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Basic Concepts

Abstract

Learn about Maschine's main elements and terminology and how they relate to one another, as well as how to set up your audio and MIDI connections.

This chapter will reintroduce you to Maschine's main elements and terminology and explain how they relate to one another. You will also learn how to set up your audio interface and connect MIDI devices.

Tip

Before reading this chapter, it is strongly recommended that you read the Maschine Getting Started Guide first.

Important Names and Concepts

We will start with a list (in alphabetical order) of the most important concepts and names.

Arranger

The Arranger is the big area located in the upper part of the Maschine window, right under the Header. The Arranger has two views: Ideas view and Song view. Ideas view allows you to develop your ideas independently from the timeline. The song view will enable you to combine Sections (references to Scenes) and arrange them into a song.

Browser

The Browser is the front end for accessing all the elements of your Maschine Projects: Projects, Groups, Sounds, instruments and effect presets, and Samples. Each of these can be stored and tagged in a way that allows you easy access to all of them. Maschine’s factory library has already been completely tagged, including the factory libraries of any Native Instruments products installed on your computer. You can also import your files into the Library and tag them as well. For more information, refer to Browser.

Effect

Maschine comes with many different effects in the form of Internal Plug-ins. You may also use Native Instruments or third-party VST/AU effect plug-ins. Each Sound, each Group, and the Master can hold any number of effects that can be applied as insert effects. The flexible routing system also allows you to create send effects, multi-effects, and side-chains. For more information, refer to Using Effects. For an complete description of all internal effects, refer to Effect Reference.

Event

Events are the individual drum hits or notes that make up a Pattern. In the Pattern Editor, events are visually represented by rectangles in the Event area. Depending on the current view in the Pattern Editor, you can see events for all Sounds slots (Group view) or for the selected Sound slot only (Keyboard view). For more information, refer to Working with Patterns.Working with Patterns

Group

A Group contains 16 Sound slots. In addition to the Effect Plug-ins applied to each individual Sound, a Group can have its own insert effect. These affect all the Sounds in the Group. A Group can also contain any number of Patterns (grouped into banks of 16 Patterns each). For more information, refer to Managing Sounds, Groups, and Your Project.

Ideas View

The Ideas view allows you to experiment with your musical ideas without being tied to a timeline or arrangement. You can create Patterns for each Group and combine them into a Scene. Scenes can then be added to Sections in the Song view to create a larger musical structure.

Master

This is where all audio signals from each of the Groups and Sounds come together and get mixed. The Master channel can also host any number of insert effects of its own, these effects are applied to all Groups and the Sounds within them. For more information, refer to Managing Sounds, Groups, and Your Project.

Pattern

A Pattern is a sequence that plays Sounds from a Group. It belongs to that Group and will be saved together with the Group. In every Scene you can choose for each Group which of its Patterns has to be played. For more information, refer to Working with Patterns.Working with Patterns

Plug-in

Each Sound, each Group, and the Master can hold any number of Plug-ins. Plug-ins can be instruments or effects, and they can be internal (included with Maschine), from other Native Instruments products (instruments or effects), or external (third-party VST/AU plug-ins). Instrument and Effect Plug-ins can be loaded in the first Plug-in slot of Sounds. The other Plug-in slots of Sounds, as well as the Plug-in slots of Groups and of the Master can hold Effect Plug-ins only. At each level (Sound, Group, and Master), Plug-ins process the audio in series, according to the order in which they are stacked up. For more information, refer to Working with Plug-ins.

Project

A Project contains all data needed for a song: Groups with their Patterns, all Scenes and all settings, modulation, effects, routings, Sounds, and Samples. It’s like a snapshot of the entire state of Maschine. Please read the Maschine Getting Started for a complete overview of the Maschine Project structure.

Scene

A Scene is a combination of Patterns for each Group. They can be used to combine Patterns in order to create musical ideas. Scenes are created in the Ideas view and then added to Sections in the Song view to create an arrangement. For more information, refer to Using Song View.

Section

A Section is a reference to a specific Scene on the Timeline of the Song view. They are used to arrange the Scenes into a larger musical structure. The benefit of using Sections is that any changes made to a Scene are replicated in each Section where the Scene is referenced therefore making the process of changing parts of a song quick and easy.

Song view

Song view will enable you to combine Sections (references to Scenes) and arrange them into a song in the Arranger.

Sound

Sounds are the building blocks of all sound content in Maschine. A Sound is made up of any number of Plug-ins. Each Sound of the selected Group is mapped to one of the 16 pads on the hardware controller, so you can play the Sounds by pressing the pads. For more information, refer to Managing Sounds, Groups, and Your Project.

