NI launching 'stand alone hardware' Maschine + (leak)

[machinesworking]

I think the KVR people have no idea how big the whole "DAWless" thing is. The MPC Live thread on Gearslutz is 806 pages, 24,000 replies. Over 2 million views. One thread.

I don't particularly get the whole DAWless thing, but I started with computers as the main sequencer, not a drum machine or MPC etc. The computer is not the main focus at work etc.

[ATS]

IMO it is more mediocre crap coming from NI, it’s sad watching a once great company tank.

the product didn't fail yet, it hasn't even launched. Just because you don't like it doesn't make it an auto fail.

[BONES]

How stupid would you have to be to swap one or two 13"-32" screens for two tiny little ones? It beggars belief.

[machinesworking]

How stupid would you have to be to swap one or two 13"-32" screens for two tiny little ones? It beggars belief.

Ergonomics. I have a Maschine Studio, you look at the small screens when using Maschine, even though the 27" is just to the left of the hardware. You don't need all that real estate when you're mostly using the controller. The 8 knobs above it have changing functions based on what's being done, and are labeled with those tiny screens. The only time the smaller screens are not better is when editing MIDI patterns, then turning to the computer and mouse makes more sense, everything else you're not really using the computer screen for much.

This doesn't look to be any different than the MPC Live, where you can easily work on the thing in stand alone, and/or tethered to a computer as a controller with the Maschine Software. IMO if you're completely into treating Maschine as a DAW and live performance device, it's pretty cool, but personally I have no need for it.

I have no need for Maschine really. In terms of drums, I would rather use the built in drum plug ins in Bitwig or DP etc. I'm selling Maschine and the MPC Live. XO is the remaining VSTi I will use, as a browser for the embedded plug ins.

[zerocrossing]

I think the KVR people have no idea how big the whole "DAWless" thing is. The MPC Live thread on Gearslutz is 806 pages, 24,000 replies. Over 2 million views. One thread.

I don't particularly get the whole DAWless thing, but I started with computers as the main sequencer, not a drum machine or MPC etc. The computer is not the main focus at work etc.

These days I’m totally studio bound, and I like it, so this wouldn’t be a product for me, but if I was still playing live, I’d snap it up in a heartbeat. One box would basically cover all my drum and synth sounds and I’ll I’d need is my guitar, bass, Kemper and a floor controller. Perfect, really, though I’d rather they do a Kontrol version so I’d have a full keyboard.

[machinesworking]

I’d rather they do a Kontrol version so I’d have a full keyboard.

Yeah that's a total no brainer. I've known a few keyboard virtuosos that never could get over the latency in VSTi's (their imagination really), or bought Tritons etc. because of the all in one nature of them.

Honestly I would buy a Komplete Control MK3+. I like the idea of the S series, I do not trust NI to continue to support any of their hardware that relies on Controller Editor, and I refuse to buy something that will go obsolete from them again.
A 61 or 88 key MK3+ with built in sounds that sends CC from it's knobs via MIDI out and the thing would never be useless.

[Rompler 29]

For live work -the all in the box ethos works for me
Looking forward to reviews before parting with cash

[BONES]

Ergonomics. I have a Maschine Studio, you look at the small screens when using Maschine, even though the 27" is just to the left of the hardware.

That's for the current device, I have a Maschine Mikro of my own. I'm talking about people who'd buy this thing so they can do without their computer.

The only time the smaller screens are not better is when editing MIDI patterns, then turning to the computer and mouse makes more sense, everything else you're not really using the computer screen for much.

You may not be using it for much but you are seeing a lot - level meters, where you're at in your arrangement, etc., etc. I went from a Trinity's much larger than these screen to a 17" CRT and even that was a huge improvement. Having done both, I would never even contemplate going back.

This doesn't look to be any different than the MPC Live, where you can easily work on the thing in stand alone, and/or tethered to a computer as a controller with the Maschine Software.

That just makes your set-up more complicated and full of unnecessary redundancy. I thought the idea was to make it easier?

I have no need for Maschine really. In terms of drums, I would rather use the built in drum plug ins in Bitwig or DP etc.

Do you know what's the best thing I've ever come across for drums? My Roli Seaboards. They are great for laying down patterns, as in ridiculously good, probably better than they are for anything else.

These days I’m totally studio bound, and I like it, so this wouldn’t be a product for me, but if I was still playing live, I’d snap it up in a heartbeat. One box would basically cover all my drum and synth sounds and I’ll I’d need is my guitar, bass, Kemper and a floor controller. Perfect, really, though I’d rather they do a Kontrol version so I’d have a full keyboard.

