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  • Maschine Hardware Layout

Maschine Hardware Layout

The following sections will guide you through the hardware layout of the Maschine Mk3 controller. The information also applies to the Maschine+ device, with minor differences noted where applicable.

Rear Panel

If you turn the Mk3 so that the rear panel is facing you, the controls and connections appear in the following order, working from left to right:

  • Headphone volume knob

  • Headphone socket, 1/4” stereo

  • Main volume knob

  • Main output socket (right), 1/4” mono, balanced

  • Main output socket (left), 1/4” mono, balanced

  • Microphone gain knob

  • Microphone input socket, 1/4” mono, balanced

  • Line input 2 socket, ¼” mono, balanced

  • Line input 1 socket, ¼” mono, balanced

  • MIDI Out, 5-pin DIN socket

  • MIDI In, 5-pin DIN socket

  • Footswitch socket, ¼” TRS

  • USB-B socket

  • DC power input socket (optional)

  • Power button (the Maschine+ device does not have the power button on its back, instead you will find two USB-A sockets in this position, one above the other)

Top Panel

The top panel of the Maschine Mk3 controller is made up of several blocks of controls, described below. Please note that the functions enclosed in square brackets represent what the control will do when it is used with the Shift button held down.

The top panel of the Maschine+ device is identical to that of the Maschine Mk3 controller, except that the File [Save] button also acts as Power button when held down.

Control Zone

This is the block of buttons at the top-left of the controller. The buttons are organised in two columns of six:

Left Column

Right Column

Channel [MIDI]

Plug In [Instance]

Arranger

Mixer

Browser

Sampling

Page Left

Page Right

File [Save]

Settings

Auto

Macro [Set]

If you are using the Maschine+ device, note that the File [Save] button also acts as Power button when held down.

Screen Button Zone

This is the row of eight buttons positioned to the right of the Control Zone at the top right of the controller. Their functions change, depending on what page of the screen you are in, so they will all have functions relating to the Browser if you are in the Browser Page.

The Screen Zone

The two display screens are positioned immediately below the Screen Buttons Zone.

There are two screens, covered by a single smooth panel, so it feels like there is only one display.

Screen Knob Zone

This is the row of eight touch-sensitive knobs positioned directly beneath the display screens. Like the screen buttons, their functions change, depending on what page of the screen you are currently in.

Pad Input Mode Zone

This is the row of five buttons positioned below the Screen knob Zone. From left to right they are:

  • Fixed Velocity [16 Velocities]

  • Pad Mode

  • Keyboard Mode

  • Chords Mode

  • Step Mode

Edit Zone

This zone contains the 4-D Encoder, which is the large knob positioned below the Control Zone. Its function changes, depending on what you are doing at the time. This control can be turned, like a knob, but it can also be pressed up, down, left and right. Finally, it can be pressed, like a button.

Encoder Mode Buttons

These buttons are also part of the Edit Zone—they are the three buttons forming the left-hand column of the block of buttons positioned to the right of the 4-D encoder. The top button makes the encoder control Volume [Velocity], the middle button makes the encoder control Swing [Position] and the bottom button makes the encoder control Tempo [Tune].

Performance Zone

These are the two large buttons to the right of the Encoder Mode buttons. The top button is Note Repeat [Arpeggiator] and the bottom button is Lock [Exit].

Touch Strip Performance Mode buttons

This is the row of four buttons positioned below the 4-D encoder. These buttons control what the Touch Strip does. From left to right the buttons are:

  • Pitch

  • Mod

  • Perform

  • Notes

Touch Strip

This is the recessed area of the top panel, positioned below the Touch Strip Performance Mode buttons.

Group Buttons Zone

This is the block of eight buttons arranged in two rows of four. The Group buttons are positioned below the Touch Strip. From left to right, the top row of buttons are:

  • Group A

  • Group B

  • Group C

  • Group D

The bottom row are:

  • Group E

  • Group F

  • Group G

  • Group H

Transport Zone

This is the block of buttons at the bottom left of the controller’s top panel. The buttons are arranged in two rows of four. From left to right, the top row are:

  • Restart [Loop]

  • Erase [Replace]

  • Tap [Metronome]

  • Follow [Grid]

The bottom row are:

  • Play

  • Record [Count In]

  • Stop

  • Shift

Pad Mode Zone

This is a column of eight buttons positioned to the right of the Performance Mode buttons. The topmost Pad Mode Zone button is immediately below the leftmost Pad Input Mode Zone button (Fixed Velocity). From top to bottom they are:

  • Scene [Section]

  • Pattern

  • Events

  • Variation [Navigate]

  • Duplicate [Double]

  • Select

  • Solo

  • Mute [Choke]

Pad Zone

This is the block of 16 velocity-sensitive pads that make up the bottom-right area of the controller’s top panel. The pads are arranged in four rows of four and are numbered starting with Pad 1 being the bottom-left pad. The pads also do different things if the Shift button is held down, as follows:

Pad 13 [Semitone Down]

Pad 14 [Semitone Up]

Pad 15 [Octave Down]

Pad 16 [Octave Up]

Pad 9 [Clear]

Pad 10 [Clear Auto]

Pad 11 [Copy]

Pad 12 [Paste]

Pad 5 [Quantize]

Pad 6 [Quantize 50%]

Pad 7 [Nudge Left]

Pad 8 [Nudge Right]

Pad 1 [Undo]

Pad 2 [Redo]

Pad 3 [Step Undo]

Pad 4 [Step Redo]

Left Edge

There is a Kensington Lock security slot at the rear of the left edge of the Maschine Mk3 controller. The Maschine+ device additionally has an SD card reader next to the Kensington Lock security slot.