Tip

For more definitions, refer to the Glossary.Glossary

Adjusting the Maschine User Interface

The Maschine software user interface is very flexible and allows you to display what you needed so you can focus on your workflow. This section shows you how to adjust the Maschine GUI to suit your needs.

Adjusting the Size of the Interface

From the View menu in the Application Menu Bar and from the View submenu in the Maschine menu you can select one of four different sizes to display Maschine’s software GUI:

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The View menu in the Application Menu Bar (Windows depicted)

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The View submenu in the Maschine menu

Tip

Full screen view is also available from your computer keyboard via [Ctrl]+[F] (macOS: [Cmd]+[F]).

Switching between Ideas View and Song View

Showing/Hiding the Browser

Minimizing the Mixer

Showing/Hiding the Control Lane

Common Operations

This section introduces a few common operations in Maschine you will encounter in numerous situations.

Adjusting Volume, Swing, and Tempo

At any time you can quickly adjust volume levels, swing, and the overall tempo of your Project using the Quick Edit buttons.

Adjusting Volume, Swing and Tempo in the Software

Undo/Redo

Undoing and re-doing your last actions can be useful to cancel operations you have performed or to compare two versions before and after a change. You can undo nearly everything you did after loading or creating your Project.

Notice

Note: If you save your Project, you will no longer be able to undo or redo any actions performed before saving!

Maschine provides two different undo/redo features, each of them being suited for specific situations:

  • Step Undo allows you to cancel your last single action.

  • Take Undo allows you to cancel your last group of actions.

Take Undo is available in following situations:

  • Recording in Control mode

  • Recording in Step mode

  • Recording modulation

Notice

Outside of these three situations, Take Undo has the same effect as Step Undo (see above).

Focusing on a Group or a Sound

To display the content and parameters of a particular Sound or Group, you first need to put it in focus.

Setting the focus on a Sound or Group is slightly different than selecting it: The focus defines what will be displayed, whereas the selection defines what will be affected by your edits. Note that a focused Sound/Group is always selected. The distinction is of importance because you can select multiple Sounds or Groups to apply your edits to all of them at once! See section Selecting Multiple Sounds or Groups for more on this.

Notice

Here, we show how to put Sounds and Groups in focus when the Maschine software is in Arrange view (default view). For instructions on putting Sounds and Groups in focus in Mix view, please refer to chapter Selecting Channel Strips.

Switching Between the Master, Group, and Sound Level

Using Two or More Hardware Controllers

If two or more Maschine controllers of different types are connected to your computer, only one controller can be used to control the Maschine software at a time.

Tip

If you have more than one instance of the Maschine software running on your computer, you can control each instance with a different controller. See ??? for more information.

Tip

A controller not connected to any Maschine software instance can be used in MIDI mode (i.e. as a MIDI controller) at the same time as the other controller(s). See the Controller Editor Manual for more information on MIDI mode.

You can choose which controller you want to use with the Maschine software. This can be done both from your controller and in the software.

You can select the desired controller from the Controller menu in the Application Menu Bar or from the Controller submenu in the Maschine menu:

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Click the Maschine menu and select the controller you want to use.

Hardware

On the controller you want to use with the Maschine software, do the following:

  • Maschine (MK3) controller: Press SHIFT + PLUG-IN, turn the 4-D encoder to select the desired instance, and press the 4-D encoder or Button 4 to load it.

  • Maschine Studio controller: Press SHIFT + PLUG-IN, turn the jog wheel to select the desired instance, and press the jog wheel or Button 8 to load it.

  • Maschine (MK1 & MK2) controller: Press SHIFT + STEP, turn Knob 8 (or press Button 5/6) to select the desired instance, and press Button 8 to load it.

  • Maschine Mikro (MK1 & MK2) controller: Press SHIFT + F2, turn the Control encoder to select the desired instance, and press the Control encoder to load it.

  • Maschine Jam controller: Press SHIFT + H (INSTANCE), turn the Control encoder to select the desired instance, and press the Control encoder to load it.

  • Komplete Kontrol Keyboard MK1: Press INSTANCE and turn the Control encoder to select the desired instance, and press the Control encoder to load it.

  • Komplete Kontrol Keyboard MK2: Press INSTANCE and turn the 4-D encoder to select the desired instance, and press the 4-D encoder to load it.

Native Kontrol Standard

Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) is a software instrument format that allows third-party developers to integrate with Maschine and Komplete Kontrol hardware and software at the same deep level as Komplete Instruments.

The Native Kontrol Standard includes:

  • Seamless integration into the Maschine and Komplete Kontrol Browser for a unified browsing experience.

  • Full parameter mapping for instant hands-on control.

  • Support of Komplete Kontrol S-SERIES features such as the Light Guide.

