konc3pt wrote:so what's so revolutionary about this piece ? I'd still go with ableton coupled with midi controller of choice like apc40 and or mpc over that thing
First off, at least watch the videos and read up on it before making
assumptions.
It's worth watching NI's official videos too:
http://tinyurl.com/dxf43hMaschine is revolutionary because it is the first hardware that's designed to be totally integrated with software thus having the benefit of behaving like a self-contained instrument without having to look at a computer screen while having the power of computer software integration. To confuse it as just another midi controller is laughable and completely misses the point of Maschine. Maschine is more comparable to a hybrid setup of MPC, an Electribe and Ableton Live's session view all combined. It's like using MPC and electribe synced with Ableton Live's session view but it's better because it's seamlessly integrated. No external midi sync issues or routing and timing headaches. And for people who know the annoyances of using software, there are so many benefits like never having to use a mouse, step sequencer mode, APC40-like Ableton Live clip matrix mode, an advanced workflow that allows you to never having to stop the sequencer, in a way that a MPC could never do...etc.
MPD32, triggerfinger, padkontrol are midi controllers. Maschine is the new paradigm for hybrid software/hardware instrument.
Maschine vs. APC40APC40 offers nothing that Maschine does while Maschine does offer a clip matrix controller mode for Live like APC40. As you can see in the official video on the NI website, in Maschine's clip matrix mode for Live, 4 of the blue group buttons light up and turn into arrow keys so you can navigate the session view clip matrix. Maschine can also control Live's Drum Rack with velocity sensitive pads. APC40 can't. Maschine's pads can play samples like a keyboard. APC40 can't. And because you can also go into regular midi controller mode, you can use Maschine to control various aspects of Live without a mouse such as navigation just like APC40 by using keystroke/MIDI converters like you can easily do with any midi controller. Lastly, APC40 is just too big like most Akai products. Maschine is only 12.6x11.6.
Maschine vs. MPC and other hardwareMaschine operates like a hardware instrument much like a MPC or an Electribe does. You can use Maschine without ever having to look at a computer screen or use a mouse or trackpad. You can do all of the things that MPC/Electribe can and more. But it's way more flexible, powerful and innovative. And this is the first time that a step sequencer is made available in such tightly integrated hardware and software setup.
Let's see how MPC fares in comparison. Can you navigate and launch Live's clip matrix with an MPC? Can you seamlessly integrate the MPC inside any DAW without having to deal with external midi sync? Does the MPC have a x0x/electribe-like step sequencer? How about being able to load more than 128MB of samples at a time? Many people run into problems with external midi sync with Live and hardware like MPC. Maschine removes all that hassle so that you won't ever have to worry about midi cables, master/slave/time code settings, timing...etc.
The MPC is still useful by itself for a lot of people, no doubt. But it is very outdated and too limited for many people who eventually gravitate toward a more flexible and powerful software based setups and ultimately get disappointed by the very uninspiring 'clicking around with the mouse' workflow with software that is antithetical to hardware like MPC and Electribe. Maschine is a perfect solution for those people. MPC is a great instrument but is outdated in comparison.
Maschine vs. Ableton Live or other softwareOne of the major point of Maschine is that it works just like hardware, allowing for more efficient and instrument-like workflow compared to clicking around with a mouse. Compared to a software setup, Maschine is like having a MPC that has the power and flexibility of software. People have been syncing their MPCs with software for years and wishing for better integration between the two worlds. Maschine is a logical extension to that concept. And just like hardware, you don't ever have to even glance at a computer screen or use a mouse/trackpad while you're working with it, like real hardware. Can't say the same for APC40. You can do your basic cutting/trimming of audio directly in Maschine. You don't even need an external editor. You can resample directly in Maschine too. And most importantly for a lot of people, Maschine lets you do pattern based automation recording, which is like the equivalent of recording clip automation in session view, which Ableton can't do.