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Native Instruments Maschine+ Users (Maschine Plus)

 

The dedicated hardware-software combo was an instant hit with users looking for the tactile control of outboard gear with the flexibility plugins afforded by a desktop. While this approach made it popular, it soon led many to want something ambitious: a standalone Maschine with the software built-in. Is it the all-in-one music production hardware many people myself included seek? Maybe you could think of it as outboard gear, but with the UI running on a PC?

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The idea is obvious: Getting rid of the PC is something many electronic musicians want to do. Some feel that clicking a mouse staring at a screen isn't conducive to creativity.

Plus, computers can be unpredictable especially in a live performance. The two are nearly identical, bar the new metal finish and a few minor tweaks to accommodate the necessary computer-free functionality. The third iteration of Maschine provides a logical workspace with high-quality pads and knobs that give it a premium feel — even more so on the plus with its metal housing.

The dual displays are still here. Standalone advanced sequencing hardware can be tricky to get right. Editing single notes, quantizing or any other number of routine tasks you take for granted on a PC can quickly become friction points on badly thought out hardware. And this is where Native Instruments has been shrewd. All the company needed to do was give it the processing power, and in theory it was standalone ready.

Spoiler alert, this is mostly true, too. Though there are still a few tasks where I find myself wishing I had a mouse or keyboard shortcuts. Kontakt obviously is a little more different, given its sample-based nature. I would have loved Massive X, Absynth or Razor to have been included.

Having certain instruments is one thing, but what about the sounds they come with? NI has made it pretty easy to hunt down the type of sound you want. If I am working on a bassline, I tend to reach for Massive. This really makes sifting through endless often meaningless preset names less of a chore.

As for samples, there are a number of expansion packs you can download from day one. These include titles such as Deep Matter and Neon Drive. At the time of writing 23 packs in total are on offer. As for the kind of sounds on offer, as mentioned, the expansions are pretty varied.

As for the presets that come with the synths, they definitely skew electronic. Despite over two decades of meddling with music gear and software, I still find grooveboxes frustrating. With this sort of gear, my brain wants to know how to do everything instantly, without having to trawl through manuals or YouTube tutorials. That grid can hold a variety of synths, sounds, samples or one-shots on different pads. Here is where you navigate the top-level functionality, such as switching to the browser mode, the current VST instance or the file and settings menus.

Below this cluster of buttons is the main navigation rotary. A small complaint, but one worth mentioning. Basically, you create a series of clips in musical sections say, various drum loop variations, and a few different takes on the bassline etc.

It has since been rolled out to all users in the latest 2. Without a keyboard or a mouse, editing individual MIDI notes is a little more convoluted than simply clicking or dragging. Some tasks, like quantizing out of time notes, have easy to master shortcuts. No matter how adept you get at working with the internal sequencer and note editing tools, I would — at the very least — want to bounce things out as stems for a mixdown on the PC.

Especially for the sort of fine detail like fills and edits at the end of 8- or bar sections. And then for automation and so on. Which then raises another question: Who is this actually for?

Both have different strengths but are also trying to appeal to a similar market. Meanwhile, Native Instruments runs circles around Akai when it comes to synthesis and sounds, and I find the workflow a little more comfortable. So which one will appeal to you will be a matter of personal preference more than budget I suspect. It feels like an actual, bonafide bit of outboard gear… or dare I say, a musical instrument. Sign up. Latest Reviews. See all articles. Sponsored Links.

James Trew itstrew October 16, AM. Native Instruments. Buy Now. Turn on browser notifications to receive breaking news alerts from Engadget. You can disable notifications at any time in your settings menu. All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company.

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