NKS instruments can be found in the Maschine Browser next to your Komplete Instruments. All of their presets are fully tagged, so filtering in the Browser gives you matching results from both Komplete Instruments and NKS instruments (refer to section Selecting Type and Character Tags). And when you load a preset from an NKS instrument, its parameters are mapped to the controls on your Komplete Kontrol S-SERIES keyboard in a meaningful way, just like any preset from your Komplete Instruments.

NKS instruments are automatically added to your Library when you start Maschine or Komplete Kontrol for the first time after installing the instrument (except KONTAKT instruments with NKS support, refer to below). The folders containing the preset files for NKS support can be managed in the Factory pane on the Library page of the Preferences (refer to section Preferences – Library Page).

Installing KONTAKT Instruments with NKS Support

Third-party developers of KONTAKT instruments provide you with a folder that contains all instrument files, including presets and samples. Instead of running an installer, this folder needs to be stored on the hard drive. The instrument can then be activated with Native Access, which also adds it to the Maschine and Komplete Kontrol Libraries. If you are using KONTAKT, the instrument is automatically added to your KONTAKT Browser too.

To activate your KONTAKT instrument with NKS support and add it to the Maschine Library, follow the steps below:

  1. Start the stand-alone version of the Maschine software.

  2. In the File menu click on Manage Products… .

    Native Access opens, showing all installed products.

  3. Click on Add a serial in the top-left corner of Native Access.

  4. Enter the serial number of the instrument and click ADD SERIAL.

    Native Access asks you to browse the folder containing the instrument files. Before you do this, ensure that you have copied the folder to its final location on your computer.

  5. Click BROWSE and open the folder containing the instrument files in the file dialog.

  6. Click on INSTALL to add the instrument to your Maschine Library.

    The instrument is installed. Maschine automatically scans for the new content and adds it to the Maschine Browser.

Notice

The Maschine, and Komplete Kontrol Libraries, and the KONTAKT Browser reference the instrument files contained in the folder. It is recommended to not delete or move the folder afterward, or otherwise, Maschine, Komplete Kontrol, and KONTAKT will not be able to find the instrument files. If an instrument cannot be found, use the Rescan function on the Preferences’ Library page to update the Library with the correct folder location (refer to section Preferences – Library Page).

Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode

You can run the Maschine software as a stand-alone application or integrate it into your favorite host by loading it as a plug-in. The Maschine software is available in the VST, Audio Unit, and AAX plug-in formats. For further information on plug-in compatibility and for a detailed description of how to use plug-ins in your host, refer to the documentation included with your host software.

Differences between Stand-Alone and Plug-in Mode

Transport Functions

The most noticeable difference between the stand-alone and plug-in mode of Maschine relates to the interaction with Maschine’s sequencer. Indeed, when Maschine is used as a plug-in within a host sequencer software (e.g., Cubase or Pro Tools), Maschine’s sequencer is exclusively controlled by the host application: you cannot, for example, manually start, stop or restart the playback in Maschine, nor modify the tempo or the time signature of your Project within the Maschine plug-in itself, these are synchronized to your host’s own transport functions and tempo settings. As a direct consequence, when Maschine is used as a plug-in, the Restart and Play buttons and the Tempo and Time Signature fields are grayed out and inactive in the Maschine Header. You cannot control Maschine’s playback and tempo settings from your Maschine controller either.

Audio and MIDI Handling

In stand-alone mode, Maschine directly communicates with your audio and MIDI interface. You can select which physical audio/MIDI ports have to be used on your interface and configure crucial audio settings like the sample rate. All this is done via the Audio and MIDI Settings panel.

When Maschine is used as a plug-in within a host application, the host manages the communication with your audio and MIDI interface. The Maschine plug-in only communicates with the host. Native Instruments’ Online Knowledge Base provides how-tos that will help you route the Maschine plug-in to multiple tracks/outputs in the major hosts:

Notice

For all details on your host application’s audio and MIDI configuration, please refer to its documentation.

Multiple Plug-in Instances

When using Maschine as a plug-in within a host application, you can open multiple Maschine instances. You can load as many instances of Maschine as your computer, and your host application can handle CPU-wise. In contrast to the stand-alone application, they are always synced to the host. In plug-in mode, you can also send MIDI Program Change messages from your host to switch between Maschine’s Scenes or between patches of other plug-ins loaded into Maschine or record automation for Maschine parameters. For more information, refer to Triggering Sections or Scenes via MIDI and Using MIDI Control and Host Automation.

Switching Instances

When two or more instances of the Maschine software are running (for example, as plug-ins on different tracks of your DAW), you must choose which instance you want to control from your hardware controller. You can do this both from your controller and in the software.

Preferences

The Preferences panel lets you specify various settings for Maschine.

To open the Preferences:

  1. Open the Maschine menu (macOS) or File menu (Windows) of the Application Menu Bar, or the File submenu of the Maschine menu.

