NI unveils Battery 3, Absynth 4

In addition to Komplete 2006 and FM8, Native Instruments (NI) today unveiled Battery 3 and Absynth 4. Battery 3 is a significant revision to the company's drum and percussion sampler that adds time-stretching as well as advanced loop capabilities. The update includes an integrated wave editor and a library of more than 100 drum kits of all styles and genres. Battery 3 is based on a new sampling engine that offers a "Beat Mode" for improved loop handling, and features "articulations" that support authentic real-time flams, drags, and rolls. The customizable cell matrix holds up to 128 sounds per kit, and color coded cells offers users an enhanced overview. An enhanced wave editor also offers direct "surgical" access to any individual sample on-the-fly. Both titles are slated for shipment in October for $220 (Battery 3) and $340 (Absynth 4).

Absynth 4 is the fourth generation of Native Instruments' semi-modular software synthesizer offering extended sound design and performance capabilities via a new customizable signal flow; additional oscillator, waveform and envelope features; and a completely revised modulation concept. The update features a new KORE-compatible sound browser, as well as customization capability for the semi-modular signal flow. A new "Wave Morph" function creates a wide range of new timbres through interpolation between two user-definable waveforms, with real-time modulation of the interpolation readout. A new "Sync Granular" oscillator mode also adds an entirely new sound source, resembling a blown or strummed acoustic instrument.

The fourth generation of Absynth offers a global master ADSR envelope to shape complex sound, and users can synchronize the individual multi-breakpoint envelopes to a beat grid to create sound movements that follow the global tempo of a host sequencer.

A revised modulation concept in Absynth 4 offers increased real-time performance and automation options. Sixteen assignable macro controls can manipulate any combination of oscillator, filter, modulation and effect parameters, with the additional option to convert any pair of controls into an XY field. "Audio Modulation" also allows an external input signal as a routable controller.

Filed under: audio