NI Announces Maschine Studio & Maschine 2.0

maschine-studio

Native Instruments today announced Maschine Studio – a new ‘flagship’ hardware controller – and an updated version of their Maschine groove production studio software.

  • Maschine Studio is considerably larger than the original Maschine and provides expanded tactile control and new hi-resolution color displays.
  • Maschine 2.0 features a host of enhancements, including a new mixer page and dynamic drum synth plug-ins, designed to deliver more power and speed to all three Maschine production studios.

Here’s an intro video to the new Maschine Studio:

Here’s what Native has to say about the new Maschine Studio and Maschine 2.0:

Providing complete hardware control over virtually all software functions, MASCHINE STUDIO’s workflow is centered on 16 highly-responsive multi-color backlit pads, a new Edit Section with jog wheel, a Level Section and two hi-resolution color displays – a major hardware advancement. The displays enable producers to focus on MASCHINE’s hardware workflow, providing detailed visual feedback of the software’s powerful features. When editing samples or working in MASCHINE’s clip-based pattern sequencer, the displays show an overview of the full selection on the left screen while the right screen allows for detailed fine-tuning when slicing, editing, and composing. When browsing, the displays provide easy navigation and selection of projects, groups, sounds, instruments, effects, and samples with KOMPLETE Instruments and Effects product icons visible directly from the hardware.

A new Edit Section provides dedicated buttons and a jog wheel with LED indicators for visual feedback and enhanced functionality. The jog wheel allows quick adjustments to volume, tempo, and swing settings, and speeds up browsing and editing. The Level Section provides a convenient volume knob and a multi-purpose meter display for master, group, sound, and cue levels plus monitoring for up to four selectable input sources when a multi-channel audio interface is connected. Dedicated control buttons allow fast switching between MASCHINE STUDIO’s sampler, arranger, mixer, and browser, and provide direct access to channel settings and an all-new plug-in strip. For producers already using external equipment, one MIDI input and three MIDI outputs allow MASCHINE STUDIO to function as a command hub, controlling all equipment from one comprehensive controller. On the underside of the unit, a highly sturdy, built-in collapsible stand provides the optimal angle for working with MASCHINE STUDIO.

MASCHINE 2.0 presents a major revision of Native Instruments’ groove production software, delivering a host of powerful features to MASCHINE STUDIO, and both generations of MASCHINE, and MASCHINE MIKRO. A tag-based attribute browser makes samples and presets easy to find while the new plug-in strip make MASCHINE’s internal plug-ins much more accessible by displaying their individual user interfaces instead of generic buttons and knobs. A brand-new, dedicated mixer page provides detailed level adjustment and flexible routing of MASCHINE 2.0’s aux sends, plug-ins, and unlimited groups and insert effects. A new audio engine with multi-core technology adds sidechaining and allows higher instrument, effect, and plug-in counts, faster load times and more. High-quality 32-bit float internal summing delivers the latest advancements in professional sound quality.

Also new and exclusive to MASCHINE 2.0 are five drum synth plug-ins meticulously developed with Native Instruments’ years of experience in software synthesis. Each instrument caters to a specific drum type, and delivers an easy-to-use interface. The plug-ins are capable of a wide range of sounds – from crisp and digital, to warm and analog, featuring accurate acoustic-sounding drums. Because they are based on synthesis, producers have a refined level of control over the sound of each drum. Not only are these plug-ins fully-adjustable and automatable directly from the MASCHINE hardware, they now add a signature sound aesthetic to the world of MASCHINE.

In addition to hosting any VST or Audio Units plug-in, MASCHINE 2.0 comes with an 8+ GB sound library of professional, production-ready sounds. Also included are full versions of Native Instrument’s acclaimed MASSIVE synthesizer, the unique synthesizer for percussive and mallet sounds PRISM, the powerful compressor SOLID BUS COMP, and the meticulously sampled vintage electric piano SCARBEE MARK I, providing a versatile setup ready for any production task. MASCHINE can be used as a standalone on either MAC or PC systems, but also loads as a VST, Audio Units or AAX plug-in in all major DAWs for seamless integration with existing production environments. MASCHINE 2.0 software features batch export of full songs, groups, and single sounds in lossless WAV or AIFF formats in up to 32-bit/192kHz quality. Import of older MASCHINE projects, iMASCHINE projects, REX files, and MPC programs is also fully supported.

