The division of labour between the two feels spot on.īack to sequencing side, you can create up to 64 different patterns per group (16 patterns each in four banks), and patterns have a maximum length of 256 bars. You can only add new layers via the software, and not the hardware controller, but given the advantages of a big display and mouse - why wouldn't you? This is where you begin to get a feel for the workflow, and what tasks are better suited to the computer and the controller. This means you can layer samples across a keyboard, with different samples on every key. The layering is not as sophisticated as in Battery, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that a pad could also be played chromatically by switching to keyboard mode.
These can be arranged across velocity layers for expressive results. However, you are not limited to one sample per pad, because a sound can use several samples. Each sequencer track uses a 'group', which could be a drum kit, instrument or selection of single hits.Ī drum kit consists of up to 16 individual 'sounds', which are assigned to individual pads for programming. You can then start layering patterns from the different kits/instruments into a scene, and then arrange up to 64 scenes into a song. Users can build up a track, starting by constructing individual instrument patterns, which are the smallest building block. In essence, Maschine is an eight-track sequencer which can use up to eight separate kits or instruments.
#WHERE ARE MASCHINE LIBRARY FILES STORED SOFTWARE#
You don't need to have the Maschine software running to use MIDI control mode. These swap between two control layers for doubling up the amount controls for the eight knobs and buttons around the LCD. The knobs all transmit MIDI CC messages, as do almost all the others, save for the two arrow buttons. The group buttons also transmit Note messages, but also act as octave buttons for transposing the pads up and down.
The pads dish out velocity sensitive MIDI note messages, starting at C-1. You can make your own in the Controller Editor that installs with the main Maschine software. There are 10 pre-programmed templates, which cover general MIDI control as well as a selection of NI's instruments, Traktor Pro, Ableton Live and Mackie HUI.
#WHERE ARE MASCHINE LIBRARY FILES STORED MANUAL#
Pressing the shift and control buttons will get your there, and the lights and display follow suit and disengage from their Maschine functions.īizarrely, the manual makes almost no mention of this, aside from pointing to the control button, so a bit of exploration was necessary. MIDI modeĪll those knobs, buttons and pads can be put to good use with the rest of your studio gear by switching Maschine into MIDI control mode. It can output MIDI clock, operating as either master or slave, and you can attach a keyboard for playing the Maschine's instruments (there's also a special keyboard mode on the controller for note-based play). It's up to you to decide how much of a problem this is. However, it's important to note that, currently, the Maschine software can't send its internal sequences as MIDI messages so it can't trigger your external gear over MIDI (though we have heard a rumour that this functionality could be added in the next significant update). When the Maschine hardware is connected to a computer, the ports show up as a regular MIDI interface in audio applications. Round the back there's a pair of MIDI sockets for hooking up other gear. These feel nice and solid and are used for most of the editing jobs as well as live performance. The dual LCD displays, meanwhile, are flanked by a set of eight buttons and endless encoders. The faint glow means you can always aim for the pads, while the bright glow shows you which beats are being triggered by the sequencer. They are a tiny bit smaller than an MPC's and have a higher profile too, but feel similarly 'stern' and serious. The pads are similar to those on Korg's padKontrol, but chunkier. All the buttons are made from the same rubbery plastic and benefit from under lighting.