NI MASCHINE - constantly upgrading. (Ver. 1.6)

LvngDead wrote:ahh, i got a noob question.

what is "grid mode"?

Grid mode is the Quantization grid. When you are in grid mode you can view how your samples are placed in the quanization grid. It's useful for building complex drum patterns.

seiko wrote:I have an MPC5000 and a Maschine.
Latest update for MPC was more then one year ago as where Maschine gets updates more frequently.
As updates and new functionality based upon users (my) input is extremely important to me, my MPC is gathering dust since I bought the Maschine.

For me it gathers a couple of functions that are important :
-combine tracks with different loop lengths
-easy and sensible implementation of FX (on 1 sound, group, or master) and a lot of useable FX besides the reverb/chorus/compression/delay
-in Grid mode pattern can be changed while sequencer is running (on MPC I have to stop the sequencer when in grid mode otherwise I can almost never select the correct note)
-the computer screen is not necessary, but is a welcome add on if you don't want to look at the small screens all the time (which works perfectly)
-every knob is automateable (whereas in MPC this is very limited)

As a user of both the Akai MPC 5000 and Maschine....I am not quite sure if you know how to use the MPC 5000 based off your comments.

- MPC 5000 (OS2) has automation integrated throughout its software just like Maschine.
- The MPC 5000 gives you a real sampler quite unlike Maschine which is inferior to nearly every leading software sampler sold today. MPC 5000s sample editing is light years ahead of Maschine
- The quality of Maschine's effects are not superior to the MPC 5000 nor is it implemented any simpler
- MPC 5000 gives you greater flexibility when it comes to applying swing and quantization to each track

I can go on for hours about all the things an MPC 5000 has that Maschine can't match.

Askia Shaheed wrote:

seiko wrote:I have an MPC5000 and a Maschine.
Latest update for MPC was more then one year ago as where Maschine gets updates more frequently.
As updates and new functionality based upon users (my) input is extremely important to me, my MPC is gathering dust since I bought the Maschine.

For me it gathers a couple of functions that are important :
-combine tracks with different loop lengths
-easy and sensible implementation of FX (on 1 sound, group, or master) and a lot of useable FX besides the reverb/chorus/compression/delay
-in Grid mode pattern can be changed while sequencer is running (on MPC I have to stop the sequencer when in grid mode otherwise I can almost never select the correct note)
-the computer screen is not necessary, but is a welcome add on if you don't want to look at the small screens all the time (which works perfectly)
-every knob is automateable (whereas in MPC this is very limited)

As a user of both the Akai MPC 5000 and Maschine....I am not quite sure if you know how to use the MPC 5000 based off your comments.

- MPC 5000 (OS2) has automation integrated throughout its software just like Maschine.
- The MPC 5000 gives you a real sampler quite unlike Maschine which is inferior to nearly every leading software sampler sold today. MPC 5000s sample editing is light years ahead of Maschine
- The quality of Maschine's effects are not superior to the MPC 5000 nor is it implemented any simpler
- MPC 5000 gives you greater flexibility when it comes to applying swing and quantization to each track

I can go on for hours about all the things an MPC 5000 has that Maschine can't match.

seiko doesnt:

-mention anything about sampling capabilities (but you felt like u had to)
-mention anything about sample editing (but you felt like you had to)
-mention anything about quantization or swing (but you felt like you had to)
-mention anything about effect automation in the 5k (but you......)

askia doesnt:
-address the issue of why akai's OS updates are less frequent than Maschine's
-address the issue of the 5k's limited effects integration in comparison to Maschine
-mention that superiority of effects is very subjective.

it's like askia doesnt even read the posts he replies to.

He mentioned the MPC 5000 and Maschine in the same sentence. That was enough for me to give feedback regarding the two. He took the pro-Maschine stance, I took the pro-MPC stance. Any further questions?

It doesn't matter that the MPC 5000s OS hasn't been updated in a year. Maschine was just updated but it still lacks a full blown sampler...has the worst sample editing of any of the leading samplers.....and effects (yes, subjective) are no better than any of the latest MPCs. Effects are not a real big issue since Maschine can be used as a plugin. Every major DAW has better effects (subjective..more closer to a fact).

We can talk trivial matters all day. The heart of the MPC and Maschine is sampling and sequencing. Again, all the latest MPCs can do this better than Maschine. This is from my personal experience.

Askia Shaheed wrote:Maschine was just updated but it still lacks a full blown sampler...has the worst sample editing of any of the leading samplers.....