  2. Click Preferences…

The following pages are available in the Preferences panel:

Preferences – General Page

The General page holds all of the global settings for Maschine.

  • To display the General page, click the General tab on the left of the Preferences panel.

MAS_SW_Preferences_General.png

The Preferences – General page.

Setting

Description

Projects

Reload Last Project

Automatically reloads the last Project on startup.

Automatic Backup

Autosaves your work to prevent the loss of important changes in the event Maschine quits unexpectedly. If Maschine quits unexpectedly a dialog will appear when you restart, asking if you want to use the autosaved version of your project. If you choose not to use this, Maschine opens the last manually saved version of the project.

Recording Audio

Prefer Project Folder

Adds the samples you record to a subdirectory of the folder where your project is saved. If not, your recordings will be saved in the generic Recordings folder in your standard user directory. Refer to Preferences – Default Page.

Metronome

Enabled

Activates the metronome. You can also activate the metronome by clicking the Metronome button in the Maschine Header.

Auto-Enable when Recording

Activates the Auto-Enable option. This automatically turns on the metronome when you start recording a Pattern.

The metronome is automatically activated when you start recording a Pattern (typically by pressing REC on your controller). When you exit recording (for example, by pressing the lit REC button) the metronome returns to its state before the recording (this can be on or off).

The Auto-Enable option can be activated/deactivated both in the software and from your controller.

The Auto-Enable option does not affect the Count-in: Even if Auto-Enable is deactivated, the metronome turns on when you press SHIFT + REC to start the Count-in.

Volume

Adjusts the metronome volume.

Signature

Adjusts the time interval between each tick of the metronome. By default, the metronome indicates the beats (the quarter notes, 1/4). Here you can select another note value for the ticks.

Count-in Length

Adjusts the duration of the Count-in, i.e. how long the metronome will sound before the recording actually starts.

Link

Enabled

Activates the Link protocol by default. Applications that support Ableton Link can join a Link session when connected to the same network. Refer to Syncing Maschine using Ableton Link.

Input

Quantize

Automatically quantizes your input to Maschine as you record.

Select one of the following Input Quantization modes:

  • None: Input Quantization is deactivated. Events you play or record on the pads are not quantized.

  • Record: Input Quantization is applied only when you record the pads.

  • Play/Rec: Input Quantization is applied both when you play on the pads and when you record them. In Play/Rec mode, the quantization applied while playing is slightly different from the quantization applied while recording: When recording, all events are quantized to the closest step, possibly ahead of the event. When playing, events occurring in the first half of the steps are left untouched (since you cannot bring them forward in time!) whereas events occurring in the second half of the steps are quantized to the next step.

Usage Data Tracking

Allow usage data tracking

Activates or Deactivates Usage Data Tracking.

Usage Data Tracking technology allows Maschine to automatically track anonymous usage data that you choose to share with us.

All users should keep Data Tracking activated as it provides a valuable tool for understanding the performance of Native Instruments applications when they are used in real-life situations. The data sent to Native Instruments is one hundred percent anonymous and will not affect performance.

For more detailed information about Usage Data Tracking, please refer to the following Knowledge Base article on the Native Instruments website:https://support.native-instruments.com/hc/en-us/articles/209545029

Preferences – Audio Page

The Audio page holds settings related to your audio interface .

The Routings section allows you to configure the connections between the virtual inputs/outputs of Maschine and the physical inputs/outputs of your audio interface .

  • To display the Audio page, click the Audio tab on the left of the Preferences panel.

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Preferences – Audio page.

Setting

Description

Interface

Driver

Select your audio driver from the drop-down menu.

Device

Select the available devices if you have more than one audio interface connected.

Status

This confirms whether your audio interface is currently running.

Sample Rate

This displays the selected sample rate of your audio interface. Restart Maschine after changing the sample rate.

ASIO Config (Windows only)

Click Open Panel to access specific controls related to your audio interface. Please consult the documentation that came with your audio interface for more information.

Latency

macOS: This slider allows you to adjust the latency of your audio interface in samples. Lower values result in a more immediate playing response but are heavier on both the CPU and the audio driver, and may result in audible clicks and pops. Larger values are easier on the CPU, but introduce a larger latency (i.e., there may be a small delay in sound playback when you play on the pads). You should therefore experiment with this setting so that it is as low as possible without overloading your CPU or introducing any audio artifacts.

Windows: When using an ASIO driver, the Audio and MIDI Settings panel displays an ASIO Config button instead of the Latency slider. Click this button to open the settings window of the selected ASIO driver.

Routings

Input

Click Input to display the Routing Inputs. Here you can select which inputs on your audio interface should be used for the four stereo inputs of Maschine. Select the inputs of your audio interface on the right column by clicking the fields: you will be presented with a drop-down menu with all the available Inputs. The choices made here will determine which inputs can be used when sampling external sources, for example.

