Massive vs. Maschine Mikro

[djnowhere]

Hey guys, I've been using Ableton for a little over a year now and are now looking to upgrade my synths for dubstep since that's what I've been working on now for about 6-8 months. I'm looking at adding Massive and am wondering would it be better to just buy Massive or would it be better to get the Mischine Mikro which comes with Massive and drum samples. I was wondering if anyone has either and could recommend one or the other. Thanks a lot in advance Chris

[EdRyan]

I have a Maschine & Komplete Ultimate.

The library for Maschine is more then enough. But having Massive with it is pretty good as well. Massive is quite a complicated synth and the layout bugs me. But it does live up to it's name. Most of the noises it makes are pretty big.

If you feel you'd benefit from Maschine, I'd go for it. But if you are happy with your drums and are eying up maybe a Push controller. I'd save your pennies and just get Massive. I really want a Push, but dunno if I can justify it.

[yur2die4]

I love Maschine with all of my heart.

When I bought Maschine, it didn't come with Massive. But now I have it. Woo!

I doubt they'll add much more..... but they do seem to have a knack for that.

You also get a smaller version of Komplete which has a few synths in Reaktor.

Lastly, Maschine makes a niiiiice controller, and is also fun to jam on standalone once in a while.

[eddiex]

yeah man, get the maschine/massive combo. its totally worth it. using the maschine hardware with a synth vst. is super cool!! and massive TOTALLY rules!! i think it is a good combo!!
that being said....you should save your money, and buy the bigger maschine not mikro. i bought mikro first, you will realize its limitations pretty quickly, and probably end up buying the bigger controller anyhow. (plus some g.centers wont allow a return on maschine or mikro due to it being software...i was stuck with mine)
its awesome, don't get me wrong, but all of the extra stuff you get on the big controller, is so worth the extra money!! the knobs alone, make a major difference.
another thing to think about....i know some people here agree and some people don't, maschine does not work well with ableton. (IMO) i know the script for it has changed since i last used maschine, but i thought it was super glitchy. it would turn off and on at random. some of the functionality didn't work. the remote script to use maschine as a controller, was not intuitive. its not plug and play with ableton....you have to set it up.

[Timbeaux]

i bought maschine mikro (1) when the 2nd edition of maschine cames out. i got it for 185 euro. and its a fair prive i think. i would say u dont need the bigger one. just buy another controller with 8 knobs and u got all the major functionality of the bigger one. even when u buy the bigger one, i wouldnt buy the newer version, cause the main change are the colored pads (and that for 200 euro more...).

and the integration in ableton is quite easy. once u have it set up right and made a template for that its really easy to use and a really addition to ur setup.


i only use my maschine mikro (1) as drumcomputer in ableton and massive as vst in ableton. this combo is really nice.

[Zygi]

The whole NI offer is designed to make you think like that.

Let me show you an example.

I've bought maschine mk1 some time ago for a huge discount. Got komplete elements, then massive. I couldn't get on with maschine + ableton integration (I don't think I could explain it clearly, btw.), so I sold the controller and have only the software with all the bundles now (which might have been a mistake, but whatever).

I've returned to using just ableton and wanted to try to use only the vsts that I already have. In a limited, but creative way.

"Reaktor Elements edition" came with Spark and few other things - among them a nice drum synth, which I wanted to use. The problem is, in order to utilise it properly, I'd need to create my own preset banks. I can save an ableton project with a single preset. But I can't create my own bank, cause that requires FULL REAKTOR.

And here comes the end of my story. Full version of reaktor is 380 euros. Komplete for maschine owners is 369. And it comes with everything.

They always want you to buy more and more. And not in a friendly approach. Like "push gives you unique ableton features". It's rather "we'll give you a free chocolate bar, but you'll end up buying a whole chocolate factory".

I can understand that it's business. But after discontinuing kore and some other moves, I seriously doubt I'd jump that bandwagon again.

My maschine is a "not for resale" version, so I'm kind of commited to it. Don't get me wrong, that's not bad the samples are nice, and massive is fine. But on the other hand, everyone uses these nowadays. And I'm pretty sure there are plenty of other synths to consider. Thought about Zebra?

[djnowhere]

To update everyone, I ended up going with Komplete 8. Yea, it's a little bit more money, but you get so much more. I've got the Axiom 25 so I've got a controller including mpc style pads. How do others like Komplete 8 and is there any inside tips for it etc?

[jestermgee]

I can completely agree with one poster in regards to NI making you want "more" and it kind of irritates me a litle. I have been using Komplete 6 for a few years here and there and I do all kinds of stuff from soundscape stuff to hip-hop, dance, techno... Everything really.

I decided to look into Komplete 8 and I was happy with just getting the standard version but I also wanted the Alecia Keys piano and the Evolve packs. It was more "cost effective" to pay more and get the Ultimate version which was more than I really wanted to spend but I consider it another toolbox. I may not use it all or have a complete need for it all but it's good when you need a sound and it is there.

