Maschine Trnity (Maschine, Maschine Mikro, iMaschine) Is this awesome?

Maschine software will load Komplete instruments. I thought it could already do that for some reason but OK.

Maschine Mikro is the one I'm excited about. Its a smaller version of Maschine with the same sound library and software and it's still got 16 pads (better than 12!) Its $400 or 350 Euro. Its cute and small and I want it! Srsly, I think this will finally get me into Maschine.

There's also an iMaschine app for iOS, yay.

I always wonder about these "lite" versions since you can buy the full version used for the same or less dollars.

http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/producer/maschine-mikro/

The only difference between Mikro and the regular Maschine is the stripped down controller. From what I've read, the software is exactly the same as the original Maschine.

As a Maschine user, I might get the Mikro just to carry around, since this controller would be easier to stuff into a brief case or backpack, without fear of damaging the knobs.

I'm even more intrigued by the iMaschine app for the iphone and ipad. I hope they don't try to gouge people for the extra sound banks, though, and it would be nice if you could load (and create) your own samples.

Is my new PC good enough? Toshiba 2.1 ghz I3 processesor, 4 gigs of ram, 500 gig hardruve, 5400 rpm, do not know about ASIO drive?

They say the software and sound libraries are exactly the same for Maschine and Mikro unless I'm reading it wrong.

i3 with 4gigs of RAM is pretty standard for new PC's these days I think it'd be OK. When Maschine first came out I think the requirements were 2ghz (previous gen Intel processors) and 2GB RAM but think that might have been a bit optimistic.

iMaschine does load samples:

http://www.native-instruments.com/forum/showthread.php?p=924507#post924507

Very cool. I am on the fence between investing in NI or Arturia products. I am a hardware guy and just want to dabble with something that is not thousands of dollars.

Good for performers...

[video=youtube;0K2aynMMBpo]

Has anyone seen AfroRouge

I just love that demo it wets the pallet. But who in the real world can play that way or make the product sound that good. Maybe with much practice and patience. The Arturia stuff, all the controllers, just look easier.

Agreed. Maschine's apparently huge appeal is a bit of a mystery to me. For a groovebox, the Arturia Spark excites me much more. And if I were to do Ableton Live, the APC40 would be the way to go. I guess I like having more knobs and buttons... but I could just be ignorant of how to work with the Maschines...

Maschine is one of the most intuitive and immediate interfaces I've ever used. The Arturia Spark looks like fun too, and at the going price I may even get one someday. But lately I'm finding that Maschine is taking the place of a LOT of other gear that I own, simply because it's easier to use AND more powerful, especially now that it can host VSTs. Once you get into it, you find that there's a LOT under the hood.

Maschine hooked up to my MacBook Pro (with a keyboard controller hooked up to Maschine via MIDI) has turned out to be a remarkably complete production solution.

I'd love to try Spark ... but its hard/soft interface seems ridiculous ... I've never heard one good reason why Spark's main screen is a complete and utter graphical re-representation of the physical controller you just paid several hundred dollars for ... The only thing that changes or is different on the computer screen is the parameters that the knobs control (and the text seems pretty small at that) ... Plus there are other screens (fx and drum kit selection) that you need to do all sorts of mouse moves and clicks to access ...

The end result is LOTS of referencing the LCD monitor with Spark ... Of course, with Maschine you don't need the computer monitor AT ALL or need to use the mouse ... That's a BIG plus for me ... In fact, it's one of the main reasons I went with Maschine ... (other than NI REALLY seems to be throwing its weight behind maschine ... We will see how Arturia handles Spark ... Frankly, I am less optimistic ... )

Plus Spark looks like a toy ... (Although i do like the dedicated pattern buttons ... And it seems to sound good ... But then again, so does Maschine ... )

As for the reason why Maschine is so seemingly popular ... Spark just came out and seems far from a mature product yet ... While Maschine has been growing steadily for the past two years ... The only two big things left it seems are multicore support and timestretch ... And let's face it, the many people who might be drawn to an MPC are going to see more similarities in Maschine than Spark ... which is more like an Electribe imo ...

I'd love to get both but my inner prude says no, no, no ...

"Machine" (not "Maschine") and Trinity in the same topic makes me think the Elektron trinity of MachineDrum, MonoMachine, and Octatrack.

Maschine is nice software with a well-designed and responsive controller, but NI has sort of rubbed my fur the wrong way recently. I need some time to wash it back in place. I also need to save up again as I tapped myself out on hardware instead.

Edit - I am talking about spending money on upgrading from Komplete 7 to 8 as I have Maschine already. I can pretty much be happy for a while with the upgrades I have had so far. I also think Spark looks like fun but it would just add too much to my pile of stuff right now.

I don't understand it either, is it like an MPC? And what does this new Mikro version drop from the feature list.

Everything is same with the Mikro except for the controller -- you lose about 13 buttons, 10 knobs and the dual displays in favor of a single smaller, and I imagine, harder-to-read LCD ... which means now you probably DO need to look at the software for certain things ... Soundset is the same as is the software ...

I was hoping more along the lines of a supplemental controller that added dedicated pattern buttons maybe an x-y pad, etc. Maybe the next one ... It is encouraging though to see NI exploring other form factors as I imagine Maschine will continue for some time in my music production ...

I was hoping that NI would go in the other direction with Maschine, and give it an even larger controller with more dedicated buttons and knobs. If it cost $400 more, so be it. I'd buy it. They could even bundle it with Komplete Elements to sweeten the deal, which would also convince some people to buy the full version of Komplete.

I want to like Maschine. I just can't get behind it at this point. If I'm already tied to the computer I'm just going to do similar things with Ableton 8 and an Akai drum pad controller which I've already invested in.

In my opinion, what's missing here is the ability for it to act as a stand-alone device. I'm aware this would raise the price considerably, but think of the possibilities... especially if it could also host NI plug-ins. That would get my attention. But then so would the price tag!

You know that Maschine owners do get Komplete Elements for free right?

That setup sounds very cool.

do any of you guys prefer a different gui over the maschine sequencer? i love the maschine controller but hate the software

Zero midi out ports if anyone bothered to notice - so you can't sequence hardware with it .

Zero midi out ports if anyone bothered to notice - so you can't sequence hardware with it .

Yes they do this for a reason. You must run the controller with a computer ans vst's, at least intially.

Zero midi out ports if anyone bothered to notice - so you can't sequence hardware with it .

That's not true at all. You can still sequence hardware with Maschine Mikro. If your audio interface has MIDI ports you can use those. You can also use USB MIDI interfaces.

Is that possible ... ??? Never heard of that with Maschine ...

Of course, the nice thing about Maschine is that you don't have to look at the software if you don't want to ...

Everyone really seems to be on the ssame page as to the advantages and disadvantages of Maschine and Spark. Hmm, What to do.

Sorry (OT) I am far more facinated by Laboratory V2, both the controller and software version, right now. I have 2 good and very useable hardware keyboards/synths which I have edited and tweaked the heck out of, so 3500 of the greatest analog synth presets of all times plus some new stuff thrown for the $650.00US package would be very cool and fun.

Just one question though. Why is the new package so much more than the original $350.00US one?

Finally Arturia has a very cool Brass package. Can that be loaded in as a coinsiding software editor and also be controlled and setup by the controller keyboard at the same time as the analog patches? Or how does that work? Just wondering.