MASCHINE (NI Groove Controller/Software)

This looks like the official press release:

Berlin, Germany /Music Industry Newswire/ — Native Instruments today announced MASCHINE, a next-generation groove production studio that makes beat creation and arrangement more immediate and tactile than ever before. The system combines an advanced software sequencer and sampler with a seamlessly integrated, highly functional performance controller. Finally merging a fast and intuitive groove-box workflow with the power and versatility of software, MASCHINE enables an inspiring and spontaneous creative approach for today’s computer-based music production setups.

MASCHINE is built on an intelligent combination of timeless groove box and drum machine workflows, systematically refined and expanded to take advantage of the best aspects of computer technology. It brings together flexible step sequencing and real-time polyphonic recording in a forward-thinking pattern-based arrangement concept that makes it easy to jam out ideas, and turn them into full-blown songs in a way that is efficient, effortless and fun. MASCHINE was designed to accommodate and facilitate inspiration at any point in the creative process, from spontaneous beat creation to sophisticated multi-timbral arranging.

The advanced MASCHINE controller was designed as a natural extension of the software, and makes the system feel and respond as a true instrument. The 16 pressure-sensitive drum pads have been carefully engineered for the best possible response and durability, and they illuminate to visualize sequence patterns and other crucial information. Eight rotary encoders, a concise layout of dedicated buttons and dual high-resolution displays give immediate access to all functions of MASCHINE without touching the computer mouse or keyboard. By design, all features are quickly accessible “on the surface” rather than hidden away in hierarchical sub menus. The MASCHINE hardware also doubles as a powerful universal controller for any MIDI compatible music gear, thanks to an included MIDI mapping application and support of the MCU protocol for sophisticated DAW control.

Based on a powerful high-resolution sample engine, MASCHINE is a versatile instrument that renders intricate drum kits and percussion, loops and multi-sampled polyphonic instruments with uncompromising sonic accuracy, assisted by automatic sample mapping, beat slicing, note repeat and more. The advanced real-time audio recording and resampling features in MASCHINE also allow producers and performers to capture, map, sculpt and transform any external or internal signal immediately, and seamlessly integrate the result into a running track without ever breaking the flow of the music. Multiple performance effects sections on the sample, group and master level provide a versatile arsenal of 20 high-quality algorithms ranging from conventional to experimental, all optimized for profound sound shaping and creative real-time control through the MASCHINE hardware.

MASCHINE lets everyone get into making music right away through its massive library of drum and instrument sounds for contemporary urban and electronic music styles, created in collaboration with international cutting-edge producers and sound designers. Based on several GByte of studio-quality samples, the arsenal of MASCHINE provides hundreds of drum kits, synthesizer sounds and acoustic instruments, with around ten thousand individual sounds overall. All kits, instruments, samples and effects can be efficiently managed and located through a highly convenient browser that uses categories and concise metadata.

With MASCHINE, all crucial functions including parameter automation, sample mapping and sound editing are always immediately accessible through the controller and within the concise single-window user interface of the software. Usable both as a self-contained standalone instrument and within any DAW or music sequencer, MASCHINE utilizes all the benefits of computer integration like total recall, superior processing power, memory and file handling, project transfer and more, while retaining the inspirational handling and tactile appeal of a hardware instrument.

MASCHINE will be available in March 2009 for a suggested retail price of $669 / 599 EUR.

 

It looks great so far, though there are a couple of details I think they overlooked. Where is the tap tempo feature? There is no audio interface on the controller (would have made it a one stop shop). I would also like to see some form of timestretching for samples (like the one in Kontakt, with better quality/less artifacts). Some of the controls look a bit weird an could have been better thought out, but I haven't actually used the thing yet so it may make more sense when its in-front of me (you know I'm getting it). There are a couple of other things that I would like to see to bring it more in line with an MV8800 (which rocks).

 

There is a tap tempo button (just below left screen). From what I can see, there's a lot more depth yet to be revealed, especially in the software. If you haven't yet, take a look at the online tutorials. They even have it controlling Ableton Live.

