The software is sold for 199 euros (update, 99 euros), and is compatible with Mac and PC, Windows 7 and Mac OS 10.7, and available as a standalone or plug-in (including AAX native, but not, as of yet, RTAS). Native did, however, in the interim, introduce Maschine, and several other virtual drum solutions. We had to wait seven years for a new version to become available as a package with Komplete 9 (basic version and Ultimate) and as a standalone. Updates followed: Battery 2, in 2004 (72 pads, 256 stereo voices, 32 bits audio engine, new formats manager, 3,5 Gb library, etc.), then Battery 3 in 2006 (128 pads, over 12 Gb of samples, over 100 kits, new effects, etc.). The software was compatible with Mac and PC, as a stand alone and a VST plug-in (VST2, DXi, Mas) and could import several different resolutions and formats (Wave and Aiff 8, 16, 24 and 32 bits in LM4 format, Akai S1000 and S3000, SoundFont, LoopAZoid and Reaktor). The first version of Battery had 54 pads, 128 voices (stereo or mono), several output configurations, an interface something like that of LoopAZoid but more intuitive, numerous possibilities for resynthesizing as well as over 600Mb of ready to use samples and kits. The NeXoft team then went to work with Native developers to put together a more powerful tool, dedicated to importing and editing percussion and drum sounds, for a fee. In 2001, Native Instruments introduced Battery to the market, a percussion sampler following in the footsteps of LoopAZoid, software created by NeXoft, which offered 48 tracks, 64 voices, 8 outs and other very appreciated functions, not the least one being the fact that it was free.

Native instruments battery 4 drum kits