Free Battery 3 Sample Packs And Drum Kits For Producers

Native Instruments Battery 3 stands as a comprehensive drum sampling solution that has garnered attention from music producers seeking high-quality percussion sounds. The software comes equipped with an extensive library of over 12GB of music, featuring more than 23,000 distinct samples across 2,600 drum cells and 100 drum kits, covering a diverse range of musical styles from classical to modern rock. For producers looking to expand their sound palette without additional investment, several free sample packs and drum kits are available for Battery 3 users. This article explores the various free offerings available, their features, and how to access them.

Native Instruments' Free Artist Drum Kits

Native Instruments has made available a free library add-on featuring three artist-designed drum kits for Battery 3. These exclusive kits were created by NI endorsees including the Gorillaz, Einstuerzende Neubauten, and Turntablerocker, offering producers professionally crafted sounds from established artists.

The "Dracula Eastwood" kit, designed by Gorillaz producer Curtis Lynch, provides high-quality drum sounds suitable for urban grooves. This collection includes an assortment of over 60 bass drums, snares, toms, and hi-hats, each bearing a distinctive vinyl character that adds warmth and texture to productions.

Legendary avant-garde rockers Einstuerzende Neubauten contributed a comprehensive selection of their famed custom-built scrap-metal percussion instruments. These unique sounds were recorded exclusively in the band's own studio and made available to other musicians for the first time through this free offering.

Berlin-based dancefloor veterans Turntablerocker added a special selection of drum sounds from their "wildstyle" production library. This collection spans over 60 drum and percussion instruments, covering diverse styles from house to hip hop and R&B, providing producers with versatile electronic percussion elements.

These artist kits are available as a free download for registered users of Battery 3. However, the current availability of these kits remains unclear, as one source questions whether they are still accessible through official channels.

MyOSS Dirty Kit Sample Pack

Timur Arynov, operating under the name MyOSS, has developed the "Dirty Kit," a free drum sample pack specifically designed for Native Instruments Battery 3. This sample pack offers producers a distinctive collection of drum sounds created through an analog signal chain.

The MyOSS Dirty Kit was produced using the MFB-522 analog drum-module in conjunction with the internal overdrive and distortion effects of the Novation Ultranova. After recording, all samples were edited in Audacity before being assembled into a complete Battery 3 drumkit. The pack also includes one-shot samples that can be used in any digital audio workstation (DAW) or sampler.

The technical specifications of the MyOSS Dirty Kit include: - 60 mono WAV files recorded at 44.1kHz/16-bit resolution using a Focusrite Saffire 6 audio interface - 2-3 variations of each drum sound, providing sonic diversity for producers - 3 separate takes for each sound to enable round-robin implementation, which helps avoid machine-like repetition when triggering samples - A fully configured Battery 3 kit with high-pass and low-pass filters applied to each section - 3-step round-robin functionality for more natural-sounding drum performances - A subtle room reverb effect added to enhance the spatial quality of the sounds - Standard General MIDI (GM) mapping for compatibility with various MIDI configurations

The download size for the MyOSS Dirty Kit is compact at just 1.43 MB, making it easily accessible for producers with limited bandwidth or storage space. The free nature of this sample pack makes it an attractive option for producers seeking to expand their drum library without financial investment.

Synesthesia Corporation's Mandala Integration

Synesthesia Corporation has developed specialized presets that integrate Native Instruments Battery 3 with the Mandala 2.0 controller, offering a unique approach to drum performance and sound design. These free downloads configure Battery 3 specifically for use with the Mandala pad, treating it as a straightforward MIDI controller while leveraging the extensive Battery 3 library.

The presets utilize samples exclusively from Battery 3's comprehensive 12GB library, which contains more than 100 drum kits with over 23,000 individual samples. This integration allows producers to access Battery 3's vast sound collection through an alternative performance interface.

Key features of the Synesthesia Battery 3 presets include: - Sample assignment across up to seven circular trigger zones on the Mandala pad - Extensive utilization of the Mandala's 128 circular strike zones to dynamically change triggering and effects parameters during performance - Coverage of diverse playing styles, from straightforward grooves to experimental sonics - True HD drumming capabilities that respond to the nuanced striking patterns of the performer

In addition to the presets, Synesthesia offers the HD Black Beauty Battery 3 Player for Mandala, designed to provide an accurate digital representation of an acoustic drum. This specialized player incorporates 3,360 samples of a single vintage 1970s 5×14 Super Sensitive Ludwig Black Beauty Snare Drum, capturing the complex sonic characteristics of this iconic instrument.

The HD Black Beauty Battery 3 Player includes four separate players: 1. Snare On - featuring 10 zones from center to edge, 20 velocity layers, and 6 round robins 2. Snare On with Rim - matching the specifications of the Snare On player but with rim shots 3. Snare Off - consisting of 4 zones from center to edge, 20 velocity layers, and 6 round robins 4. Snare Off with Rim - matching the specifications of the Snare Off player but with rim shots

This integration allows a drummer's sound to change with every strike anywhere on the surface of the Mandala, replicating the behavior of an acoustic snare drum. The combination of Battery 3's sampling capabilities and the Mandala's performance surface creates a hybrid digital-acoustic drumming experience.