Output

Click Output to display the Routing Outputs. Here you are presented with a list of the 16 stereo outputs from Maschine: In the right column, you can assign them to the outputs of your audio interface. Click the fields in the right column to select the desired outputs via a drop-down menu.

Preferences – MIDI Page

The MIDI page allows you to set up the MIDI input and output ports you want to use with Maschine.

  • To display the MIDI page, click the MIDI tab on the left of the Preferences panel.

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The Preferences – MIDI page.

Setting

Description

Sync

Mode

Sets the MIDI Sync mode preference for Maschine:

Off: No MIDI sync mode is selected.

Master (Send Clock): If Maschine is running as a stand-alone application, it can also send a MIDI Clock signal to any device that is capable of receiving MIDI Clock. This could be hardware such as a drum machine, another groove box, or even another software sequencer.

Receive (Receive Clock): If Maschine is running as a stand-alone application, it can be controlled externally via MIDI Clock by any device that is capable of sending MIDI Clock. This could be hardware such as a drum machine, another groove box or sequencer, or even another software sequencer.

Please note that the Receive (Receive Clock) option is unavailable when LINK is active. For more information on Link, refer to Syncing Maschine using Ableton Link.

Clock Offset (appears when Mode is set to Receive)

Compensates for delays that may occur during MIDI data transmission. Delayed MIDI Clock data will cause external devices to respond too late, thus making your track sound out of sync.

By adjusting the Clock Offset value you can set an amount of latency to be compensated (in milliseconds). Maschine will then send MIDI Clock events ahead of time as defined.

Devices

Input

Displays a list of all the MIDI inputs. You can activate/deactivate each input by clicking the fields in the Status column, which displays the current status of the corresponding port.

Output

Displays a list of all the MIDI outputs of your system. You can activate/deactivate each output by clicking the fields in the Status column, which displays the current status of the corresponding port.

Preferences – Default Page

The Default page allows you to define the default settings that will be used for each new Project.

  • To display the Default page, click the Default tab on the left of the Preferences panel.

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The Preferences – Default page.

Setting

Description

Project

Standalone

Allows you to select a Project to load automatically when you start a new Project in Maschine used as a stand-alone application. The field displays the location of the Template Project selected for use. Click the folder icon to select another Template Project. Any Project file can be used as a template; this can be from the Maschine Library, or you could create a file, for example with your preferred instruments and effects already loaded into the Plug-in slots. If you have already set a Template Project, click the cross icon to unset it and start new Projects from scratch instead.

Plug-in

Selects a Project to load automatically when Maschine is used as a plug-in within a Digital Audio Workstation. The field displays the location of the Template Project selected for use. Click the folder icon to select another Template Project. Any Project file can be used as a template; this can be from the Maschine Library, or you can create a file, for example with your preferred instruments and effects loaded into the Plug-in slots. If you have already set a Template Project, click the cross icon to unset it and start new Projects from scratch instead.

Metronome Settings

Downbeat Sample and Upbeat Sample

Selects audio files to be used as upbeat and downbeat of the metronome, respectively. The fields display the locations of the audio files selected for use. Click the fields to select other files. Click the little crosses on the right of the fields to remove the custom audio files and use the default metronome sounds instead.

Scene / Section

Duplicate

Select from the drop-down menu how the Duplicate function in Maschine will operate when duplicating Scenes.

Scene Only

Only the Scene is duplicated. The result is a new unlinked Scene with the same Patterns referenced.

Scene and Patterns

The Scene itself and additionally all Patterns are duplicated. The new Scene and Patterns are now completely independent from the originals.

Link when duplicating Sections

Click the checkbox to enable a linked copy of a Section when using the Duplicate function. By default this feature is deactivated.

When activated, the Duplicate function will create a linked copy of a Section. A linked copy will automatically be updated when any instance of a linked Section is edited. This way, you don’t need to keep track of which Section is the “original.”

Pattern

Length

Enter the default length of new Patterns. The length is measured in bars, beats, and sixteenths. To adjust the value, click the desired number (bars, beats or sixteenths) and drag your mouse vertically. For more information on Pattern Length refer to Adjusting the Arrange Grid and the Pattern Length.

Sound Lane Height

Select the default height of the Sound lane in the Pattern Editor by choosing between normal 1x or 2x zoom from the menu. 1x displays all sixteen sounds, and 2x displays only the first eight Sounds of a Group, making it easier to edit events.

Sound

Default MIDI Input Mode

Allows you to play your Sounds via MIDI notes, for example, from a MIDI keyboard. By default and without any configuration, incoming MIDI notes on any MIDI port and any MIDI channel will trigger the pitch of the focused Sound. In addition, you can select that a Sound receives no MIDI input, and also define the default setting for MIDI input by selecting the Default MIDI Input Mode preference.

