A Few Maschine Pre-Sale Questions

BezowinZ
BezowinZ Member Posts: 17 Member

I'm not yet decided on the + vs MK3, so these questions are for both. Most/all are software based any way.

  1. When connected to a computer and run as a plugin, is the + identical to the MK3?
  2. Do Komplete Kontrol virtual instrument user presets translate to Maschine? I have a bunch of NKS multi-output drum/percussion user presets that I'd want to use in the Maschine software. Is this possible? Or is there an easy way to transfer/recreate them in Maschine?
  3. Similarly, all of my one-shot drum presets are setup in Battery. Any easy way to transfer these to Maschine presets, not in Battery?
  4. I've seen vids of folks setting up multi-output drum VIs in Maschine. It appears to be way more tedious than doing it in KK/Kontakt. But all of the vids are older. Is this still the case, or is Maschine similar to KK/Kontakt now regarding multi-output VIs.
  5. My samples are organized in multi-tiered folders. For example, percussion/one-shots/developer/product/type (kick, snare, etc.)/samples. My understanding is that NI can't see past 2 tiers or so. Those coming from other platforms with thousands of samples, any suggestions for efficient adaption?

Comments

  • PK The DJ
    PK The DJ Member Posts: 1,768 Expert

    When the Plus is connected via USB to your computer, it's exactly the same as a MK3 i.e. a controller. It's not a plugin.

    It's the onboard OS of the Plus that can't see past 2 folder levels, not NI or the desktop software.

  • BezowinZ
    BezowinZ Member Posts: 17 Member

    I was referring to using Maschine as a plugin in a DAW, but understood.

    Oh, so if I'm using the software, no issues with multi-tiered folder structure? Good to know

    Thanks!

  • D-One
    D-One Moderator Posts: 3,479 mod
    edited October 14

    When connected to a computer and run as a plugin, is the + identical to the MK3?

    Yes. Theres a couple of things missing but mostly only for MIDI Mode, like DAW Control and Templates.

    Do Komplete Kontrol virtual instrument user presets translate to Maschine? I have a bunch of NKS multi-output drum/percussion user presets that I'd want to use in the Maschine software. Is this possible? Or is there an easy way to transfer/recreate them in Maschine?

    In Controller Mode yes*, in standalone mode it depends if the instrument is supported.

    *Not sure if multi's would be plug-and-play, at the very least you're going to have to manually configure which Maschine pads receive what Outs from Kontakt. (In Maschine SW a PAD/Sound is the equivalent of a DAW Track). I am assuming you even want/need multi outs.

    Do Komplete Kontrol virtual instrument user presets translate to Maschine? I have a bunch of NKS multi-output drum/percussion user presets that I'd want to use in the Maschine software. Is this possible? Or is there an easy way to transfer/recreate them in Maschine?

    Are you asking If Maschine can load Battery .nbkt kits? It can, however it's treated as an "Instrument" - This is hard to explain but when using Battery in Maschine instead of it's own Sampler you loose Pad Mode aka Quick access to all the Sampler settings from the HW - Depending on your style of production using something like Battery negates a ton of Maschine's controller advantages.

    I've seen vids of folks setting up multi-output drum VIs in Maschine. It appears to be way more tedious than doing it in KK/Kontakt. But all of the vids are older. Is this still the case, or is Maschine similar to KK/Kontakt now regarding multi-output VIs.

    IMO I'ts quite similar in terms of difficulty, yes for things like drum VI's you're gonna have to route things if you want FX per drum-piece.. But just like above bypassing the normal Maschine Kits/Sampler has tons of disadvantages, It's way too much to explain in text.

    My samples are organized in multi-tiered folders. For example, percussion/one-shots/developer/product/type (kick, snare, etc.)/samples. My understanding is that NI can't see past 2 tiers or so. Those coming from other platforms with thousands of samples, any suggestions for efficient adaption?