Maschine Studio images:

NI has set up a dedicated micro site showcasing the features of Maschine Studio and Maschine 2.0.  and MASCHINE 2.0.

Maschine Studio is available for purchase at retailers worldwide and at the NI Online Shop from November 1, 2013 for $999 / 999 Euro. Maschine 2.0 is included with Maschine Studio and all Maschine and Maschine Mikro products shipping on or after November 1, 2013.

Check out the details and let us know what you think of the new Maschine Studio and the updated Maschine 2.0!

20 thoughts on “NI Announces Maschine Studio & Maschine 2.0

  1. The screens of the Mk1 Maschine were always a bit hard for me to read (I got a particularly low contrast screen in mine) so this is quite an awesome upgrade in terms of usability!
    I can’t wait to hear what else they’ve got lined up in the sample library this time around. The 2.0 upgrade price is pretty reasonable too! I seriously can’t wait to get this beast home…

    (inb4 ‘what? no touch screen?!’ 😉

  2. awesome video fx. if it could do that in real life i would buy one. if i were 15 i would want one (but prob wouldnt be able to afford to buy one)

  3. For all those that “don’t want to look at computer screens” – here we’ve given you more – and made them bigger! 🙂

    Maschine is great, but, and I don’t know if they’re actual fans of shills hired by NI, the whole “don’t have to look at a screen just like an MPC” line, which isn’t really true either, is tiresome. More to the point, switching from Maschine to your DAW was just as clunky as with an MPC, perhaps more so, because they didn’t acknowledge the truth about having to use the screen and give you means of interacting with it.

    What is that a track ball on the bottom right? I hope so! Centipede anyone!?

    On the downside, 999 and not standalone or iPad/iPhone/iPod powered? No faders for mixing? Never really got the complaint about “tracking out” with MPCs because that’s when you mix. I’ll wait for the studio two, I think.

    It’d be cool to have a 1 or 2u rack underneath for your audio card and a patch bay. Maschine + UAD or RME would make a pretty sweet portable setup.

    1. Oh haha, that’s the jog wheel! Color me disappointed. Well, maybe it has tilt sensitivity?

      Really I like and use all of Komplete, it’s a great value, but I don’t see NI products as having a lot of future vision and instead refining what’s already there. Exceptions of course, like Absynth and Massive is innovative in terms of interface. I guess what I’m saying is, build a controller for creating and then playing in Reaktor dammit! 😉 Hint: the ems synthi used a patch matrix grid – you have an even better one on the Maschine.

  4. THIS IS THE SAME NINTENDO BULLSH1T – i guess the” mini” will be out soon

    do not waste your money –again– on this until they get it right

    NI please build a modular controller so users can build custom interfaces
    for “all your software ” and expand that interface as new modules come out

    1. They offer the mikro, ‘normal’ and studio… so yeah! kinda!

      The difference is that no ONE is more “right” than any other.
      These are coexisting products designed to meet different budgets and requirements.
      No one is being suckered here…

    2. “Delayed game will eventually be a good game, rushed xbox has rrod forever.”

      -Miyamoto

      I choose delayed games over rushed any day.

      This awfully noisy astroturfer parroting from the herd core gamer peasantry has also gone into ridiculously far over into thoughtles territory, where “opinions” are downloaded from your favorite forums. Nintendo would easily win another round without the artificial hegemony. It has amazing games, lots of them, as well as wondrous, new game play dripping means to control them and lowest price. Its only problem is the hegemony. New game play is an actual “next generation”. I have already gotten bored of PS4 games that are played with a last gen bottleck of game play.

