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As beguiled as I was by the original Maschine, I vowed to never have one in my life because it was a bigger productivity black hole than Candy Crush. But then those bastards at NI had to go and release this particular new lump of beat making digital crack. Maschine Studio is the daddy of NI’s groove making lineup, and aims to destroy beats, and your life with it.
Let’s get into the nitty gritty courtesy of NI’s usual splendid press release:
Native Instruments Announces MASCHINE STUDIO and MASCHINE 2.0 Software
New flagship groove production studio to be released alongside major software revision
Berlin, October 1, 2013 – Native Instruments today announced MASCHINE STUDIO and MASCHINE 2.0 – the new flagship groove production studio and next generation of MASCHINE software. Considerably bigger than the original hardware, MASCHINE STUDIO provides expanded tactile control and new hi-resolution color displays, setting a new precedent in intuitive, hands- on, computer-based beat production. As with the acclaimed MASCHINE and MASCHINE MIKRO, MASCHINE STUDIO is an integrated solution combining the latest software technology with a hardware-based workflow. MASCHINE 2.0 features a host of enhancements – including a new mixer page and dynamic drum synth plug-ins – designed to deliver more power and speed to all three MASCHINE production studios. MASCHINE STUDIO will be available at the NI Online Shop starting November 1, 2013. MASCHINE 2.0 is included with MASCHINE STUDIO and all MASCHINE and MASCHINE MIKRO products shipping on or after November 1, 2013.
Providing complete hardware control over virtually all software functions, MASCHINE STUDIO’s workflow is centered on 16 highly-responsive multi- color backlit pads, a new Edit Section with jog wheel, a Level Section and two hi-resolution color displays – a major hardware advancement. The displays enable producers to focus on MASCHINE’s hardware workflow, providing detailed visual feedback of the software’s powerful features. When editing samples or working in MASCHINE’s clip-based pattern sequencer, the displays show an overview of the full selection on the left screen while the right screen allows for detailed fine-tuning when slicing, editing, and composing. When browsing, the displays provide easy navigation and selection of projects, groups, sounds, instruments, effects, and samples with KOMPLETE Instruments and Effects product icons visible directly from the hardware.
A new Edit Section provides dedicated buttons and a jog wheel with LED indicators for visual feedback and enhanced functionality. The jog wheel allows quick adjustments to volume, tempo, and swing settings, and speeds up browsing and editing. The Level Section provides a convenient volume knob and a multi-purpose meter display for master, group, sound, and cue levels plus monitoring for up to four selectable input sources when a multi- channel audio interface is connected. Dedicated control buttons allow fast switching between MASCHINE STUDIO’s sampler, arranger, mixer, and browser, and provide direct access to channel settings and an all-new plug-in strip. For producers already using external equipment, one MIDI input and three MIDI outputs allow MASCHINE STUDIO to function as a command hub, controlling all equipment from one comprehensive controller. On the underside of the unit, a highly sturdy, built-in collapsible stand provides the optimal angle for working with MASCHINE STUDIO.
MASCHINE 2.0 presents a major revision of Native Instruments’ groove production software, delivering a host of powerful features to MASCHINE STUDIO, and both generations of MASCHINE, and MASCHINE MIKRO. A tag-based attribute browser makes samples and presets easy to find while the new plug-in strip make MASCHINE’s internal plug-ins much more accessible by displaying their individual user interfaces instead of generic buttons and knobs. A brand-new, dedicated mixer page provides detailed level adjustment and flexible routing of MASCHINE 2.0’s aux sends, plug-ins, and unlimited groups and insert effects. A new audio engine with multi-core technology adds sidechaining and allows higher instrument, effect, and plug-in counts, faster load times and more. High-quality 32-bit float internal summing delivers the latest advancements in professional sound quality.
Also new and exclusive to MASCHINE 2.0 are five drum synth plug-ins meticulously developed with Native Instruments’ years of experience in software synthesis. Each instrument caters to a specific drum type, and delivers an easy-to-use interface. The plug-ins are capable of a wide range of sounds – from crisp and digital, to warm and analog, featuring accurate acoustic-sounding drums. Because they are based on synthesis, producers have a refined level of control over the sound of each drum. Not only are these plug-ins fully-adjustable and automatable directly from the MASCHINE hardware, they now add a signature sound aesthetic to the world of MASCHINE.
