M3 Vs Mstudio

I dunno, If you're gonna be using it as a custom controller, Studio still has more controls.

 

MK3 is fresh looking, and I'm a bit butthurt about it, being a Studio user. But I'm still happy with my dedicated edit section, volume knob and other dedicated keys. I also have Jam and my audio card isn't bad at all, so, I'm not really missing out on anything. I'll wait for the next flagship.

 

I ordered MK3 on the fist day bevor the newsletter was out. For me the LED Buttons (I often do not see the not selected buttons on the MK2 in bad light), high resolution LED Display, more direct buttons and the integrated audiointerface is it more than worth.
I have only one critical though. the GRID button looks like you have to hold shift to get the GRID mode. if this is true, its a pitty, because changing the grid while performing is a very important function and i dont understand why this is put into a lower level on MK3.
NI, is it?

 

Good point about grid. I think they wanted to put a stop button on MK3 mainly for host transport control. I feel like it was a waste of a button since Maschine's sequencer does not need it. I think they wanted those who use the controller to operate an external host transport to have a marked stop button since that is used in most other transports. To be fair, the grid button is right above the shift so you can use one finger to press both at once. The record mode stuff has been moved to the settings button. Similar to that, they have erase just above the record button so you can activate replace record with one finger.

 

I went ahead and preordered the MK3 - the cost played a factor. I'm a newbie, as you can probably tell, but based on all the great info either unit would fit the bill. I have to buy speakers so the lower cost of the MK3 was very important. I will be running Traktor DJ from my iPad for mobile performances. I have Traktor Scratch pro 2 running on my iMac. When I'm able to I will move to a laptop instead of the iPad. The S4, which I also purchased, is compatible with iOS.

 

Personally for me . It looks like NI actually thought through what Maschine is supposed to be ad mad a better controller. I still feel like the Studio was hacked together and has some very clumsy design decision just to make the controller bigger. The MK1/2 imo is batter user experience, except for the screens and the ability to work without having to look at your computer for the most part. With the MK3 it seems that has been addressed and they revamped and redesigned the experience to be a bit smarter imo getting rid of superfluous buttons or moving them to places where it makes more sense. They moved some functions outside of hidden shift menus and made them their own buttons. I think the MK3 is a very smart design, tailored towards performance and speed.

Now let's see what they do with the software.

 

hey eveeryone, Does mashine jam touch strips can do pitch band as the mashine mk3 now ?

 

indeed ... with you on all that ... with regards software: seamless DAW integration and workflow next please

 

My local store has dropped the price of the Studio by £140.

 

AFAIK no

 

Yes.

 

Good things come to those who wait. I passed on the Mk2 and held on to my Mk1 and I think it was about a year or two later when the Studio was announced. Some Mk2 owners were pissed but I was happy.

 

Well that sucks. So now my studio has depreciated by hundreds of dollars. I paid $1000 for it awhile back. Oh well. I guess that's just the way it is.

 

When the price was 1000 I paid 750 for it used, then NI dropped to the same price like 2 months later... I was pissed but its just one of those things you have to let go, forget and move on. It dropped price early this year (January, February?) anyone who bought one (or even an MK2) after that should expect there was a chance of something new dropping this year, if they didn't know then they didn't do their research... lots of users predicted when the MK3 was gonna drop. (of course, they could be wrong though, and then one would be waiting for nothing...)

Taking this into consideration buying early might give your hardware a better run for your investment. Personally, i would never buy something that has been out for more than 1 year new, I don't see the point and if one is scared that something new will come just get it used.

For me the decision comes down to a few things, how much will a new version of whatever is gonna translate to me in terms of:
- making better music.
- having a more efficient workflow.
- having more fun making music/learning to master a new piece of equipment.
- live performance advantages/portability.
- having a better integration with other stuff I use.
- the current model I own had a 'good run' (meaning I had it for a while)
If all or most of the above things check and it fits my budget I go for it.

For 'professionals', I'd say always upgrade ass soon as a better model of something you use a lot comes along, if that piece of hardware/software pay's your bills there's no reason not to. For the ones who just make music for fun or are not yet getting paid for their craft (and are not rich) every single purchase must be very carefully thought out and there's no urgent need to have the latest and greatest.

 

I'm curious how power hungry this will be, when powering via USB. I understand that the led lights behind the pads are dimmed unless plugged into an outlet, however two screens need power. I just bought Maschine Studio a month or two ago and now NI is dangling this carrot in front of my face.

How power hungry do you think these little screens make the MK3? I just got a 2017 Macbook Pro w/o Touch Bar (larger battery) and I can't imagine getting more than a few hours battery life with the MK3 getting it's power from the usb bus.

 

the mk3 arrived yesterday, very nice... feels solid... the sound card has good sound, i could not tell the difference with mastering headphones and comparing between a motu pci and it, however; the mk3 sound card had issues with 96 and works best at 44 or 48, which the pci, or a thunderbolt interface would handle with ease. the pads are smooth and give a more flowing connected sound between pads. overall, it is commercial/industrial art... so pretty i am not sure if i should mount it on the wall or use it... i did notice you have to set the output if you use headphones and i did not see a way to have it just parallel the main without adding a buss or setting the cue to every song.

oh, and when i gave one of my mk1s to my daughter, 6, she said that she wanted the mk3 instead because it was better.

 

I returned my mk3 unopened and kept my studio , don't need a soundcard esp with no loop back etc . Just set up the kontrol mk2 which is sweet .

 

i could see that, the sound card is only good if you need it mobile and don't want to port another interface or use the laptop mine phone plug out...i probably will not use it that much since the gt100 effects processor i use has that and lets you loop back and use the effects in the external unit via usb to a daw. i did not even get to the loop back yet... though machine and DAWs let you do quite a bit internally that negates that .. would be nice if it had sends on it for external analog effects.. .. i as well wonder if i should go with the studio... but i like the size... there is one big con i found.. the mk3 cannot use the NI mashine stand due to it not having the two holes in the bottom near the top, which i found odd cos the size is almost exactly the same and it seems so simple to do that... now i have to fabricate an adapter or wait... and not being able to use that stand is a big minus with comparing the two as that stand was great for mobile use with it simply being able to adapt foldable drum hardware.

 

The size of the studio doesn't bother me , I was tempted by the mk3 , but after thinking about it it doesn't offer me much more than I've already got ,I'm already schooled on the button layout of the studio , the encoders on the kkmk2 are the same , and they're def an improvement on the studio, the touch strip is on the kk but at the moment, I don't think it will work like the mk3,, there is no hardware settings for the kkmk2 in maschine like there was on the kk . The soundcard doesn't float my boat , my zoom tac 2 is pretty mobile, I'll probably just pick up a jam at some point .
Kkmk2 rocks tho they did a good job on that.

 

Yeah, if you already have a Studio then there is not much need to sweat the MK3 unless you need the portability for travel. If don't already have the Studio then that is a different story.