Thinking of buying Maschine...which ninjas are using it...

[wub]

...and what do you think of it?

I seem to remember someone mentioning it (Fragments?) so just wanted to get a heads up as to whether it's really as intuitive for sampling and beat creation as the videos would have me believe;

[Maxxan]

I've got the Maschine Mikro, and first off I'll say that I've always been more of an in the box-kinda producer so my view probably differs from yours. I find that the Mikro is a little limiting in the workflow because of the one knob, it's pretty cumbersome to edit samples etc but that's supposed to be a lot easier on the big one so I can't really speak for that. I wish it was easier to use the mouse and keyboard inside of the Maschine software and I often end up feeling more limited while working inside it, this is probably somewhat due to the fact that I never learned it properly though. Doesn't fit on my desk atm so I rarely use it unfortunately. So I can't really say much about the workflow advantages of the big brother, I basically bought mine to use as a drum pad.

What I can say though is that when I do use it it's a lot of fun and the pads are great. But you definately don't want to get the Mikro if you're looking for intuitivity, and you should be prepared to do most of the work on the Maschine instead of in the software. Comparing to the sampling/audio editing capabilities in a DAW, the Maschine software is pretty primitive. Whether that's negative or positive depends on your opinion I guess. But even the Mikro can definately be used to get a break from the computer every now and then, it's a different approach and I'm guessing this isn't a huge investment for you. So it could probably give you a different perspective on things if you get stuck. I'd say go for it.

Also, get the Mk2. It just looks so much nicer with all the pretty colors

[VirtualMark]

I'm interested to hear about this too. I've been thinking of either getting Maschine or Push but I'm not sure.

[outdropt]

I am in the same boat. I was planning on getting one a few months ago but decided to hold off. Just found out my bonus is coming in next week so I'm debating the Maschine or Push.

Both would completely alter work flow an composition so its a hard debate. They are both completely different animals. Thinking I might head to guitar center or some shit to try them both out.

Edit*
I heard with the release of the MK2 and 1.8, alot of the parameters are intertwined between hardware and software.

[Maxxan]

I am in the same boat. I was planning on getting one a few months ago but decided to hold off. Just found out my bonus is coming in next week so I'm debating the Maschine or Push.

Both would completely alter work flow an composition so its a hard debate. They are both completely different animals. Thinking I might head to guitar center or some shit to try them both out.

Edit*
I heard with the release of the MK2 and 1.8, alot of the parameters are intertwined between hardware and software.

Shit I haven't even gotten on that update yet. Totally neglecting the old baby, I feel bad now.

[Toolman4]

I have a friend that bought maschine. He was all about it at first, preaching that the stock sound library was worth the purchase itself. He is definitely a more "hands on" kind of producer as he knows keys fairly well and can take advantage of velocity and what not from midi control. Nowadays, he says that it's nice once the synthesis work is done for inspiring arrangement ideas but he finds himself turning to the "programmer" side of producing as he learns more about ableton.

He certainly never utilized it's full capabilities/did the research... before pushing it aside, I was the one who pointed out that it's interfacing capabilities with other NI software was something to explore...Again he bought it mainly for the "hands on feel" style of producing at first...

[AxeD]

It's worth the cash definitely. It's not exactly what I was looking for, but it's great nonetheless.
If you can get an mk1 for around 200-250, go for it.

[Crimsonghost]

I think the Mschine is a great product. When I first got i didn't use It all that much. Honestly, i bought it when I first started producing just because I wanted something physical to make beats with. Had no idea what the potential of it was, but it was very intuitive and easy to learn. Plus there are a lot of great recourses out there.

Now a days I try to works it in to most of my projects because it forces me to do things I wouldn't normally do. It's nice to build beats on it piece by piece. And now there is great integration between it and most daws. I'm not sure with others, but with Studio One 2 I can sequence in Maschine and record audio direct into my daw on up to 16 channels. Is cool to just jam on it for like 10 min the rues ample the hell out of the audio.

As far as using it as a sampler don't really have much to say about that because I don't use a lot of those functions too often. It does a pretty good job of detecting transients and splitting the sample over the pads. The time stretching it nice as well. Every pad you assign a sound too has individual controls over adsr, pitch, tune, ect.

With I could give you more info on sampling, but like I said, I mostly use it for the beats..

Hope that helped.

[SaveMidnight]

I have a Maschine (Mikro), a Launchpad, and a APC40.

I use the APC 40 all of the time.
I keep the Launchpad in my backpack for when I'm out and about and want to work on something.
The Maschine is at a friends house, and I'm not even that interested in going to get it.

But I'm pretty sure you (Wub) aren't on Ableton, so you wouldn't care about a Launchpad or an APC40.
I actually like the Maschine Workflow, just don't like the controller that much. If I could sell the controller and keep the software I would.

