For discussion about setting up your studio and advice on the gear and equipment within it.
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By mr_debauch Wed Sep 07, 2011 4:34 am
I think somebody should side-by-side the maschine emulation to the real hardware and post up the results. This argument has been going on long enough...

honestly, regardless of emulation techniques, emulation is emulation... it aint the real deal so it aint the same... hell half the time 2 different mpc 60's dont sound exactly the same... and what have you.

they have emulated the SSL compressors and EQs... do they sound the same as their originals? hell no. they have been emulating the **** sega genesis.. does the emulator sound the same as the original hardware double hell no. It's a simple fact, if it didn't pass through the original hardware, it doesn't sound the same as the original hardware... even if you swapped out components on the original hardware to other brands that would even sound different. Now does this mean that the emulation sounds bad? not at all (except for the sega genesis lol) but it is what it is... nothing more. (except for maybe a bit of marketing to attract attention... if you think you're playing an sp-1200 when you use maschine emulation... you're playing yourself)


as for apps... I ran into this video the other day with the rza (you all probably saw it already) he mentioned if I remember correct that he added some of the drum sounds he used in 36 chambers on there:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuHNkLbpLe4

for those who like famous producer's drums etc..
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By Metatron72 Wed Sep 07, 2011 4:54 am
Yeah the Rza iDrum app has some great sounds. :D Those apps are somewhat limited though. I never paid more than .99 -$4 for one them, so I'm not mad at all.

I feel the same about emulations, but welcome anything that sounds good or adds character to sound processing, even if it isn't a 1:1 copy.
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By mr_debauch Wed Sep 07, 2011 5:03 am
Metatron72 wrote:Yeah the Rza iDrum app has some great sounds. :D Those apps are somewhat limited though. I never paid more than .99 -$4 for one them, so I'm not mad at all.

I feel the same about emulations, but welcome anything that sounds good or adds character to sound processing, even if it isn't a 1:1 copy.


you know what I like about these products that are cheap and simple? It's sort of like a little video game. You could download bejeweled or angry birds.... or you can mess around with some little indie program and have fun in our little niche hobbie's style. I still am not at the point of relying on things like this for serious music projects but maybe some day I might.. not that I am ruling them out... if I can make a cool sound with the app then it's in.
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By cyrus Wed Sep 07, 2011 5:45 am
Ocular wrote:And relating to the last part of your post, I agree. iOS music production apps are a dime-a-dozen and it will be interesting to see if and how NI will make iMaschine stand out from the rest.


an adapter to connect ipad/iphone to maschine or maschine mikro, or maybe even a whole new controller with built in dock.................that would be sweet.
Last edited by cyrus on Wed Sep 07, 2011 8:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
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By Metatron72 Wed Sep 07, 2011 6:26 am
cyrus wrote:
Ocular wrote:
Metatron72 wrote:And relating to the last part of your post, I agree. iOS music production apps are a dime-a-dozen and it will be interesting to see if and how NI will make iMaschine stand out from the rest.


an adapter to connect ipad/iphone to maschine or maschine mikro, or maybe even a whole new controller with built in dock.................that would be sweet.


That wasn't actually me that said that, but I agree. :D Word Cyrus, the mind reels at the possibilities. It's great to see a big name VST producer enter the iOS market. Korg's MS-20 app is the best example to me, of what an established big company can do with the iOS devices, so bring on the lite versions and ports.

I don't think Core MIDI is present in iMaschine yet, but emptysea's link had a NI rep saying more info will be released over the next 3-4 weeks. Once Core MIDI is in there, Maschine could be linked up to the app over CCK, I/O Dock, SS25 etc. , and audio through your interface's I/O.
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By Ocular Wed Sep 07, 2011 6:29 am
Yep, that would be sweet. My interest would increase ten-fold if NI transferred the integrated software/ hardware model over to iOS devices. I'm picturing the IO Dock, but with the front extended to accommodate two horizontal pad arrays (like the pad array of Roger Linn's Tempest).

But strictly speaking on the software side of things, what could NI offer that would make iMaschine an outstanding music production app for the iOS? Off the top of my head I'm thinking those sampler emulations that you guys were arguing about would be a fairly unique offering. Also, a sequencer with good resolution (at least 96 ppqn) would tip the scales enough for my finger to click the buy button.
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By Metatron72 Wed Sep 07, 2011 6:45 am
Ocular wrote:Yep, that would be sweet. My interest would increase ten-fold if NI transferred the integrated software/ hardware model over to iOS devices. I'm picturing the IO Dock, but with the front extended to accommodate two horizontal pad arrays (like the pad array of Roger Linn's Tempest).

