- 1 native instruments maschine update#
- 1 native instruments maschine pro#
- 1 native instruments maschine software#
- 1 native instruments maschine plus#
Some users found themselves wanting to run the Maschine plug‑in for its sounds and effects, but use the host's own MIDI sequencing tools instead of Maschine's. Maschine 1.5 now has more functionality when used as a plug‑in within a DAW. Version 1.5 brings more in the way of on‑board sample-editing capabilities. Unfortunately, the library hasn't gained new loops, an area I flagged as weak last year. There's also a handful of new 'Urban' kits. Talking of sounds, there are a few additions, in particular quite a few new Instrument patches, and a collection of NI's Abbey Road '60s and '70s drum kits.
1 native instruments maschine software#
Version 1.5 fixes this issue, and you'll now find a toggle switch in both the software and hardware sound browser pages that breaks the link between patterns/sequences and sounds. One of the biggest complaints from the original review was that kits and patterns could not be loaded independently, so you couldn't record a pattern and then audition it with different kits. As usual, this can all be done from either the control surface or the software, and combined with the new zoom/scroll controls, it's a really nice way to work. A slice editing system now lets you audition individual slices, manually adjust the slice points, and remove unnecessary slices. Split simply divides an imported sample into a set number of slices. When slicing your own samples, there is now a new mode called Split that joins the original Grid and Transient Detection modes. REX loops are handled in the same way as any other sliced loop: the slices are mapped out in a Sound Slot (where they can be played from the pads) and a piano‑roll sequence is automatically generated to re‑sequence the original loop. REX files are now supported, filling another of the v1.0 holes. This answers one of the complaints from our original review: that you needed to pick up the mouse to fit your patterns into the viewer.īack to sampling, and Maschine has upped its game as far as slicing is concerned.
1 native instruments maschine plus#
Holding the Navigate button on the controller now brings up controls for zooming the Scenes and Pattern views on‑screen, plus 'X' and 'Y' knobs for scrolling horizontally and vertically. This idea has been extended to other areas of the user interface. The on‑screen display follows seamlessly. Waveforms are displayed in the right‑hand controller display, and the view can be zoomed or scrolled with two knobs. This is supported by one the nicest new features: hardware-controlled zooming and scrolling. Maschine now has on‑board destructive sample-editing capabilities, making it much less likely that you would turn to dedicated sample-editing software.
Maschine can now sequence external MIDI devices and soft synths. This worked best when running Maschine as a stand‑alone application alongside other software.
1 native instruments maschine pro#
I was able to sequence instruments in Pro Tools, Live and Reason using an inter‑application MIDI bus. This is a limitation, but will probably suffice for the majority of users.Īs well as driving external MIDI gear, this new functionality extends to other virtual instruments and plug‑ins. However, Maschine simply outputs the same thing on all enabled ports, so you've only got 16 channels to play with. Maschine has its own MIDI Out port, and also recognises other available MIDI ports connected to your computer. Each slot can be used to drive an instrument in Piano Roll mode, or you can use a group of 16 sounds in step/pattern mode to drive a drum machine. This has changed in v1.5.Įvery sound slot in Maschine 1.5 can be switched between Sampler and MIDI Out modes.
Those hoping Maschine would be a next‑generation Music Production Centre, which could serve in place of a DAW when necessary, were disappointed that it could not drive external hardware synths or drum machines. Possibly the most common complaint about Maschine was that it was a sealed environment: Maschine's internal sequences could only play samples loaded into Maschine.
1 native instruments maschine update#
In the review (SOS June 2009), I applauded how NI had captured the hands‑on workflow of the drum machines and MPCs that are Maschine's inspirations, but also noted a few rough edges and feature gaps, and said I looked forward to seeing Maschine mature over time.Ī year on, the free v1.5 software update (the biggest release since the initial version) addresses some of the issues I flagged in the review, and includes numerous other improvements. When Native Instruments released their hybrid hardware/software production workstation, Maschine, last year, I greeted it with qualified enthusiasm, saying it was "so close to being brilliant”. NI have updated Maschine - so is it now all we thought it could be?