Why I'm Retiring my Maschine MK3 

Yeahs it's good piece of gear and how you feel about it is EXACTLY how I feel about my classic MPC's 👍🏾

@@SoundstarMusic I can dig that! 👍🏾

Mk3 is well worth it but at this stage i’d definitely go with Maschine+ which to my opinion is the best sampling groovebox ever made

@@dxtrs_mnpltr Why Maschine+ ? The CPU in it is weak sauce compared to modern computers. You can get a lot more done with an MK3 and an Apple Silicon Mac than a standalone plus. I get it for live shows, eliminating the need for laptops but for home studio use it seems redundant.

💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

A lot of folks utter that same sentiment. 👍🏾

Mpc is better 😊

Maybe they should make the gui HD lol

That's why I was thinking. LoL

This seems to be a trend for creatives and NI should take notice that whether classic devices or newer devices, folks are leaving them in favor of Akai so they need to do something about that. Thanks for watching. 👍🏾💯

Yeah Maschine + was a huge blow to Maschine. If they would have succeeded that would have opened the floodgates to Maschine. Early in Maschines development they were a huge competitor to Akai, but Akai keeps chugging and kind of understand their users a bit more. Akai responded by developing a Mpc for many form factors and price points. The MPC keyboard was a huge blow to Maschine+. A form factor that would attract many synth lovers but with a workstation and now is a good competitor with even keyboard workstations like Yamaha and such. That said, I think Maschine+ is seeing what Akai (and Ableton) are doing and will follow suit.

@@jsmacks11 Well at this point they almost have to follow suit otherwise they'll be out of the controller business lol. Honestly its not the controller that many have an issue with but its the software itself. They need to develop that to be more like a tradition DAW with "real" DAW like functions. If they release something like that with a new device that's battery powered and truly standalone then they're back in the mix.

@@jsmacks11 thats true but you really want to talk about the mpc keyboard lol, it is not reliable and ram get used very quick, not a good device at all better buy a kornos or other traditionnal workstations

For me it’s less about that and more about getting away from software based production. Maschine has issues for sure though.

Exactly this, I am in logic with it so I really don't care about stand alone

👍🏾

@@SoundstarMusic I been using the MK1 for a decade lol. I’m still gonna keep it even though I bought the MPC X.

@@leogolive Man put the MK1 in a gold case to just marvel at how far you've come and turn on the X 🤣

@@SoundstarMusic 🤣🤣🤣 man it’s funny you say that because a couple years ago I found a gold skin online and put it on there! It’s clean as hell lol! I could’ve upgraded to the newer ones but I just never felt a need to.

@@leogolive yeah it's important to know why you need to upgrade which is one thing I feel gets lost with all this new technology they dropping on us creatives.

Unfortunately no. I haven't used reason in a few years at this point. I can say that Reason was a joy to use when i used it. In fact I used for well over 13 years and made some great stuff with it but over time (to me) it just became less intuitive.

💯👌🏾

As long as you’re getting the desired results 👍🏾👍🏾

The NI DrumKit instrument will consistently crash my Mac every time.

I'm glad you've found a tool you enjoy for the style of music that you make. 👌🏾

@@SoundstarMusic I really did 👍

Yeah I removed all the komplete stuff that I don't use or need from my computer at this point. You'll be surprised how many gigs of space you get back LOL 🤣

Thanks! Yeah for me it's less to do with the actual comparison of devices but more of the fact that I really dont use maschine as often as before and I think Akai did a nice job with the MPC software which I think personally has a better UI and user workflow. It's just what I'm used to. Classic devices are nostalgia at this point but they do have a different sound mainly because of the components in them that were used to make them way back when. 👍🏾

Yeah I can see that. It's about time for them to drop something new. In either case though for me personally I'm done with maschine. Won't be buying another one. 👍🏾

@@SoundstarMusic Me either. I think I am done, too.

