Native Instruments Battery 4: Basics + using Expansions 2021!

[@djGreenALERT]

I am going to go out on a limb and suggest this video is SO useful to anyone who owns Battery that I doubt this will EVER get a thumbs down!

[@ChefHenryPrimo]

Jeff you are hands down the highest quality channel on NI gear, on KZbin. so selfless!

[@jefgibbons]

Appreciate it Henry!!

[@ed_ms]

In 3 years since owning Komplete, I never ever used Battery. Not sure if that is going to change a lot, but at least you sparked my interest to explore it a bit. It's just amazing how you keep coming up with stuff that nobody else does. Always in depth and detailed, a joy to watch and learn.

[@jefgibbons]

Bit late, but thanks for writing this Ed! I love filling holes in content on KZbin... tough to find sometimes until I take step back!

[@Zenonbuster]

I don’t get it either. It seems like you could do the same things with just a stock sampler or drum machine

[@johnhamers4571]

8:00 That velocity to pitch subject feels like a useful tool . I know the most of all Battery functions, but Jeff's gentle voice made me stay and see what I've missed in knowledge. Top Host ✌🏼

[@cxmxg]

For anybody like me who couln't find his expansions: Note: After installing the Expansion, it is important to run BATTERY 4 in stand-alone mode before using it as a plug-in in your DAW. This step is required for BATTERY 4 to detect the Expansion.

[@dirtysolarremix]

Hard to find yes

[@PaulPaid]

Hell of a tip. Thanks

[@Neumah]

Hah, I rediscovered Battery like two weeks ago and have been using it a bit since then for drum kits, but always with the thought "I should really go through Battery and re-learn it properly" in the back of my head. Awesome timing, Jef! Thanks! :D

[@jefgibbons]

Yup! Making the vid I had to dig in… it’s pretty great, and easy to overlook!

[@mikeexits]

Is there any point to Battery if you're using Ableton Suite? As far as I can tell the mixing and FX capabilities seem limited to what's built-in in comparison, unless you only want to put FX on the entire kit at once after Battery itself. Also, the fact that all the sample parts go to one track and you can't mix them individually like in Drum Rack is a dealbreaker for me. I mean I already own Battery, but this is why I've opened it less than a handful of times; I'd rather just go to the samples folder and put those in Drum Rack so I have more control and can achieve a better mix. If I'm missing something let me know.

[@lllololoollollooolll8698]

@@mikeexits no you are 100% correct

[@bernardojunqueira2392]

​​@@mikeexits so you can't address each cell to each channel in your DAW mixer? I don't own battery 4 but I was considering getting it. But I was assuming you could do that. Even in battery 2 that was possible. If this is no longer the case , then I guess it's a deal breaker for me too. EDIT: I actually just saw a video on KZbin showing how to do it. You just have to activate the other (up to 16) stereo channels so they will show up in your mixer and then you can rout each cell to separate mixer channels. The video was showing it in Cubase , but I guess you can do it in any DAW.

[@jaelawrence1456]

If Machine, Battery & Kontakt came together... man what a powerful DAW it would be

[@dshephardcomposer]

Your videos are awesome. Thank you for what you do, brother. I'm not the type who's gonna crack a PDF manual; I learn by watching and doing. You keep things focussed and simple. I appreciate your efforts.

[@hectorheckler6327]

I normally use my maschine for most of my drum patterns, but I use Battery 4 a lot to create complex pitched hihat patterns. Battery 4 is a beast and very much relevant with the expansions.

[@forsale313]

All this time I have owned a Maschine setup and had NO IDEA battery did all that. Just found a use for this Push 1 controller (almost took it Guitar Center to sell it). I can have all the cells populated and have a "sample chop symphony". Man this is Sound Design Stew for sure. Thank you sooooooo much for this video.

[@RandomNoiseMusic]

I love Battery, I think it has huge potential and I wonder if NI will ever update it or keep focusing on the Maschine engine. But I have to say that ever since I discovered Drum Rack in Ableton Live, nothing come close to how modular and complete as a drum kit as it is. It is almost unlimited in terms of customization with using synths and VSTs for each drum part, and all the possible effects and processing signal routing.

