Maschine Jam in 2022?

Mi.Alpha · 2022-03-14T13:26:13+00:00

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Hello boys and girls, I hope you are all doing well.

Although this has been asked by many, I would like your opinion on whether it is worth buying a (used) Maschine Jam in 2022. Since this decision depends on a number of things, let me inform you about the way I usually work, the hardware I have and the intended use for Maschine JAM.

My workflow

I compose exclusively on Maschine (standalone) using the MK3. In most of the times, I am not looking at the computer screen/not using the mouse since this offers me a nice workflow that I really enjoy. I use tops 8 Groups and I rely mostly on wav files rather than VSTs since my computer (see below) is quite old. When I have finished a song, I will export the STEMS at a sound level, import them to Ableton 10, do some basic stuff (e.g., EQing) and then I send the STEMS to a sound engineer.

My hardware

I am using the Maschine MK3 with a MacBook Pro 15' (mid 2015, 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM). In about a year's time I will eventually upgrade to an M1 MacBook.

Intended use of JAM

Although I was late in the game (purchased and started using the MK3 about 3-4 years ago) I have been always blown away by the capabilities of the JAM (based on various videos I've seen on YouTube). I want to use the JAM as a companion to the MK3 in order to arrange things quicker (select patterns for each scene), use the step sequencer (especially for melodic sounds), adjusting the audio levels and having access to more octaves.

In addition, I want to use the MK3 and JAM with Ableton for performing live: I want to use Live for launching audio loops (Maschine's Audio engine is really CPU heavy on my computer) and a midi track with the Maschine VST. This is crucial for me because Ableton is more stable and less CPU hungry when compared to running Maschine standalone. Also JAM has one of the best workflows when used in midi mode for controlling Ableton (10).

Summary/additional info

I am working on a 2015 MacBook Pro 15' (i7, 16GB RAM)
I rely heavily on Maschine (standalone) when composing
I use Ableton 10 and Maschine (VST) for performing live
I will at some point upgrade to an M1 MacBook
I might upgrade to Ableton 11 (currently I have Ableton 10 Standard and Ableton 11 intro)
I don't think I will buy in the near future the Maschine + (due to instability issues)
I tend to keep my hardware for a long time

I hope the above info is sufficient for giving you some context. I really want to buy the JAM but I am afraid of future compatibility with the Maschine software, Ableton 11 and MacOS (not to mention that it's a discontinued product so very difficult to replace/service/find parts).

Cheers!

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Comments

Mi.Alpha

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/9515#Comment_9515

That's very good news! I did some digging and I found the following post from NI (they say that Jam is compatible with Apple silicon via Rosetta 2):

@djadidai I found also your post in the old forum:

https://www.native-instruments.com/forum/threads/maschine-jam-m1.457327/

What I haven't understand so far is whether a driver is required for using Jam in MacOS. For example, in the NI Support site there is no driver for using Jam (or Maschine Mk3). Maybe the driver is part of the pkg file when installing Maschine software?

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/support/downloads/drivers-other-files/

djadidai

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/9525#Comment_9525

Plug and play baby:) no drivers needed. Plug it in and get lost in musical creation and jamming. Tell me when you leave earth haha!

Mi.Alpha

Thanks @djadidai.

Can someone from NI (@Matt_NI?) please confirm that the Jam works/will work on an M1 MacBook either via Rosetta 2 or natively (whenever an M1 version of the Maschine software is released)?

djadidai

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/9540#Comment_9540

I just told you it works man.

Eight4aWish

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/9561#Comment_9561

I think the question is whether a future new M1 version of Maschine will continue to support Jam. The Jam works great with M1 now… but are they planning to break it? Given that the soon to be launched update to Maschine is non Native I am guessing you should get a good 12 months out of the Jam before they have an opportunity to break things.

Mi.Alpha

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/9561#Comment_9561

Yes indeed 😁 and I thank you for that 🙏

However, as @Eight4aWish commented I am concerned whether Jam will be supported when Maschine software will run natively on M1 MacBooks. As you said, the Jam works fine now but Maschine software runs via Rosetta 2. I just wanted to double check, that's why I am asking an official response from NI. 😎

ozon

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/9572#Comment_9572

Use what is currently available now and worry about the future when it arrives.

There is no way to double check on the future of products. Even if a company tells you today they’ll support a product for lifetime, they may change their mind tomorrow if it’s convenient to them. See Access Music and their vanished Virus TI support.

Stevan

Jam is awesome, I have two! It works perfectly fine with M1 Big Sur and Monterey.

Mi.Alpha

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/9591#Comment_9591

@ozon I really appreciate your input. The thing is I cannot justify a 200€ purchase for a used product just for using it over a one-year period. I am not expecting a definitive answer as a means for bulletproofing my purchase. I just want to make sure that when the Maschine software will run natively on M1 computers it will continue working. And yes, you are absolutely right, I have to use what is currently available and not worry that much about the future. Anyways, I submitted a request to NI and as soon as I have some sort of feedback I will let everyone know.

Mi.Alpha

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/9561#Comment_9561

@djadidai I hope I wasn't misunderstood by my previous message. Can you please share your MacBook's specs and maybe your rational for choosing a specific configuration? It will help me a lot in deciding which model to use.

runagate

I bought one last Friday. Unquestionably worth it due to the (rather imprecise but awesome) strum mode on the touchstrips, performance fx on the fx strips.. those 2 features alone worth it. Plugged it into my Maschine+ and immediately lit up and synched. Weird it's no longer made and super glad I found one on Reverb

djadidai

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/9621#Comment_9621

MacBook Pro M1 16gig Ram 1TB hd

djadidai

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/9621#Comment_9621

What specific configuration do you mean?

Fabio Barbon

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/9620#Comment_9620

Being a pure class compliant usb device it doesn’t need any additional piece of software than what’s already in the operative system, and usb class devices will continue to be supported by Apple (others explained that, just trying to rephrase it 🙂).

If your question is whether or not NI will drop Maschine support for the Jam in the future, as others guessed it’s unlikely, considering they deliberately added support for it on Maschine+ recently.

Amazing addition to the already great Maschine workflow by the way. Grab one before their prices skyrock 🤓

[Deleted User]

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