People will always compare anything with 16 pads to the MPC but like you I never understood that either lol🤣

@@SoundstarMusic it's really just MPC Vs Maschine coz I don't see Roland or Presonus or Nektar in the Convo's 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂

Naw my youngin' likes his mikro so the MK3 is an upgrade for him 🤣

Glad you getting a use out of it so I'd say stick to what is working for you. 👍🏾

@@SoundstarMusic Thanks my dude! At one point I'd even started mixing down out of the box with some old digital recorders... then one day I was like, what's wrong with me, this sucks, haha... :) Anyway I'm sure you'll find some things you miss about the Maschine some day. I didn't even use mine for two years at one point, so I know the feeling and the journey with gear, going back and forth.

I own the Maschine MK3 and MPC live 2 myself. in my very honest opinion, akai/MPC has incredible sound design going on. everything that comes out of it sounds PRISTINE. it also has a couple features which are super quick and cool to use like note repeat and 16 level etc. the touchscreen can in some parts also be super handy, though I dont like that some things are exclusive to the touchscreen and it seems they opted for less hardware buttons in favor of pressing stuff on the screen and menu diving. it is also much better as a centerpiece in a studio set up since its inputs/outputs are way more extensive and function properly(unlike Maschine..). and I havent used this much but the fact you can have 8x16 pads assigned to one track is sick as well. I also like that the sampler is MUCH MUCH better on the MPC than Maschine. the way you can manipulate them...the sound... and the intuitive UI around it is simply KING. being able to make your own keys in such a deep way is also amazing. now what actually brings me back to the Maschine is that NI simply has way more and way better softwaresynths(even though MPC's have better UI standalone for them), a MODERN and way better way to navigate through your library (MPC is way too oldschool IMO with folder structure). Maschine has immense amounts of sounds, a better songmode, a better overview of your entire project, more knobs which are intuitively placed below the screen so you can directly see what they are currently assigned too(I really dont like how it works with the MPC having to switch with the q-ling button and actively search where they are currently assigned to on the screen).. every pad can essentially be loaded with a synth, or a sample.. whereas with MPC you have to choose what type of instrument you are using for the "track". and last but not least..i'm very sorry Akai, but Maschine MK3 has the most miraculous and expressive feeling pads. i'm sure i've missed a lot but this would've been an even bigger wall of text, so i'll leave it as is. I prefer my Maschine MK3, even though I got the MPC live 2 for its standalone functionality. that said, the MPC probably still beats the Maschine+ as a standalone groovebox. Native instruments is just way too new in the standalone field.

@@cyborgchimpy Exactly, this is why I believe (and said) the Maschine is the best hybrid device. MPC and Force are some of the best standalone devices. Maschine is just a very quick production workflow - so fast, that sometimes I feel like I didn't even make the music, lol! (well, I do, of course, but it's so quick to add a new group and pick the right sound and keep going) What I do like about Akai's setup is that the plugins and effects, while more limited, do sound good and they give a very good layout on-screen (and mapped q-links on the X and the Force, since those have 16 and 8 knobs), so that it's really easy to craft a sound from a preset or from scratch with little effort. I do think Maschine can do many of those things you mentioned on the Akai. Sampling-wise, to me, the Toraiz and SP just feel more like "samplers" for some reason, weird, right... Maschine can do a lot but just doesn't seem central since there's so much stuff, and for some reason sampling on the MPC even seems like it's no longer the central purpose (which is weird to say, I know!). And yeah, kinda crazy how the pads just seem that bit more responsive on the Maschine. I do like my X's pads though... haven't tried my old Live in a while and I forget if they're the same or not. (I think they are, it's the One that is smaller size pads...)

Sound previews and ease of use is one of the reasons I plan on using maschine for years to come. I am a blind hobbyist producer, and the push nor the mpc has the accessibility I can get with maschine or the native instruments keyboards.

why not " studio one + atomSQ "

@@lartisan6274 , actually, I'm not aware of any benefits of this setup

Hunt down a Jam and you likely wont look back

Yeah the XSE and the Live II give you the same workflow just in different form factors and its on the same platform as well. #RIPMaschine 🤣

@@SoundstarMusic I have a live 2 and it’s a one and done for me 😂😂😂

😂😂

Akai mpc standalone is fire.

Unfortunately for Christmas I bought the maschine MK3 and I haven't been able to use it yet. I don't know if it's not getting enough power to the laptop or what. The power cord used to come with earlier versions but now it only comes with the USB I can't get past the startup screen.. I'm having trouble downloading the software, just haven't been able to use it yet in almost a month!!!