You cant be serious right? Seems like youve picked up only one sampling function that MPC has (that maschine doesnt) , and totally ignore the rest of the features maschine has ?? I truly believe its all about user preferences (in this case), and who values what.

Askia Shaheed wrote:

seiko wrote:I have an MPC5000 and a Maschine.

For me it gathers a couple of functions that are important :
-combine tracks with different loop lengths
-easy and sensible implementation of FX (on 1 sound, group, or master) and a lot of useable FX besides the reverb/chorus/compression/delay
-in Grid mode pattern can be changed while sequencer is running (on MPC I have to stop the sequencer when in grid mode otherwise I can almost never select the correct note)
-the computer screen is not necessary, but is a welcome add on if you don't want to look at the small screens all the time (which works perfectly)
-every knob is automateable (whereas in MPC this is very limited)

As a user of both the Akai MPC 5000 and Maschine....I am not quite sure if you know how to use the MPC 5000 based off your comments.

- MPC 5000 (OS2) has automation integrated throughout its software just like Maschine.
- The MPC 5000 gives you a real sampler quite unlike Maschine which is inferior to nearly every leading software sampler sold today. MPC 5000s sample editing is light years ahead of Maschine
- The quality of Maschine's effects are not superior to the MPC 5000 nor is it implemented any simpler
- MPC 5000 gives you greater flexibility when it comes to applying swing and quantization to each track

I can go on for hours about all the things an MPC 5000 has that Maschine can't match.

I'm sure you could go on for hours, I believe I could do the same.
Point is that you seem to like to see a one-on-one match between MPC and Maschine, for me it just hasn't to be.
Things that are in your opinion 'missing' in Maschine to qualify it as a 100% MPC copy, well I don't need these missing options at all but I do for sure need the extra's that are not implemented in MPC so for me it's clear which of the two I would keep if one of them had to go.
And that's about the only point I wanted to make with my intervention.

Did Native Instruments claim Maschine can do 100% of what MPC can, and more ? I must have missed that.

If for you MPC is superior, good for you.
But maybe for other people some functionality that is actual IN Maschine and not in MPC, might be more important of what's lacking from MPC.
And not everyone has the luxury like both of us, to have an MPC5000 and a Maschine.

Anyway, if you compare prices and take into account everyone has a laptop or computer allready, then the price of Maschine is more to be compared to MPC500...I would know what to choose for sure.

If m....... is so damn hot!!!!!!!!!!!!where are the classic beats,tracks to be found.Its great to have pages and pages of features which kill the mpc but where are the results of this beast.seriously its all fantasy until someone kills it on the thing.And im not talking about shiney reproduced hophip clone copies.I mean there is a standard.Any info followed up.Apart from that,its all good(apart from relying on the computer bit)btw mpc5000 is misunderstood.anyways its all good yo...

dryad-66 wrote:btw mpc5000 is misunderstood.anyways its all good yo...

I just don't think that the 5000 is justifiable for the cost.

dryad-66 wrote:If m....... is so damn hot!!!!!!!!!!!!where are the classic beats,tracks to be found.Its great to have pages and pages of features which kill the mpc but where are the results of this beast.seriously its all fantasy until someone kills it on the thing.And im not talking about shiney reproduced hophip clone copies.I mean there is a standard.Any info followed up.Apart from that,its all good(apart from relying on the computer bit)btw mpc5000 is misunderstood.anyways its all good yo...

This is very irrelevent. For one, it has only been out a year. Second, its NEVER the machine, always the man behind the machine. The MPC line has been out for so long it would be crazy if no hits were made on it. And I'm sure as Maschine keeps expanding that producers will take notice and use them more.

Well theres a lot of hot air around then.I agree with you about the user.Ive packed my mpc to bed for the time being and am making sounds with a lil drum and a big triangle. and tweeking it in logic.Theres no end to the possibilities.And the 5k is expensive.Its nifty tho......(but m.......)But if its the user they should be banging it straight out the box .Sure its going on.Just have not been won over yet.i just wanna hear someone freak it,you know,rinse it.!!Its got a lot to live up to..Its funny but where ever i go on the internet a m....... advert pops up!!

seiko wrote:I'm sure you could go on for hours, I believe I could do the same.

Please do tell. And give some specifics about features that are in Maschine that are not in an MPC. We already discussed the drag/drop of MIDI/Audio to/from a DAW and its ability to be used as a plug-in. What are the extras?

I compare Maschine with an MPC because that is what it is. But the sampler and sequencer is not up to par with an MPC. This isn't important? Then remove the sampler and sequencer from Maschine and you only have a control surface and a limited sample player.

