Maschine worth it??

[Rythmc]

Hey Everyone,

Been on the site for a while utilizing all the great tips but haven't posted much.

Wondering thoughts on if Maschine is worth it... I may buy my roommates mikro off him for a pretty good price.

However, I've got Live and a ton of drum samples that work great constructing beats in drum racks. What is the real advantage of using maschine over playing drum racks in live with my MPD?

One thing that would really interest me is if you can play maschine in traktor and basically have your own drum kit to play on the fly/make loops on the fly in time with the master clock. I use the s4 and having machine setup too would be very attractive, especially since I'm a drummer.

Does anyone have experience using maschine like this or just an opinion on it in general?

Thanks!

Ryan

[JasonBay]

Yeah, it's worth it. The software works is a dream to use for the most part, and if you're on a Mac, there's a very east way to sync up TP2 with the Maschine software so everything is in time. It's a Mikro though, so it might feel a bit limited in the studio, but it's the perfect size and layout for playing out with Traktor and you S4.

The Mikro's are already a good deal as it is, so if you're getting an even better deal then it's a no brainer

[Conall]

If you have the midi clocks sync'd I'm pretty certain that your play/stop for maschine will be disabled, so tapping out beats on the fly can sometimes be a hassle from what i've heard. I don't actually have a maschine but I've seen a couple of posts about that. apologies if this is incorrect.

[GI Trackt]

Sync'ing midi clocks is much tighter and better on Mac than on PC. There are quite a few posts on sync'ing Maschine (or any external controller/software that accepts midi clock in) to Traktor. If you're on PC, it's going to get pretty frustrating because even with the clocks sync'ed, there is just way too much drifting (although I did read one post recently on the forum where somebody was on PC and successfully sending MIDI clock out). If you're on Mac though, the virtual port sync'ing is much tighter but you still might have to nudge here and there. Others with experience on Mac can chime in.

[JasonBay]

If you have the midi clocks sync'd I'm pretty certain that your play/stop for maschine will be disabled, so tapping out beats on the fly can sometimes be a hassle from what i've heard. I don't actually have a maschine but I've seen a couple of posts about that. apologies if this is incorrect.

Why would it be a problem is if the stop/start is disabled? You can still tap them out just fine

[rdej47]

I think the best way to get a sense of the something is to read the manual before you buy it. This is going to sound ridiculous but I bought Maschine when it first came out (2-3 years ago) and while I did learn some things by playing around with it, it was nothing compared to what I picked up from reading the manual.

[Remco]

I rather choose youtube tutorials than the manual to see how it works, there are so many of them also about syncing them with S4 and or Pro 2 , you'll see how easy and good it works

[Bl4ck3n3D]

The manual only shows you the basic controls, to get a full grasping of the gear and software you'll need to browse youtube videos or perhaps even download tutorials created specifically for the Maschine.

The Maschine is definitely worth it. I have no experience with the Mikro, but I do own a full Maschine myself and I can attest to its greatness. The software and hardware integration is smooth and intuitive. You'll be able to create your own drum loops and rhythms as well as full blown productions with the Maschine alone.

If you have a Mac, syncing the midi clock between Maschine and Traktor is quick and easy. Layering samples and drum rhythms over tracks playing in Traktor is very possible and also rewarding. I haven't fully integrated the Maschine software with my Traktor setup yet but I have been banging out beats one after the other and I love it!

The only qualms I have with the Maschine is that the encoder rotary knobs don't handle extensive use after awhile. I've barely had the Maschine for a year and already one of my encoders jumps around without my interference which causes inconvenience whilst playing live (using Maschine to control effects and decks 3&4 in Traktor) and somewhat while producing in the studio. I don't know why NI chose to take the cheap route with the knobs but since you're eyeing a Mikro that shouldn't be a problem.

I personally, recommend the Maschine to anyone who's serious about starting beat production or even adding flare to your live DJ setup. Besides, learning more about production, composition, and beat making can only further enhance your skills and awareness as a DJ and Musician. Good luck, and I hope you snag that deal quick!

[Remco]

For adding flare to youre live DJ set up, i think the F1 will be the way to go in stead of Maschine imo.

[zestoi]

for dropping in a few samples or loops sure - but with maschine you have it's whole sequencer environment. i was going to pick up a padkontrol next week but reading this thread has made me think that maybe it's better to pay the extra and get a maschine mikro instead. just when i thought i had finally worked out what controller i wanted next...