Logic Users : Battery or Autobeat?

Valcin

Hey folks,

I see that native instruments have a deal until the end of this month where Battery 3 is 99euro which is pretty savage.

I've been using Ultrabeat. I hate the inbuilt sounds on it and I would guess that I probably would not like the sounds on Battery. I prefer to use samples.

What do Logic users think of the two drum programs? Would you see getting Battery as an upgrade or is Ultrabeat superior all you need? I like software that helps workflow and inspires me to make music but I don't want to throw anymore money away on software I dont use.

Cheers.

jtsuited

the main two drum machines I see people using these days are Battery and Guru (made by FXpansion).

I much preferred guru (I've used ultrabeat, battery and guru). It's got a whopper sample bank with it.

ICN

I personally like Ultrabeat.. Does everything that I want it to.


I've got a big enough sample library now, that I very rarely use anything out of the "Stock" library that comes with it.

I really like the osc's in it - Sometimes I use them to make basslines.

& the Noise generator is useful too.


I've had a demo of Battery & it was Ok. A bit complicated in some ways.. almost like its got too many features. The samples it comes with are class though. I'd say the 12/13gb Library it comes with is serious.


Guru is great too.. Really easy to use.. Better than Battery.. Fantastic features.

I cant remember what the demo Library was like.

If you had to buy one & the software was more important - I'd get Guru. If you are just starting out your Drum Library, then I'd buy Battery for the GB's & use it through Ultrabeat!

I know that sounds mental.. But Ultrabeat is much quicker to use compared to Battery IMO.

Get the Demo's & see what you think.

splitrmx

I've a related question for the Logic users actually. I'm using Logic 8 and was wondering if it's possible to use its own sampler (or ultrabeat or whatever) as a standalone sampler which could be triggered from an external midi sequencer?

Right now I appear to be only able to trigger things in Logic with an external sequencer if I've selected that particular instrument track. Once I select another track then the first one won't respond to incoming midi messages, if this makes sense.

Ive never found battery that user friendly for some reason...the few times ive messed about with ultrabeat i was well impressed, though it was only ever a couple of times..

jtsuited

Deleted User wrote: »

Ive never found battery that user friendly for some reason...the few times ive messed about with ultrabeat i was well impressed, though it was only ever a couple of times..

yeah there's something I couldn't really get into with battery.

ultrabeat's phenomenal for geeky stuff like the physical modelling stuff and the crazy automation stuff you can do in the built-in sequencer.

Don't use it too much though. I love Guru for the quick preview features. If you hold a sample over one of the pads, you hear it as if it's in the line already. Which is such a mega handy feature when you got a lot of sounds to go through.

Helix

guru for me, though i still prefer redrum above all else

i have no idea why

Helix

splitrmx wrote: »

I've a related question for the Logic users actually. I'm using Logic 8 and was wondering if it's possible to use its own sampler (or ultrabeat or whatever) as a standalone sampler which could be triggered from an external midi sequencer?

Right now I appear to be only able to trigger things in Logic with an external sequencer if I've selected that particular instrument track. Once I select another track then the first one won't respond to incoming midi messages, if this makes sense.

that doesnt sound right at all

is the sequencer spitting out the note info to the correct midi channels? you should be able to trigger 16 individual instrument channels per midi output of the sequencer

tho ive never actually done this in logic... i sold my mpc the day after i bought my mac

ICN

splitrmx wrote: »

I've a related question for the Logic users actually. I'm using Logic 8 and was wondering if it's possible to use its own sampler (or ultrabeat or whatever) as a standalone sampler which could be triggered from an external midi sequencer?

Right now I appear to be only able to trigger things in Logic with an external sequencer if I've selected that particular instrument track. Once I select another track then the first one won't respond to incoming midi messages, if this makes sense.

If you are a Pro / Studio Man - I'd possibly say that the Mainstage bit of it will sort that out. I know you can set up a controller to it.. but am not sure if the association stays if you then put it on a track?

I've only got Express myself - so maybe one of the other Guys could confirm?


Apart from that.. At a guess - Maybe look towards the enviroment?

Its a deep dark place, but I'm sure it's the place to look towards if you want to route anything in.

I dont have any hardware, so I've never had venture into that side of things tbh Mate.

Rockshamrover

Valcin wrote: »

Hey folks,

I see that native instruments have a deal until the end of this month where Battery 3 is 99euro which is pretty savage.

I've been using Ultrabeat. I hate the inbuilt sounds on it and I would guess that I probably would not like the sounds on Battery. I prefer to use samples.

What do Logic users think of the two drum programs? Would you see getting Battery as an upgrade or is Ultrabeat superior all you need? I like software that helps workflow and inspires me to make music but I don't want to throw anymore money away on software I dont use.

Cheers.

If I was you I would demo as many drum systems as I could. The 99.00 sounds like a bargain but it may not suit your style.

I demod lots of stuff because I personally didn't like the amount of time it took to get a good beat going in Ultrabeat. I prefer spend time on the music but some people love building a beat.

I also got good advise from a very experienced head off here.

I ended up getting Addictive Drums which I love. They just sound fantastic next to the Ultrabeat stuff and it's much qicker to build up a decent drum track.

Here's a link. http://www.xlnaudio.com/ Try their demo.

seannash

do people use these drum machines to input there whole drum track.
i figured most people just use samples and put them on audio tracks
is your whole drum arrangement coming out of guru or whatever you use and if so can you eq(using a 3rd party eq)compress etc the individual elements.
id imagine you cand set it up to have channels out of guru,seems a bit fiddly

Helix

yeah you can set it up to put things on different channels. definitely not fiddly in the slightest, exceptionally versatile... infinitely moreso than sample loops

ICN

I normally stick an Ultrabeat on one track with just Hats..

Another for Clap.. Perc..Single Hits..etc..

I'll bounce them down when I need to.


Its v.easy to pitch the samples up or down / reverse them.

You've got the Envelopes / Gate & you can edit the start points in the sample.. You can get interesting stuff out of it.

The Automation bit of it is excellent too.

Valcin

Cheers lads for the replies. I think I'll give Battery a miss. I'm happy enough with Ultrabeat at the moment so if Battery isn't a huge improvement I stick with it.

Does anyone have any recommendations for drum sample libraries? I use Superior drums for "real" drums which i love and I have a few more random electronic sample packs like the Goldbaby one and the ultrabeat library but I'd still like some more good quality ones. I'd love to get something like the Elektron machinedrum but its probably a bit much at over a grand.

ICN

Valcin wrote: »

Cheers lads for the replies. I think I'll give Battery a miss. I'm happy enough with Ultrabeat at the moment so if Battery isn't a huge improvement I stick with it.

Does anyone have any recommendations for drum sample libraries? I use Superior drums for "real" drums which i love and I have a few more random electronic sample packs like the Goldbaby one and the ultrabeat library but I'd still like some more good quality ones. I'd love to get something like the Elektron machinedrum but its probably a bit much at over a grand.

I'm making House / Tech-y stuff - so pretty much everything that I've got is Synthetic.. I dont really know anything about "Live" sounding stuff Mate.

I've got the Goldbaby ones.. 808 / 909.

Couple of Sample Magic's and a couple of Loopmasters. Sample Magic are great. Loopmasters are a bit hit & miss.

I've also got one Vengance one which is rubbish altogether. AVOID.

& Lots of other stuff from Magazines & Mates that I have in a folder called "OLD Random". I'll try something out of that if I need a bit of inspiration.