In addition to hosting any VST or Audio Units plug-in, MASCHINE 2.0 comes with an 8+ GB sound library of professional, production-ready sounds. Also included are full versions of Native Instrument’s acclaimed MASSIVE synthesizer, the unique synthesizer for percussive and mallet sounds PRISM, the powerful compressor SOLID BUS COMP, and the meticulously sampled vintage electric piano SCARBEE MARK I, providing a versatile setup ready for any production task. MASCHINE can be used as a standalone on either MAC or PC systems, but also loads as a VST, Audio Units or AAX plug-in in all major DAWs for seamless integration with existing production environments. MASCHINE 2.0 software features batch export of full songs, groups, and single sounds in lossless WAV or AIFF formats in up to 32- bit/192kHz quality. Import of older MASCHINE projects, iMASCHINE projects, REX files, and MPC programs is also fully supported.
Pricing and availability
MASCHINE STUDIO is available for purchase at retailers worldwide and at the NI Online Shop from November 1, 2013 for $999 / 999 € / ¥ 104,800. MASCHINE 2.0 is included with MASCHINE STUDIO and all MASCHINE and MASCHINE MIKRO products shipping on or after November 1, 2013. Current MASCHINE users can purchase MASCHINE 2.0 on the NI Online Shop from November 1, 2013 for $99 / 99 € / ¥ 9,800. Customers who purchase MASCHINE or MASCHINE MIKRO between October 1, 2013 and November 1, 2013 will receive MASCHINE 1.8 with purchase and a free download for MASCHINE 2.0. They will be able to download the new software on November 1, 2013.
Now I’m a very long way from qualified to make intelligent comment about Maschine, simply because I’ve yet to spend more than an evening with one. And in all honesty, my needs would be perfectly serviced by the Maschine Mikro. But while the hardware looks like pure gear pr0n, it’s the software that is likely to be of interest to most people.
V2 looks to have had a serious feature injection. I remember V1 looking a little barebones, but this is looking like a fully fledged workflow on its own, independently of the hardware. Again, I stress that I’m not expert, and defer to your probable more expert knowledge, but are NI making a serious play for Ableton and Bitwig users? I wonder if the Maschine software might at some point be split off from the hardware and be available on its own? Maschine is after all just a controller — now a very glossy and hi res one, but it has no real brain of its own, but does act as an interface between the software and the outside world.
It does seem that the days of standalone beat making are over. With Akai and NI all being tethered to a computer for the raw grunt, it looks like you’re going to need a sofa rather than an armchair for evening beat making. But it does look like the Maschine trinity is complete, unless they plan to do an MPC Fly style one at some point.
So to recap — Maschine Studio is NI’s largest and most spectacular Maschine to date, and comes in at $999/€999/£829 and will ship with the updated Maschine v2 software.
Oh er
Indeed.
those screenssssss
Nice, but how necessary are they when you’re tethered to a laptop anyway?
if it had audio out that would make since….but hey ill just pay the extra 99 for the software for my mikro
agreed but still so pretty.
I’m loving those screens. Why can’t we get something like that on standalone DJ hardware (no computer)?
I’ve been thinking about this and I honestly think that’s in the cards. I mean, maybe not without a computer, but it would be pretty killer to have some directly mapped, accessible decks with really beautiful screens while my laptop sits in Browser only mode and I just use the decks and mixer for everything. Or, possibly my iPad or other tablet.
You mean like a pair of CDJ2000s & Rekordbox, but without the CD players and the huge price tag? :-)
What I’d like to see is an NS7 Pro that works 100% on its own. Internal hard drive (Numark are no strangers to that idea) and nice onboard screen(s) – again something they’ve done with the D2/DDS.
Stanton did a baby version in the SCS4DJ but where’s the big boys version? Or a DDJ-SX Pro with the standalone capability of the Aero or R1 (sans CD slots).
Well, ideally smaller than the CDJ2000s, even smaller than the SCS1. But a really tight motorized platter with a beautiful screen like that would be key, and if I could get a pair for around $1200 that would be pretty key for something that solid.
But I could never see NI releasing a product for DJing that doesn’t require Traktor. The closest we’d see is a unit directly integrated with the iPad, which would be the ideal. Use the iPad as nothing more than music storage and maybe some cool effects, but do almost all the grunt work on the decks and mixer.