[@oneworld9071]

I've found Battery 4 to be THE go-to means of constructing drum kits........ it's nuclear-grade and actually works FOR and WITH you in terms of sensible layering for each of such a huge number of cels. Time to focus now...... :) THANK you for the excellence of tutelage.

[@noodlingaround2023]

Nice to see an up to date, comprehensive tutorial on Battery 4. Thanks..

[@damelos4039]

Thanks! Have had this for years and never saw a really good tutorial.....until now. :-)

[@jefgibbons]

Thanks Damelos!

[@BlueLabBeats]

Ayyy much love for the shout out! That fast Hi hat technique is called “the blue lab jab” 😄

[@jefgibbons]

Love it! Thanks for checking the vid, you guys are amazing!

[@johnsuggs7828]

I reaching for the subscribe button and it's already pushed. I have battery. I've had it for years. I used it for maybe a week or two when I first purchased it but never really messed with it after that. Watching your video, I said to myself....hey...I have that. I remember when I purchased that lol. Searched it on my computer, found it clicked and the computer was like Whoa? Took a little while to find the files i haven't clicked it in so long Great videos as always.

[@JoeyGero]

Loved this video man! I have purchased quite a few of expansions but haven’t ever had the money to buy a Maschine. So I’ve always used battery but I never knew how to take the samples and map them on the keyboard using battery. This is amazing to know!!!

[@jefgibbons]

Glad to hear it! Yeah, it’s pretty intuitive!

[@TheJournalismBizCoach]

Looking forward to the follow up video on the sampler in Battery!

[@clippy911]

I love Battery and use it every time I use my DAW. Thanks for showing me all the tricks, many things I didn't know yet :)

[@janhaliski9297]

Excellent video. I've had Battery for 20 years but haven't used it. Now I got a Maschine Mikro I plan to use both of them together.

[@analogsynthtim8823]

I use Battery for the most of my projects in Ableton. After changing from Maschine to Ableton push I can use the Maschine Kits in Battery. Great options and sounds. Also in tuning your drumsounds to the key of the projects

[@jefgibbons]

Good to hear, playing with Ableton myself these days!

[@29djandy]

We'll explained. More videos like this please So much to learn about these gems.

[@MikeGeorgia]

Best video I’ve found so far on battery!

[@jefgibbons]

Thanks Mike!

[@DavidSmith-ne1zp]

Just got Battery, and this was a perfect introduction! Thanks.

[@cozmicrahop9415]

Ever since i bought komplete 14, I 've been lovin your channel

[@JamesMyddelton]

Best quality music production channel out there, Jef should have at least 500k subs by now !?

[@JTFuller]

thanks again bro.. I had to watch this a few times.. that articulation is sick, didn't know it could do that.

[@d.o.nmuzic3802]

Great stuff! Just what I needed. Thank you 🙏🏾 I’m gonna look through your videos to see if you have a video on routing the pads to individual tracks in a daw.

[@WarzoneVictoryWins]

I have always loved battery.

[@jefgibbons]

I stopped using it when I went to Maschine, but it still has loads of capability!

[@eliolson3789]

Wow, great timing on this indeed as I am new to Maschine & NI and have recently been learning battery and it is overwhelming. The articulation part is so cool, love all those flams and rolls etc. Thanks again for this and keep up0 the great videos!!

[@jefgibbons]

Thanks Regan, so glad it helpin!

[@HumanBeingWithFeelings]

why isn't anyone talking about battery anymore? Hadn't use it in years and I think it's still pretty good!

[@bernardojunqueira2392]

Maybe now that it comes included in Komplete Select 15 Beats, ppl will start using it more. I am actually considering getting it.

[@HumanBeingWithFeelings]

@@bernardojunqueira2392 The factory sounds are top quality. However I'm still debating whether to keep using Ableton drum rack or battery, because of the cpu usage mainly...

