Maschine+ will also happily talk to all your outboard synths and drum machines via MIDI, turning it into the control nexus of a larger hardware setup. Don’t forget the macros for each instrument are auto-mapped to the encoders an easy way to sweep broad brushstroke flavours across an instrument or sample without diving too deep. The whole experience really keeps your head in the creative zone – I had a blast dialling up a drum kit one sound at a time and perfecting each sample with the many processing options available. Sifting through the plethora of sounds is lightning fast thanks to NI’s category- and tag-based filtering via the encoders. The 16 backlit pads are ultra playable and operate in four modes (Pad/Keyboard/Chord/Step) for inputting notes. If you’re at all accustomed to working with a Maschine controller, Maschine+ will feel right at home under your fingertips.
Native Instruments hasn’t messed with the workflow. The latter means you can have physical keys to play synths while using Maschine+’s pads to play drums. It’s also a cool way of bringing your Maschine+ project into a computer for integration with a DAW. The former means Maschine+ can function just like its PC-reliant sibling in partnership with Maschine software. Two USB ports allow you to connect to a computer (in the aforementioned Controller Mode) or external MIDI controllers such as a keyboard. Note: if you want to use the full gamut of your NKS instruments/loops/effects/plug-ins, you’ll need to use Maschine+ in Controller Mode (ie.
The Maschine Factory Library alone was enough to keep me perusing for ages.Ĭonnect the device to your Native Access account via Wi-Fi and it’ll wirelessly install your personal library of expansion packs and select Komplete plug-ins. There’s a wide variety of sounds in here, thanks to beastly instruments like Massive, Monark, Prism, FM8 and more. NI calls the 24GB bundle Maschine+ Selection and it also includes 35 effects and seven Expansions. Nine instruments are pre-loaded into Maschine+ to get you making noise right out of the box.