Has anyone used Native Instruments Battery with Virtual Drumline?

- David

David - I don't think this program would be a good compliment to Virtual Drumline. Granted I can't speak from experience with it, I don't think it utilizes the keyboard mapping (for entering your notation) programmed into the Virtual Drumline samples. I'm sure with some creative programming you might be able to get it to work, but would still be limited by the fact that only 54 cells are available in one instance of the program. I think you'd be better off with something like Kontakt, Kompakt, or Gigastudio for drumline type stuff.

[quote="Jim Casella"]David - I don't think this program would be a good compliment to Virtual Drumline. Granted I can't speak from experience with it, I don't think it utilizes the keyboard mapping (for entering your notation) programmed into the Virtual Drumline samples. I'm sure with some creative programming you might be able to get it to work, but would still be limited by the fact that only 54 cells are available in one instance of the program. I think you'd be better off with something like Kontakt, Kompakt, or Gigastudio for drumline type stuff.[/quote]


Jim and David,

I can speak from experience that Battery will work with Virtual Drumline. As Jim states, it does not utilize the mapping features programmed into the librarys. All of the mapping in fact has to be programmed. That includes key, velocity, and layering. Each sound or layers of sounds needs to be entered.

To its credit, Battery is the same general sample engine as Kontakt (same company) and can be very deep as far as how and what you are able to create. I've been able to set up velocity maps for my "kit" as well as create a "realistic" stereo field for playback.

On the down side, 54 cells doesn't get you the VDL small library. At present, I'm working to use Reason as my playback source. I can use the full library, with effects, set a stereo field and record into Digital Performer to create audio CD and mp3 files. Drop me a line if you have any other questions.

Ted Boliske

Hi Ted - thanks for offering that input. Having never actually used Battery myself, I appreciate your insight. I think for most people using Virtual Drumline, the re-programming aspect of using it with Battery could seem daunting. Still, it's nice to know that it *is* possible.

Thanks again for your input!
jim

It's not some much "re-programming" as it is "loading" all of the individual sounds and layers. By default, all of the layers within each cell responde to midi velocity 0 - 127. This can be changed easily. If anything it is time consuming, which is the beauty of Kontakt or Reason. You tell it to load an instrument and all the sounds, layers, and midi info is put into its proper place. Additionally, the only other "real" work is to set up a key map in your notation program. This was the boring part for me, thankfully you have already done the work for us in your Finale and Sibelius templates. I approached it in a manner that this will allow me to learn the software and make problem solving easier when things go wrong.

BTW, I've dl'd the Sibelius 3 demo and tried it with Reason 2.5. Comparing playback only, Sibelius vs. Finale, I was not happy with Sibelius. There was noticable 'jitter' when playing back 8s. This is not a problem in Finale w/Battery. I still have to test run Finale w/Reason.


Ted