I have litterally just installed the thing off the HDD and done the updates and, well, there is one day of my holidays gone! Now I am running off manuals and doing extra reading up before I dive right in and I have been looking at Maschine and wondering if it may be helpful with controlling all this NI gear. I have used Komplete 6 (Massive, Kontact, Absynth etc) so I am not real "excited" to get into Komplete 8 just yet but anything that can help workflow is welcome but if it's a distraction I just dont need it.

I have also been looking at the litle Mikro as an alternative since our studio already has MPD32, MCU, Launchpad, MIDI Keyboards for Ableton stuff and Maschine/Mikro just for controlling NI gear seems a little overkill and possibly not a workflow improvement. Would love to hear from users who have the Maschine/Mikro and use it with live wether it has improved their flow or has consumed time with playing and learning how to use the controller over just using the mouse.

[Timbeaux]

yes it speeded up my workflow. but only for drum programming.

but u have to spent first a lot of time to fully integrate it into ableton.

when i got maschine mikro i first used it 3 or 4 days full of enthusiasm and then it was unused for 3 or 4 months until i took the time to integrate it into ableton.


if u have an mpd already, in my thoughts there is no need for an mikro. first i wanted a korp padcontrol, but i got that mikro for 40 euro more, so it was a nobrainer.

[humnumb]

Now I am running off manuals and doing extra reading up before I dive right in and I have been looking at Maschine and wondering if it may be helpful with controlling all this NI gear. I have used Komplete 6 (Massive, Kontact, Absynth etc) so I am not real "excited" to get into Komplete 8 just yet but anything that can help workflow is welcome but if it's a distraction I just dont need it.

I have also been looking at the litle Mikro as an alternative since our studio already has MPD32, MCU, Launchpad, MIDI Keyboards for Ableton stuff and Maschine/Mikro just for controlling NI gear seems a little overkill and possibly not a workflow improvement. Would love to hear from users who have the Maschine/Mikro and use it with live wether it has improved their flow or has consumed time with playing and learning how to use the controller over just using the mouse.

If you have Komplete 8, Maschine is a no brainer especially because every single preset from Komplete 8 automatically shows up on Maschine's hardware to browse/prelisten/load.

I would recommend full Maschine over Maschine Mikro. The knobs make a huge difference and the workflow is way faster and all hands-on. Maschine Mikro will still force you to use the mouse a bit in comparison.

[jestermgee]

Yeah it's always going to be a mixed bag with how it works for people.

The one thing I like the idea of is browsing patches and tweaking the settings without having to map controls and so such but I also understand that it will integrate with Komplete out of the box (so to speak) but would require some extensive mapping and a custom template to map the CC controls to usable Ableton controls (Which I have done on all our controllers as it is).

Then there is the Push Box. I love theMPD for beats and macro control (it's just simple and quick to use) but having all the control direct over ableton seems a pretty sweet deal. Might just hold back and see how my workflow goes with Komplete. Still astonished at just how much content is in this thing. Will take months and probably a hundred tracks to even scratch the sticker off this thing.

[delicioso]

but would require some extensive mapping and a custom template to map the CC controls to usable Ableton controls (Which I have done on all our controllers as it is).

Not true. Maschine doesn't require any mapping beforehand at all for controlling Ableton Live. It has always come with a template for Live. In fact, the new Live template that comes with Maschine now is really well done and much more useable:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnP1RM788Z4&t=02m28s

Maschine also has many advantages (not just the Komplete 8 preset integration) over Push, such as automapping (customizable) of any plugin, without having to put it in a rack beforehand (which you would have to with Push).

[The Carpet Cleaner]

If you are into heavy sampling without using keyboard and mouse, get the big maschine.

If you want a synth to make dubstep, wait for Push.

Maschine controlling vsts is amazing (especially with komplete, so easy!), but its a bonus.

[jestermgee]

Hey that is neat. It's looking more and more like something that can replace my MPD32 since the only thing I use that for is the pads and the 8 encoders.

I have to say though, the controller is a bit clunky when used to dive into Live.

"To adjust the cutoff, just press this, that, select this track, solo this, press the button again, turn the knob..." So how do you know when you have selected a parameter?
"It will show you which parameter is selected at the bottom of the Live window"...

Seems it doesn't use the LCD displays to show what the encoders are controlling when controlling effects and plugins? Could be wrong.

I have spent several hours trying to figure out a way to get my MDP32 to control Battery kits and also the Kontact kits but it doesn't look like it's a simple task. I create a template for Battery but every kit uses different notes for different pads so it seems it's more designed for keyboards. Looks like I may be selling the MPD32 (which is only a year old) and looking into the Maschine. Thanks for pointing out the vid.

[delicioso]

Maschine also comes with a Mackie Control template which will show you names/parameter values for any plugin/device loaded in Live (or any other DAW) directly on the LCD displays of Maschine's hardware. Some users have even made their own Live templates that incorporates the Mackie Control template features as well as Live's remote scripting features, and shared them in the NI forum.