Correct. I used it for a few years and made some great stuff on it..but just prefer classic MPC's. Thanks for watching. 👍🏾

Almost bought the studio but waited a few weeks and got the MK3. The Studio is a nice controller as well. I have just outgrown anything maschine has to offer me at this point as I enjoy the more simplistic workflow approach of older devices. Thanks for watching and enjoy the maschine studio! 👍🏾

yeah my friend has that same setup. MK3+Jam lol lol He likes it a lot too👌🏾💯

🤣🤣.. I can dig it

yup. 👍🏾

Yeah I liked the Maschine platform as a whole when I first got it (except the software) and I made a lot of great tunes with it as well. I think as a creative the tool doesn't matter (sometimes) because we'll find a way but as time went on I just found more comfort and joy in My MPC's (4K and 2KXL) because it made me go back and remember how songs were made...and I love making music that way. Thanks for watching!

Yeah, a lot of users have stated the same. I think it's an acquired taste actually. I would always just lay the foundation of what I wanted to do there and then export to Logic (drag and drop) and arrange everything on that side.

I have two classic MPC's already and at this stage less is more for me. Not trying to invest in anymore MPC's LOL 🤣

You have a Jam, ofc you arent bout to give up Maschine. Maschine is great, but Jam makes it just incredible

Yeah it's tough to beat LPX as far value + cost. LPX does a lot and its been my DAW of choice for a LOOOOOONNNG time. Even with me using hardware for most of my productions. Getting it into LPx is easy and then adding to it is just icing on the cake so I TOTALLY feel you! 👍🏾

@@SoundstarMusic if you love Logic yu will like studio one even better lol far better than logic ( i come from logic as well)

Yeah I think both programs offer great things for the creative mind...but for me, as a producer, it was more of the workflow thing and looking to use something every day that allows my creative process to get straight to it...and it just wasn't/isn't NI Maschine. Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing your thoughts as well. 👍🏾

Thanks for watching. I do feel that Maschine and the MPC Software are different though but in terms of if something is capable of the job then yes I'm following your logic.

Try using it minus connecting it to the computer. See if that works. Connecting it to computer makes it a controller that just controls the software. The hardware has the same functionality on its own .

@Soundstar Music I'd like it to work as intended, I paid £880 for a unit that's not stable, its annoying bro 😒

@@shadezondabeat6121 Connecting it to the computer was an optional feature saying that "you could" but the Live II as with all new MPC's are mostly intended to function as independently as possible. Sorry you are having that issue though. I'd contact Akai ASAP! 👍🏾

You may have forgotten to install the driver. See if that helps.

@aHM That's the 1st thing I did bro, it was a faulty unit, I had to send it back. I'm about to return a second Mpc because it's got a slow internal drive after update 2.12, sometimes it don't load up it just gets stuck on the boot up screen😢. I have reinstalled the firmware a few times but it still runs slow

I'm all outboard analog mostly now. Battery is very limiting as well IMO.

Thats what he MK1 is for 🤣

The tool one chooses to use however matters in my opinion. the mini works for your workflow I'm assumining .

Appreciate your perspective. 👍🏾

Sound is pretty good on Maschine. I think their workflow is the biggest issue. It's sequencer is just not as intuitive as MPC. That said it has alot of good things (great pads, powerful sampler, synths, effects, browser). My main gripes: 1. It feels more like a controller and less like an instrument. Ableton Push also feels like a controller but it is better designed to work with its software and provides extra functionality to the program (easier to get to quantize functions, step sequencing, note repeat). 2. The software itself isn't that flexible or intuitive. Ableton software on the other hand can make good use without the controller. I think honestly Maschine need to get their software usable to the point where you need the hardware less. Make the software free even or at least cheap. That alone would increase hardware sales and force them to improve the software.

@@jsmacks11 Yup same gripes I've seen about it for years now so hopefully NI listens.

I haven't had to update my 4K and 2KXL is years! 🤣 Seriously though LPX is my DAW of choice and has been for quite a while since LP8 Studio. I use the MPC software from time to time when I just want to mess around with it but I still feel it is better than the maschine software in my opinion.

