Had a look at NI's Maschine today.

I went to Guitar Center today to mess around with NI's Maschine to see if it looked like something i would like to implement into my setup. I only got to play with it for an hour, but first impressions were that it was sort of confusing. It seems like it has a massive learning curve, and I can not be in Guitar Center for hours on end which is what seems like it would take to learn this beast. I liked a lot of the drum sounds in it however.

I hear a lot of MPC users saying once they got a Maschine they never looked to their MPC again. I am friggin terrified of the thought that I could possibly sell my MPC for a Maschine.
Even if I did not sell my 2500, I am still having a tough time justifying $600.00 for this piece of kit. I guess the thing is, is that the MPC has a certain cohesiveness to it, and is dead simple to use that I was not feeling with when using the Maschine. It's probably just because it's all so new to me though.

yo i went to GC and tried an oboe for the first time. spent an hour on it, thought it was confusing and probably had a steep learning curve....


just sayin.

I see where you're coming from. I do need more research and hands on with the device to make a sound decision. I was also hoping for any fresh angle's about the piece's work flow that I haven't thought of, or how peeps incorporate it into their own setups.

Thanks!

i've had maschine for probably close to year now and I still havent figured that shit out...I know how to lay down basic 4 bar sequence in it and move some notes around or quantize but that's about it...i still use it on almost every track i make

Whoa, a years quite a while.
Do you normally use it along side an MPC? I think if nothing else, I wish I could just scrape up all the drums in the Maschine. The thing is, I am so comfortable with the MPC I find it hard switching up to something that's totally different. At the same time I like to try and keep a foot ahead on new $h!t as well.

Enters pipe dream now>

I wish Akai would get together with JJ, and make a "MPChine" that had all the benefits of software integration, like dragging and dropping audio (no more tracking) while at the same time having a stand alone unit with all the goodies of the MPC.

Leaving pipe dream now>

Cicatrix wrote:I think if nothing else, I wish I could just scrape up all the drums in the Maschine.

The sound bank for Maschine has been 'available' online for ages.

I've had Maschine for close to a year now and while some of the advanced functions take some time to figure out, I think it's incredibly intuitive. It's a lot like an MPC in that you can do a lot only using a fraction of the features and have the more advanced stuff there when you need it.

Personally I don't see MPC/Maschine as an either/or proposition. The whole MPC killer quest is nonsense. With that said is Maschine the best adaptation of MPC style workflow on a PC/Mac ? Hell yes!

My sample library is ridiculously huge so Maschine is worth it to me just as an access point to the samples. With drag and drop you can make 8 Maschine kits in literally under 2 minutes. My Maschine lives in perfect harmony next to my 2500 and 4000, and again I'm surprised more people haven't seen Maschine as a complement to an MPC rather than replacement. I realize though that a lot of people are more productive sticking to one box.

Just know to use maschine you need a decent soundcard. So be prepared to buy one if you don't already have one. Maschine also syphons power from your computer, slowing down your processor depending on your PC. I would also recommend a powered usb strip if you buy maschine. It's a purchase that "requires additional parts" to work optimally.

DON'T DO IT......... ( unless ur really in computer useage )

Thanks for the sharing you're knowledge folks. It's appreciated.
I did not know that you could purchase the Maschine sound banks, thanks for the info about that, I will look into it.

I do have a decent sound card, but I'm not sure if I want to tax my laptop any more. It is kind of getting long in the tooth with the T7700 core two duo processor. By the time I save up enough money for another laptop Ivy bridge will probably be out and I'll be in better shape for something like the Maschine if I decide to go that route. I don't think I would ever buy it for the sole purpose to take place of my MPC2500, but more on the lines of complimenting my existing setup.

"but first impressions were that it was sort of confusing"

Exactly how I felt. Before the Maschine dropped, Native Instruments made it seem like going from the MPC was a seamless transition. I tried to for about 30 minutes and gave up. The NI rep was getting upset that I couldn't figure it out in front of the other customers, but it wasn't all that simple to use for me.
I would have still bought it if it wasn't for Guitar Centers no return policy. Since the hardware requires software, they won't accept any returns. I would have like to try it for a week...maybe a month, but I can't throw away $600 for something I don't know how to use.
I don't know what GC was thinking with that policy. Even if I copied the software, its useless without the hardware!

so how do u think maschine compliments ur mpc surely u can see the functionality duplicates the same functions as the mpc so why do u need both?

on the mp u chop assing to pads then compose the beat, on the maschin u can do the same quicker and u dont have to track out.

i had the mpc1k and the maschine replaced it and made me more productive and creative mostly with regard to using the sounds in my library that are on the PC.


ive used the sp505, korg-esx and the mpc1k and id say the learning curve is the same for all of em

but if ur attached to the mpc workflow the resistance towards the new device may create the impression of a steep learning curve because u already have a biase towards the mpc.

but defo see the maschine as a replacement for the mpc not a compliment as it can pretty much replicate all its major functions and provides a similar beat creation process.

but its all personal choice i like to work in one box so this is idea for me i also weant to use my sample libraries in a convenient manner to its a good look

roxstar wrote:Even if I copied the software, its useless without the hardware!

Actually the software runs without the device, so you can check all the functions and then decide if you want to buy it. There's no demo, but if you'll spend some time with google you'll find what you need

can't you just use midi headphones to get it rollin with the mp?

Cicatrix wrote:I am friggin terrified of the thought that I could possibly sell my MPC for a Maschine.

i'm more pissed off with how ppl ask me what i use to make beats followed by whats a mpc....

Someone that owns the maschine, how are the pads compared to a legit mpc?