As far as prices...Maschine is just a little bit cheaper than an MPC 1000. I suspect the price of Maschine is cheap because the hardware isn't much better than your typical pad control surface and the software is inferior to any leading software sampler to include NI's Kontakt and Battery. If NI was smart, they would create a Battery Version of Maschine.

i don t see nothing wrong in adding a maschine to my setup and keeping the mpc 5000...

you mpc owners are loyal as sh!t...

what most are missing out on is the fact that all these new technologies i.e. maschine are disposable...

for the price of one mpc 1000 you can basically get 2 maschines...

i am not talking about e-bay either. once you add the add-ons (memory, jj os, external disk space, cd writer) to the mpc1000 it cost about $1300 - $1400...

for individuals that are really into production knows that he/she will be purchasing a new computer every 2 to 3 years. a new midi controller i.e. keyboard/pad controller/control surface every 2 to 3 years. new DAWs, vst/i, etc every 2 to 3 years...

with that being said macshine fits this mold, it is disposable...

why invest into a mpc for a few grand where you could buy a maschine for $600?

2 to 3 years down the road when technology changes an individual could purchase maschine II for another $600...

this how todays producers/beatmaker should be thinking...

lets face it the mpc has grown long in the tooth and is old technology. yes, i do understand that paying a few thousand dollars for a mpc5000 was a big investment and individuals have to justify their purchase. but in todays world disposable gear is where it is at and the maschine fits the mold to an "T"...


i remember coming to this same forum and said the ableton live and Reason is the future. products like the maschine is the future also. it combines hardware/software with "most" of the features todays sample based producers/beatmaker need at the fraction of the price (compared to a mpc)...

p.s. most individual that have invested into hardware, which cost tons compared to software, always feel the need to justify there purchases. with todays technolgy you cant justify purchasing a sh!t load of hardware anymore.

Askia Shaheed wrote:

seiko wrote:I'm sure you could go on for hours, I believe I could do the same.

Please do tell. And give some specifics about features that are in Maschine that are not in an MPC. We already discussed the drag/drop of MIDI/Audio to/from a DAW and its ability to be used as a plug-in. What are the extras?

I compare Maschine with an MPC because that is what it is. But the sampler and sequencer is not up to par with an MPC. This isn't important? Then remove the sampler and sequencer from Maschine and you only have a control surface and a limited sample player.

As far as prices...Maschine is just a little bit cheaper than an MPC 1000. I suspect the price of Maschine is cheap because the hardware isn't much better than your typical pad control surface and the software is inferior to any leading software sampler to include NI's Kontakt and Battery. If NI was smart, they would create a Battery Version of Maschine.

Son you just sound real fugkin bitter with your purchase. It's not Akai/Numark that made the product, it's not no Mpc. The Os Runs of computer and the Mpc Os runs of off the hardware. Why trying to compare the two? The Maschine has many features the mpc doesn't have son quit bs'in. Plus there's users coming from Mpcs like the 2000 classic that don't even have the board for FXS, so these features on the Maschine are real nice. I'm mpc by heart and have been trying to ignore your post like 3 pages back, but there's no stopping you. This is a NI Maschine thread so let the users just be. There's many things that the Mpc doesn't have that the Maschine has for example: 11 knobs, 2 screens, abillity to open up as a vst, run off standalone vst, the use of your own comp HD, it's own fx from NI, ability for every sound to be auto chromatic, group edit. I can go on for days, but I don't have too. It's two different sampler/sequencer, there's no need to compare the two and sound bitter as hell. Your wasting your time posting all these post like if it's going to prevent users from buying the Maschine. Instead what you should be doing is finding those features you claim are not on the Mpc lol. Naw but seriously, Let people see for themselves, what doesn't work for one person may work for another. I'm not one of these users that is going to go back and forward with you, I'm just saying though.....

mwalker wrote:\ with todays technolgy you cant justify purchasing a sh!t load of hardware anymore.

yeah you can

1) it's bad ass
2) it worked back then and it still works now
3) to make music styles of a certain era cant be done better than with using the real deal



Not everyone needs to throw their computers away every 2 or 3 years. Some serious pros are still using atari computers and those are 25 years old and still run fine. The fact that someone has you replacing your computers every 2 or 3 years is laughable. You do realize that you dont need the very latest processor to run the latest DAWs... music production is not professional competitive gaming..

while yes, the world has become very disposable in almost every sector of the market... software does not fit in there. They dont build software cheaply so that it stops working and you have to purchase a new one. Every company from gillette razors to toshiba LCD tvs does do that.