  5. Fuck all ya. I’m getting this shit.
    FAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAPFAP…

  6. Meh!
    I would have changed my mind on Maschine if the guy unplugged it from the computer with a caption saying “STANDALONE”.
    Though, they seem to have understood that if they want it to be hybrid software/hardware, they’ll need to create a real DAW to make Maschine worth anything.
    For the time being Push is the only way to go for this kind of controller, you can do so much more.

  7. Guys,

    This is made for what it is… you know the Gen 1 and 2…. so if you don’t like it than don’t buy it.. but i think this is damn good upgrade. I careless about “standalone” this is made to be used in studio… most dj’s uses laptop based setup too… so computers are there and will be there.. standalone days are gone… matter fact standalone stuff are more expensive when you want to upgrade… while here the hardware is same but the software keeps upgrading faster than ever… remember those $2K + MPC’s… serious guys makes beats in room/lab or studio… no one does full track in buses and trains.. use your iphones for ideas…

    I think NI did good job with this hardware and pushed it to the MAX. The KOMPLET’s Tight Integration would be huge + also all the sounds tools.

    I wish you can use that jog wheel to scratch 😉 samples

    akai is loosing grounds just like blackberry did… Akai product looks obsolete.

    1. I’ve been watching lots of MPC eBay auctions lately. I really like the idea of creating on something self-contained and being constrained by less options. I have a lot of fun doing beats in Beatmaker 2, but the quality is really lacking there. An MPC 2500 or 5000 seems like a good option for someone like me. Of course, I wouldn’t say it’s “better.” Everyone has their own workflow that suits them best.

  8. The step from Maschine 1 to MK2 was relatively minor compared to this new generation. The same seems to hold for the MK2 versions of Traktor Kontrol S2 and S4. I was seriously thinking about buying a S4 but this has got me thinking that a new gen with a much larger set of updates will probably be released within a year or so…

  9. $999, looks like an MPC, but NO STANDALONE? Native Instruments is insane: new model, add slightly more functionality, then charge almost DOUBLE the price of the previous model..

    1. well MPC started as standalone and moved to software… so unlike NI they started from Software… and it will be software…

      i don’t see anything wrong.. its like comparing our Parents generation vs our gen..

      Akai supposed to have huge advantage but its loosing it because of many years of neglects and did not come up with controllers before everyone… if i remember correctly M-AUDIO was the first one to have controller.

      Right now AKAI is loosing battle not many people are talking about their new REN hardware on net.

  10. You must be confusing it with the “MPC” Rennaissance, which was indeed made to look like an old 80’s MPC but NO STANDALONE and Akai was trying to sell it for $1299.

  11. Machine sounds and feels great, but I hate the workflow and the software. I’m afraid it will only get worse, Maschine turning into Kontakt.

  12. Yo!

    I´m working with Maschine since 3 Years and i love how the MidiController fits with the Software, but Maschine still, also with the latest 1.8 updates, missed for me some really important features if you want to create Music. Most important that you can NOT copy only Automation n´stuff.
    I always have to do several clicks for doing actions which could be so easy and so much less work.
    Honestly this MUST work in Maschine 2 or Studio and even then I´m really not sure if I would buy the software or even the Controller and Software for 999,-

    PCE

    1. Most people think its just Maschine hardware and software…

      what about gigs worth of sounds… Massive which is nice popular VSTi and other tools. I think NI’s software are quite stable and nicely designed.

  13. It looks like a big upgrade from the first maschine, but not the second.

    I’ve upgraded my MK1 to an MK2, and in only a few years… I am faced with another “Do I upgrade?” senario…

    I don’t like this mentality. It’s like when you buy a computer and a month goes by and the new one comes out and makes you hate the world. lol

    I know that production and DJing has moved into the virtual world, but I wish manufacturers would take their time to make controllers more future-proof. Look at the Minimoog, the Access Virus line, the MPC2500, etc… Just because we are buying a software controller, that doesn’t mean we should be stuck in a vicious upgrade dilemma every two years.

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