Select one of the following MIDI input mode options from the drop-down menu:

Focus: MIDI input from any connected controller can be used to trigger the focused (selected) Sound slot.

None: The selected Sound will not receive MIDI data.

Preferences – Library Page

The Library page lets you edit the locations of all Maschine library files (both factory and user) that appear in the LIBRARY pane of the Browser.

Notice

The LIBRARY pane of the Browser is described in section Searching and Loading Files from the Library.

  • To display the Library page click the Library tab on the left of the Preferences panel.

The Factory and User buttons at the top of the page allow you to switch between the Factory pane and the User pane.

Factory Pane
  • To display the Factory pane, click the Factory button at the top of the Library page.

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The Preferences panel – the Library page’s Factory pane.

The Factory pane displays all factory libraries available. These include the Maschine Factory Library, libraries imported from other NI products, and installed Maschine EXPANSIONS.

These libraries will appear in the Factory view of the Browser’s Library pane.

Element

Description

Location column

Displays the path of each library. If you have moved any library to another location on your computer, click the folder icon on the left of that library and select its new path.

Product column

Displays the name of each product. These names cannot be edited.

Rescan button

Rescans the Library for any changes. If you have made any change to a library (for example, changed its location), select the modified item in the list and click the Rescan button to rescan that library.

User Pane
  • To display the User pane, click the User button at the top of the Library page.

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The Preferences panel – the Library page’s User pane.

The User pane displays all user libraries currently in use. This includes the standard Maschine user directory as well as any other user directory you might have defined. These libraries will appear in the User view of the Browser’s Library pane.

Element

Description

Location

Displays the path of each library. If you have moved any library to another location on your computer, click the folder icon on the left of that library and select its new path.

Alias

Displays the alias stored for each library. Click an alias to edit it. Defining aliases for your user folders is not mandatory, but it can be of great help when working on different computers (see description below). After adding a location (see Add below), click the field in the new row and in the Alias column to set the alias for that new location. The alias of the default user folder, Standard User Directory, cannot be edited, as this is the location where all your user files will be stored by default.

Add

Adds directories to the user library. See below for more details.

Remove

Removes the selected user library. Files will only be removed from the Maschine Browser, not from your hard disk.

Rescan

Rescans the Library for any changes. If you have made any change to a library (for example, changed its location), select the changed item in the list and click the Rescan button to rescan that library.

Scan user content for changes at start-up

Scans for changes to the User content directory during start-up.

Tip

You can resize the Preferences panel at your convenience using the usual method on your operating system. You can also resize each column by clicking and dragging the border between both column headers.

User Content Folder Included in Maschine’s User Paths

Products from Native Instruments will store user-generated content in a centralized User Content folder. In Maschine, this User Content folder is automatically added to the list of user directories in the User pane of the Library page in the Preferences panel. As a consequence, its files are available in the Maschine Browser.

The User Content folder can neither be renamed nor removed from the list. However, you can modify its path in the Location column.

Standard User Directory Cannot Be Removed

The Standard User Directory can not be renamed nor removed from the list in the User pane of the Library page in the Preferences panel. You can modify its path in the Location column.

Cancelling Library Rescan

In the Library page of the Preferences panel, the Rescan button allows you to rescan the selected library (or all your libraries if none is selected) so that the Maschine Browser mirrors any changes you have made to the files. Clicking this Rescan button triggers the scan, and an Updating Database dialog shows you the scan’s progress.

The Updating Database dialog includes a CANCEL button allowing you to interrupt the scanning process without harming the database permanently:

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The Updating Database dialog now includes a Cancel button.

  • Click CANCEL in the Updating Database dialog to interrupt the scan.

    A Cancel Rescan dialog opens up, asking you to confirm that you want to cancel the scan. The dialog warns you that canceling the scan may lead to inconsistencies or missing items in your Maschine Library.

  • If you still want to cancel the scan, click CANCEL RESCAN at the bottom right, and the scan will be canceled.

  • If you prefer not to cancel the scan, click CONTINUE or press [Esc] on your computer keyboard, and the scan will continue.

If you cancel the scan, any inconsistencies or missing items in your Maschine Library will be resolved by rescanning the same path(s) again (via the Rescan button mentioned above).

Notice

In opposition to the rescan process described here, you cannot cancel the import of files into the Maschine Library (via the FILES pane of the Browser or via the Library page of the Preferences panel) nor the process of applying changes to the file tags and properties (via the Attribute Editor in the Browser).