GotchaNoddin's Free Battery Sound Collections

GotchaNoddin offers several free sound collections specifically formatted for Native Instruments Battery, providing producers with additional options at no cost. These free patches and samples cover various instrumental categories, expanding beyond traditional drum sounds to include bass, guitar, horn, and string textures.

The free offerings from GotchaNoddin include: - Two FREE patches of MPC Bass Sounds extracted from the GN Bass sounds collection - A FREE Sound Collection containing samples from all seven of the GN Drum Kit Collections - FREE Patches of Battery Guitar Sounds taken directly from the GN HipHop Guitars sounds - FREE Patches of Horn Sounds derived from the GN Horn sounds collection - A FREE Sound Collection containing samples from all 19 of the Motif Drum Kit Collections - Two FREE Patches of Battery String Sounds taken directly from the GN String Sounds - FREE Hip Hop Breaks Sounds featuring 16 free Battery Sounds from the Underground HipHop Breakz collection - FREE Hip Hop Breaks Riffs containing free Bass Sounds from the Underground HipHop Breakz collection - FREE UK Hip Hop Sounds with 16 free Bass Sounds from the U.K Hiphop Vol.1 Collection

These free samples are provided in Battery's native .kit format, ensuring seamless integration with the software. GotchaNoddin provides straightforward loading instructions, noting that users should download the zip file, extract it using WinZip or StuffIt, and then load the resulting files directly into Battery 3. For additional guidance, the company references the Native Instruments Battery Manual available on their download page.

Battery 3 Features and Capabilities

Understanding the capabilities of Battery 3 helps contextualize the value of these free sample packs. The software is designed to meet all requirements for percussion and drum programming, offering a fun-filled musical experience through its comprehensive feature set.

Battery 3's acclaimed drum sampler engine produces crisp, clean, and punchy drum beats with precise timing. The software's smart engine ensures that samples trigger with minimal latency, allowing for responsive performances even in complex musical contexts.

Key features of Battery 3 include: - Beat synchronization with loop import for Apple Loops, REX, Acid Wave, and Beat Creator formats - Time stretching functionality per cell for creative sample manipulation - Graphical waveform display that allows samples to be edited on the fly - Performance articulation options such as roll, flam, buzz, and right-hand techniques - A fully customizable cell matrix that permits freely definable rows and columns with up to 128 sample cells - Support for various musical styles from classical to modern rock - Integration with other DAWs and music production software

These features make Battery 3 a versatile platform for utilizing free sample packs, allowing producers to manipulate, layer, and process sounds to suit their specific production needs.

Accessing and Using Free Battery 3 Samples

Producers interested in utilizing free Battery 3 samples should follow several steps to ensure proper integration and functionality. While the specific download processes vary between providers, general guidelines apply across most free sample offerings.

For the MyOSS Dirty Kit, interested producers can download the 1.43 MB package directly from the source website. The package includes both the pre-configured Battery 3 kit and individual one-shot samples that can be loaded into any sampler or DAW.

Native Instruments' free artist kits require a registered Battery 3 user account. The download process typically involves logging into the Native Instruments user portal, navigating to the product downloads section, and locating the free add-on in the Battery 3 library. However, as noted earlier, the current availability of these specific artist kits remains uncertain.

Synesthesia Corporation's Mandala integration presets can be downloaded directly from their website. The installation process involves placing the downloaded files in Battery 3's appropriate preset directory and then selecting them from the software's preset browser. Users with a Mandala controller will benefit most from these specialized presets, though they can also function as standard Battery 3 kits.

GotchaNoddin's free sound collections require downloading the zip files and extracting them using decompression software like WinZip or StuffIt. Once extracted, the .kit files can be loaded directly into Battery 3 by navigating to the File > Import menu or by dragging the files into the Battery 3 interface.

When working with any free sample pack, producers should verify compatibility with their specific version of Battery 3, as older or newer versions may have different file format requirements or feature sets that affect sample loading and playback.

Conclusion

Native Instruments Battery 3 users have access to a variety of free sample packs and drum kits that can enhance their productions without additional financial investment. From the analog character of the MyOSS Dirty Kit to the artist-designed sounds from Gorillaz, Einstuerzende Neubauten, and Turntablerocker, these free offerings provide diverse sonic textures and production possibilities. The specialized Mandala integration presets from Synesthesia Corporation offer unique performance capabilities, while GotchaNoddin's collection of free bass, guitar, horn, and string sounds expands Battery 3's capabilities beyond traditional percussion.

While some of these free offerings may have limitations in terms of availability or scope, they represent valuable resources for producers looking to explore new sounds and production techniques. By leveraging these free sample packs in conjunction with Battery 3's comprehensive feature set, producers can create professional-sounding drum tracks and percussion parts without exceeding their budget constraints.

Sources

1. MyOSS Dirty Kit Free Sample Pack
2. Synesthesia Battery 3 Presets for Mandala
3. Native Instruments Artist Kits for Battery 3
4. ModernBeats Battery Samples
5. GotchaNoddin Free Battery Sounds
6. Native Instruments Battery 3 Information