Ableton Forum

The Northern Contingent wrote:I think what many people who find it hard to build Maschine into their workflow are missing is the fundamental difference that Maschine is an instrument and not just another plugin.

Although it is incredibly powerful technically, it needs to be learned and approached as an instrument with its own technique for playing and performing. Like all instruments this takes time and patience to perfect. Anyone can bang out a simple 4/4 rhythm on it of course, but to really unlock its full potential you need what good old Roy Castle said - dedication.

Carl Lofgren wrote:

The Northern Contingent wrote:I think what many people who find it hard to build Maschine into their workflow are missing is the fundamental difference that Maschine is an instrument and not just another plugin.

Although it is incredibly powerful technically, it needs to be learned and approached as an instrument with its own technique for playing and performing. Like all instruments this takes time and patience to perfect. Anyone can bang out a simple 4/4 rhythm on it of course, but to really unlock its full potential you need what good old Roy Castle said - dedication.

I don't agree with you. Plugins are instruments in a virtual form - and that's not where the line goes. Some instruments work with your set of mind. Some people love MPCs. Some people love playing banjo. I could learn to play banjo too, but I'd rather bang my MPC. Or the Octatrack. Or Geist. The way of working suits the way I think about music. Of course anyone could learn to master the Maschine. But if I already have two alternatives that are a hundred times more fun and makes me more productive than the Maschine - why bother?

It's about personal preferences. Not about if it's an instrument or not. Lots of people love the Maschine. I neither hate or love it. It's just meh.

mholloway wrote:

Carl Lofgren wrote:I got it. It's well built, the support and development is Native Instruments on their best.

Personally - I'm not that fond of it. Can't really put my finger on it, but I never use it. Every time I try there is some problem or issue that just make me grab Geist and get it done. There are loads of people who think it's the best thing since the MPC so I guess my personal feelings gets sorted under 'Personal Compatibility'.

Just got me one of those Octatracks - which works perfectly with my way of thinking/working/and so on.

Same here. I've had Maschine for a year now. I've played with it. I've never once used it in a track of mine. Hard to say why, exactly. The hardware feels great and is fun. The software....I think is what bothers me. I don't like the browser, I don't like how it 'feels' to organize my own drum kits, and my workflow tastes are very much against "sequencing inside another sequencer" e.g. I like to do everything directly into ableton, anything else feels counter-intuitive/productive to me.

So I never use it. I use drum racks. Oh, and I tried the whole routing deal wherein I could play maschine's pads, triggering maschine's kits, and have it record as midi notes in a live midi clip. It worked, yes....but the setup was a bit obnoxious and it just didn't seem worth it.

I would sell it -- but it's an educational version, so I can't. Funny. I'm stuck with it. Maybe someday I'll find a way to make it do something other than eat space.


-M

HeadrickProductions wrote:http://www.native-instruments.com/forum ... p?t=134760

interesting thread

starving student wrote:

HeadrickProductions wrote:http://www.native-instruments.com/forum ... p?t=134760

interesting thread

yeah it was interesting, when i started reading at the begin.... I was like wtf so I skipped to the end and wow things did get better eventually, they did drop the ball but at least from what i saw they were honorable about picking it back up. at least they talk to their user base I know some software devs that are way to high in their lofty clouds to hear the puny humans pleas for the gods to show themselves.