For The Love Of Maschine

As underwhelmed as we all were by the new Native Instruments Maschine 3 software, and rightly so. What were we expecting really? Half decent/standard midi functions? New updated GUI? Did we get it? Well….. yeah, so why were we all left with such a, meh taste in our mouths? 

Well what we all need to realise is that development of software seems to be moving in the direction of buy now and the interesting stuff will follow throughout the year, all adding up to a worthwhile overall investment.

Regardless of how unimpressive and possibly very disappointing the last few or many years of Maschine may have been. For much of us back in 2009, the release of Maschine was…..what for it!! Here comes that seriously overused YouTuber word............  “a game changer!” And in this case it was absolutely true. There was the life and music works before Maschine, and then there was the music, the vibe, the feel and the process after the purchase of Maschine.

For yours truly, it opened up a world of hands on sampling possibilities that I had never experienced before. Believe it or not but samplers (software samplers) did not just come as standard in every DAW. Steinberg didn’t introduce a basic integrated sampler into Cubase until 2023 years ago let alone in 2009/10.

The sampled instruments and drum kits that came as part of the library were second to none. And we haven’t even begun to talk about the tactile work flow that didn’t feel like using a controller, at least not as we had previously known. This was an instrument, this was a piece of gear! you can shape sounds, chop sounds, add effects and automate directly from the unit. 

Of course this was not a completely new concept, as Maschine took pretty much most of its inspiration from Akai’s MPC. But those of us who knew no better and had cut our teeth on computer music and DAW’s, this was the answer. This was the future! Bearing in mind that It would take another 2 and a bit years for Ableton to team up with Akai to release the Ableton push mk1 in March 2013.

It would also take Akai a while to get their MPC mojo back. And in the first instance it’s as if the teacher had become the student, with Akai adopting Native Instruments hardware controllers powered by computer software model. Before going back to the sensible bread and butter of the standalone MPC line.

Maschine has been around for so long now that it’s easy to forget, assuming you knew in the first place just how big of a deal this unit was. The most fully integrated software and hardware controller ever, straight out of the box. It could be debated that Native Instruments is no longer the powerhouse of innovation it once was. Whether that really is the case or not, one company can only innovate for so long before a new kid on the block emerges. Or before said company loses steam or is distracted by other projects.

For a time, Maschine was the daddy! Making all the big moves, all the right moves. Native Instruments had a head start on the competition across the board. At one point people were calling Maschine an MPC killer! But now, the competition has significantly caught up. And probably surpassed it in the case of the MPC one, a standalone unit which literally only costs £100-£160 more than a Maschine. Which if you’re in the market for a groove box is a total no brainer. Then there is also the Ableton push, the Ableton move and Ableton note. While Native Instruments are busy winding down their ground breaking legacy products like Reaktor, as well as saying bye-byes to their iOS app IMaschine, Ableton are just getting heated up with their version of Reaktor called max4live. 

Apparently many producers are abandoning Maschine for MPCs, well at least the YouTube producer community that is. And who can blame em, as mentioned earlier the MPC One is so tempting as is the Ableton Move. So what does all this mean for Maschine?

Well regardless of whether Native Instruments pulls out some next level brilliance out the bag or not. The significance of this device and its impact on music makers worldwide over the last 15 years is nothing to be sniffed at. So let’s raise a glass to the Maschine and the original team/s behind it.