Looks like a powerful hardware / software combo to me.

 

Well, I've rarely used Battery in my productions because the automation system is total garbage, opting instead for Kontakt which really only lacks the slick pitch envelope when compared to Battery. Because I like to run everything inside of Kore for complex modulation/snapshot fun, I'm quite curious to see how well it works putting an instance of Maschine inside of Kore and routing the multiple channels of Maschine to separate Kore channels like I do now with Kontakt. If everything in Maschine is automatable inside of Kore that would be really sweet. Battery 3 would never see the light of day again for me.

A software demo is a great idea.

 

Yeah I saw the video, that's why I didn't know there was a tap tempo feature since they didn't mention it at all. Nice to know, now what about timestretch?

 

I'm glad the tutorial site is up.
Maschine looks bloody brilliant. I'm quite stoked for this thing.
It's everything I could really ask for in a drum machine.

I have no blind allegiances to Akai.

HOWEVER.
I have a huge issue with the marketing on the lostintheflow site. I'm very bothered that every time NI has a product revolving around hip-hop, they bring in the token black guy. And the "girlfriend" skit? So offensive on so many levels.

I'm a black dude who makes beats and punk rock. And the way NI's marketing goes really upsets me. It's quite ignorant.

 

Yep- it has a slicer built in.

ew

 

I'm going to be placing an order for the first maschine off the truck at my local shop on Monday.

I cannot WAIT. I recently sold my MPD24 and was looking into the 32 or the Korg NanoPads as a replacement. But this thing is great.

I do wonder however, how can I merge this into a good life with Kore? Any thoughts folks? Because I'm wondering if there will be any overlap at all.

 

I meant more like the timestretch 1&2 feature in Kontakt, or elastic audio in protools than a slicer, You could probably use the slicer if you use enough slices but that doesn't always get decent results. I'm talking about something like Serato pitch n time, or the time stretch feature in Ableton.

It would be cool to sample something and be able to change the pitch or temp without slicing it first.

 

First, I believe this is innovation because I don't know of any software sampler that can really sample audio from an external source. That the software is actually bundled with a dedicated hardware controller knocks out two major birds with one stone.

But,
From the videos the slicer is a step down even from the one in kontakt. He said you can do it in 2 ways, 16th note split or have it slice using transients, however when the slice was performed using the transients the resulting material had all kinds of pops and clicks in the start /end points as the pads were played and i believe that was a loop from the Maschine library. Thats totally no good. It should at least have 8th, 16th and 32nd note slicing. Along with a slider to adjust manual slicing, as well as a way to enter the slicer and simply add slice points where you want them. Also auto detect of zero crossing for looping. Crossfade looping as well.

Now for the important part! How much of the Maschine library is original material not featured in any other NI product. I have komplete 5 and kore 2 and I feel if it does share content, then the more NI instruments you own should get you a better and better discount.

Quick questions for ew.

Whats the sample resolution 16 bit, 24bit?

If I sample from vinyl and save as a maschine sound will it then stream from hard disk rather than taking up ram?

Does it have filters?, I mean amazing ones related to hip hop and dance music like bass enhancers or mangler type filters that would dirty up our 24bit samples from commercial venders? Also filters for cleaning up audio sampled from vinyl?

And Lastly,
Does it have realtime quantization per midi channel with separate quantization strength and swing ei, strength 16th 70% and swing 50% like the mv 8000, 8800 and mpc? Also groove quantiztion where the groove of material can by applied across various tracks?

 

Well, from what I saw in the tut vids, I get the feeling that the slicer will probably let you do more than they showed, I highly doubt they won't let you at least add slices where you need them. Zero-crossing and al of that stuff should hopefully make its way into Maschine at some point. As for filters the vids showed quite a bit of effects included so that shouldn't be an issue.

The samplerate would most likely be handled by whatever audio interface you choose supports since I didn't see any type of audio connection on this interface, which probbly means it just a controller and not a combined audio interface/controller like Kore1.

