Native Instruments releases Public Betas of Maschine v1.6 (incl. VST/AU Hosting) and Battery v3.2 (both for registered users)

Native Instruments has announced that the public beta test for the upcoming Maschine 1.6 and Battery 3.2 updates have started.

Maschine 1.6
If you are a Maschine owner, you can download a fully functional 1.6 beta version, and submit eventual bug findings to the Maschine team over a special "bug tracker" web page. The public beta version has already been tested extensively by NI's internal testing team, but for general reasons it should still be used with caution in performance-critical environments.

New and improved features:

• Plug-in hosting for VST/AU instruments and effects.
• Increased number of effect slots (3 per Sound, 4 per Group, 4 on Master).
• New "Pad Link" function with 8 pad groups and Master/Slave option.
• Individual swing setting per sound.
• Clip naming.
• Sample renaming.
• Improved scene duplication.
• External audio input/output increased to 16 stereo channels.
• Improved Drag&Drop mapping for samples.
• Improved Drag&Drop from OS for Maschine files and audio files.
• Drag&Drop rearrangement of scenes and patterns.
• Snap-to-grid when moving events via mouse.
• VST plug-in operation under Mac OS X 64-bit.
• Rex import under Mac OS X 64-bit.

Battery 3.2
The upcoming Battery 3.2 update brings several technological improvements including zero-latency convolution, additional import formats as well as 64-bit VST and Rex file support under Mac OS. For this reason, the Battery team has decided to set up a public beta test. This means that, starting immediately, registered Battery 3 owners can download a fully functional 3.2 beta version, and submit eventual bug findings to the Battery team over a special "bug tracker" web page. This is a pre-release version and should be used with caution in performance-critical environments.

New and improved features:

• Additional Saturator algorithm optimized for drum sounds.
• New "Default Kit" option.
• New zero-latency convolution engine with optimized performance.
• Additional import formats (Akai MPC 5000, Alesis Fusion, Drumagog, Korg Triton, Roland Fantom, Yamaha Motif).
• Numerical parameter value input via keyboard.
• VST plug-in operation under Mac OS X 64-bit.
• Rex import under Mac OS X 64-bit.

So, how does this work?

• You need to be a registered Maschine / Battery owner to join the public beta tests.
• You can sign up for the public beta.
• If this is the first time that you join an NI public beta test, you will receive an email with your password for the "public beta bug tracker".

What is important to know about the public beta version?

• It will be unlocked with your existing serial number.
• It requires (and overwrites) a previous Maschine / Battery installation on the same computer.
• Please note that projects, sounds and other files stored with the new versions can not be loaded with earlier versions of the software.
• Maschine:
  • It will expire on February 27th 2011 (the official 1.6 update or a new public beta build will be made available before that date).
  • If you want to revert to the previous Maschine 1.5 version for any reason, please run the master installer from the original DVD, then install the 1.5 update.
• Battery:
  • It will expire on March 31st 2011 (the official 3.2 update or a new public beta build will be made available before that date).
  • If you want to revert to the previous Battery 3.1 version for any reason, please run the master installer from the original DVD, then install the 3.1 update.