Cell Matrix

Abstract

The Cell Matrix is BATTERY's central interface for viewing and editing the content of a Kit.

The Cell Matrix is BATTERY's central interface for viewing and editing the content of a Kit. It consists of up to 128 cells that are arranged in a flexible number of rows (maximum of eight) and columns (maximum of 16).

Each cell can contain a maximum of 128 samples. If a cell contains multiple samples, they can either be layered and played at once, or assigned to different velocity layers. For more information about editing layers, refer to Editor Page.

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A 12x4 Cell Matrix layout.

Using the Cell Matrix

The Cell Matrix offers a number of basic workflows for selecting cells, setting mute or solo states, as well as editing cell options and controls.

  • To select a cell for editing using the Edit area, click on it.

  • To select multiple cells for editing using the Edit area, [Ctrl] + click (Windows) or [Cmd] + click (macOS) the cells. Alternatively, you can click the column headers (1-16) or the row headers (A-H) to select all cells in the respective column or row.

  • To mute or solo a cell, or a selection of multiple cells, click Solo (yellow button) or Mute (red button) in the cell, respectively.

    1084689758_imageref_993921675.png
  • To open the cell context menu with various options related to the cell, right-click the cell. For more information about the available options, refer to The Cell Context Menu.

Tip

The Quick Access area below the Cell Matrix provides frequently used sample editing and cell controls. Refer to Quick Access Area for more information.

Cell States

A cell can have different states, which are all visualized for clarity. The available states differ between the regular view of the Cell Matrix, and the view shown when the Master page is selected in the Edit area.

The following cell states are available in the regular view of the Cell Matrix:

  • In focus: When you click on a cell, it is in focus and highlighted with a colored frame. The Quick Access area and the Edit area show the parameters and settings specific to this cell.

    BAT_Cell_States_In_Focus.png
  • Selected for editing: When selecting multiple cells, only the cell clicked last is in focus. The other cells are selected for editing and highlighted with a grey frame. All changes made to the cell in focus will also be applied to the cells selected for editing.

    BAT_Cell_States_Selected_for_Editing.png
  • Triggered: When you play the note(s) associated to a cell, it will light up.

    BAT_Cell_States_Triggered.png
  • No samples loaded: When no samples are loaded in a cell, the Cell Matrix background is shown.

    BAT_Cell_States_No_Sample_Loaded.png

The following cell states are available in the Cell Matrix when the Master page is selected in the Edit area:

  • In focus and selected for editing: When you click on a cell, it is in focus and highlighted with a grey frame. When selecting multiple cells for editing, all selected cells are highlighted with a grey frame. Only the the cell clicked last is in focus.

    BAT_Cell_States_In_Focus_and_Selected_For_Editing.png
  • Routed to current bus: When selecting the Master or any of the Buses in the Master page, the cells assigned to the Master or the respective bus are highlighted. All other cells are dimmed.

    BAT_Cell_States_Assigned_to_current_bus.png
  • Routed to side-chain input: When a cell is routed to the side-chain input of the Compressor module on the Master page, the cell displays SC in its lower right corner. For more information, refer to Compressor.

    BAT_Cell_States_Assigned_to_SC.png

Cell Colors

Cells in the Cell Matrix can have different colors to signify their contents. All Factory Kits use the same color scheme so you can easily find the sounds you are looking for within a Kit. You can change the color assigned to a cell, or a selection of multiple cells, to match your own Kits to the official color scheme, or create your own custom color schemes.

Color Scheme

The color scheme used for the Factory Kits is made out of seven of the 16 available colors in the color palette. The colors have been chosen to offer contrast between highly differentiated sounds, and similarity between related sounds.

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The color palette in the Cell's context menu

The following colors are used in the Factory Kits:

(1): Kicks

(4): Snares

(2): Toms and percussion

(9): Hi-hats

(8): Cymbals

(16): Claps

(11): Other

Changing Cell Colors

To change the color of a cell:

  1. Right-click the cell to open the context menu.

  2. Select a color from the Cell Color submenu by clicking on it.

    1084689758_imageref_993847435.png

    The cell shows the selected color.

Tip

You can change the color of multiple cells by selecting them before opening the context menu. For more information, refer to Cell Matrix.

The Cell Context Menu

The cell context menu provides various options related to the cell.

  • To open the context menu, right-click on a cell in the Cell Matrix.

The cell context menu contains the following entries:

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  • Add Sample...: Opens the file browser that allows you to load a sample from your hard drive and add it to the cell. You can also add samples to a cell using drag and drop.

  • Replace Sample...: Opens the file browser that allows you to replace the cell's content with a sample from your hard drive.

  • Render Cell in Place: Renders the cell and all of its effects into a new sample that replaces the existing cell content. For more information, refer to Applying Effects.

  • Load Cell...: Opens the file browser that allows you to replace the cell's content with a BATTERY Cell file (*.nbcl) from your hard drive.

  • Save Cell...: Opens the file browser that allows you to save the cell's content to a new BATTERY Cell file (*.nbcl) on your hard drive.

  • Cut Cell: Cuts the cell including its content and settings to the clipboard.

  • Copy Cell: Copies the cell including its content and settings to the clipboard.

  • Paste Cell(s): Pastes the content from the clipboard to the currently selected cell(s).

  • Delete Cell: Deletes the cell content and resets all parameters and settings to their default values.

  • Rename Cell: Renames the cell.

  • Cell Color: Opens a submenu that you can use to change the color of the cell. For more information, see Changing Cell Colors.

  • Output: Selects the output for the cell. A cell can be routed to the Master or one of the four Buses on the Master page, or a Direct Out that can be sent to a dedicated track in your DAW.