CONTEXT: Planning to replace my problematic Akai MPD218. Tried to mod it with tape but it's still terrible with low velocity (no-input with light playing) and frequently get unwanted triggers. To reach max velocity you might as well strike it with a hammer. I do not recommend this controller at all.

I know the Maschine and Mikro have very good pads as I've tried them before. However, I don't really know the workflows of these devices. Personally, I just need good pads but the full device looks very enticing. FOMO is a real struggle. Being a non-maschine user, I had Maschine expansions running into Atlas and ADSR manager to access them easier.

Would like to hear some thoughts from hardware Maschine users and why you like/dislike either. This will really aid me in choosing which device, and to see how it can fit into my current workflow.

 

Software is a clusterf*ck and horrible, pads are great. Would have gone for Maschine looking back rather than the Mikro (actually an AKAI given the choice now). Lots of cheap Mikro's going on ebay.

 

Hi I had the same problem, I ended up buying a Maschine mikro and an MPC Studio, both units are quite cheap, and very similar, the workflow for both is far from intuitive, and to tell you the truth I'm still learning, (I'm 70 years old) Both units come with software that is a DAW in itself, but they also have a VSTi which you can use as a plugin for a larger DAW such as Cubase or Studio One. What you had i.e a Akai MPD218 is purely a MIDI controller, wheras the Mikro and the MPC Studio, is a Complete recording system, but has a huge learning curve. Hardware wise both sets of pads are very similar.

 

Maschine user for 12 years now, started with the MK2 and have been using the MK3 since its release. I've had mostly positive experiences with Maschine over the years and it's still my preferred choice for fleshing out ideas due to its speed. From a software standpoint, it can leave a lot to be desired, and feels somewhat unfinished and not entirely cohesive. I don't particularly care for its arranger mode which feels disjointed and almost like they slapped it together as an afterthought. For this reason I tend to sketch out music in Maschine but prefer arranging and mixing outside of it. But in pattern mode its phenomenal and easily the best groovebox workflow I've ever used. I also run a large hardware based set up and use Maschine as my main sequencer which is a godsend and a real joy to use. From a sampling standpoint, its fine for what I do but lacks more advanced features if you compare it to something like TAL or Serato Sampler. I do like it's audio stretch algorithm and find I actually prefer it over more dedicated time stretch software, with the exception of Serato sampler which I feel does the best job. As far the Maschine libraries, I dont use them all that often but they're great and well suited for any genre.

Maschine definitely has its pros and cons, but overall I feel its a phenomenal groovebox and great value for the money. There is room for improvement and it is missing key features which the community has requested for years (plugin delay compensation is the biggest for me). But even with those features missing, I would still recommend it. Bottom line, Maschine is very flexible and can adapt to almost any workflow. If you're coming from a groovebox background, I think you'll enjoy it.

Heres a couple of vids I put together a few years ago live jamming with Maschine:

 

Last edited: Jun 4, 2024

I think further context is needed. What are you using it for? Hardware or software? And with what software/DAW?

My initial thinking would be:

• Maschine over Maschine Micro, just for more options, if you have the desk space, otherwise Micro is ok for just finger drumming/input, but requires more secondary inputs/menu diving to get something meaningful out of it
• Maschine software is horrible as a standalone/DAW, but can work ok as a plugin if you strictly treat as any other drum machine-like plugin
• If you are not using it with Maschine software, then there are limitations on what the controls do/can be used for as it then becomes a dumb MIDI controller that you'll likely need to map yourself (in this mode, I know in older versions even the lit up pads were unavailable in standalone-MIDI mode)
• It's good hardware, just poor software in my opinion.....which is the story of Native Instruments generally, e.g. Komplete Kontrol keyboards vs Komplete Kontrol software is another example

If you are using Ableton, I would forget about Maschine and buy a Push 1 (made by Akai) or Push 2 (made by Ableton but largely similar build quality and components to Push 1, just with much nice screen, pads, colouring etc). I am a previous owner of Push 1 and current owner of Push 2.

If you don't use Ableton (or even if you do), the PreSonus Atom and PreSonus Atom SQ are great MIDI pad controllers. Atom is more of a traditional 4x4 grid with outer command/controler/navigation buttons and the Atom SQ is in more of a drum machine/sequencer layout, but can still be used as regular pads if needed. I had both, but sold my Atom (only because I have a Push 2 and didn't need both) and still use my Atom SQ.

As a bit of a left field option, and one that's either loved or hated (both in terms of product and company), Nektar's Aruba Beat is meant to be amazing if you can get the hang of it too. It has the much of the level and kind of functionality as the full size Maschine, but in a footprint more akin to the Micro variant.

 

Thanks for the replies guys!

Do you mean that you'd rather go for a Mikro? Or would you still go for the Maschine?

The MPC studio looks pretty interesting to me. However, I recently got a S61 MK2 and I heard it integrates well with Maschine.

This is incredibly insightful. Sweet jams as well. I wanted to ask, how dependent are you on the screens on the Maschine? Seeing you play around with the knobs as well made me realize that this is something the Mikro is missing. The easy group access and response is also really nice to see. However, if you're still focused on the software, maybe I may not need all the extra stuff. The jamming potential looks so fun though.

 

After my A-series went kaput, I was debating on an S-series MK2 vs MK3 keyboard. After researching and seeing the teething/growing pains MK3 was having, I went with the MK2 considering it still supported Maschine and took up less desk space. I mentioned Maschine hardware particularly because I'm interested in finger drumming (Very thankful for the other controller options you've provided though, they all look solid).

