NI MASCHINE - constantly upgrading. (Ver. 1.6)

emptysea wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:With the exception of destructive editing, the software shows all other editing perimeters all controllable via hardware. No mouse needed. Why don't you find anything wrong with a hidden menu of common editing tasks, when these can be displayed in the software as well? There is plenty of room and its already done in the LCDs. Yes, the LCDs should show what the computer monitor shows to the greatest extent possible.

To me, it feels like nitpicking for you to push that as an issue like you're doing because it doesn't hinder the usage of Maschine as intended. Anyway, wasn't it part of your point about how it's one of "more examples" of how I'm wrong about Maschine being able to be controlled just from the hardware for the most part. What are those other examples you were talking about?

I wouldn't have a problem obviously if they improved how that is displayed on the computer screen but it's not an issue for me at all. There are issues of much higher priority imo, like timestretch for example.

You completely missed my points. This was never about you as you make it out to be. This is about Maschine and feedback from an actual MPC user. If you find that Maschine is great, that is fine. But I will continue to talk about its shortcomings like I do with any product I own.

Editing is an issue for me. Its ok if you disagree. NI are those ones that touted how great the hardware and software integration is. So when I press the 7 and 8 buttons for sample editing, it should pull up the sample editing options in the software. This is a simple concept...a basic function that should be there. Can you do music without this? Yes. The same is true for any of its shortcomings (like time stretch). Producers have done more with far less..to include dragging and dropping of MIDI and audio

There are more examples where the hardware doesn't mimic everything in the software and vice versa. I will write about them soon. But I have to address comments in several other forums so bare with me

Askia Shaheed wrote:You completely missed my points. This was never about you as you make it out to be.

No, I didn't miss your point nor was I trying to make it out to be about me. It's just my opinion that you're nitpicking.

These pair would be a right barrel of laughs at a party...

emptysea wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:You completely missed my points. This was never about you as you make it out to be.

No, I didn't miss your point nor was I trying to make it out to be about me. It's just my opinion that you're nitpicking.

Not really understanding why you get worked up over my feedback but ok

I did tell you I own Maschine right?

Askia Shaheed wrote:Not really understanding why you get worked up over my feedback but ok

Not getting worked up at all. I was just correcting your false assumptions about how "useless" certain features of Maschine was when it was really a case of you being uninformed and/or nitpicking. Same goes for all the other crap you posted like how it doesn't work exactly like a MPC or how the hardware is "falling apart". I really have to laugh at that because it's one of the most well-built, sturdy controller I've ever used.

emptysea wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:Not really understanding why you get worked up over my feedback but ok

Not getting worked up at all. I was just correcting your false assumptions about how "useless" certain features of Maschine was when it was really a case of you being uninformed and/or nitpicking. Same goes for all the other **** you posted like how it doesn't work exactly like a MPC or how the hardware is "falling apart". I really have to laugh at that because it's one of the most well-built, sturdy controller I've ever used.

But you haven't corrected me about anything. Grid Edit via hardware's LCD is useless and I don't see anyone agreeing with you across any forum. Grid Edit without an actual grid is silly (talking about the hardware).

The hardware is falling apart and there is a NI forum member that had to re-glue his unit. This is something I don't have to make up. Maschine's controller is a cheap controller as is so many in its price range. As I mentioned earlier it is not as robust as Euphonix controllers in the same price range and its certainly not as robust as an MPC.

Are you claiming that NI didn't glue or use adhesive to affix the top "metal" plate of Maschine to its plastic base? I try to spend my money on higher end gear. So owning a cheap controller is a new experience for me. And you have been getting worked up.

Askia Shaheed wrote:Grid Edit via hardware's LCD is useless and I don't see anyone agreeing with you across any forum. Grid Edit without an actual grid is silly (talking about the hardware).

You don't need "Grid Edit via hardware's LCD" on Maschine. It's not a MPC.

Its obvious that its not an MPC if it is missing common features found in numerous similar products...but enough said about grid editing.

Now what can you share about accomplishing the following functions in Maschine:
1. Name or rename samples/instruments
2. Stopping the play of long samples once they are triggered
3. Changing volume and rate of the metronome

Hey, stopping long samples is important. I only recently found out about shift+stop on the MV... for some reason I never knew that trick and I always wished stop would do that but never thought to try shift+stop... haha


it's funny how these days empty sea is saying "it isn't an mpc" and "it is not the same thing" yada yada... where last week he was saying how you can close your laptop lid or turn your monitor off and produce on it... where if what askia says is true, you cant even grid edit on a piece of hardware that has not 1... but 2 screens.

or is that another maschine misconception that will deny NI some potential sales?


if I was NI, I would fire empty sea because he has crossed the line from promoting to giving a bad representation of the product. However I might rehire him in the legal department.

