If it ain't broke don't fix it... The v2.0 Browser

Hi NI

Firstly, I've got to say that the v2 sound engine sounds soooo much better than the old one, so thanks for that .

However, I do have major issues with the new Browser, which is way more fiddly, more ugly, less intuitive and less functional in v2 than v1.

Here are my issues:

1. In v1 it was possible to easily filter on, for example, all "Kicks" across all samples in the library; this is no longer possible. This is a nightmare and needs to be fixed asap.

2. In v1, it was possible to import single files (or multiple files by ctrl or shift clicking) from disk into the library. In v2 it is only possible to import folders. This is just ridiculous.

3. In v2, sometimes the import function doesn't work. I click "Import" and nothing happens! Not even an error message! There used to be a progress bar that displayed until all the files had been imported - you need to re-implement that.

4. In v2, the categories (eg. "Clap", "Cymbal", "Hihat Closed" are listed from left to right, which makes it much harder to quickly find what you're after. The tabulated format in v1 was much better (i.e. a table with each column representing a level in the library hierarchy).

5. It seems that it is no longer possible create a filter which returns both "NI" and "User" samples at the same time? We are now forced to select one or the other, but cannot select both (or equivalently, neither)?


I suggest at the very least you re-implement the v1 Browser, particularly the tabulated format, exactly as it was, while retaining the following new v2 functionality:
- Keep the "Instrument" filter level (eg. Maschine, Massive, Razor etc...) at the highest level of the hierarchy
- Keep the option to import folders into the library, tagging the files within the folder with the name of the sub-folder which contains them. This should not be the default behaviour.


Kind regards
Chris

 

Sounds good to me.

 

do you mean like this?



New browser seem good to me.. the old version was so so as it was anyways.

 

Absolutely not. In order to select "Kicks" you had to select "Drums" first. I want to be able to select "Kicks" without firstly selecting "Drums" - this was possible in v1.

 

Added issue 5 to original post.

Chris

 

I completely agree, and would add 6) no way of browsing or tagging patterns or MIDI

 

well we can't have our cake and eat it too..

They just barely dreamt up the new browsing with Battery 4 so I don't think they will be going back to the old tabs..

In fact they will probably start to add this browsing to all their instruments.

If we can't make with the ease and quickness they are providing over all then maybe we should pick up some drums sticks and learn to play or start buying real percussion pieces and drum kits but thats obviously not an any quicker way to find the sound your after.

 

I would say that when you are scrolling through All Groups with the hardware then it does make it a tiny bit of a pain to stop exactly on the right expansion, or what have you, because it turns the section into a slim slot instead of a nice big chooser like it shows when using the mouse.



you got to admit it looks way nicer then grey bars and text though..

 

It might look nice, but when you can no longer look through every "Sub Bass" preset you have (Kontakt or 3rd party), then it's a definite regression. Sometimes I have a certain attribute in mind, but no specific "product". The browser is my least favourite thing about Maschine 2.

 

Wow, that's a ludicrously far-fetched solution to the problem. Maschine is not a substitute for a traditional drum kit - its an entirely different thing (I feel quite awkward having to point that out as it should be quite obvious...).

Besides, I use my Maschine to write (mainly) drum and bass - how do you expect me to write my bass lines and instrumentation with a drum kit? Should I learn bass guitar as well? (Actually, I can play bass, but that's besides the point). Here's my SoundCloud, have a listen and then come and tell me its a good idea for me to learn to produce this music with real instruments: https://soundcloud.com/dronednb.

I should clarify - I love my Maschine. My point is simply that the v2 Browser is a step backwards from the v1 Browser, which is disappointing. I want to see this rectified in the next release.

 

obviously it was sarcasm … Ive heard a ton of drum "and" bass (or should I say Drum 'n Bass) there was plenty of live drum in bass when I first was listening to it in 98-99.

Point is there has NEVER been anything in the world that gives us the opportunities we have with the amazing software and tools we have now but yet people are whining over "I can't find my kick drum" reasoning.

The sarcastic point I was making was it would take a lot longer to do things if we didn't have the tools we got now.

take it easy chap.

 

I would suggest that the NI forum is the most appropriate place to discuss the merits and demerits, progressions and regressions of the NI software that we use... it makes for a better product. If we wanted an argument about "you kids don't know you're born" we'd be posting on gearslutz

...c'mon, I know you'd be happy if they brought the 'pattern' tab back to the browser!

 

LOL..

maybe.. but I adapted already.. seems cool.

 

It might look pretty but it has no value (apart from populating the left hand screen of Maschine Studio). For example, when you want to select Electric Vice are you going to identify this expansion by its picture or by the name?

 

if someone was smart over at NI, they would take the Kore 2 browser/library and apply it to Maschine. practically all of the Komplete presets are already tagged!!!

 

I wouldn't see why you couldn't do it by either or … in other words people know what the picture of electric vice looks like and people can also read the words electric vice so I don't see your point exactly plus it also says the name next to the picture plus you forgot what was said above my comment about how nice it looked.. that was just the end of my comment..

but if you mean it has no function then thats exactly what my original comment was hinting at, maybe it should light up each icon as it scrolls through for selection.

 

I was thinking the same thing the other day. plus they could start selling all the old packs they used to sell plus they wouldn't need to record all the samples again for them.

 

you are not the first person to suggest this.

but please be aware that the tagged Komplete Presets date from the release of Kore 2.1.4 in December 2011. a lot of things have changed since then.

but yes, the tagging system in Kore 2 is good, but for me a bit clunky.

sowari