[@G192921]

Great lesson. Please do another one on Battery one day

[@jefgibbons]

Thanks Ease! Will do!

[@CFox.7]

Best Battery Primer I have come across !

[@TheCubeMusic]

Thanks 🙏🏻 Jef Gibbons hope your well

[@ToanTrinh]

Really interested. Thanks for sharing the useful information.

[@mr.irrelevant3588]

i love Battery!! i don't know why they stopped updating it.

[@umanoid1523]

Battery used to be my go to drum machine years ago. Now i occasionally pull it out more to mix things up while in Ableton. Since I sketch most of my tracks out in Maschine it isn’t really necessary any more but it is a great drum plugin.

[@jefgibbons]

Same here!

[@umanoid1523]

@@jefgibbons this inspired me to bring it into a new track and use it. Along with my always favorite synth drum machine Sonic Charges microtonic.

[@ukaykeys]

Thanks for your tutorial, Jeff - very helpful! I just have one problem: is there a way to maintain the (loop)tempo in Battery 4 during pitch changes of samples? When I map loops, they run faster the higher the sound gets.

[@Knightfallprotocol444]

Question Jef. When I use Maschine 2 some kits say "cant load battery" or something similar so I have to open some kits in Battery 4 as a plugin. It seems that Maschine 2 can do everything battery 4 can do and more. Why would someone use battery 4 over machine 2? besides compatibility issues with some kits.

[@jonnytheshirt]

Great video, refresh in Battery is all that's needed in some workflows - I tried to use Maschine for so long before realising it wasn't the tool for me.

[@clivesaunders5576]

nice vid Jef I owned battery for years its a brilliant drum plugin thanks for the tips you gave me a reason to dig into its potential a little deeper!

[@jefgibbons]

Yes! I have to dig deeper myself! Been using it on a surface level for too long…

[@KennyLauderdale]

19:02 key track again? Isn't working like that. I have Battery 4. Which version are you using?

[@turgutbelen6374]

And, 2022 Best Teacher Award goes to Jef Gibbons!

[@HellmoodB96]

Great content, love your desk btw

[@shawnmcandrew6923]

Great video and in depth straight forward explanation.

[@sidneythirston9044]

Thank you Jeff!!! I needed a lesson on battery good show mate!!! 👏👏👏👏👏

[@jefgibbons]

Thanks Sidney, glad it helped!

[@706erRick]

Can you play these kits across the pads when you load a kit on the MK3 or do you have to load them individually across the pads...!?

[@angelbeatzonthetrack1701]

thanks pall,i dint know about this,i using fl studio 20 bout have searching for tutorial how to using it,AND now finaly i will use this vst very well,thanks a lot

[@theblackgypsy541]

really good. i learned a lot of new things about Battery.

[@nico5]

My sincere condolences on the loss of your beloved Mac Pro. 🌧 However it was clearly a sign from the heavens, that you absolute had no choice but to order a shiny new M1 based system. ☀️

[@jefgibbons]

True that my friend!! The old Mac Pro owes me nothing ;)

[@ritchxmusic]

Jeff does round robin work on a cell basis or layer basis? I've switched it on, with multiple samples as layers but they all just play at the same time

[@EthanIslam]

What an amazing explanation, I tried the key track but for some reason it didn’t work 😢

[@billme8638]

sounds good im going try this on the daily scratch tracks i do

[@andrejjurgelevic6638]

Very useful.Thank you Jeff 🎹🎵🎤🎵🎶🎹

[@ReynaldoIvanPena]

I just purchased Pure Drip, a Native Instruments 808 expansion but I can’t find it. Where do I look

[@georgeedward1691]

Great video! Just got Battery and really like it but I find with all the NI packages (Reaktor Kontakt ect) they are extremely overwhelming and frustrating without some kind of tutorial. Thanks a lot for this video it helped me a bunch getting started.

[@JeffyG]

Love the MacBook Pro story. I’m still living with a 2014 MacBook Pro 16gb/1TB SSD but the fan runs almost continuously - just waiting a few months before I order a new 16” M1 Pro - if you get one first, please give us a quick review and impression 😁

[@jefgibbons]

Hey Jeffy G, great name! I will definitely be posting videos!!

