Maschine 3.0 -- wait for it or buy Maschine Mk3 now?

Purple Turtle

Hi all,

I'm new to the community, setting up a home studio:
Mac Studio
UI Apollo Twin X audio interface for vocals and live.
Just about to setup my S61 MK3.
My question to the community is about Maschine. Just ordered a Maschine Mk3 from Amazon, it will deliver tomorrow.

Have been watching lots of YouTube videos and figured it was best to pair with the same make. I didn't realize that the S61 Mk3 doesn't fully integrate with the Mk3 Maschine like it did with the Mk2. Seems Mk3 to Mk3 should work together hand and glove, but… okay then.

Fortunately there's a version upgrade in the works, 3.0 software is in beta, or so I read. Does anyone know… will 3.0 resolve integration with Kontrol MK3? Is there any kind of date when the software will be released?

Should I return my Maschine to Amazon (30 day free returns) and wait for 3.0 to release?
Does it make any difference? Will Maschine also get a hardware upgrade?

Thanks!

Braz

Nobody really knows.

And if Maschine 3.0 was to be released, it's probably months from now.

My piece of advice, look at Maschine mikro mk3 if youre not sure about Maschine.

Kubrak

Hard to say. IMHO, Maschine SW 3.0 (or something alike) might come soon. As well as new HW like Maschine MK4, Mikro MK4 and like.

My guess is that something went wrong in development of new version of Maschine SW and release has been heavily delayed. (It is not uncommon at SW development…)

My guess is that within several weeks new version of Komplete bundle will be released. And that about the same time might come storm of new NI HW (Maschine and Traktor) and new Maschine SW.

raphaël_

i am almost certain that they will release new hardware along with 3.0.
but we dont know if it will be this year, next year or whenever its ready…

dont bet on any integration between kontrol series and maschine though. they removed it for a reasen.

just buy an mk3 used, they are so cheap to get.

D-One

Folks from NI mentioned publicly that V3 is gonna happen this year, that is the only thing known at the moment and even that could get delayed…

I would not wait based on a hope that V3 software will add support to the KK-S MK3 keyboards, theres no guarantee. The KK team said it was omitted because not a lot of people used it, if it was some technical reason that could be fixed with a new major version the chances would be higher.

As far as new hardware NI never announces it in advance. Buying used as @raphaël_ said sounds like good advice, because if all you want actually happens at least you spent half the $

Purple Turtle

Thank you all for your replies and knowledge, very much appreciated.

I'm going to return the Maschine (for free, thank you Amazon) and wait for 3.0 whenever it's released. Hopefully it's with a Mk4 hardware upgrade that will be able to connect via USB-C Thunderbolt.

Cheers!

MorrisEd

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/35011/maschine-3-0-wait-for-it-or-buy-maschine-mk3-now

the Kontrol MK3 will never do what the Maschine MK3 can in Maschine, but you will be able to use it t9 control parameters for NKS plug-ins without issue. So, the two devices should complement each other nicely. I wouldn’t return it. Also, I am not sure the new version of Maschine would include a hardware upgarde. I would think not since NI was still querying feature upgrade requests recently.

Inseptic

I would either get Maschine+ (standalone) or wait for Maschine 3 (SW) if you insist on using a midi controller because Maschine 2 (SW) is utter trash.

Duistere Bardo

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/173178#Comment_173178

Maschine 2.x is pretty good for what it does, it's just getting severely outdated due to lack of updates thanks to other priorities at NI.

Given the current direction of NI (straight down the drain thanks to trash investors that are only good at ruining companies by squeezing all possible profit out of them), I would wait until a couple of months after a new HW unit is released before getting a new Maschine, and be sure to check as much reviews and user feedback after the artificial release hype cycle is over before making a decision.

macchinista

Typically NI launches new hardware in the fall, and major software releases tend to follow new hardware. So it's probably wise to wait for few more months. The question you should ask yourself is why you feel you need a Maschine in the first place. Are you creating inside the Maschine software? Because if you are primarily using a DAW (any of them), then your S61 MK3 is already quite powerful on its own. Adding Maschine to the mix is prob adding more headaches (i.e. you're going to spend a hell of a time trying to find the right configuration for integrating it into your workflow). Trust me, many of us have been down that road.