[Sharmaji]

well wub there's your answer: most people who have it, really like it! Though they don't use it that much.

I've done a few coproductions with folks who relied heavily on machine, they seemed to love it. I've got my own workflow and while it looks intriguing, it reminded me of my mpc... which i sold. Was just too much overlap between what i could get done there, and what i could get done in the box. obviously maschine is more 1/2 and 1/2.

with that said, if it keeps you creating and moving forward with ideas-- by all means, go for it.

[alphacat]

Mefinks Nowaysj has/loves/inappropriately touches a Maschine. Could be wrong though. Maybe he was just talking about his Sybian.

[nowaysj]

I have, love, and appropriately touch my maschine. Though I am selling it. .

I've never really used the stock sounds, though they are good and clean and kind of contemporary sounding.

I've only used it a little bit on one pro project. But I have had many days just lost in monitors (visual kind) off beat making. I do really enjoy it.

Once you have learned it it is quicker than a daw, no eyes involved. But everything I've done in there has sounded a little flat. But I find that with everything I do with NI products. I don't know what it is, could very well just be me, but something I've observed over the years.

The fx are pretty dope, in a nonsubtle, but creative and chunky way. I think the pads are way too stiff, they have no give. They are way better than mpk pads, and to my very limited knowledge, mpds, though I have felt 32's that seemed smushier. I know all those mpk and mpds pads are supposed to be the same, but they're not, in my opinion. So like on maschine, the pads are stiff and after a couple of hours, you will feel it, at least I would, but they are responsive, unlike mpk which are stiff and unresponsive. Still say the padkontrol is best generally available pads (and they too are still stiff but are very sensitive so a light touch works well - have also adjusted velocity curve in flstudio to make it even more responsive).

Anyways, it is dope, fast and fun, sound quality, a little flat, not the same kind of control in a daw, but I'm spoiled on that front. Oh, I never used it inside of my daw, always standalone. I don't see the point of using inside of a daw, other than maybe tracking out groups and stuff, or if you've got an old clunky daw like cubase.

One last thing, I never really availed myself of its step sequencer capabilities, but they are pretty dope, can come up with some interesting machine grooves that way.

I'd recommend an sp404sx over maschine though, for hands on beat making. It is way harder to cleanly chop, way harder to resample (which is aces to the power of aces on maschine LOVE IT FOR THIS and I am a major beat resampler), but all those ruff chops, I don't know, the magic happens on the 404.

[wub]

You've mentioned the 404 before, need to look into that

Also just spotted this;



Every video makes me want this more

[nowaysj]

If you do purchase maschine, make sure to buy it while you still can legally make a financial transaction of that size, lolz.

[Sharmaji]

[quote="nowaysj"] sound quality, a little flat/quote]

This is always a gripe of mine with the NI stuff- patches sound big and full by themselves, with a lot of sub, but get them in the context of a mix and they take a surprising amount of work to feel lively.

W that said, I do still use massive all the time.

[Crimsonghost]

That MK vid is really cool. Every time im looking for some insperation, i pop that one on.

If you do decide to buy it, get a mkII. The pads are more responsive and the color coding is awesome.

[fragments]

OK, I swear I made a huge post about Maschine and clicked submit. Anyway the skinny is: I paid >300 for my MK1 and love it for beat making. I can get lost in Maschine for hours. It is really intuitive. The balance of hardware/software is perfect for my work flow. I've used it on every project since I got it. I've not dove deep into it yet, but even if I never do I'm getting my money's worth out of it easily. Unless I'm doing something like a straight 16th hhats or something quick and dirty, I'm doing all my percussion in Maschine. I'm not overly impressed by dynamics processing, but I like the saturation, distortion, lo fi, delays and reverbs it has. I'd basically echo what nowaysj said. I agree with both he and Sharm that I think NI stuff in general and Maschine's output sound a little flat, but I just run the drums through an outboard tube pre-amp/overdrive unit, problem solved. Presence for days.

[wub]

OK, I swear I made a huge post about Maschine and clicked submit. Anyway the skinny is: I paid >300 for my MK1 and love it for beat making. I can get lost in Maschine for hours. It is really intuitive. The balance of hardware/software is perfect for my work flow. I've used it on every project since I got it. I've not dove deep into it yet, but even if I never do I'm getting my money's worth out of it easily. Unless I'm doing something like a straight 16th hhats or something quick and dirty, I'm doing all my percussion in Maschine. I'm not overly impressed by dynamics processing, but I like the saturation, distortion, lo fi, delays and reverbs it has. I'd basically echo what nowaysj said. I agree with both he and Sharm that I think NI stuff in general and Maschine's output sound a little flat, but I just run the drums through an outboard tube pre-amp/overdrive unit, problem solved. Presence for days.

Just what I was after