But strictly speaking on the software side of things, what could NI offer that would make iMaschine an outstanding music production app for the iOS? Off the top of my head I'm thinking those sampler emulations that you guys were arguing about would be a fairly unique offering. Also, a sequencer with good resolution (at least 96 ppqn) would tip the scales enough for my finger to click the buy button.


The current limitations of even iPad2 have to considered. Your suggestion of a tight sequencer is totally within the capabilities of the current devices. I think the whole JJOS on iOS thread got some traction because it's so obvious an MPC sequencer OS would run easily on these devices. They could probably have the Vintage modes in the app too, with the usual iPhone4/iPad2 will allow more track/FX tiers of performance. Like I said earlier, $5 bucks is no big deal, so I'll get it and use the pattern upload mostly. But who knows, maybe it has variation of the desktop versions chopping right at jump. It's those kind of features that make BM2 and Nanostudio worth $15-$20 to me.

I watched Maschine for the first year, and have had it for the last 2. NI has really done a good job with continually improving and expanding it. It hasn't always happened quickly, but if you compare 1.0 to 1.7 they have done a great job so far. I'm betting they do the same with the mobile version, with the bigger stuff coinciding with the release of new iOS device releases.
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By cyrus Wed Sep 07, 2011 8:55 am
Metatron72 wrote:
cyrus wrote:
Ocular wrote:And relating to the last part of your post, I agree. iOS music production apps are a dime-a-dozen and it will be interesting to see if and how NI will make iMaschine stand out from the rest.


an adapter to connect ipad/iphone to maschine or maschine mikro, or maybe even a whole new controller with built in dock.................that would be sweet.


That wasn't actually me that said that, but I agree. :D Word Cyrus, the mind reels at the possibilities. It's great to see a big name VST producer enter the iOS market. Korg's MS-20 app is the best example to me, of what an established big company can do with the iOS devices, so bring on the lite versions and ports.

I don't think Core MIDI is present in iMaschine yet, but emptysea's link had a NI rep saying more info will be released over the next 3-4 weeks. Once Core MIDI is in there, Maschine could be linked up to the app over CCK, I/O Dock, SS25 etc. , and audio through your interface's I/O.



fixed :) I deleted the wrong part of the quote. oops.

I'm really excited about the iMaschine because I think NI "gets it". Atleast so far. They actually understand the concept of tightly integrated controller with killer software. they know how to make both happen (software and controller). and if that happens with imaschine, its going to be what we wished akai would do....and maybe something intua can't do.

I've been using BM2 and liking it alot, but its auxillary for me (so far, its been like 2 weeks). its not my main thing. the thing NI has is that maschine is the main thing for alot of people, and their app can become an extension to that.....easy converts. and I hope you see the power in that. the ability to drag projects from maschine to your ipad or iphone for mobile or live uses......definately an obvious choice for maschine users. now imagine if its up to par or exceeds BM2....

I agree the sp1200, mpc60 emulation stuff could seperate the apps and be something special. but I'm not sure how long that would last as other apps could add those features. what will last is the tight integration with existing product, and possiblely a new controller tightly integrated.

the thing i see happening is BM2 or akai, or the likes, comes out with a beat maker IOS controller......but its more like motu BPM where you have a killer app, and the controllers you can use are 3rd party and there is no tight integration between the two - so in the end, it kind of sucks..........because they are seperate companies designing the products, not on the same page,etc.............you're left hand is doing one thing (the app) and the right hand is doing something else(controller)....unlike NI.

AKAI can do what NI is doing, and do it mpc style, maybe it can do it even better! peace
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By MPCWeapon1 Sat Nov 26, 2011 2:49 pm
NanoStudio is a good mobile workstation, but no way does it compete with an MPC. The MPC can be used for so many different things in the music making process.Sequencer for multiple racks or outboad gear...Midi Controller for a DAW, Drum Machine, sound designer. You can create an instrument with key groups or 16 Levels.

When I make a beat on my IPad or IPhone that's worth keeping, you think it doesn't go thru my MPC before going into my DAW? Another way the MPC can be used.
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By goldenxscholars Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:14 pm
lol @ replacing all your gear with an ipod app. yes, its all a matter of preference and im sure you can do all or most of whatever you can do on an mpc or a daw on one of these things but why would you want to?

besides having functionality you always want your gear to be fun to use and i don't see how making beats on your ipod and staring at a 4 inch screen controlled by toyish keyboard can be more fun than pounding on a mpc or a quality controller/DAW combo.

even so. it does look like an awesome app. can this thing be used pretty decently alone without the workstation set up? it would definitely be nice to use this for getting ideas down when im bored somewhere. how would you get a beat from this into a DAW?