Oh you're talking about that other device that looks just like this one ... lol 🤣(sarcasm)

@@SoundstarMusic yeah that one …but I get it as creatives most are all over the place when it comes to inspiration. I have em all so I feel your struggle

Funny thing is I wanted Native Instruments to make a standalone Maschine for years and when they finally did I wouldn’t buy it. I heard there were issues with it and I decided that if I’m going stand-alone then I’m going with a company who has it mastered.

Yes, yes, and yes again. Very frustrating.

🤣Thanks for watching

🤣🤣🤣

Thanks! 🙏🏾

In addition to always being tied to a computer to create music as well. But NI needs to spend more time on their DAW vs their sound library in my opinion. The Maschine software is limited in comparison to other DAWS such as LPX, Pro Tools, Ableton, FL Studio.

Its a groovebox, not a DAW, @@SoundstarMusic - how many DAWs run as a plugin?

@@mycosys groovebox, controller whatever name we put there it is still tied to a computer that uses a software application as the brain of the unit. The software itself is the problem not the controller. The controller isnt hard to learn because its mapped to functions in the software. LPX is superior to Maschine in my opinion as they are both software applications used to make music aren't they? 🤷🏾‍♂

that seems to be the thing that most people say about it as well.

I don't get the problem, just load it as a plugin inside your DAW and problem solved.

I was a reason user before you were 🤣 (2003) I honestly loved reason and used it for over 13 years but it does not compete in my opinion with LPX. Nothing does to me for that matter. R12 is still on my computer because I have so many tracks in reason still, but I could never go back to it for anything really at this point. The intro beat to this video was made in it almost 10 years ago... no cap 💪🏾

@@SoundstarMusic How about you use Reason Rack plugin instead, you might as well since you have 12? Lots of fun devices to play with 😇👍.

@@HOLLASOUNDS NAW I'm good. 👌🏾

@@SoundstarMusic 😭

oh, no worries I'm out of the Maschine world altogether. I just open the software to sample some sounds out of it into my MPC's 😁

😅😅😅 frfr - the library is the only thing that is noteworthy. The Maschine is slowly dying. I don't see a need for another newer model imho 🤔 the sequencer is too basic for my needs so I don't use it anymore. Honestly, an mpc does at least offer you the ability to connect different time signatures together in a song. The only thing keeping the maschine alive is NI expansions (Library). Having a Maschine is like having a 🔥chic but her Punani is straight🗑️. I'd rather have a regular chic with the 💣 Punani!!! 😅 😅😂

(1) Inspiration comes from many things and is different for everyone so let's not kid ourselves. (2) Workflow is an over-saturated term to a degree, that being said for me personally simplicity is better but even in a complex technological era we are in LPX as many other DAWS are, just are better in my opinion to NI Maschine. (3) NI's overkill of instruments is something I don't believe they need help in. They are the leaders in the category. That also being said and over abundance of too much of the same stuff can stifel the creative process which I stated in a previous video. (4) Your opinion is yours 👍🏾

@@SoundstarMusic No. It has already been proven over and over again that inspiration DOES NOT HAVE to do with changing gadgets. Mozart buying an MPC because he didn't feel "inspired" with violins? Elvis giving up his guitar and buying a marimba because the guitar no longer "inspired" him? Michael Jackson dancing cumbia because Break Dancing no longer "inspired" him? As the saying goes: "it's not the arrow, it's the Indian". If there is something that history has shown time and time again, it is that inspiration is born and dies in the head. The rest is accessory. There's no reason to make music inspired by a Maschine, and then not be able to do it on that same Maschine. It is the head, the brain; therein lies the whole thing, not in the new (or old) toys. But I want to be fair and say that you have a point that works for you, and that it is not a general rule. I understand.

The basics yes (program, sequence, arrange etc..) but I respectfully disagree. (1) Maschine is controller not a drum machine, (2) different drum machines offer different features which allows the freedom to affect sound (3) Internal components used to make the devices matter and (4) lastly all that is science that's why companies spend tons of $$$$ on the research that goes into every component . In the end these are just tools used to make music 💯

Stock v stock MPC wins

I can feel that. 👍🏾