[@RussellBradley]

Great video, Jef. Thank yuu.

[@alainpatry]

The new n0b hardware controller would fit perfectly with the vintage wood feel of your studio!

[@jefgibbons]

Checked it out, it’s cool!

[@blue.sunset]

Nothing is better than XLN AUDIO XO. Goodbye Battery.

[@jefgibbons]

I’ll check it for sure!

[@blue.sunset]

@@jefgibbons I can't believe you don't know XO. It's also a favorite of all the KZbin music producers I know. I use XO with all my Maschine Sound expansions. I don't use Maschine. I don't like Maschine.

[@SirMixAlotChannel]

NI Battery is very cool but, Native Access has been a horrible experience for me. I wanted to add Battery to my laptop...it forced me to create a new password and this is where the problems start. First off, it warned me that my password is already being used. No sh*t... it sold to the same guy... Anyway, I purchased it again thinking the new version could be registered as a separate copy but, for some reason NOTHING. Thanks N/I. SMH.

[@EricRabb]

Great video Jeff!

[@jefgibbons]

Thanks Eric!!

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Thank you SO VERY MUCH, Jef!!! I've ALWAYS wondered what it was for (by always, I mean the 5 months i've had Komplete LOL)

[@jefgibbons]

It’s pretty great!

[@martinhines8756]

Quick question... How do you have your monitors set up? It appears you have a TV (or video monitor) mirroring your laptop. How are those connected? Physical connection? Thanks.

[@djxia1]

Oh we will need that Battery editor video...thaanks uncle Jeff

[@jefgibbons]

Alright! This video is doing so well I might just have to get to that video!

[@FlatTire]

I can’t decide which one I like more, Battery or Groove Agent...

[@jreid100]

Jef great video. Question that’s a nice video monitor you’re using, what brand and model is it if you don’t mind. Thx much

[@jefgibbons]

Thanks! Check the description for a link to a video all about the tv!

[@1masterfader]

How may I change the path when I move all samples to a new drive?

[@Mamiilou]

My friend recommend me to buy this and I have a Maschine. I just want to drop some sequence or sample live. What do you recommend?

[@richardridings7511]

Thank you so much Jef. Wonderfully informative. I've just bought a Maschine Micro (haven't even opened it!!)- I wish I had seen this video first, I've been a N.I. user since battery first came out .....but never really got on top of it. I've also come a cross a great piece of software called 'KIt Maker" which will make Drum Racks out of all your Expansions if you are using Ableton Live. BTW . Yes please ...do another video on the editor, that would be greatly appreciated.

[@namagenshu]

Kit Maker looks great! Will have to grab that to convert my Maschine expansions. Thanks!

[@jefgibbons]

@@namagenshu For sure! I have some vids on it already: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpyugJ2rnM2se6c

[@namagenshu]

Nice! Not sure if I watched that one before or not. Will check out!

[@samislam5904]

Jeff thank you again for the nice explanation. Great tutorial. One question I have noticed the tempo sync don’t work. While you drag sample file to the Battery cell. It doesn’t go with Daw tempo. Doesn’t synch. Any advise. ? Thank you.

[@anzatzi]

Great walk thru--thanks!

[@richardhardiman3896]

Great vid. But got totally distracted by the huge screen. How large ? What kind is it ?

[@eldean0]

Jeff just curious what back up methods do you use to protect your system data and also your sound drives ? Thank you

[@TheFoo_Fighter]

Well... awesome video first of all. But, when I enable key track on a cell it doesnt let me play this one cell over the keyboard but triggers all the other cells just as always. Hope you get what I mean? What should I do now?

[@goldonon]

Thank you so much for the lesson. clear and easy

[@jefgibbons]

Most welcome!

[@solprins]

When you've edited a kit like you did in various ways here, do you need to resave that kit under a new name or will it remain edited if you for instance save the song it's present in, in a daw?