Using Aliases

The aliases that are available in the Alias column act as references to the paths shown in the Location column. When you save a Project, the saved data includes both the path and the alias for each file used in the Project. This will allow you to use a Project on different computers even if the files used in the Project (for example, Samples) are stored in different locations on each computer: Simply define the same alias for these locations on each computer, and Maschine will replace the path saved on the first computer with the path set to the same alias on the second computer to retrieve the files on this second computer, therefore avoiding the possibility of missing Samples.

Adding Folders to the User Library

In the User pane of the Library page, you can add other folders to the user content of your Maschine Library. To do this:

  1. Click Add at the bottom of the pane.

    A folder selection dialog opens.

  2. In the dialog, navigate to the desired folder on your computer and click OK (Choose on macOS).

    All Maschine-compatible files found in the selected folder are added to your user content in Maschine.

Furthermore, the imported files will have their attributes (product/bank/sub-bank, Type/Sub-Type/Mode tags, as well as properties) set as follows:

  • For all file types, any attributes already in the files will be retained.

  • For Samples, if the product/bank/sub-bank attributes are empty, they will be set to the folders in which the Samples are located:

    • The product will be set to the name of the folder you have selected.

    • If Samples reside in a subfolder of this folder, the subfolder name will be used as a bank.

    • If Samples reside in a subfolder of this subfolder, the name of the lower subfolder will be used as a sub-bank.

By adding a folder to the user content of your Maschine Library, you make their files available in the Browser’s LIBRARY pane for quick searching and loading! For more information on how to use the LIBRARY pane of the Browser, please refer to section Searching and Loading Files from the Library.

Notice

Paths to folders added via the IMPORT button in the Browser’s FILES pane will also show up here. The only difference between adding folders via the Add button in the Preferences panel described here and via the IMPORT button in the FILES pane of the Browser is that the latter allows you to directly tag the files as they are imported. See section Using the Result List for more information on how to import folders via the FILES pane.

Please note that the selected folder cannot contain, or be contained within, a folder already listed in the User or Factory pane. If Maschine detects such a folder as you press OK (Choose on macOS) in the folder selection dialog. In that case, a Duplicate Location message appears: Click OK to return to the folder selection dialog and select another folder on your computer.

Removing Folders from the User Library

You can also remove any user folder from your Library, except the default user.

Preferences – Plug-ins Page

The Plug-ins page lets you manage the Native Instruments and External Plug-ins you want to use in Maschine.

  • To display the Plug-ins page, click the Plug-ins tab on the left of the Preferences panel.

At the top of the page, the Manager and Locations buttons allow you to switch between the Manager pane and the Locations pane.

Manager Pane
  • To display the Manager pane, click the Manager button at the top of the Plug-ins page.

In the Manager pane of the Plug-ins page, you can enable/disable VST/AU plug-ins, rescan their directories, and set default presets for your Native Instruments and External Plug-ins.

When a Native Instruments or External Plug-in is deactivated, it will not be available for loading (from the various Plug-in menus in the software and from the Plug-in Browser on your controller). If, for example, you do not use certain VST plug-ins in Maschine, it could be useful to disable them so that they do not overload the list of available Plug-ins.

Tip

For more information on Native Instruments Plug-ins, External Plug-ins, and other Plug-ins in Maschine, refer to Working with Plug-ins.

MAS_SW_Preferences_Plugins.png

The Preferences panel – the Plug-ins page’s Manager pane

Element

Description

Plug-in

Lists all available VST/AU plug-ins from the directories specified in the Locations pane (see below). This includes all activated or deactivated 32-bit VST/AU plug-ins when Maschine is running in 32-bit mode, or all activated or deactivated VST/AU 64-bit plug-ins when Maschine is running in 64-bit mode.

A checkbox on the left of each plug-in in the list allows you to enable/disable this plug-in in Maschine. When a plug-in is deactivated, it will not be available for loading in Maschine.

Default Config

Sets a default preset for each plug-in. Click the folder icon on the left to choose a default plug-in preset. You can also save a preset as default for the plug-in via the Save As Default… entry in the Plug-in menu. If no default is set here, the parameters of this plug-in will be auto-mapped when loading it into a plug-in slot.

To remove a default plug-in preset, click the little cross on the right.

Always Use Latest Version of NI Plug-ins

Sets the latest version of a plug-in as the default. If a project was saved using older plug-ins, such as older versions of Reaktor or KONTAKT, the newest installed versions would be used when loading the project while this preference is activated. If the preference is off, Maschine will attempt to load using the versions originally used when creating the project. Additionally, if only the newest versions of the required plug-ins are installed on the system, the latest versions will be used even if this preference is turned off.

