Native Instruments is offering NI Essentials (Mac/Win; $499), a versatile bundle of its instruments that are useful in a wide range of styles and genres. The bundle includes full versions of Absynth 3, Battery 2, Pro-53, Kompakt, and one amp emulation of choice from the Guitar Combos series. The choices include the Plexi Combo, Twang Combo, and AC-Box Combo.

NI Essentials includes the four software instruments on a single DVD, and contains a special license code that allows you to download your individual Guitar Combos amp emulation from the NI website.

A special limited-time upgrade offer allows all owners of at least one product from the NI Essentials collection to upgrade to the full bundle for only $339. The upgrade offer expires on December 31, 2005.

For more information, click here.