[@jefgibbons]

It all gets saved with the project for sure, no need to do anything else!

[@bobma62]

Hi great video, I’ve been using Battery for a decade or more. For some reason in the last week I can no longer make any parameter changes. It’s as though the entire thing is locked. If I use the scroll wheel on my mouse I can move the parameters but if I grab even the volume it will not go up or down it just seems to be locked. Do you have any idea why this is happening?

[@samislam5904]

Hello Jeff Really nice video bro , question where did you get the white color KOMPLETE KONTROL 61 ? pls advise

[@jefgibbons]

Hey Sam! It was in the 25 year anniversary, but sadly they’re sold out!

[@Knowcaptv]

How are you Jef? How do you setup midi outputs in maschine to play samples individually in the groups?

[@jefgibbons]

Are you talking about in Maschine DAW? Or in Cubase?

[@simpleluke]

We need a sync with project option on that speed knob.

[@SeriousTipStudio]

Hello, is there an undo on Battery 4? If I erase a cell or a snare by error is there an undo that's on Battery 4?

[@bernardojunqueira2392]

That would be a nice feature.

[@Vmadethebeat]

Unc Jef Wow! Hidden 💎 fs! I definitely could tap into battery more fs! TY Which Mac book pro did u get/order?? I need 1 myself! Lol. If possible PLS do me a favor. Looking for NI equipment so if you got any used equipment for sale I would luv 2 know!! Dont kno if NI gives u equipment or lets u use it an send it back? Either way let me know! Thank YOU!!

[@jefgibbons]

Thanks V! The only one I could sell is my original MK3 since the other stuff is Not for resale… I am able to use them at my local school but it’s still under my name… ordering the top specced MacBook Pro!!

[@Vmadethebeat]

@@jefgibbons Niceeee! Congrats! If poss PLS Send me link 2 one ur getting? No problem definitely understandable! I already have a great working MK3. Ever since i got it the Machine Studio is back in the original box..lol. If a Machine + or ni Keyboard comes up or anything else changes pls let me know! Much appreciated Unc Jef! Enjoy your week!!

[@andrewsalas1154]

Thanks for such a great and informative breakdown on Battery Jeff! Question, I've installed 4 or 5 expansions and all the kits seem to be thrown in battery alphabetically. Is there a way to filter each expansion to see exactly what comes in that specific expansion? I know there's a add tab for the Users area but those will all be grouped together too if installed that way.... hmmm

[@ivanrojasreischel]

Hi, you can do that using Komplete Kontrol. Once you select the instrument Battery 4, just below the instrument name you can add a filter based on the expansion and see all kits of that expansion only. Regards

[@andrewsalas1154]

@@ivanrojasreischel Thank you but I was asking about Battery bro, I don't use Komplete, just battery itself. I was wondering if there was a way to separate the expansions in Battery alone

[@ivanrojasreischel]

Ok, I thought you just wanted to know what battery kits are included in each expansion. You can get that info in one minute using KK and never use it again.

[@andrewsalas1154]

@@ivanrojasreischel you’re right I do want to know which kits are in each expansion. It does seem to be a bit of a hassle to install KK to see what’s what and then once I know, I exit out and have to try to remember what kit belongs to what lol.

[@ivanrojasreischel]

@@andrewsalas1154 maybe you already know this, but in case not : in Battery once you press the Kit button you get the whole list of kits included in all expansions but alphabetically sorted, right?, well if you just right click on any of these kits you will receive a finder window showing only the list of kits included in the same expansion of that one. If you want to know what expansion is that you just have to right click again on any of these kits and ask for the properties and in that properties window you will get the path where that kit is located. The name of the expansion is evident looking that path. I hope it helps. Regards.

[@JaleTM]

I am still using Battery. I feel sad that NI support/love for it seems to be gone. But I bet that Battery 5 is on it's way;)!

[@jefgibbons]

I hope you’re right, it’s long overdue!

[@MickBenjamins]

Great video, Jef!

[@jefgibbons]

Thanks Mick! It was a good refresher for me!