The SCS4 was great, and I did a lot of work with Stanton on them, but I can’t imagine NI doing something like that ever. Though, it could be cool.
I already have an idea for the ultimate and really modular DJ gear; I shared ideas with Stanton and Vestax and so on, but noone replies.
I wish I could have the money and some time for it to make (even if the main parts are 3d printed) a prototype and start a kickstarter / indiegogo project on it.
It cold be cheap as hell, great displays, and even way more smarter and lighter than the NS7 II, and very-very modular, so the users could buy a basic unit and update it for their needs/buget any time.
Looking forward to a company/investor to do it.
Looking forward to seeing it :)
I think live 9 suite & push is way more capable at almost the same price.
With “studio” in the name one would expect this might be a stand-alone unit. Too bad :(
Bitwig? The still “Coming Soon” DAW? If they dont release one hell of a software soon, then they might not stand a chance against Ableton/Push and Maschine/Studio…
Anyway, this unit looks damn nice. But imho unlike Ableton, Maschine only makes sense with a dedicated controller like the NI ones. So I dont expect a standalone software until they change the interface.
That’s what I call reaction!
No audio card?
I own Ableton 9 and Push, but I also own a Maschine and the new Maschine Studio it’s what I was looking for! I think that having that announced (and released) prior to Push and Ableton 9, it would save me sone money. Hopefully Maschine 2.0 is going to have a better sequencin tools and less limitation. In conjuction with Komplete 9 and seamless integration it’s going to be a very interesting contender.
It’s strange there were no rumors about it!!! What a great surprise :)
Despite having purchased my Maschine mk II only a few months ago, this Studio version is looking incredibly tempting, especially with the extra features it brings to the table. Even more so since it seems to have Akai’s MPC series locked in as the primary target..
It’s also quite lovely to see that older hardware is perfectly compatible with Maschine (software) v2.0.
I have to admit, I was hoping for them to have a full fledged DAW setup with v2.0, however what this new version brings to the table has me excited enough. Besides, I’m slowly warming up to Ableton Live, so I’ll probably wind up with the new Maschine Studio as well as Push. Wallet’s gonna hate me, but it’s just too tempting to have the flexibility of both on hand…
I am more interested in the Maschine 2.0 featureset than this. I felt that the Maschine was pretty perfect, size to feature wise. I think that the hi res screens was all they really needed to add to it, honestly. Not sure something of that size is really needed, though, as I’m not really sure what the demand is for the large MPC units (definitely could be wrong, though) but this does undercut them by around $1000, so that’s something.
And while yes, it does need a computer, does anyone not have one at this point? The beauty of the Maschine is being able to do almost everything right on the controller, nobody is really going to take something this size to a coffee shop and just jam out.
But, like I said, I’m far more interested in the Maschine 2.0 software, especially re Traktor integration.
But, can it MONO!!!!?!?!?!
I want to be able to export my drum sounds, and CHANNELS in MONO. Doesn’t seem like a difficult request.. hopefully they thought about this in the new update.
It’s about time isn’t it? I understand that this version 2.0 total rebuild was needed to achieve stuff like side-chaining and multi-core cpu usage, but why this hasn’t been there from start or very soon after seems crazy. Every project I’ve worked on since plugins have been supported has had a mono instance of one effect or another on the sub bass, low kick or whatever.
“It does seem that the days of standalone beat making are over” No way! Akai will get back to the standalone game, especially with this out, no-one is going to want the MPC ren anymore. Might take some years for it to happen, but I’m pretty sure it will.
IMHO, Hybrid is the future, like with the Z2. Provide barebones operation in standalone, and full featureset/functionality when tethered to the computer. Best of both worlds. A shame NI missed this with the Maschine Studio (take a look at the Akai MPX8 for clues on “barebones” operation, for example)
The MPCREN has a 24 bit 96 kHz audio interface which needs to be factored into the cost though. Also the new MPC Software just launched (1.5) now works stand alone without the PC :-)
Thanks Jon. That’s really big news! MPC in standalone mode is cool.
Really? No computer needed? Are you sure you’re sure?
Jon knows. ;)
Nice controller, but personally I need portability so I’ll stick with the regular size one. Also, maybe it’s time that NI started selling controllers seperately to users who already have a registered licence.
How does the White one look? My white MK2 is beautiful but all press shots never do it justice. You have to ‘see it’ to appreciate it.