What would make it better than a laptop? I just don't see it. My laptop is so much better than any hardware set-up I ever had or could imagine having now.

[fmr]

... I’d rather they do a Kontrol version so I’d have a full keyboard.

They probably will. I've seen quite a few already expressing this wish, so they would have to be too stupid to ignore it.

[antic604]

I think the KVR people have no idea how big the whole "DAWless" thing is.

7LEt6ev.png

[chk071]

I won't doubt the appeal of standalone hardware in any way. It's always something else to be able to operate a physical device with all the parameters it has, opposed to do everything virtually on a computer screen. In this case, it also doesn't seem to come with the lots of downsides hardware synths for example come with, like, cabling everything, not being able to use more than one instance, and having to render everything the whole time either.

Anyway, I'm not the audience for Maschine specifically.

[foosnark]

Anyway, I'm not the audience for Maschine specifically.

Yeah, I'm not either, so I guess I really shouldn't be commenting on it.

It strikes me funny that people who want to go DAWless are willing to buy a Linux computer that runs a DAW and plugins, but in disguise. But then, some people think I'm a weirdo for being into Eurorack, and some Eurorack people think I'm a weirdo for using a DAW with it, so...

[CrystalWizard]

IMO it is more mediocre crap coming from NI, it’s sad watching a once great company tank.

the product didn't fail yet, it hasn't even launched. Just because you don't like it doesn't make it an auto fail.

I didn’t post that it will fail, i posted that IMO it’s a mediocre product. A rehash, a variation. Perhaps i need to clarify what i meant by “watching a once great company tank?”
On second look i still thinks it’s mediocre but i think if (big if) they support and upgrade it then it could be useful for live work.

[AnX]

I think the KVR people have no idea how big the whole "DAWless" thing is. The MPC Live thread on Gearslutz is 806 pages, 24,000 replies. Over 2 million views. One thread.

yeah, its 4 years old, and they sure like to talk a lot over there....

[machinesworking]

Ergonomics. I have a Maschine Studio, you look at the small screens when using Maschine, even though the 27" is just to the left of the hardware.

That's for the current device, I have a Maschine Mikro of my own. I'm talking about people who'd buy this thing so they can do without their computer.

I think a lot of it comes from people who work IT and have a hard time differentiating their work from their creative hobbies. The other factor is people who can't stay focused when a computer and Facebook, Snapchat or their favorite porn site is just right there. Honestly I don't get the whole modular thing, it's pretty cool, if you have a lot of money I guess, but I rarely hear anything I think couldn't be done in Reaktor, Max MSP, or Bitwig etc.

The only time the smaller screens are not better is when editing MIDI patterns, then turning to the computer and mouse makes more sense, everything else you're not really using the computer screen for much.

You may not be using it for much but you are seeing a lot - level meters, where you're at in your arrangement, etc., etc. I went from a Trinity's much larger than these screen to a 17" CRT and even that was a huge improvement. Having done both, I would never even contemplate going back.

The hybrid approach is pretty cool though. Maschine Studio when working just in Maschine has big enough screens to not really look at the computer at all, and the hardware is fast, mixing in Maschine is just better, like a Mackie Control. It's basically acting like a control surface when hooked up to the computer.

This doesn't look to be any different than the MPC Live, where you can easily work on the thing in stand alone, and/or tethered to a computer as a controller with the Maschine Software.

That just makes your set-up more complicated and full of unnecessary redundancy. I thought the idea was to make it easier?

Yeah no argument here, I bought the MPC Live a year ago because it's a lot easier to do things in odd timings on it, they've done great things with the software, the hardware part is still a shit show when trying to go from 4/4 to 7/4 etc. I'm selling it, I might keep the Maschine Studio just to mess around with the new Song window, but I probably will sell that too.

I have no need for Maschine really. In terms of drums, I would rather use the built in drum plug ins in Bitwig or DP etc.

Do you know what's the best thing I've ever come across for drums? My Roli Seaboards. They are great for laying down patterns, as in ridiculously good, probably better than they are for anything else.

I agree, especially for multi velocity sampled 'realistic' drums. I'm selling the Rise 49, but keeping the Seaboard Block, bought the Linnstrument, like it a lot more for most things, but the Block is fun, has a few great tricks.

What's fantastic for electronic drums is Push 2, I think one of the reasons I like Bitwig is because os Moss's script for the Push 2, he just did a great job, and it really clicked how redundant my set up was becoming with it around. For other DAWs I have a BeatStep Pro which is great, in fact in some ways better than the Push. Just not with mixing, the Push acts as a Mackie Control as well as a plug in parameter adjuster with plug ins. Basically exactly like Maschine hardware or the MPC, without a redundant extra sequencer.