[@thomasfokas]

Cool desk. Is that custom made or did you make the desk and add a slide out keyboard tray? if so, who sells a flight out keyboard tray like the one you have? Nice 25th Anniversary grey KK MkII.

[@jefgibbons]

Hey Thomas, the desk case is home made, the Maschine enclosures are linked in the description, and about 8 videos ago I have a vid on the keyboard tray.

[@thomasfokas]

@@jefgibbons thx

[@jamg6311]

Great tutorial! Thanks!

[@helmutsfeldmanis6105]

Can you tell, how to instal factory content. Mai Battery is empty and does not make any sound. Thank you.

[@danabarnes4751]

Thanks! I needed that.

[@MarvOtis]

Jeff! Thank you for your professional and informative videos. I absolutely love your channel. Question about the Tv you have on the wall. What size is it I’m looking to do something similar as my eyes are getting older and it’s harder to see the smaller monitors. I’m running a pc with hdmi outputs would it be possible for me to run something like your Tv in my studio? Thanks for any suggestions. Marv

[@jefgibbons]

Hey Rusty! Check the link in the description, I have a video on it. Not sure about PC, but you should be fine! I love the huge display, but getting the height right is key!!

[@MarvOtis]

@@jefgibbons Thanks Jeff much appreciated brother.

[@Jamesrmello]

Great video! Is there any way to preview each drum kit hearing all the samples in context - kinda like a demo song for the kit? I think Battery 3 might have had this. I use Ableton Live which also comes with its own drum kits. When I go through the Ableton Drum Kits, it plays a demo song of the full drum kit as soon as you click on it. Of course, one wouldn't compose exactly like the demo song - it's just a great way to hear a whole kit pretty quickly just to get the overall "vibe" of it. I guess for now in Battery 4, I'll simply select each kit and start triggering each sample. A preview kit feature is just a great fast way to hear everything.

[@HUMZMIC1]

Hey Jeff my BATTERY isn't loading up on my MK3 you have any sugestions on how to fix this? (PLZ HLP)

[@davidbyourplanb]

Thanks for another really helpful video!

[@jefgibbons]

Most welcome David!

[@rubywilson1165]

Hello Jeff I have some issue with Articulation ,midi echo and humanize inside batterry they doesnt work .

[@davidmarley8387]

I have battery with native access it worked fine then I did a update on Mac now can’t log in native access and now my sound kits can’t load up any suggestions

[@robertpeveler9570]

Very handy video - just a shame that NI have now broken the ability of the scan to show expansions in the library, and seem to have no plans to fix it any time soon, so a lot of this no longer works so well. It was great when it did.

[@bernardojunqueira2392]

I have Groove Agent 5 which came included with Cubase 13 Artist that I recently purchased, after many years away from music production. But as I'm relearning all this stuff after a long hiatus, I'm considering getting Battery 4 because it seems to me that the interface is much more new user friendly. It just seems easier to find the functions you are looking for, whereas in GA5 I`d have to spend some time studing it. But I just feel like making music straight away, not ``enrolling`` in a new plugin course, like GA5. Also, I was a user of battery 2 back then, so I guess I`m biased towards this type of interface, even though it has changed a lot (from B2 to B4). But these are my first impressions only. Anyway, now that Battery 4 is included in Komplete Select [Beats], I`m highlly considering geting this one.

[@jefgibbons]

I’d say it’s worth it in komplete select… it’s super old though, not that I have any signs they are going to replace it. The expansions are my fave part of battery but they cost extra. Lastly I actually think Groove Agent is better, but the expansions are better in battery! (And GA looks even more outdated than battery… which is saying something!!!)

[@bernardojunqueira2392]

@@jefgibbons Yes. Thanks for your input. Luv your videos!

[@ladislavmertlik]

Hi Jef, how do you find Logic´s Drum Machine Designer compared to Battery?

[@jefgibbons]

I’ve never used it! Haven’t had Logic for a while now…

[@geebashiri3315]

Phenomenal video 💪🏾