iMaschine is out !

I would kind of see it the same way I use the MPC500.
You create and prep your samples on a bigger setup then have them ready for the iMaschine.
You would be using your samples but really just working out ideas while mobile.

I almost ordered it because it's so cheap but I'm a iPad 2 user so I'll wait a bit to see if they make it native to the iPad.

 

I was VERY skeptical when i heard that it would not be an universal app…but it actually looks fine on the ipad2. Yes you have to do the "2x" thing but it looks better than most other programs i have tried where you have to do that. So i would say don't hold back just because it's not native ipad resolution

 

Agreed! Imho NanoStudio is a way better and more complete app! Arranging, automation, more and better FX, better and more versatile synths, the list is long and I really, really believed NI would beat that with the iMaschine...

I'm dissapointed to say the least, I'd like to see, at least the same features as in NanoStudio aswell as a arrangewindow to complement the pads.
Don't get me wrong though, it's fun, but not by any means a supplement to the real deal, not by faar.

To be honest, this just feels like NI is using the iEverything hype in a attemt to quickly cash in. If one dude could create a app such as NanoStudio, Native Instruments could come up with something much better if they wanted to, I guess they just don't... :angry:

 

Ingenious

I love it for what it is, a very well thought out and well designed scratch pad for musical ideas, which can then be transferred to big bro Maschine for a full workout. I wasn't expecting for much more to be honest, the more features, the more cluttered and convoluted it becomes to getting ideas out quickly.

It really is fun to use and I got a good idea down in my first play with it.

The velocity mapping is ingenious, so cool to use, and it's great for hats and synth lines. Love it.


I would love to see FX automation, maybe done in a similar way to the velocity mapping.

Well done NI.

 

It seems to me that it's another case of many people being disappointed by their own misguided expectations.

I don't think iMaschine was ever intended to be a direct competitor to Beatmaker and Nanostudio and whatever other more "complete" apps exist. It's a mobile i.e., computerless extension to the Maschine "workflow", so current users can get ideas down while on the go and then continue them in the full program without hassle, as well as perhaps acting as a gateway to Maschine for potential users.

I just wish I had a newer iPhone that could run it!

 

In NI's defense, you can't really compare them to Nanastudio's model because all they sell is iOS apps, while NI's prime focus is Maschine. Why give away the farm in one product when you're selling 2 pieces of hardware(Maschine. Mikro) as well as softsynths to compliment them. However, having said that, i do feel they went a little too sparingly on some features...4 tracks and no simple sample editing, i mean, c'mon, you have FREE apps that can do more than this. I understand limiting the app but give us at LEAST 8 tracks, hey, I'll pay an extra 10 bucks if i have to..The app to me sounds GREAT though, by the way, it has a very distinct beefy sound at least to my ears, the instruments are way fatter then Beatmaker 2 or FL mobile.

Some of us have moved on to totally iOS based production, and it's only gonna get more intense..BM2, Nano, FL Mobile, Music Studio, these apps are coming with new stuff everyday, so i'm sure NI have a few tricks up there sleeve with future updates!
Oh, and please hurry and FIX these expansion store downloads! I want my new sounds i paid for, still can't get 'em to download!

 

Agreed.
Its a sketchpad for Maschine users.
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I just feel that with the resolution on the iPad2 being as good as it is using things in 2x that you have to look at for any extended time just looks hazy or fuzzy.
Kinda kills the desire.

 

+1

It's primarily a sketchpad and not an end unto itself.
If used along with Maschine then it's a winner, imho.
It's best to think of them as complimentary parts of a bigger picture ie. making music.

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Because of its interface design it's not that big an issue.
There is no particular need for a higher resolution as the design is pretty symmetrical so you don't see much aliasing.
Compared to other double sized apps it looks fine.
Obviously it would be nice to have it running at native ipad resolution but it's really not that noticeable.

 

I actually ran into this problem myself yesterday. Then I noticed that there (already) was an update to iMaschine in the App Store (it added a pattern length function). After I updated, then the download worked too. Check the App Store for the update if you haven't already.

 

Hmmm, so it's worth dropping the $5 for it? I might just do that then. I wish that NI would chime in and make a statement about it, like iPad upgrade in dev or something.

 

Thanks Empolo! I'm gonna go to the App Store now and try it! I hope this new function lets me create different patterns for each group..so i can variate the melodies, etc on some patterns..nice to see an update on day one! Get it in, NI!

 

I have a Verizon iphone guess it cant work because i dont have 4.3.....true?

 

Maybe I'll give it a try and see, but when something is ugly in 2x it can be pretty ugly. :lol:

 

Works great on my iPhone 4, and even better on he iPad2 in x2 mode. At least on that I can hit pads with more than one finger lol

 

Little bit disappointed there's no time signature / bar length setting. I like working in 7/4!

Be nice to see this in an update.
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Also scenes would be nice if possible...

One thing they got right is the sample importing. Simple and works very well. Editing kits is also easy and straightforward.

 

Been playing with it since yesterday (thanks to this thread).

This is a great Maschine sketchpad and really is exactly what I wanted. It's not intended to be competitor NS or Beatmaker -- but honestly I can't ever get into those apps because I'd rather be in Maschine.

The workflow is fast and creative, which I found lacking in NS or BM2 - really I just want to knock out some quick hooks or a drum beat when I'm on a plane or have a few minutes at work and have something to start with when I get home and sit down at the Maschine, and this is exactly that. Plus, having a little mobile sampler is actually making me grab little audio loops and quick samples out in the field. I've had this thing for less than 24 hours and I already have done a couple of quick little beats that I'm excited to work on -- I'd have payed $30 for that. $5 is a steal!

At first I was a little disappointing by some features that are missing -- namely pattern switching and sample editing -- but honestly it's just making me sketch in 8-bar loops (I tend to work in 4 bar loops on Maschine) and that's really fine. Plus, if I really get inspired, I can just do a Save As and dupe the project (although it might be kind of annoying to get everything stitched together in Maschine).

As for sample editing, yeah it would be really nice -- and I hope they at least add AudioCopy support later so I can use something like Hokusai to do on-the-road sample chopping (FYI, if you haven't checked out Hokusai you are missing out on the best audio app on iOS).

I was unable to get the Soundcloud integration to work -- it doesn't properly bounce the audio from what I can tell and it just gets stuck "Rendering Audio". Hopefully that gets worked out soon!

 

Soundcloud was down for about 24 hours in a DoS attack, which could explain that...

And you're right, looking forward to doing some 'found sound' glitch tracks on my journeying!

 

Yeah it appears to be an app problem -- or more specifically it seems to be a problem with my projects. I backed up my projects, deleted iMaschine, rebooted the phone and started over and still can't upload my projects to soundcloud (or render just the audio tracks for iTunes export, renders past 100% and stops with no error). I'm able to upload the preset projects to Soundcloud, just not mine. Hopefully it gets sorted soon, but it's not a dealbreaker (it's just nice to share what little things you're working on!). Project export is key and that seems to work fine.

 

Is there any way to copy a pattern performance to a pad? For instance if i have a piano melody on track/group 2 can that be saved to a "sample' and put on a drum pad to save tracks?

 

Not currently.