    It can see the samples just fine:

    However, hardware "bank" navigation (which in this case are actual subfolders) has the 2 folder limit, but you can still see/load all samples if you don't select a "bank":

    The ideal way is to not rely on sub-folders for organization at all and instead Tag your samples, this way if you want say a kick you just select the "Kick" tag instead of navigating to a sub-folder named "Kick" - this avoids the need to change the folder structure that other software might also depend.

    If your samples are properly named you can just search for text, example: "kick" then select and tag all your kicks in one go, but if your filenames are random words then it can be a nightmare to tag it all….

  • LostInFoundation
    LostInFoundation Member Posts: 4,461 Expert

    Another suggestion, although not answering your question, is to wait a little bit to decide: since you are so lucky to think about buying a Maschine just now, in one month (maybe?) the new version of Maschine software (Maschine 3) should be released.

    Not sure if it will influence your choice, but surely, even not forcing the speculation to an eventual new Maschine hardware, it is possible that buying a controller once the new version is released will give you access to this new 3 version

  • D-One
    D-One Moderator Posts: 3,479 mod

    Oh.. Great point, I forgot…. It's def worth waiting.

    I'd expect that after v3 is released new MK3 purchases will have v3 for free.

  • MaikR
    MaikR Member Posts: 311 Pro
  • ozon
    ozon Member Posts: 1,758 Expert

    If it wasn’t, what would be the target audience of the update?

  • MaikR
    MaikR Member Posts: 311 Pro

    Yes I know. S-series MK3 keyboards, that’s for sure. And perhaps Maschine MK4…?

    As Maschine 3.0 software architecture WILL change to support S3 keyboards, I’m still not sure how that would impact Maschine controller series.

  • BezowinZ
    BezowinZ Member Posts: 17 Member

    I've been trying to figure out how to split quotes like you did but don't see the [ / quote ] I'm used to seeing on other forums. Hopefully this doesn't get too messy.

    When you say DAW control, are you referring to transport controls, loop controls, etc.? I hope that's not the case because DAW control is one of my favorite things with KK. I assumed Maschine did the same.

    Good to hear those KK presets can be used by Maschine. Do they appear the same way I see them in KK?

    I definitely need the multi-outs into my DAW for mix purposes. I'll take another look at some vides regarding pad output.

    Pad Mode is probably the term I was looking for. I'd want to take advantage of that. I'm asking if there's any quick way to convert Battery kits to Maschine kits? Can Battery pad content be dragged to Maschine pads, for example?

    Most other drum VIs I'm referring to are acoustic drum kits like Soniccouture's Sun Drums, Monkits, and similar NKS drum VIs. Maschine effects wouldn't be a factor as I mix those 100% in my DAW. I'd be using the +/MK3 like KK with pads. My concern is setting up multi-out user presets. It looked way more tedious in Maschine software vs KK, at least in vids I could find.

    My samples are named pretty well, so tagging by type shouldn't be an issue. I tend to search for samples by vendor/product, so I's need a way to tag thinks more specifically.

    Thanks!

  • BezowinZ
    BezowinZ Member Posts: 17 Member

    Yeah, I've been wondering if new hardware would come along with Maschine 3.0.

  • PK The DJ
    PK The DJ Member Posts: 1,768 Expert

    @BezowinZ quoting on here is dreadful. Basically it's all or nothing. Some of us use workarounds such as putting a > in front of the (copy & pasted) text, which creates a little grey bar at the side. There's also the element toolbar on the left of the box when you're typing a message.

  • D-One
    D-One Moderator Posts: 3,479 mod
    edited October 15

    I can't really say everything I know, but I wouldn't go losing sleep worrying about that, MK1 controllers were not abandoned when Maschine V2 came out. IMO the time to start getting worried is when/if an MK4/M+2 is announced. Don't take this as confirming or denying anything tho…

    @BezowinZ

    I've been trying to figure out how to split quotes like you did but don't see the [ / quote ] I'm used to seeing on other forums. Hopefully this doesn't get too messy.