Since the vids haven't went into too much detail, one feature I didn't see mentioned would be velocity per pad, basically be able to select one sample and have 16 levels of velocity across all the pads for that sample (kind of like the MV8800, MPC, and the MPD32 do).

Luckily these thinsg can be done via software so an update could address a lot of these little issues or have but we first have to see what they gave us. So for now I reserve judgment until I get my hands on one of these and play around a bit, it may be that by the time we get our hands on it they may have addressed user concerns.

Right now I'm a bit skeptical as to the need of something like this other than the hardware itself, Ableton can probably do most of this stuff and can probably do it better due to the years of honing their software. NI needs to get this absolutely right if they expect people who have used hardware groove boxes to jump ship to this product, it needs to be rock-solid (something that NI has issues with), it needs to be feature full (using their flagship sampler engine in this product would probably help, but they need to make some of the features that make the sampler so popular also available here), The hardware has to work flawlessly(luckily I think they can do that as I have yet to encounter any major issues with my Kore1 controller), and as for marketing they need to sell this to an audience that would appreciate it the most. Hip-Hop producers would love this product as they already love Komplete. Get this into the hands of a certain producer who is a known battery user as weil as mpc and MV8800 (JustBlaze) and let him get his hands on it and give you honest feedback for the product and I'm sure you will have a winner on your hands.

 

Yeah, its looking good as something that could forge a new path cause I can't think of anyone else who could pull this off.
I mean every daw now has some type of drum machine type thing but none of them sample.

I do wish the gui for the software was a little more elegant. Im not feeling the orange/ rust coloration but thats just me. And thinking about how even the mpc 1000 cost about $999 at most venders the price sorta starts to make a little sense.

What we need is battery integration that seamlessly works in conjunction with Maschine, like every time we hit a pad bank, battery follows so we can play every sound within a kit. It would have to follow chromatically though.

 

I'm still trying to figure out if Maschine is killing Battery, or how they work together.

I can only assume the soundpacks will work with Maschine?

 

So will Maschine be able to use Battery sound libraries?

 

Please listen NI,

I have the a lot of respect for you guys. But if you are going to do something please do it right.

Looking at the sequencer portion of Maschine's gui, having each sound be the some color is going to be a drawback. I know the sound names are on the left hand side but that doesn't help much. Please give each sound/track in the sequencer its own color.

And, if you really want to get funky with it, please give us velocity color variation on each track as well.

I don't think you will get a second chance at this, your either going to nail this like an Olympic gymnastic stick for the gold or play the holy sh$t out of yourselves and none of us want that. I could go on and on about how successful I want this to be but I'll stop here.

 

I must agree. Offensive marketing aside, I really want to see Maschine do well.

I was one of the people that saw the launch of Kore and stayed away because it was just a great idea done all wrong. When Kore 2 came out, I was highly impressed.

But I'm in the market for a drum machine, and I don't want to wait for Fall 2010 to buy Maschine.

So please! Make this work NI.

 

Does Maschine do different time signatures? I assume it must (hey, I'll be happy with 3/4)....

I agree that having loops automatically sliced so tempo can be adjusted in real time would be major

Also - they say it can run standalone (or am I wrong about that) - how much memory does it have? And can it be upgraded?

Man, it is going to be a tough choice between the ACP40 and Maschine - Live is my main program right now, and the new version 8 (a no-brainer) will have a looper built into it....

 

If they said stand alone (which I don't remember if they did) they were most likely refering to the software by itself, or the fact that the hardware can be used as a standard midi controller (unlike the Kore controller).

 

I guess you can basically call Maschine a "dumb" beatbox? It has no brain internals. It's just a midi controller that integrates with the computer. "Stand Alone" in this case is very dodgy, because saying a beatbox can operate standalone would mean apart from the computer. But what they mean is, the software runs standalone. Separate from the plug-in version.

If I were a Live user, I would go with the APC40 and a Korg Nano Pad.

 

I should have known that it was just a controller..duh...

How about the time signature issue? If it syncs with Ableton, I would have to assume that it does handle 3/4, but if it doesn't, that would definitely be a deal breaker for me.

I'll look into the Nanopad, though....