Use NI Audio Units

Shows or hides AU plug-ins in the plug-in dropdown when right-clicking a sound slot (note that loading from the Browser will always instantiate a VST plug-in)

Rescan

If you have changed the content of any directory specified in the Locations pane (see below), you should rescan your plug-in directories in order to keep the list of available external plug-ins up to date. Clicking Rescan will check the integrity of your plug-ins and allow you to automatically detect plug-ins that were added or removed or deselect any plug-ins that are not working correctly for any reason. Note that the scan will ignore the plug-ins that are deactivated in the list above.

Manager Pane: Use NI Audio Units Checkbox (macOS Only)

On macOS, the Manager pane contains an additional Use NI Audio Units checkbox. Check this box to include the Audio Units (AU) versions of your Native Instruments plug-ins in the software’s Plug-in menus and in the controller’s Plug-in Browser:

  • If this checkbox is deactivated (default setting), the AU versions of your Native Instruments plug-ins are still listed in the list above, but they are deactivated (checkbox unchecked): These plug-ins won’t appear in the Native Instruments submenu of the Plug-in menus (software) or in the Plug-in Browser (controller). Additionally, the remaining entries for Native Instruments plug-ins (VST) won’t display the (VST) mention next to their name.

  • If you enable the Use NI Audio Units checkbox, all Native Instruments’ AU plug-ins are activated in the list above and are available for loading in Maschine. To distinguish them from the VST versions, plug-in entries in the Native Instruments submenu of the Plug-in menus and the Plug-in Browser will display either (VST) or (AU) after their name.

You can also enable or disable Native Instruments’ AU plug-ins individually in the list via the checkboxes described above. As soon as you allow one of them, the Use NI Audio Units checkbox is automatically activated.

Notice

The Use NI Audio Units checkbox relates only to AU plug-ins from Native Instruments. AU plug-ins from third-party manufacturers are not affected by this setting.

Notice

When the Use NI Audio Units checkbox is deactivated or the AU version of a Native Instruments plug-in is deactivated, you can still load Projects that use AU plug-ins.

Location Pane
  • To display the Location pane, click the Location button at the top of the Plug-ins page.

In the Locations section of the Plug-ins page, you can manage the various plug-in directories you want to use in Maschine.

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The Preferences panel – the Plug-ins page’s Locations pane

The Locations pane also contains the following controls:

Element

Description

Plug-in

Lists all plug-in directories used in Maschine. Click the folder icon on the left of an entry to change the path of that plug-in directory.

Add

Adds plug-in directories.

Remove

Remove the selected directory.

Rescan

Rescans the Library for any changes. If you have changed the content of a directory (such as installed or removed plug-ins), you should rescan your plug-in directories to keep the list of available plug-ins up to date. Click Rescan to check the integrity of your plug-ins. This will allow you to automatically detect plug-ins that are added or removed or disable any plug-ins that are not working correctly for any reason.

Preferences – Hardware Page

The Hardware page lets you customize specific features of your Maschine controller, for example, how the pads react to your playing or the brightness of the displays.

  • To display the Hardware page, click the Hardware tab on the left of the Preferences panel.

    The settings of connected Native Instruments controllers can be selected and adjusted.

Preferences – Colors Page

The Colors page enables you to choose default colors for your Scenes, Groups, and Sounds.

  • To display the Colors page click the Colors tab on the left of the Preferences panel.

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The Preferences panel – Colors page.

Setting

Description

Scene Default

Selects the default color for your Scenes. You can choose the desired color from the 16-color palette or White (default). The chosen color is displayed in the menu. If you select Auto each Scene will have a different default color.

Group Default

Selects the default color for your Groups. You can choose the desired color from the 16-color palette in the menu. The chosen color is displayed in the menu. If you select Auto (default), each Group will have a different default color.

Sound Default

Selects the default color for your Sounds. In the menu, you can choose the desired color from the 16-color palette. The chosen color is displayed in the menu. If you select Auto each Sound will have a different default color. If you select Use Group Color (default), Sounds will mirror the color of the Group to which they belong.

Load with Colors

Saves your Color settings with your Maschine files (Projects, Groups, Sounds, etc.). If you uncheck Load with Colors (checked by default), saved colors will not be used next time you load the files. The default colors set in this Colors page will be used instead.

Notice

Please note that the settings in this Colors page define default colors: These colors will only be used when creating a new Project, resetting a Group/Sound, or when Load with Colors is unchecked (see above). To change the color of particular objects (Sounds, Groups, Patterns, and Scenes) in your Project, use the Color submenu in the object’s context menu in the software. Refer to Changing the Sound’s Color, Changing the Group’s Color, Changing the Pattern’s Color, and Changing the Color of a Scene for more information respectively.

Tip

As long as an object (Scene, Sound, Group, or Pattern) has the default color, this color is not attached to the object but instead to its “position” in the respective list: In particular, if you move the object to another position the default color will not follow the object, the object will instead take the default color of its new position.