app in the end. I have to say I like tapping the drums in through my Yamaha SY35 just as a midi controller (lol, still going strong, they built them well) rather than step programming/mousing them in.

I took a punt with an office PC this time that has been tweaked up and so far so good, my old
studio machine was put into 'hobby' music duty and was pretty much on it's last legs so bought a £350.00 i3 jobby.(not recommended for beginners unless you know a few bits) Seems fine at the mo. Popped a Layla 3G in there that picked up for £150.00

I basically sacked off my own music making years ago when I was full time engineering. Last thing I wanted to do was switch a pc on and start making tunes when I got home.

The arm twisting from the Mrs. has got me back it seems, time permitting.

cheers

SafeandSound Mastering
Online mastering studio

Studio One has a sampler that is almost identical to Battery.

When reviewing n-track (the recording software) I came across the drum module by Luigi Felici:
http://nusofting.liqihsynth.com/dk+.html

I think that should be exactly what you need.

--------------------
www.descentintomadness.com

Thanks for the headsup on the DK+ seems like just the ticket, also spotted Izotope iDrum $59.00
Will have to check some demo's out in due course I am not impressed by NI's lack of response.

SafeandSound Mastering
online mastering

Not sure what is the overall situation with NI but Battery looks to me like a product o its way to being phased out (sadly I own it). There were some issues in Sonar that I had and were never resolved where it would just stop playing, and a few odd things that it did in Cubase. I think it has been 4 years and version 3 is still the "go to" version.

--------------------
www.descentintomadness.com

I am ashamed to admit that I own at least 5 drum romplers, among them Battery3.
Battery3 is far more flexible in terms of what samples you can load (not just drums) and how they can be played back, but things like superior drummer2 and Steven Slate Drums4 are a great deal more sophisticated.

Horses for courses.
Decide what you want to do with drums and then get all the demos like I did.
But beware you will prolly wind up liking them ALL for different things and spend far too much money like I did, as well.

And remember even if NI dump B3 like so many other good products, it will still WORK.

I still use NI's late lamented B4 Hammond clone all the time.

--------------------
Me? But I`m such a loveable old bugger!

You have to realize I am from the BOSS DR-660 School of thought, lol.



cheers

SafeandSound Mastering
Music mastering

Just purchased Nusofting DK+, NI did not even reply.
Look forwards to putting it into action.

SafeandSound Mastering
online mastering studio

Installation was a breeze, full version delivered by email on a Sunday. Does exactly what I wanted and is easy peasy to use comes with 48 reasonably usable kits for £55.00 vs NI Battery's £140.00 happy days.

Cheers

SafeandSound Mastering
Mastering studio

Battery 3 is great... Lots of ways to twist your drums QUICK!

I'm ashamed to admit, but I still use ReDrum in Reason sometimes to sequence patterns!

Quote vinnyprez:

---

I'm ashamed to admit...

---

Why? Assuming it does the job...

Battery 3 is great but then don't disregard Guru....

--------------------
Samplecraze
Stretch That Note

I can confirm what other folks said,
NI Battery3 rocks the boat!
when I produced music I used Battery III extensively and I really loved the workflow,
sound, and f/x. Funnily enough when I got mpc (mpc3000le) I hooked it to battery, and only use it as a pad and sequencer.
There is also RM linn plug IV, here is sos review:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb04/articles/linplug.htm
I must say, I really liked the sound of rmIV samples.
I presume it also depends on kind of music you are after when programming drums.
Today, I can't even imagine programming drums without beloved mpc2500 loaded with jjos,
it's fun and it's creative.

--------------------
online mastering studio | mastering audio