    Unfortunately quoting sucks on this forum, the provider has this stupid reasoning that the ability to edit a quote in anyway can put words into people's mouths… The only way is to copy the text than format as a quote like this.

    When you say DAW control, are you referring to transport controls, loop controls, etc.? I hope that's not the case because DAW control is one of my favorite things with KK. I assumed Maschine did the same.

    Yes, all controllers do it except the M+…baffling. There are 4 methods:

    1. DAW Control - You see fancy looking meters with volume feedback from your DAW + control volume, mutes, pan, etc + basic transport.
    2. "Templates" - More advanced control of the DAW, but ugly looking GUI on the HW Screen (MIDI Mode looking). No fancy moving meters but has cool stuff like launching Ableton's Session Clips from the Pads and other DAW-specific controls.
    3. "Mackie Control" Template - Same as above but emulating mackie/mcu devices, can control tons of stuff but nothing DAW specific, generic so to speak.
    4. "MCU Transport" template - Only the transport section of the controller is mapped, nothing else but also using Mackie emulation - This is also the optional method used to have DAW transport when the controller is focused on the MAS-plug.

    The M+ only has the last 2 Mackie Control and MCU Transport.

    'DAW Control' looks like this on a MAS-MK3/KKS-MK3:

    If the above is confusing, well… it's because it is, names also changed over time.

    Pad Mode is probably the term I was looking for. I'd want to take advantage of that. I'm asking if there's any quick way to convert Battery kits to Maschine kits? Can Battery pad content be dragged to Maschine pads, for example?

    No. If you drag the kit it loads as an instrument. If you drag a Battery "Cell" to a Pad nothing happens. I guess the easy way would be to save the Battery kit and select "Patch + Samples", then you can just drag the wavs to Maschine pads more easily but if theres lots of tweaks to parameters you would need to recreate it all in Maschine.

    Most other drum VIs I'm referring to are acoustic drum kits like Soniccouture's Sun Drums, Monkits, and similar NKS drum VIs. Maschine effects wouldn't be a factor as I mix those 100% in my DAW. I'd be using the +/MK3 like KK with pads. My concern is setting up multi-out user presets. It looked way more tedious in Maschine software vs KK, at least in vids I could find.

    Personally I don't bother, if I use those VI's because I need realistic drums I just save the preset, then load it in the DAW on Kontakt/kk where things are faster to setup then drop the MIDI from Maschine to the DAW Track. No ideia if this workflow might suit you tho… Maschine is mostly a sketch Pad for me and I do all the surgical mix in DAW too.

    My samples are named pretty well, so tagging by type shouldn't be an issue. I tend to search for samples by vendor/product, so I's need a way to tag thinks more specifically.

    In that case it should be easy, you add each vendor folder separately and/or by pack, then tag with search.

    This is all a lot of info to take in, it's really hard to unpack it all without trying the controller and sw.

  • BezowinZ
    BezowinZ Member Posts: 17 Member

    I thought Toontrack's forum was bad. Yeah, quoting here is quite inconvenient.

    I may give it some time to see if new hardware is on the way, but it sounds like the MK3 is the better option for me currently. Odd that the + would have less functionality. NI scares me sometimes.

    If I can get a kit worth of samples to Maschine at once, that would be a good start.

    Yeah, I might be looking for too much from Maschine in that regard, but I'll experiment.

    I do think this will all make more sense with hard/software in hand.

    Thanks again!

  • PK The DJ
    PK The DJ Member Posts: 1,768 Expert
    edited October 15

    I'm surprised to read some of this, because my understanding was that the Plus is the exact same hardware as the MK3 but with an onboard computer on a separate PCB, and that when used as a controller via USB, the onboard computer is redundant and the Plus is effectively a MK3 to the (external) computer/software.

  • D-One
    D-One Moderator Posts: 3,479 mod
    edited October 15

    Wait… I messed up, the M+ does have a Mackie Emulation template, IDK if this was added at some point or if my memory is just off… Looks like this:

    I edited my post above.

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