Necromacner

Keep the Maschine MK3, I just picked it up too along with a used S61 MK2 (I already have an S88 MK3 and an M32). I've come to find that I too was misled by all the comments that S-MK3 is not Mashcine compatible.

In reality, the S-MK2 offers a heavy integration with the Maschine SOFTWARE, not the hardware. Basically, you can do most of what the Maschine hardware can do from the S-MK2, without actually having Macshine hardware (assuming you have an assortment of expansion packs from Komplete Select/etc). This might be all a lot of people need, but you get a much better workflow by using actual Maschine hardware.

My S88 MK3 works great with the Maschine hardware, just as any standard MIDI controller would, or the M32 does.

Also, using Maschine as the user interface is amazing. You should keep it just for that single reason. How you integrate with keyboards, etc is icing on the cake. But I'm rethinking my whole workflow and trying to stay out of Logic Pro and using a mouse.

New Maschine software is expected soon and I'm sure it will be amazing. I wouldn't expect new Maschine hardware anytime soon, nor do I think it's needed as the existing offering is simply outstanding.

One more thing, you get a ton of expansion packs with the Maschine hardware, so consider that another reason to hang on to it.

BigPictureSound

I would return and wait for MK4 unless you really need it. My unit that I've had for a few years which I took immaculate care of just came down with a glitchy potentiometer. It's the last knob on the right which always felt loose even when unboxed. Since it's used mainly for preset cycling, I made sure to use the 4D knob or the Jam for presets to ensure it lasted. It still malfunctioned despite almost never using it.

The knobs are just too much of a liability to even think of buying a new MK3.

Purple Turtle

Again, thank you all for replying and sharing your experiences.

Macchinista, I hear you. Thank you. I may not need a Maschine, the keyboard is mighty on its own. AND Logic has some killer drum software. I'd rather avoid headaches.

Honestly, the more I learn about NI, the less I'm impressed. Guessing that change in leadership trickled down, too bad. That sheds some light (or shade) on my experience with NI so far.

I ordered my S61 directly from NI because I couldn't find it on Amazon. The receipt that came with the S61 had the address of a used car lot, and a phone number that was no longer in service. So, when I reached out to NI about my expensive new keyboard/controler and discovered the contact info on the invoice was bunk, I thought I had just been scammed. It was an adventure just to connect with NI's "customer service" which turned out to be more like customer FU. I live in L.A. NI's local office is a few miles away. They tried to ****** me over, a real sketchy crew IMHO. So, I'm grateful for all of you here who post.

Thankfully, I bought my Maschine through Amazon, free no-hassle return, who has some major customer service chops. Easy peasy.

For now, I'm gonna work my S61 and my UA Apollo which has THE most killer recording/mastering plug-ins and excellent support behind it.

May your music ring true.
Peace,
TPT

ArtisanS

Personally, I wouldn't bother…..Maschine 2.0 is deadware, Maschine 3 will be even deader. The only thing that is Komplete in Maschine is that it's good at trowing stupid tantrums if a computer changes it's configuration. A drive designation changed from D to F…(and I want that). Result: Maschine cannot find it's expansions (all 80 or so) and only finds its instuments. Thrown out the database several times (in APPDATA folder for all good nonsence) Wasted half a day….still no result. Why on earth can't you just ASK me were my Native Instrument Files are stored (on a 2 GB SSD that I switch between my laptop and my desktop). Do you think we are to dense or coked out to know how to use a directory path…..

I switched to MPC resently and will switch to Ableton in the near future…..byebye monumental frustration generators and time wasters.

Now I found the solution. The only solution is to reinstall all the extensions (again). The are installed and pointing to the right directory, but untill they are not reinstalled Maschine will not recognize them. Well I guess Native Instruments is footing the download bill (again). This is sooooo stupid.

ArtisanS

And about 4 hours later (and a power wasting 140 Gb download) all is fine. And don't get me wrong. I love Maschine, I love the Komplete Kontrol CE instruments and expansions, but I would like a more dependable and stable version. This is not the first time this happend to my installation, and frankly it's driving me mad. I want to turn on my computer (a 13900, 64 Gb, 12 Tb, 12 Gb Video RAM rig) and go for it. Maschine is the coolest synth/sampler I own (Kontact is de facto industry standard), no doubt about it. But a stable version…..it would be a dream.

red_nick

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/173081#Comment_173081

Just get a USB-C to B cable