Yo I just MAschine and I was a little nervous at first but I gotta say it's getting better and better everyday. I'm just starting to realize the potential. I will keep yal updated once I figure out some more of the features

Askia Shaheed wrote:Its obvious that its not an MPC if it is missing common features found in numerous similar products...

It's obvious you want it to be a MPC clone but there's no other product out there like Maschine because it's the only hybrid hardware/software sampler/drum machine/workstation of its kind yet. Ultimately, they're different tools for different needs, although there is some overlap, which is why so many people are confused.

If you have a mountain of hardware gear that you need to use and you need more than 16 MIDI channels to do it, then a MPC makes more sense.

If you want better integration with a DAW but don't want to sacrifice the feel and workflow of hardware, then it's Maschine, no contest. It leaves the MPC in the dust. Or, as saintjoe said, "Native Instruments Maschine KILLS my MPC 4000, period". Or as Flying Lotus said "I think Maschine is a really great tool for producers who want to throw their MPCs in the garbage."

emptysea wrote:

Askia Shaheed wrote:Its obvious that its not an MPC if it is missing common features found in numerous similar products...

It's obvious you want it to be a MPC clone but there's no other product out there like Maschine because it's the only hybrid hardware/software sampler/drum machine/workstation of its kind yet. Ultimately, they're different tools for different needs, although there is some overlap, which is why so many people are confused.

If you have a mountain of hardware gear that you need to use and you need more than 16 MIDI channels to do it, then a MPC makes more sense.

If you want better integration with a DAW but don't want to sacrifice the feel and workflow of hardware, then it's Maschine, no contest. It leaves the MPC in the dust. Or, as saintjoe said, "Native Instruments Maschine KILLS my MPC 4000, period". Or as Flying Lotus said "I think Maschine is a really great tool for producers who want to throw their MPCs in the garbage."

I think everyone gets it. Its a dedicated control surface that is integrated with a sampling drum machine/sequencer whose software resides on a PC/Mac. The "better" integration is due to the fact that your DAW is in the same environment and Maschine can be used as a plug-in. These are awesome sound-bytes and sales pitches. But the reality is that it comes up short in several aspects.

Feel. Maschine is a dedicated controller for the software. Not too different than Akai's APC series for Live. However, but the build quality of Maschine is suspect. Reports are starting to come in about the top plate separating from the base of the unit (visit the NI Forum for details).

Workflow. All the internet advertisement videos and tutorials do not shed light on Maschine's workflow. They will only tell you what they want you to hear saying things like you don't have to enter different modes to change things like a sample pitch or that the software is completely controllable from the hardware. This isn't exactly accurate as all Maschine users know. Maschine has tons of hidden menus/commands, and pages to navigate through. I wrote about several of them across these forums. Something as simple as recording over previously recorded material, you have to press and hold down two buttons.

Sequencer. If you only use 16 MIDI channels, MPCs sequencer is far superior than Maschine. Specifically, the MPC is better editing editing due to its Seq, step, and grid editing functions.

Sampler. Overall, all the current model MPCs are equally or better than Maschine (previously discussed).

Sound design. All the current model MPCs are equally or better than Maschine (previously discussed).

Short summary. Think of Maschine as a low end MPC controller with the software residing on a computer but minus all the advanced features you have grown to love. Statements like "it leaves the MPC in the dust" holds very little weight without giving specifics. If you wondering why I focus on the negative aspects is because I am trying to keep the discussion balanced.

There is no way I would trade an MPC 4000 in for Maschine on any level. Especially from my experience using Maschine, the MPC 1000 does more and has a better workflow.

This is the "top plate" thread he's talking about:

http://www.native-instruments.com/forum ... =top+plate

please note that only one other person, besides jahrome, confirms the top plate coming up. One other person
was simply worried about this possibility because he hadn't received his Maschine yet.

Askia Shaheed wrote: Something as simple as recording over previously recorded material, you have to press and hold down two buttons.

God forbid that you have "press and hold down two buttons". Last time I checked, I have to do the same whenever I record something on the 2kxl or in any MPC. Press and hold "rec +play". lol.

Just ordered one!

Will let you know what i think later in the week when i get it.

Akai MPC2000XL owner here btw