I can play on the keyboard but it's not fun to do stuff like rolls, and I feel that the key action/resistance is not that friendly to drumming. Just looking for little efficiencies to my workflow. I am a play-as-accurate-as-possible-live guy and to achieve the least editing once it's in my DAW (Logic).

 

I'm feeling a little anti-Native Instruments at the moment too, so take my advice with a pinch of salt in that context. I had an S25 and S88 Mk1, which were not cheap. In October 2023 Native Instruments decided to release Komplete Kontrol 3.0 and to stop support and end of life the S-range Mk1 keyboard. This is purely a commercial decision, screwing long term customers who have invested in the Native Instruments ecosystem for no reason other than built-in obsolescence and force customers to upgrade. Other companies like Arturia, for example, are still fully supporting controllers much older than the Native Instruments S-range Mk1. In addition, Mk1 and Mk2 co-existed with all software, and now Mk2 and Mk3 co-exist, meaning there was nothing technically stopping Mk1 and Mk3 co-existing using that logic.

For this reason, I chose to never invest in Native Instruments gear again and to move away from ever even considering their ecosystem in the future as they evidently are in it purely for the commercial and profit gains and don't care about customers, longevity of product life, reducing technological waste, and so on.....how many S-range Mk1 are now needlessly being chucked in landfills solely due to Native Instruments deciding to end of life and refuse to support them for no other reason than just to try and force customers to upgrade to Mk2 or Mk3 variants?!?! And, begs the question, how much longer will it be before the Mk2 gets the same treatment?

But obviously, each to their own, and up to you to decide whether any of this is important to you.

 

Last edited: Jun 4, 2024

I definitely understand where you're coming from. If it weren't for the limited choices of gear I have access to here (I'm not in NA), I would consider others. From my testing in the showrooms here, NI just happen to have the best keybeds/pads out of all I've tried. Even the cheaper A-series beds were better (to me as a pianist) than M-Audio/Arturia/Novation in the same range. I know they're meant to be integrated with KK/Maschine/K7 but fortunately, I'm not that dependent on that integration since I'm focused on the DAW. It's a shame I'm just using a glorified controller that lacks faders and pads, but I'm producing all day in the DAW I don't feel that I'm missing out too much since I just midi-learn and create templates as a workaround. I just need a machine (no pun intended) to connect and feel happy to use. But I'm equally disappointed in NI for how they're handling their software side. I even sent them an email recently and they have not gotten back to me. I don't know what the hell is going on in NI but it is not looking good at all and honestly frustrating.

 

Depends. I know Maschine well enough after all these years that I can navigate it without the need of a computer monitor, but when I'm writing music on it, I primarily use the software on my desktop and the controller to trigger samples + edit midi. The only time I use the screens on the controller is when I'm loading kits or searching for sounds.

If I'm just jamming on it, I dont use a computer screen and rarely use the screens on the controller, apart from quick parameter viewing if I'm using plugins. This is probably the one big advantage it has over the mikro but I dont think it would be a complete deal breaker. Jamming on it is pretty simple since all I'm doing is triggering/muting samples and patterns. Theres some preparation that goes into to setting up a project before jamming, but that also boils down to personal taste.

I think the nice thing about Maschine is that its so incredibly flexible and easy to use that you can custom tailor it to however you like to work. I've owned a lot of grooveboxes over the years and to me Maschine, even with its flaws, is still probably the best investment I've made in the studio.

 

Last edited: Jun 4, 2024

Thanks everyone! Was a tough decision but I've decided on the Maschine MK3. It just seems like a more inspiring "Maschine" (gosh I can't help myself). More performative potential, looks cooler in the studio (for stupid tiktoks/reels), and a fun tool. This is the final piece that will satiate my GAS and end my procrastination from finishing my EP.

 

As a way of saying thanks to everyone, I'm gonna share my first ever, simple noodle on the Maschine. I'm around an hour in now but like you said @aymat it's really intuitive. My first time playing around in a groovebox and it's such a fun way to do things. I better not get too carried away hah. I got some issues with getting stuff out of Maschine and into Logic though, especially the midi, so I gotta figure out some templates or something.

Also @aymat, I noticed that in MIDI-mode, the pads aren't as sensitive or they're not responding the way they are in Maschine. The dynamic range of my playing is wider in Maschine. If I start playing tapping lightly in MIDI-mode it doesn't register, so the minimum CC values are like 20 or so. Have you come across this issue?

 

A few people have come across it and afaik it's not fixed and won't be knowing NI

ps. impressive skills after 1 hour!!!

 

Thanks! I like how natural it feels, though I gotta practice some more to do more complex rhythms, finger drumming is definitely harder than it looks.

Shucks, well that sucks. Sounds like it could be either an easy firmware update or there's some proprietary protocol they're using that can't easily translate to midi format. But I think it's the former. I play on the S61 MK2 and I can play extremely soft with no issues. Do you know any workarounds? Like Maschine midi into Logic so it can write and read midi at the same time?

 

I been using Maschine for a while now. Started on a Mikro. Moved to a MK3. The software requires getting to know how to use it -- but its not overly complex. To be honest, I haven't turned it on as much lately as I am doing other music.

My only hesitation is NI itself. They seem to have really changed a lot as company. The old NI is gone and now its turned into this commercial conglomerate that keeps outsource and partnering with other companies to pump out "whatever is hip sounds today" and turning over the Komplete collection bundle. I honestly can't think of a single amazing product they actually made themselves recently which shook up the market place.

 

I think, and will try myself, you can use tthe maschine vsti to get midi into your daw in maschine mode and get the better velocity response.